Effective striking, weaponry, throwing, and locking techniques. We focus on the three requirements of traditional Kung fu: Self-defence, fitness, and nurturing health.
The correct translation of the word Kung Fu refers to a high-level, specific skill that few people attain. It is more apt to talk about about someone who has a ‘Kung Fu’ – an attainment.
In this light ‘Kung Fu’ is a general term defined as the mastery of an art, method, accomplishment, or a difficult task through highly concentrated effort. The proper Chinese word used to describe martial arts is Wushu (Military Arts). The two main styles of Traditional Wushu taught at the Chinese Martial and Arts Centre are Chang Quan and Hong Quan.
At our centres, we teach both Northern Shaolin and Hong Family Fist Styles. Collectively these methods are taught concurrently and are referred to as the Chang Hong system as taught by Master Chen Ching Ho of Taipei, Taiwan. Both these styles have a long history and are well-known and practiced throughout the world.
Northern Shaolin Long Fist (Chang Quan)
This style includes a wide variety of barehand and classical weapons in its training. In this style the postures are open and wide with a lot of emphasis on legwork and kicking. This style has been heavily influenced by the Nanking Central Martial Arts Institute that was founded in 1928 with the purpose of consolidating and promoting traditional styles of chinese Kung Fu. There are ten barehanded forms, which also include various animal forms. The weapons used in Northern Shaolin Long Fist are staff, saber, straight sword, spear and include double (two-man) sets.
This is another Shaolin based style. It is perhaps the most well known style of the five main styles that originated in Southern China. It is famous for its widely varying arm techniques which are expressed in its animal imitation movements. Among its many animal styles, the Hong Quan methods concentrate on Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard and Dragon styles. Hong Quan’s weapon forms include the staff, sabre straight sword and spear and also have many unique weapons such as the halberd, iron forks, fan and umbrella. The bare-hand sets include the famous Subduing Tiger Fist, Iron Wire and Tiger-Crane forms.
Chang Quan (literally: Long Fist) is the name generally used for the styles taught by Zhao Kuan Yin, the first emperor of Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1279). Because Zhao once learned martial arts in the Shaolin Temple, and was renowned for his staff-fighting skills during his conquest, his followers called the styles he taught “Zhang Quan” (Zhang and Chang are two different pronunciations of the Chinese character ), which means, “The way of fist fighting taught by the Leader”. Later, two Chinese characters pronounced as Chang were used to mean long or often, and these may denote this styles long reach and wide influence, or mean that it was practiced often.
Origins
Because there came to be a great number of practitioners of this style, its influence spread and it eventually returned to the Shaolin Temple, where it became known as the Chang Quan Style or the Tai Zhu Style (Tai Zhu means “The Grand Forefather”).
The popularity of the style in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) can be gleaned from a passage in Ji Shiao Shin Shu, a famous military guidebook written by Chi Ji Guang (1528-1587), the most legendary general of this dynasty, who organized effective coastal defenses against raging Japanese pirates:
As for the famous martial artists and their styles, whether past or present, there is the thirty-two moves style Chang Quan from Sung Tai Zhu, also called Tai Zhu Chang Quan.
This is the origin of the Chang Quan we are teaching here.
The second way of interpreting Chang Quan is to consider its name as reflective of its combat techniques. The distinction between long fist and short fistwas used like an old ad in the Ming dynasty and refers to the range from which the practitioners would strike. Generally, four northern styles are considered the typical constituents of Long Fist because these styles generally strike from as far as possible and practitioners extend their bodies widely in their moves while utilizing swift and forceful strikes. The four styles are Cha Quan (Chais a family name of Muslim origin), Hua Quan (Hua is a family name), Pao Quan (Cannon Fist) and Hong (Red) Quan. A major concept held by their practitioners is “An inch longer, an inch stronger.”
The third possible interpretation of Chang Quan refers to the new style Hsin Wushu (literally: “new” martial art), established by official endeavor in mainland China relatively recently. This style was created by government officials and incorporates the characteristics of the four styles of long fist mentioned earlier, mixing the external aspects of martial art movements and gymnastic leaps and balances into one new form. The purpose for this official form was to standardize the forms so the performances could be evaluated in contests. Because of the great emphasis on muscle strength, flexibility and leaping, this form is mostly suitable only for younger athletes, unlike traditional martial arts.
