Traditional Chinese martial arts have many progressive training methods intended to prepare practitioners for free-form combat, which nowadays is commonly referred to as Sanda (散打), although many people still use the term San Shou (散手). Both terms describe modern sport combat. A breakdown of Sanda and San Shou: The first character is the same for…
Many people think that martial arts are a way to improve physical fitness and develop the ability to defend oneself. These are merely physical aspects with tangible boundaries, whereas mental cultivation has no boundaries. In Chinese martial arts, the concept of Yi (意) – Intent – is often expounded upon. Xing Yi Quan (形意拳) and…
I have been fortunate over the years to have partaken in Taiji Quan instructions with many renowned Taiji masters. I regard Grandmaster William C. C. Chen (陳至誠, 1933 – ), and Grandmaster Tao Pingxiang (陶炳祥, 1919-2006), to whom I was introduced by William Chen, as two of my most important teachers. Both William Chen and…
According to some accounts, the origins of the Taiji Chǐ (太極尺) – Taiji Ruler, also written as Tai Chi Ruler, go back to the Huangdi Neijing (黃帝內經) – The Yellow Emperor’s Classic on Internal Medicine. One theory traces the origins of the Taiji Ruler to Chen Tuan (陳摶, 871 – 989), who lived in seclusion…
Demonstrations by Qigong (氣功) and Taiji Quan (太極拳) masters who can move their students from some distance away, are not uncommon, and they are not limited to Chinese martial arts practitioners. This type of force in Gong Fu and Taiji is referred to as Ling Kong Jin (凌空劲), which is best translated as Empty Force….
Bagua Zhang is one the three major internal martial arts of China. It features coiling, spiraling, and turning maneuvers while walking in a circle. Liu Dekuan’s 64 Palms have the distinguishing characteristic of being practiced in a linear pattern. A Brief Biography of Liu Dekuan (劉德寬, 1826-1911) Liu Dekuan was from Gang Zhou (滄洲) in…
The Chinese idiom, Yi Shan Bu Rong Er Hu (一山不容二虎) – Two Tigers Cannot Roam the Same Mountain, is used to denote the difficulty for two people with assertive personalities to coexist in the same surroundings. This is especially true for two martial arts masters who have schools in the same community. Chinese Gong Fu…
For some time, I have been working on a comparative analysis of Zheng Manqing’s 37 Postures Taiji Form and William C. C. Chen’s 60 Movements Taiji Form. I have listed Professor’s Zheng’s 37 Postures on another post on this blog. Anyone who wishes to learn more about this can visit https://www.kungfutoday.com/blog/ and enter Zheng Manqing…
In the human body, Qi (氣) is the fundamental energy sustaining life. Qi can be interpreted as: Life Force, Vital Energy, Breath, Gas, and Vapor. The Chinese martial arts of Taiji Quan (太極拳), Xingyi Quan (形意拳), Liuhe Bafa (六合八法), as well as other styles, incorporate Qi Gong (氣功) in their training regimen. These exercises are…
Traditional Chan Quan – Long Fist, has certain requisites that serve guideposts for developing skills. The Eight Methods refer to the chief technical aspects that must be developed and refined. They play a strong role in guiding martial practice. It is through their practice and understanding that one can blend the external with the internal…
The posts on this Blog reflect the knowledge I have received from my teachers, and the volumes of information I have accumulated while doing research and conducting interviews with many masters, during the years of publishing the Wu Gong Journal and the Journal of Chinese Martial Arts. All the material published on this Blog is copyrighted. — Nick Scrima
