Traditional Chinese Martial Arts practice is guided by many principles and adages that have been compiled over the centuries and propagated within the different styles. The old masters also set guidelines for teaching and learning. The adage Jiao Bu Yan, Quan Bi; Xue Bu Zhuan, Quan Bi Lan is one such example. Before providing a…
In Taiji Quan, also written Tai Chi Chuan and Taijiquan, the saying Mai Bu Ru Mao Xing, Yun Dong Ru Chou Si (邁步如貓行,運動如抽絲), which means Walk Like a Cat, Move Like Drawing Silk, is often used to describe the flow of Taiji Quan movements. Walk Like a Cat refers to the whole process of stepping…
Since the Qin Dynasty, there have been several significant bans on martial arts. In antiquity, martial arts referred largely to weapons, and in some cases, the prohibition also extended to the empty-hand arts. The first significant ban on martial arts occurred during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) ordered by the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang….
The Xiao Zhou Tian is part of Daoist Internal Alchemy, or Nei Dan. It was the Daoists who originated, refined, and propagated this practice which, in time, spread to various methods of Qi Gong and to the internal martial arts of Taiji Quan, Xingyi Quan, and Bagua Zhang. To varying degrees, it is also practiced…
Every Chinese martial arts style, or any martial arts style for that matter, builds a foundation of Basic Skills. In Chinese, these are called Ji Ben Gong, or Jiben Gong (基本功). Basic Skills are also known as Tan ZI Gong (毯子功) or Blanket Skills, which refers to the fact that they cover a broad field….
Principle #3 This series of essays deals briefly with Chinese Martial Arts Principles and Saying. These sayings have been developed over time and are meant to direct your daily practice. Adhering to them will help you develop a proper mindset reflective of a true martial artist. They also reveal distinctive fighting concepts, strategies, and training…
You may be wondering why I am writing a martial arts post on China’s Seven Military Classics. The reason is an essential one because the fighting principles of Chinese martial arts derive largely from these classic works; every serious martial arts student should study these works. They will help develop strategic thinking. The Wu Jing…
In martial arts there are different concepts for expressing power in a technique. Some styles advocate that power comes from the hips. And other styles propose that power comes from the waist. In the Shaolin Styles such as Long Fist, the above concepts of expressing or generating power are referred to as Yong Jing Wu…
In times past, when masters were very demanding and training was intense, students were often made to train for extended periods in Si Bu or Death Step to refine their skills. By extended periods I am referring not only to the time spent in a single training session, but over many months. What is the…
Tang Quan is a Chinese martial arts system whose origins span back 1300 years. The development of the style is credited to Li Xuanba (李玄霸) who was the third son of the Emperor Gaozu (高祖), the founder of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The style is named after the dynasty, hence Tang Quan. My interest…
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
