Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2016 i Kung Fu Tai Chi

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

On the day just prior to Chinese New Year, I had the privilege of working for Superbowl 50. My job was medical logistics, which meant I was running items like otoscopes and Keflex between our half dozen first aid stations positioned strategically around the stadium. It gave me All Access (except for the field) so I got to see the Superbowl from every perspective. Mind you, I’m not a football fan, but when it comes to American sports, there is nothing bigger than the Superbowl. It is the epitome of capitalism, commercialism and consumerism – I have never seen that much money change hands in such a short period of time. It made me proud to be an American. When it comes to sports, the martial ones are unique. We…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

Grandmaster Cai Longyun 1928–2015

ON December 19, 2015, Grandmaster Cai Longyun (蔡龙云) passed away. He was the cover master for the November+December 2005 issue of Kung Fu Tai Chi Cai Longyun was China's renowned martial artist, theorist, educator, and 9 duan (China’s highest rank 九段) holder. He served on the 7th CPPCC National Committee, and was a former vice president of Wushu Research Institute of National Sports Commission, member of the All-China Sports Federation, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association and the Shanghai Wushu Association, and former Martial Arts Department Director and Deputy Director of the Department of Physical Education of the Shanghai Sports Institute. He was born in Jining, Shandong province, to a martial arts family. He was an expert in huaquan (华拳), Shaolinquan, Taijiquan and Xingyiquan, among others. In 1943 and…

6 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

THE OLYMPIC MARTIAL ARTS OF ASIA

This August, the XXXI Olympiad Games will be held in Rio, Brazil. Ever since its inception, Modern Wushu has dreamed of becoming an Olympic event. But it didn’t make the cut in Beijing eight years ago, nor did it this year for Rio, nor will it next time when the Games are held in Tokyo. It is extremely difficult to garner Olympic acceptance, especially with a sport that is dominated by the applying nation. And yet, despite China’s Olympic triumphs, the P.R.C. has only participated in eight Olympics so far. As the Rio Games approach, a quick review of China’s Olympic journey puts Modern Wushu into perspective. The P.R.C. entered strong for their first Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. In the world’s eye view, it’s all about the…

13 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

The Art of PROPER ALIGNMENT

“1000 pounds on top of the head Vital energy/breath (qi 氣) sinks to the lower abdomen/elixir field (dantian 丹田) From the dantian it passes through/links to the four channels What are the four channels? The mind/heart (xin 心), the feet, the eyes, and the ears are the four channels The mind/heart’s focus/intention (yi 意) arrives at the feet Practice this fundamental and foundational standard Naturally and nonjudgmentally observe (guan 觀) all directions with your eyes and ears.” –Lam (1956) The above quote is from the first picture and position in the book Taming the Tiger Form in the 工-Shaped Floor Pattern (Gongzi Fu Hu Quan/Gungji Fuk Fu Kuen 工字伏虎拳) attributed to Lam Sai Wing (1860–1943). It is considered to be the fundamental and foundational form of the Hung Style…

10 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

3 Essential Principles of Combat

What defines authority? Today, so many armchair bloggers and selfproclaimed masters propound their opinions on the martial arts, but there’s no check, no filter, no editorial control. When reading their advice, some sort of validation beyond their website boasts and belt holding their pants up is desired, an external measure that proves their worth. Master Xu Xiangdong (徐向东) can stake his authority on many grounds. He was a first-generation Modern Wushu champion, often sharing the podium in the early eighties with Jet Li (李连杰) and Zhao Changjun (赵长军), the two most decorated athletes of the sport. That first generation had to fight too, as many traditional masters were skeptical of the new sport and frequently challenged the nascent Wushu professionals. Xu is worldly too, having pursued a doctorate at Université…

9 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

KUNG FU TAI CHI DISTRIBUTORS

Kung Fu Tai Chi is distributed by the following fine locations ARIZONA ------------------ Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun of Arizona 1805 E. Elliot Rd. STE110 Tempe, AZ 85284 Mark Jones 480-820-2428 Shaolin Arts 4330 W. Union Hills Dr. B8 Glendale AZ 85308 Chris Workman 623-581-2000 www.shaolinarts.com CALIFORNIA -------------- Chinese Shaolin Center Los Angeles 14823 Oxnard St. #1/2 Van Nuys, CA 91411 Sifu Brooks Nelson 818-783-2356 www.shaolinla.com Shaolin Temple Cultural Center 9143 La Rosa Dr. Temple City, CA 91780 Shi Yanxu 626-292-1355 http://shaolinus.com Shaolin Temple Cultural Center 3628 Nogales St., West Covina, CA 91792 Shi Yanxu 626-292-1355 http://shaolinus.com Tai Mantis Kung Fu 758 E Highland Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92404 Don Newton 909-881-2226 www.taimantis.com John Cho’s Kung Fu School 2435 N. Fresno St., Fresno, CA 93720 John Cho 209-225-9796 Lily Lau…

