Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2019 i Kung Fu Tai Chi

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

I have always cherished the diversity within the martial arts world. We have readers from all walks of life - young and old, women and men, rich and poor, educated and illiterate…well, maybe not completely illiterate because after all, magazines are meant to be read. We get all sides of the political spectrum too - Democrats and Republicans, right and left, capitalist and communist, patriots and rebels, majorities and oh so many minorities. Given the influence of Kung Fu Tai Chi and KungFuMagazine.com upon my own personal social media, this martial diversity exposes me to a constant stream of antagonistic political rants, especially on my facebook feed. It’s disconcerting, but I take some solace in the fact that the bulk of the flame wars seem to have migrated there and…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

CHEN ZHENGLEI TAI CHI SYMPOSIUM IN CHEN VILLAGE

Between June 27 and July 5, 2018, the 5th Annual Chen Zhenglei Tai Chi Symposium and 20th Annual International Tai Chi Advanced Workshop, and the 8th Annual Chenjiagou Tai Chi Kung Fu Elite Tournament, took place in Chenjiagou, Wenxian County, Henan Province, China—birthplace of Tai Chi and of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. The event was expanded to include a lavish celebration of the grandmaster’s 70th birthday. An estimated 2500 people attended throughout the week to celebrate, compete, test, and train. People came from Mexico, Peru, Spain, Iran, France, Germany, Canada, USA, Singapore, Great Britain, as well as all over China. June 28 was the first full day. Anticipating a very hot day, the first events began early, starting with the Ceremony to Honor the Ancestors at the Chenjiagou Temple, followed just…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Grandmaster Ji Chunhua 1961–2018

Grandmaster Ji Chunhua (September+October 2015 cover master 计春华), the Chinese Wushu expert and action movie star who lent his superb fighting skills and severe presence to a gallery of onscreen villains, died in Hangzhou on July 11, 2018. He was 57. His former Wushu coach Chen Shun’an (陈顺安) confirmed that he died of a lung cancer diagnosed just three months in advance. According to Chen, being such a strong man who suffered and recovered from many injuries, Ji probably did not spare the time to check his health until his condition became very painful. During his career, Ji worked on tirelessly and became a familiar villain figure in the Chinese film and television industry for over three decades. Without a doubt, both his personal and professional legacy is one for…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

THE PUNCHING POWER OF CHINESE WUSHU & OTHER DISCIPLINES

When asked about the difference between a Kung Fu punch and a Karate punch during a screen test in 1964, the legendary martial artists and movie star Bruce Lee replied, “Well, a Karate punch is like an iron bar – whack! A Kung Fu punch is like an iron chain with an iron ball attached to the end and it goes – whang! – and it hurts inside!” Many have and will continue to argue over which martial artist packs the hardest punch. Even in today’s world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), the question continues to be raised in discussions about the stand-up game of fighters and their respective fighting systems. In this article, we will explore the results of an academic research project conducted by experts from the Chinese…

8 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

The STEADY BRIDGE of Y.C. Wong

On a Sunday in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the fragrance of sandalwood incense along with the measured chants of Buddhist devotees float wistfully down from the Gold Mountain Sagely Monastery. The echoes of both rest ardently on the threshold of the the Y.C. Wong Kung Fu Studio. The school, named after the renowned sifu, is as much a fixture of the Chinatown community as the man himself. In many ways, it is hard to separate the two as Grandmaster Wong has invested so much of himself into his art and students that both have a strong reputation in the world of Chinese martial arts. Y.C. Wong is one of the first pioneers to bring Kung Fu to American shores. Adding up his many accomplishments – the multitudes of students he has…

15 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Challenges in Preserving Traditions in Modern Times