The Forms
CMAHC Kung Fu’s Chang Quan training contains practice in forms, weapons, seizing and lock holding techniques, throwing techniques, dueling sets, defense applications and various special training.
In general, form training begins with Lian Bu Quan (Continuous-Step Fist), Gong Li Quan (Power-training Fist) and Shi Lu Tan Tui (The Ten Springing Legworks). Mid-level forms include Yi Lu Mai Fu (First Form of Ambush), Er Lu Mai Fu (Second Form of Ambush), Xiao Hong Quan (Small Hong Fist), and Shi Zi Tang (The Cross Fist).
Upper-level forms consist of Xiao Hu Yan (Small Tiger-Swallow), San Lu Pao Quan (Third Form Cannon Fist), Si Lu Cha Quan (Fourth Form Cha Fist), Si Lu Ben Da (Four-Way Running Strikes) and Tai Zhu Chang Quan (The Great Ancestor Long Fist.)
In weapon training, the basics are taught with Kun Wu Gwun (staff), Chi Hsing Dao (broadsword) and San Tsai Jian (straight sword). The more advanced forms are Long Hsing Jian, Kun Wu Jian, Chi Men Jian,Ba Gua Dao, Shaolin Chiang (spear) and Yang Jia Shi San Chiang. There are also preset weapon dueling moves for paired practice.
Characteristics
The most distinctive characteristics of Chang Quan would be its far-reaching and wide-sweeping strikes, its emphasis on extending the body, its distinct, orderly moves that are both simple and concise, its balanced emphasis on hand and foot techniques, and its high combat effectiveness.
The combat techniques can be classified into four areas:
(i) precision strikes on acupuncture points,
(ii) standard direct strikes,
(iii) throwing or grappling moves
(iv) seizing or lock holding techniques.
When practiced, Qang Chuan should look like raging waves on a great river that follow one another endlessly, allowing for no weak points. By coordinating the hands, the eyes, the body and the steps, we may achieve such requirements as Fists swift as falling stars, Waist flexible as slithering snakes, and steps gliding lightly without lifting and falling as if glued to the ground. The major hand shapes are fists, palms, hook hands, and claws.
The eight major stances are:
Ma Bu (horse stance),
Deng Shan Shi (mountain climbing stance, or Gong Bu, bow-arrow stance),
Fu Hu Shi (taming-the-tiger stance),
Zuo Pan Shi (sitting cross-legged stance),
Du Li Shi (single-leg stance),
Hsu Bu (empty stance, weight on hind leg only),
Twun Shi (“swallowing” stance)
Chi Lin Shi (the “Chi Lin” is a horse-like, mythical Chinese creature).
As an old saying goes:
Move as the tide raging, Still as the mountain resting, Rise as the monkey leaping, Fall as the sparrow alighting, Balance as the rooster on one foot, Stand as the pine with deep roots, Turn as the wheel in a spin, Bend as the bow on tight strings, Light as the leaf drifting, Heavy as iron sinking, Slow as the eagle gliding, Swift as the zephyr sweeping?
Quan’s movements are natural and its strikes are all smooth and fluid. When practicing it, the basics are heavily emphasized. Proper relaxing of the various joints, the flowing and sinking of Chi, understanding the concept of controlling the center line, coordinating the joints and accurate movements are all vital to sound learning progress. It is said, “Even great towers began on flat grounds”.
In learning Chang Quan, the training stages must not be ignored or nothing shall be achieved. In our training, Tao, morality, and skill go hand in hand. All goals of strengthening, defending, mental training, and health promotion should be pursued at the same time.
Hong Quan
There are two different aspects of martial arts in this school: The first utilizes wide steps and long-reaching strikes, using more distinct and obvious movements. The second concentrates on shorter-ranged strikes and smaller stances and specialization close combat.
There are many famous forms in Hong Quan. For example, Gong Zi Fu Hu Quan (Gong Zi refers to the I shaped layout of the form, while Fu Hu means tiger-taming), Hu He Shuang Shing Quan (Tiger-Crane Double Form), Tie Hsian Quan (IronThread Fist), Wu Chin Quan (Five Animals Fist), Wu Hsing Quan (Five Forms Fist) and Shi Hsing Quan (Ten Forms Fist) are all widely known.