5 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

From Atacama to Silicon Valley

My last trip wasn’t Kung Fu related. It wasn’t even work related. I spent two weeks in the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert. In such an inhospitable place, it’s amazing that people not only live, but have built up cities that thrive. I spent most of my time there in a city in northern Chile called Iquique. Being in the martial arts industry, I am constantly noticing martial arts schools and practitioners, even when I’m on vacation. What surprised me is that martial arts have found their way to a beach town in the middle of the desert in the southern hemisphere. I was in Iquique for Chinese New Year. I spent the celebration at the Taiwan Club of Iquique. There we had the honor of watching…

4 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

Shaolin’s Bagua Kao Bi

Many view Kung Fu as a spectacular theatrical performance art, with little or no practicality in fighting. Indeed, famous monks from Shaolin Temple now perform all over the world. As for wuguan (Kung Fu school 武館) all over the world, most make taolu (forms 套路) practice the centerpiece of training. With the health benefits of practicing Chinese Kung Fu scientifically documented, few would debate its many life-enhancing qualities. Even in China, many practice Shaolin and other Kung Fu systems purely for duanlian shenti (physical fitness and health 鍛煉身體), rather than for practical fighting. With few violent crimes in China, busy work schedules and family responsibilities, there simply isn’t a need for such skills, nor the free time to pursue them anyway. In modern times, with commercial schools popping up everywhere,…

10 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

Rnife Defenses to consider

A knife attack is always dangerous. Using your hands to catch or block a knife requires a great deal of practice due to the small margin of error. This article discusses three techniques that use the forearms for blocking. All are done from a relaxed standing position, which most knife attackers respond to with a straight jab. For the first two techniques, one arm hangs by your side. The third technique uses an “X” block, an automatic response that works well in many situations. These techniques enable you to quickly grab the attacker’s arm with both hands. The ability to control the knife arm for precious seconds gives you time to disarm or disable the attacker with follow-up techniques. Technique One This technique works for a straight jab targeting your…

6 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

INCREASE Your MARTIAL POWER with Standing Qigong

Quite often standing Qigong is shown in a serene setting, the practitioner standing by a garden or stream of clear water and wearing a spotless white silk uniform and looking pleasant. While there is nothing wrong with this depiction, martial practitioners should be aware that standing Qigong provides tremendous martial benefit regardless of your style, with some postures being excellent for building martial power. Whether you practice the internal arts, MMA, pure grappling arts or something else, you can benefit from studying standing Qigong. Standing practice leads to better balance and a greater sense of center. Holding postures for even a short period of time will improve your sensitivity and awareness of center and how it relates to balance. Better balance means more control while executing kicks and throws, and…

8 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

KUNG FU TAI CHI CALENDAR

For the most up-to-date listings, visit our online interactive calendar at KungFuMagazine.com 2015-05-21 (2 Days) 2016 Tiger Claw Elite Championships & KUNG FU TAI CHI DAY Held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, South Hall (150 West San Carlos Street). Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship is Saturday & Sunday. The 2015 Tiger Claw Elite Championships drew over 1100 competitors and 1100 spectators. This year will be even bigger! KUNG FU TAI CHI DAY is on Sunday and free for spectators. There are ongoing demonstrations from noted masters and local schools, as well as workshops in Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Qigong. This year, the Showcase and Internal division competition for Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Championship will be held on KUNG FU TAI CHI DAY TIGER CLAW SPONSORED EVENT Contact:…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

KUNG FU HOROSCOPES: APRIL 4 TO JUNE 5

Within Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, the first period (4/4–5/5) of this horoscope is the transition from spring to summer. The second period (5/5–6/5) is summer. The first period is ruled by liver and gall bladder, and spleen and stomach, so beware of maladies of the liver, gall, and digestive system. Nourish the liver and strengthen the spleen and stomach. Previous digestive ailments may flare up again. The summer period is ruled by the fire element and the heart and small intestine channels. The heart governs mind and spirit, as well as blood circulation. If the heart is overheated, it can disturb the mind, cause “heat disease” and strain the cardiovascular system. Nourish the heart and clear away the heat. Heed the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, “winter ailments are healed…

6 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

WEB FU

Vaulting Champion Jannis Drewell Dons a Shaolin Monk Robe The reigning European vaulting champion Jannis Drewell of Germany donned Shaolin monk robe. Vaulting is a unique sport where acrobatic and gymnastic feats are performed while riding a horse. Like figure skating, competitors wear outrageously flashy custom-made costumes. Drewell has won all the of the World Cup qualifying rounds he entered this season: Salzburg Austria, Mechelen Belgium, and Leipzig Germany. He says that the idea for the monk robe costume came from Germany’s national trainer Kai Vorberg after watching Kung Fu Panda. http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?56206-Shaoliners&p=1290285#post1290285 Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin Investigation Comes Up Empty Again A corruption investigation on Shaolin Temple Abbot, Shi Yongxin, was reported in the November+December 205 edition of this Web Fu column. The news went viral as the elements…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

