There are various theories as to the origins of Baji Quan. We will first deal with the origins of the name and then the origins of the style. The Origins of the Term “Baji Quan” The origins of the name “Baji Quan” (八極拳) – Eight Extremities Fist, is believed to have derived from Huai Nan…
Brief Biographies of the Masters In the later part of Qing Dynasty, Liu Shijun (刘仕俊, 1840-1910), a prominent Chinese martial arts master from Xiong County in what is now Hebei Province, was proficient in Yue Shi San Shou (岳氏散手) – Yue Style Free Hands, which he learned from two monks. He was renowned for his…
China is a vast country with a rich cultural and martial arts tradition. These traditions vary between north and south. Culturally, the demarcation line is what is called the Qin Ling-Huai He Line (秦岭-淮河线). Qin Ling refers to the Qin Ling mountain range and Huai He refers to the River Huai. From a martial arts…
The adage “Shifu Ling Jin Men, Xiu Xing Kao Ge Ren (師父領進門，修行靠個人) – The Master leads you through the door, the practice is up to you,” is encountered when training in Chinese martial arts. But this adage is used in all arts and crafts to denote the relationship between teacher and student. The origin of…
The Four Stages of Learning are a general psychological model that apply not only in academics but to the learning of any skill, and that includes martial arts. The Four Stages of Learning Unconscious Incompetence: You don’t know that you don’t know. In martial arts, this truth is often hard to overcome due to a…
Before exploring Yue Fei’s martial arts training and background, it is important to begin with the mythology prevalent in Chinese culture that associates people and events with deities, immortals, and famous Chinese figures both real and legendary. I use the word “mythology” because some figures who are associated with certain martial arts styles are transmitted…
Di Laoshi, when did you began learning Shaolin Kung Fu from Master Zhao Zhong (趙忠, 1916-1982) in 1962? I did not graduate from elementary school in 1962, but in 1963. My grades were excellent, and I was admitted to the high school affiliated with Peking University. While studying there, our class’s extracurricular tutor, Wang Jinshi…
The Yang Style 24 Movement Form is practiced widely throughout the world. I originally taught myself the form from a Chinese manuscript with line drawings in the early 1970s. The routine was surprisingly easy to learn by following the line patterns of the form. Since I could not read Chinese, I could derive nothing more…
Traditional weapon practice with partners is known as Chuan Tong Bing QI Dui Lian. In this post I focus on the “traditional,” since what is presented in Contemporary Wushu as Weapon Fighting Sets borders on the ridiculous. Such forms use weapons that are extremely light, purposely shortened (such as in sets that incorporate the spear),…
When we look at the movements of Mizong Luohan (迷蹤羅漢), Cha Quan (查拳), Ying Zhao Fan Zi (鷹爪翻子) and other Northern Gong Fu styles, we see certain outward commonalities but fail to interpret the intrinsic qualities that foster a higher level of skill. Due to their explosive nature, these styles are wrongly categorized as External….
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