Weapons include the major weapons of Dao (or broadsword, a falchion-like single-edged weapon), sword, staff and spear. The more exotic weapons include double forks, folded fan, umbrella, bars with side handles and shafted blades. The basics of the forms include the Twelve Chiao Shou (Bridge Hands, arm symbolizing a bridge, as it is meant to make contact with the enemy) and the Twelve Chiao Ma (literally Bridge Horse, referring to stances). These, together with the following points of note, form the basis for the principles behind Hong Quan: Upright stances, stable Chi, sinking Chiao (bridge, meaning arms), swallowing waist, withdrawing body, and concentrating mind.
Because there are many differing characteristics of Hong Quan, some theories change according to the specific animal form involved. For example, the Tiger and the Leopard are more gang aligned, or hard force oriented. Therefore, their practice will focus on the fierceness and exertion of strength, with the body staying upright, the stances being more regular, and the Chi flow more abrupt and forceful. These all contribute to the training of ones sinews and bones and help deliver force. The Snake form is more rou aligned, or soft flow oriented. The Chi should be sinking and smooth, and the movements and utilization of internal forces should be continuous, in accordance with the flows of Chi. The Crane form is concerned more with skill and its movements are mostly precise, agile maneuvers. The Chi is drawn higher with a clear mind, and the hand techniques utilize subtle differences in the palm and some angles formed by joints.
The three treasures of Hong Quan
In general, the three treasures of Hong Quan are Gong Zi Fu Hu Quan, Tie Hsian Quan and Hu He Shuang Hsing Quan.
Gong Zi Fu Hu Quan, according to legend, was created by Hong Shi Guan by modifying the Shaolin Form Eighteen Lohans Tame the Tiger. The layout of the form is H-shaped, and the Chinese character Gong looks like the letter H turned 90 degrees while Zi means written character in Chinese. Together these denote the layout of the form. It is the mostre presentative form of Hong Quan, and is mainly used to train Chiao Shou, Chiao Ma and develop Chi and internal force. It is known for its imposing moves and forceful strikes. The required standards for this form include: Sink the shoulder blades,spread out the back, send the forces deep into the bone marrow, use the body to moderate Chi flow, use Chi to guide and drive out force. So that such spirit may be felt: When one exhales, the shout shakes the mountains and the rivers, when one steps,the wind swirls the clouds up in the sky.
Tie Hsian Quan is the form used most extensively to train internal force. It is a secret form that Hong Shi Guan obtained from the Shaolin Temple. The movements are wide and the stances low and spread apart. Its main characteristic is to use the body to moderate Chi flow, using the Chi to guide and drive out force. With the opening and closing of bodily movements, along side the twelve Chiao Shou guides, the interaction between gang and rou, coupled with using Chi to train the internal organs, it can effect the saying Internally, develop the Chi. There is also another legend which states that Tie Hsian Quan came from Tie Chiao San, a folk hero who is one of the famous Ten Tigers of Canton. It is a close-combat form that specializes in moderating internal organs with different emotional expressions, such as happiness, anger, sadness and joyfulness, to strengthen the body.
According to legend, Hu He Shuang Hsing Quan is a form that was created by Hong Shi Guan after he met with Fang Yong Chun, a legendary female martial artist. It mainly adopts the forcefulness and power of the Tiger and the lightness, precision and agility of the Crane and merges them into one. From this union came a famous saying: When you combine Tiger and Crane, there’s no equal match found in all the world. Roughly speaking, this form is most noted for its numerous variations in hand techniques, steps and intricate uses of the torso. Combined with the characteristics of both Tiger and Crane, this makes it an application-oriented and multi-faceted high-level form.