The YMAA Retreat Center’s martial arts training program was an experiment for all involved and its participants encountered many challenges along the way. Established by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, the center was a school and home to students who lived with their teacher, as in previous generations. The mission was to develop a deep understanding of martial arts and preserve its traditional quality and values. The environment and goals were almost completely different from those in the past. Ancient practitioners trained from an early age and their lives literally depended on their skill. Today’s Retreat Center students began much later in life and generally trained for self-development, enjoyment, and to build careers. For most students, there was a monetary exchange to cover living expenses. In previous generations, responsibilities were exchanged between…

12 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Going Around in Circles Traditional Rope Dart

The Chinese martial arts are known for the great variety of its empty hand and weapons systems. Not widely known is China’s throwing weapons. Collectively, Douglas H. Y. Hsieh grouped them under the heading “Ancient Chinese Hidden Weapons,” which was also the title of his book [Hsieh, Douglas H. Y.: Ancient Chinese Hidden Weapons (1986) McLisa Enterprises]. The title is really a play with words. Some of the weapons such as the ordinary stone, needles, and flying cymbals are hidden in plain sight. These are objects that were not designed as weapons. Hence, they look ordinary and appear not a threat to anybody. The projectiles fall under three classes: (a) projectiles thrown free off the hand, (b) projectiles propelled by stored energy such as an arrow, blowgun dart, or a…

9 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Warning States Fian

Length: 25” Weight 30 oz. Warring States Period (475–221 BCE) This is a beautifully preserved ancient bronze sword. China’s metallurgy was very advanced in comparison to other cultures at the time. Some of the earliest Chinese bronze work was found in Neolithic Maijiayao culture (馬家窯文化) sites, which date back to 3100-2700 BCE), although the early Bronze Age is typically attributed to the Shang Dynasty period (1600-1046 BCE) with China’s Iron Age emerging sometime in the 5th century BCE within the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE). This example is a later period bronze jian, the epitome of this style of ancient Chinese sword. Bronze is a fairly simple metal to work so fake antiques and mediocre replicas are common. However, when it comes to this type of jian, there are some…

2 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

KUNG FU HOROSCOPES: Year of the Earth Pig

The beginning of the Spring Festival (li chun jie 立春節) is on February 4, 2019, marking the start of the Year of the Pig. Chinese New Year is celebrated on February 5. This year’s 5 element characteristics are weak earth and strong water, in contrast to last year’s strong wood and fire. Therefore, natural events will be prone to floods. Floods will cause large losses in farmland and spread pollution. This is a warning. If humankind doesn’t face and solve this cruel reality, larger disasters will occur. If there’s flood, there will be fire, and fire causes more rises in temperature, resulting in more floods. From the 5 element perspective, if earth is weak, it will be flooded. This is a year of struggle. Conflicts of interest will lead to…

16 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

THE 1ST WORLD UNIVERSITY WUSHU CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 1st World University Wushu Championships, held August 2–5, 2018, in Macau, was the first of its kind. The hosting organization was the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which hosted the 29th Summer Universaide held last summer in Taipei, Taiwan. The Summer Universaide is second only to the Olympics in terms of size scale, so having Wushu included in its Games is tremendous. Last year Wushu made its debut in the games and this year they held their own championships (a requirement for sports in non-Unverisaide years). Twenty-five countries and a total of 104 athletes participated in the championships this year in Macau. Representatives from the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) and FISU were on hand to watch the event, hopefully impressing them enough to see a future Wushu in these…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

The 7th World Junior Wushu Championships

The 7th World Junior Wushu Championships was held July 9 to 16, 2018, in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil. Marking the first time this biennial event has been held in the Americas, it was very well received. The event opened with a special welcoming ceremony featuring speeches by Mr. Marcus Alves, President of the Brazilian Wushu Confederation; Mr. Leandro Cruz, Sport Minister of Brazil; and Mr. Daniel Dionisio Madeira, President of Brasilia Wushu Federation. “It was clear how much these championships meant to our Brazilian hosts,” said Eugene Moy, USA Taolu Coach. “Their dedication and tireless work left a lasting impression on us. In return I hope we, the participants of the 7th World Junior Wushu Championships, have done our part to show the Brazilian public a good and…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Helping the Homeless Find a BALANCE with Tai Chi

