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…
Many Long Fist styles use Tan Tui, commonly translated as Springing Leg, as the gateway, or Men Hu (門戶), in the Northern Long Fist Styles of Gong Fu, to building a foundation for more advanced training. The subject of this post is the Shi Er Lu Tan Tui (十二路潭腿) – 12 Rows Springing Leg, and…
I have been studying and practicing Ying Zhao Fan Zi (鷹爪翻子) for more than 40 years. My journey in the style began first with Sifu Benson Lee and later continued with Grandmaster Shum Yee Leung (岑譽亮, 1933-2025) – Cen Yuliang in Pinyin. Grandmaster Shum called his school Ying Jow Pai (鷹爪派), Eagle Claw System, and…
Chinese martial arts evolved over millennia from rudimentary forms to highly developed fighting methods that are governed by specific methodology. This methodology has two components: Lian Fa (練法) – Training Methods and Da Fa (打法) – Fighting Methods. Lian Fa can be divided into two categories. The first includes training methods that incorporate auxiliary exercises…
Any discussion of the Fu Chen (拂塵), or Whisk, should begin with the following adage “Shou Na Fu Chen Bu Shi Fan Ren.” This means “The One Holding the Whisk is not an Ordinary Person.” This saying is significant because it implies that the person holding the Whisk is someone of high status. The Fu…
Principle #5 This series of essays deals briefly with Chinese Martial Arts Principles and Sayings. 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…
The term Jin Gang (金刚) is often encountered in various styles of Chinese martial arts and occurs most often in Shaolin Gong Fu, as is evident in routines such as Jin Gang Quan. Styles such as Baji Quan and Xing Yi Quan have the Jin Gang Ba Shi. In Baji, Jin Gang Ba Shi refers…
It is customary for every traditional Chinese martial arts school to have a Guan Dao (Guan’s Knife), proudly displayed on the weapons rack. The Guan Dao takes its name from the famed General Guan Yu who lived during the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (160-220 AD). Guan Yu was renowned for his prowess with…
While the literal translation of Duan Da is Close Fighting, a more precise definition is Face-to-Face Fighting. This term is not applied to Free-Style Fighting, which is referred to as San Shou and Sanda; rather, it refers to close-in training with a partner. In a Traditional Wushu Guan (a martial arts school), all aspects of…
The Lion Dance, known as Wu Shi (舞獅), is an important part of Chinese culture. Its origins date back to the Wei Dynasty (386–535 AD). During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) the Lion Dance was performed only at the Royal Court as part of entertainment for the elite. Over the centuries the Lion Dance penetrated…
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