MAJOR SCHOOLS OF NORTHWESTERN STICK-FIGHTING

The stick is one of the oldest battlefield-tested weapons. In Chinese antiquity it was known as shu (殳), then during the Ming-Qing dynasty it was also known as paizi (排子 the name for the thick sticks handling wooden chariots) and tiaozi (條子 or long sticks used as well to carry things on one’s shoulders). Today, the stick is mostly known as gun (棍). Little English documentation or real practical knowledge exists abroad about the art of the Chinese stick, as it is mainly a specialty coming from Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, together with the art of the wooden cane (biangan 鞭杆). The main techniques of Gansu stick-fighting are splitting (pi 劈), rolling (lun 輪), sweeping (sao 掃), blocking (lan 拦), lifting (tiao 挑), smashing (za 砸), moving (ban 搬), holding…

11 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

The Chinese Military Saber

When martial artists hear the term “sword school,” it often conjures up the image of Iaido or Kenjitsu and the age of the honorable samurai. Chinese swords and their legacy are often forgotten as a formalized training school. While modern Kung Fu and Wushu systems do include weapons such as dao (刀) and jian (劍) into their training, the practical application is often dropped in favor of flashy forms intended to win tournaments rather than protect lives. Nevertheless, a few systems retain in their curriculum the dadao (aka Big-Knife 大刀), known in the early 20th century as the Chinese Military Saber, with ranking and practical applications that build upon its historic use in battle. The dadao is a true war sword and probably the last of its kind. It dates…

7 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

higher ground

ON a Friday night in November of 1993, thousands of households purchased a new venture on Pay-Per-View. They didn’t know exactly what to expect, except that the promoter was offering a new tough man event similar to the popular Toughman Contest promoted by Art Dore. Surprisingly, one of its stars was the mammoth Eric “Butterbean” Esch, who quickly became a fan favorite for being relentless in the ring. However, on this particular night the audience had nothing by which to gauge their expectations. They only knew that the fighters were representing different disciplines of martial arts. Unbeknownst to them, they were witnessing the beginning of a new pugilistic sport which had its roots in Brazil. The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) would alter the landscape of martial arts forever that fall…

9 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

CHOLLYWOOD RISING In the Monkey’s Wake

Our last installment of this column focused upon the rush of films for Chinese New Year in Asia. In the past, this is something that cinema sinophiles watched from across the Pacific. This year, the impact of the holiday was pronouncedly felt in the U.S., a positive barometer of the continuing rise of Chollywood. On January 22, both Ip Man 3 and Monster Hunt opened in North American theaters (both have been discussed here before). Ip Man 3, starring Donnie Yen and Mike Tyson, premiered in China on Christmas weekend. In a few Asian markets, Ip Man 3 dethroned Star Wars: The Force Awakens from the top box office slot. It also pushed back Jackie Chan’s new film Skiptrace, which was originally slated for release at the same time, but…

5 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

Seven Star Sword qixing jian

Overall length: 30” Blade Length 23” Weight 1 lb. Weight including scabbard 1.5 lbs. Late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) This is a nice example of a typical late Qing jian with a matched scabbard. The cast guard, pommel and scabbard fittings all have a matching auspicious Chinese circle motif, accompanied by floral flourishes. The jian is small and light, not uncommon for the period and parallel to European court sword development which moved towards smaller and lighter swords. There is evidence of some restoration work, including some paper cushions placed within the scabbard throat, mostly likely a quick fix to make the blade fit snugly into the scabbard. The handle wrapping is likely restored. The most impressive aspect of this jian is the blade. It has seven dots, symbolic of the…

2 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|May - June 2016

Bai sui hou shou

This unique piece combines two characters – bai (hundred 百) and shou (long life 寿) – to form the likeness of a monkey in honor of this Year of the Monkey. The work is titled Bai sui hou shou which means ‘A hundred years monkey long life.’ The image was inspired by an ancient Chinese saying “Xi ri hou shou ba bai sui, jin ri taiji zui gao feng (昔日猴寿八百岁,今日太极最高峰).” This translates into “In ancient times, the Monkey lived eight hundred years, now Taiji is the highest peak.” Prior to the theory of evolution, the Chinese believed that monkeys were their ancestors and so monkeys symbolize longevity. This alludes to ancient writings from the Jin Dynasty (265-420 BCE). Bao Po Zi (抱朴子) by Ge Hong (葛洪) said “Ren jun zhe,…

1 min