Five days a week, homeless people in Salt Lake City, Utah, gather in Pioneer Park and in front of the city library for coffee, burritos, comradeship—and Tai Chi. The program is the brainchild of Bernie Hart, who is the first to admit he’s not a Tai Chi master. Nor a social worker. Nor a sociologist or substance abuse expert. Hart is an engineer and inventor, which really translates to problem solving. And he first noticed the problem that he decided he wanted to solve when he learned how to ski. “I started late in life,” Hart says, “and through the skiing I learned to move. “I never felt like I wasn’t efficient.” In fact, he picked it up so he became a ski instructor, and he noticed something that most…

7 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

MAN AT ARMS ART OF WAR SEASON 2

“I love it!” With a colossal grin, a mischievous glint in his eye and a rapid-fire machine-gun laugh, Danny Trejo proclaims his passion for Man at Arms: Art of War. “I love the EL REY Network and I love the cast that we’ve got. They’re a great team. Everybody knows what they’re doing and I like that. We have no politics. Let’s just get it done.” Season 2 of Man at Arms: Art of War premiered on EL REY Network on October 4, 2018. It is an honor and a privilege for me to join the cast of this show once more as a Weapons Expert. Man at Arms: Art of War originally debuted on June 18, 2017. Naturally, being part of the cast, I covered that in the July+August…

11 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

HONG QUAN

According to legend, Red-Style Boxing (Hongquan 紅拳) was created by Zhao Kuangyin (趙匡胤 927–976), founder of the Song dynasty. Also known as Ancestor of the Song (Song Taizu 宋太祖), Kuangyin reunited China in 960 AD after the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 AD. But Kuangyin is more a symbol related to Chinese unification than the real ancestor of Hongquan. Other styles like Long Boxing of the Ancestor (Taizu Changquan 太祖長拳), Vast Boxing (Hongquan 鴻拳), also known as Hongquan (洪拳), are also attributed to Zhao Kuangyin. Although they sound the same, these other styles use different characters for Hong. According to Master Huang Baoshan from Tianshui (Gansu), Hongquan (紅拳) also has the meaning of “sun,” as the sun is traditionally red in China and was sometimes used on Qing…

7 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

THE MANY FORMS OF FIVE ANCESTORS FIST

Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (TCMA) is known for its many empty hand and weapon forms. These forms go far beyond just teaching punches, kicks, and weapon thrusts and chops; they are designed to develop coordination of hand, feet and body. The intricate movements translate to various martial art techniques, such as the finger thrust, joint manipulation, escaping from attacks, the efficient use of the body without reliance on brute strength alone. TCMA has an arsenal of weapons, with weapons forms for teaching how to wield them advantageously against other weapons. In TCMA, the Goh Cho Kun (Five Ancestors Fist 五祖拳) style stands out, having a total of 60 empty hand forms, 55 weapon forms, and about 45 equivalent fighting drills. Goh Cho Kun is a synthesis of five Kung Fu…

7 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

From Chollywood and Beyond

Astute readers will notice that I’ve changed the title of this column. I originally dubbed it as “Chollywood Rising” when it began in 2010. Back then, “Chollywood” was being bandied about by the film industry as an echo of “Bollywood,” a marginally-suitable term coined for Indian cinema because most Hindi-language films were being made in Mumbai and that was formerly known as Bombay. As the sleeping dragon of China’s film market awoke in Bollywood’s wake, Chollywood was a natural portmanteau. But unlike Bollywood, Chollywood didn’t stick. And while this column does focus heavily upon Chinese cinema and its global rise, it’s really about martial arts in media including both film and TV, and not just China and Hollywood, so I’ve updated the title. In 2010, China was already the second…

9 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

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 -------------- 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 Shaolin Temple San Diego 8222 Vickers St., STE 103 San Diego, CA 92111 Shi Yantuo 619-467-6308 www.shaolintemplesd.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 Eagle Claw 1651 El Camino Real Millbrae, CA 94030 Sifu Kalman Wong 510-201-3098…

