The Jing Wu Athletic Association and the 10 Standard Forms

Jing Wu Tiyuhui, (精武體育會) – Elite Martial Athletic Association, is more commonly known as the Jing Wu Athletic Association and as Ching Mo in Cantonese. It was founded in 1910 to develop fitness and lift the morale of the Chinese people, and to promote and advance traditional Chinese martial arts.

Huo Yuanjia (霍元甲, 1868-1910),  is traditionally regarded as the founder of Jing Wu. However, his tenure there was brief as he died at 42 years of age, only a three months after his arrival in Shanghai. After Huo’s passing, Zhao Lianhe (趙連和, 1883–1945), an expert in Liu He Men (六合门) – Six Harmonies,  Mizong Quan (迷蹤拳) – Labyrinth Style, Er Lang Men (二郎門) , and other Northern styles: He was proficient in the use of many weapons, and became the chief martial arts instructor. Zhao Lianhe developed a standardized curriculum based on the Northern Styles. The curriculum consisted of 10 routines, which were prerequisites for all trainees before they embarked on other studies with the various masters who were teaching at Jing Wu.

Note: The Er Lang (二郎) is a Mythical Figure in Chinese culture.

Jing Wu Ji Ben Shi Tao Lu (精武基本十套路) – The 10 Jing Wu Basic Forms

The 10 Original Routines, known as Tao Lu (套路) in Chinese, are still practiced at the Shanghai Jing Wu Association today, as well as at other Jing Wu branches throughout the world. They are also popular outside of Jing Wu proper and are taught with slight variations in different Northern style based schools. Following is a complete list of names for the 10 forms:

1. Twelve Rows Springing Legs (十二路彈腿) – Shi Er Lu Tan Tui 
2. Power Training Fist (功力拳) – Gong Li Quan 
3. Intercepting Fist ( 截拳) – Jie Quan 
4. Great Battle Fist (大戰拳) – Da Zhan Quan 
5. Eight Diagram Broadsword (八卦刀) – Bagua Dao 
6. Sheep Flocking Staff (群羊棍) – Qun Yang Gun 
7. Five Tiger Spear (五虎枪) – Wu Hu Qiang
8. Springing Legs Partner Set ( 接潭腿) – Jie Tan Tui
9. Fighting Set Fist (套拳) -Tao Quan, also known as Double Fist (雙拳) – Shuang Quan
10. Broadsword Versus Spear (单刀对枪) – Dan Dao Dui Qian 

Forms #8, #9, and #10 are Fighting Sets and are practiced with a partner.

A Final Word

The forms listed above have nothing to do with Huo Yuanjia and do not represent the Mizong (迷蹤) Gong Fu Style. Most of the leading masters who taught at Jing Wu, like Huo Yuanjia, were from Hebei and other Northern Provinces. And although the Jing Wu 10 Forms Curriculum was established by  Zhao Lianhe, there were many others forms at Jing Wu which were probably the contribution of more than one master, and likely represent more than one Northern style.

Some Tao Lu (套路) – Forms, taught at Jing Wu, besides the 10 Forms, have become part of different styles, and over time, have taken on the characteristics of that particular style. I have encountered this in some forms with the same pattern and the same name, that appear in two of the Northern Gong Fu styles that we practice: Mizong Luohan (迷蹤羅漢) and Ying Zhao Fan Zi (鹰爪翻子) but with the distinctive characteristic of that style.