Grandmaster Leung Yee Shum, known as Leung Shum, passed away on July 4, 2025. I have many memories of his teachings and our interactions over the span of more than four decades. I recall vividly an interview that I conducted with Grandmaster Shum for the Wu Gong Journal, a Chinese martial arts publication which I…
Nowadays, many Tai Chi teachers focus their teaching on the repetitive practice of the Form, which is often empty but is accompanied by encouraging praise. And they may promote Tai Chi as a cure-all type of fitness exercise. Authentic Tai Chi is not at all easy and must be taught with a systematic and comprehensive…
In the philosophical teaching of the Doctrine of the Mean, a book of classical Chinese philosophy, there is a passage by Kongzi (Confucious) which reads, “In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of…
Perhaps few themes have been depicted in Chinese martial arts movies as frequently as the Biao Ju, also written as Biaoju, ancient China’s escort or bodyguard agencies. These enterprises were official agencies licensed by the Imperial Court. Often, they had been founded by renowned martial arts masters, who, in turn, employed other skilled martial artists…
In times past, when someone wanted to learn Chinese martial arts from a master, the master would ask, “Can you eat bitter?” Chi Ku (吃苦), or Eating Bitter, refers to being able to endure both physical and mental hardships. While we can be enthralled by the artistry of outward movements, explosive skills, and flashing swords,…
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…
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….
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…
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