6 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

WEB FU

http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?59403 Kung Fu Bullfighters Bullfighting is a Kung Fu training method practiced by the Hui (Chinese Muslims) in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province that allegedly dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Called guanniu (掼牛), the bull is not killed like in Spanish bullfighting. It is wrestled to the ground akin to Steer Wrestling (Bulldogging) in American Rodeo. The main distinction is that instead of having two mounted cowboys run the bull down so one can jump on it, the Kung Fu practitioner wrestles alone the bull from the ground. The notion of a martial arts master fighting a bull evokes Grandmaster Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, who knocked bulls out in demonstrations. Guanniu was revitalized by Han Haihua when he gave a demonstration at the 1982 National Games in…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

2018 Northern California Chinese Culture-Athletes Federation Kung Fu Invitational and Eagle Cup International Wushu Tai Chi Championship

IN 2018, the longstanding San Francisco Bay Area annual Northern California Chinese Culture-Athletes Federation (NCCCAF) tournament joined forces with Grandmaster Lily Lau’s Eagle Claw Cup. The tournament was held on August 11 at James Logan High School in Union City, California. In his welcoming speech, Master Ben Zhang, Director of the Wushu for the NCCCAF, said, “As the ‘soul’ of Chinese traditional culture, Kung Fu has become one of the most important cultural bridges, connecting people from countries across the world.” Grandmaster Lily Lau reciprocated in her welcoming speech, saying, “Since 2009, the NCCCAF has been hosting this tournament to promote Chinese martial arts and culture. This provides a perfect chance for all Chinese martial artists from around the world to compete, share knowledge, meet old friends and make new…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Homelessness in America

While no longer at the stratospheric levels it reached during the housing crisis, homelessness in America is still a problem that shows no sign of going away. In fact, 2017 showed the first increase in total levels of homelessness since 2010, with rising housing costs contributing to upticks in many of the usual culprits, such as Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas, New York, and Washington, D.C. According to 2017 data, more than half a million people in the US—17 out of every 10,000 Americans—had no home, and on any given night 35% of those people had no real shelter at all. This population includes the stereotypical members—the mentally ill, people suffering from addiction, veterans. But it also includes families, the underemployed and the working poor, women…

2 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

For more on Man at Arms: Art of War & El Rey Network by Gene Ching:

On KungFuMagazine.com: MAN AT ARMS: ART OF WAR – A New Original Series on EL REY Network Starring ME! MAN AT ARMS: ART OF WAR – For the Love of the Katana MAN AT ARMS: ART OF WAR – Stuff That Legends Are Made Of Robert Rodriguez on Shaw Brothers and EL REY Network In Kung Fu Tai Chi: Chollywood Rising (July+August 2017) Man at Arms: Art of War: A New Original Series on El Rey Network, Featuring Gene Ching Chollywood Rising (March+April 2015) Robert Rodriguez’s EL REY Network and the Shaw Brothers Collection Stay tuned for additional exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage on KungFuMagazine.com when Season 2 airs. EL REY Network Providers AT&T U-verse Cox DirectTV Dish FiOS Quantum fuboTV Google Fiber Spectrum Suddenlink Xfinity On Demand at VRV.co…

1 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Southern Style Adaptations of the 5 SHAOLIN ANIMALS MOTIF

Classical southern Chinese martial arts from Guangdong Province (廣東) which have managed to flourish into the 21st century typically subscribe to a legacy attached to the Shaolin Temple (少林寺). Whatever the genesis account – whether arising from a mysterious monk whose lineage stemmed from the iconic monastery or a village clansman who was trained in the tradition of the temple’s methods – systems such as Hung Ga (洪家), Choy Li Fut (蔡李佛), and Pak Mei (白眉) reference the Shaolin Temple for its martial inspirations, holistic applications, and practical execution. One common thread that runs through the folkloric fabric of the aforementioned systems is the theme of Shaolin’s Five Animals (ng ying in Cantonese 五形). According to oral tradition, five forms embody specific aspects of Shaolin martial practice: the leopard (paau…

10 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

Kung Fu, Fencing and Bruce Lee’s & Jeet Kune Do

Kung Fu has the most diverse arsenal of cold arms of any martial art in the world. Within that massive armory, one weapon is respected above the rest. The Chinese straight sword is most highly venerated. Called a jian in Mandarin or gim in Cantonese (劍), it is a double-edged straight-bladed sword akin to a European rapier, referred to by Kung Fu practitioners as the "gentleman" of weapons. It is said that it takes 100 days to master the staff, 1000 days to master the spear and 10,000 days to master the jian. That’s a little more than three months, over two-and-a-half years, and nearly twenty-eight years respectively. As Chinese weapons go, the jian is considered the most sophisticated, and yet the most subtle weapon. Despite its lofty position in…

11 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

KUNG FU TAI CHI CALENDAR

For the most up-to-date listings, visit our online interactive calendar at KungFuMagazine.com TOURNAMENTS & GATHERINGS 2018-11-28 (3 Days) 1st Asian Traditional Wushu (Kungfu) Championships Held in Nanjing, China Contact: International Wushu Federation 86-10-87774492 9 Huaweili, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, 100021 iwuf@iwuf.org - www.iwuf.org 2018-11-29 (5 Days) World Open Wing Chun Competition Held in Foshan, China Contact: International Wushu Federation 86-10-87774492 9 Huaweili, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, 100021 iwuf@iwuf.org - www.iwuf.org 2019-02-05 Chinese New Year - Year of the Pig See our Kung Fu Horoscopes for more. 2019-02-28 (4 Days) Arnold Sports Festival Held at the Ohio Expo Center Buckeye Building in Columbus, Ohio Contact: SGM Joon Choi (614) 864-4000 1349 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 ArnoldBOC@gmai.com - www.arnoldsportsfestival.com/usa 2019-03-15 (2 Days) 2019 USA World Championships Held at Alexis Park, All-suite…

3 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

MARTIALARTSMART.com

FIVE EASY WAYS TO ORDER 1. Toll Free Credit Card Ordering: 1-800-824-2433 Using our order form to plan your phone order is convenient! Call Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM Eastern Time. Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover are accepted. International Call: 865-686-4862 Sorry! No C.O.D. 2. Fax your Credit Card Order: 865-686-4881 3. Mail Order Just mail the order form, money order or cashier’s/personal check with the correct amount. Send to: MartialArtsMart 5613 N. Broadway Knoxville, TN 37918 4. e-mail Your Order: orders@MartialArtsMart.com 5. Our Online Store: www.MartialArtsMart.com Use our secure electronic shopping cart. GUARANTEE If you are not satisfied with items you purchased, for whatever reason, please immediately call our office to arrange a settlement. For details, please see Returns/Exchanges/Repairs below. CUSTOMER SERVICE 1. Delivery/Ship-A-Gift We will ship your order…

2 min

Kung Fu Tai Chi|Winter 2019

KUNG FU WISDOM

Yiri lian yiri gong. Yiri bu lian shiri kong 一日練一日功，一日不練十日空 Yiri (一 1st tone, 日 4th tone) means “one day”. Lian (練 4th tone) means “practice”. Gong (功 1st tone) means “achievement” or “merit” - it’s the same gong as in gongfu (功夫) or Kung Fu. In the second line, bu (不 4th tone) negates the following word, so here bu lian means “no practice”. Shi (十 2nd tone) means “ten” so shiri is “ten days”. Kong (空 1st tone) means “empty”, “hollow” or “deserted”. This is a very popular saying within the Chinese martial arts. It means “One day’s practice [gains] one day’s merit. Skip one day’s practice, ten days are lost.” This calligraphy was written by Dr. Marilyn M. Chi, an Emeritus Professor at the Department of Education…

1 min