Why are these three forms called the three treasures of Hong Quan? Because Gong Zi Fu Hu Quan is a form that concentrates on the basics, offers sound training for stable hands and proper stances, and develops internal force. These form the basis for all further Hong Quan forms, so most people consider it the mother form of Hong Quan as well as its most representative form. Tie Shian Quan mainly trains the manipulation and strength of internal force, and is the best manifestation of the saying: Externally, train the sinews, bones and skin; internally, train the Chi. For this reason, Tie Shian Quan is called the highest treasure of Hong Quan. Hu He Shuang Shing is the form most oriented towards performance and application, so these three forms complement each other in an inseparable way.
Five animals fist and five forms fist
Among the forms of Hong Quan, there are two sets of forms each simulating five animals. The Five Animals Fist are form created in imitation of Dragon, Tiger, Leopard, Snake and Crane, while the Five Forms Fist include the five animal forms of Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Snake and Monkey. Both of these sets are considered mid-level forms in Hong Quan, and all are considered application-oriented forms.
The keys to the Five Animals are: The Tiger trains the bone, the Leopard trains strength, the Snake trains the Chi, the Crane trains precision and the Dragon trains the spirit. The keys to the Five Forms are: The Tiger is forceful and trains the strength of the bone; the Crane is light and skillful, which trains the understanding of combat angles of both offense and defense; the Snake is gliding, winds around the enemy, and trains the sinking and continuity of Chi; the Monkey is accurate and sharp-eyed,and makes you swift and agile; the Dragon plays out the spirit and the mind fully, so it transforms and controls gang (hard) and rou (soft) completely.
Thus, the Tiger is strong, the Crane is light, the Dragon combines hard and soft, the Snake is continuous in Chi and the Monkey is swift and agile. So another saying says: The Tiger is powerful as if coming down from a mountain forest, the Crane is ready as if resting on the branches and feeding, the Dragon is free as if roaming in the sky between clouds, the Snake is smooth as if gliding swiftly in the grass, the Monkey is alert as if dashing up a tree to grab fruit.
Many of Hong Quans forms imitate the forms and spirits of animals, utilizing these in training with the following goal: Learn the forms, know the spirits, reach the true understanding. This is of the same principle as is stated in the Art of War: Face them with the normal and regular, overwhelm them with the strange and unexpected. Because there are different paths of training in Hong Quan, some concerned mainly with Chi and internal force while others attain victory from the application of various movements, they use different forms and their varying functions to offer the practitioner a choice to best fit his personal ideal, and raise his abilities by interchanging between different systems.
Si Gung Marco has been training martial arts most of his life. At age 9 he was introduced to Japanese arts and practiced karate for several years. He then moved into learning Chinese martial arts at the age of 13. His enthusiasm and dedication to kung fu led him to open his own school at the tender age of 19. He started instructing at the local gym and within six months moved into his own premises.
Since then the centre grew and so did the students whose lives were enriched by a new era of Chinese martial arts. In the pursuit of expanding his unquenchable thirst for the arts Si Gung Marco decided to expand his horizons and seek other styles and schools internationally and he set off to Europe in 1987. His travels took him to the United States in 1988 where he built new relationships with many masters. He then set about the task of liaising with practitioners, masters, and competitors with the purpose of promoting South African Chinese martial arts. In 1989 Si Gung Marco achieved the highest accolade in sport, his South African colours.
He competed successfully internationally. With all the experiences in his travels and competition, he decided that competition would not be the main focus of the school but the teaching of authentic traditional Chinese martial arts. The following year 1990, he coached the South African team for international competition in the USA. The team member performed well and brought home several trophies. He continued to become more competent in his knowledge and became and certified judge and referee.
In 1994 a team selected by Si Gung Marco representing the Chinese Martial Arts & Health Centre attended an international competition in Beijing, China. It was a dream come true for many of the team members to visit the country where kung fu originated. Their performance was outstanding bringing many medals home. In 1999 another team selected by Si Fu Marco again representing Chinese Martial Arts & Health Centre trained diligently in preparation for an international competition in Baltimore, USA. The students participated in the traditional bare-hand, weapon, semi-contact, and full-contact divisions. Several gold, silver, and bronze medals were attained. The students were delighted to participate in the competition but felt that the true benefit was in the training preparation and the camaraderie of the team.
Since 1999 Si Gung Marco has moved his focus away from competition and has travelled extensively to Taiwan to continue his training with Master Chen. More recently he has set up Martial arts seminars and focused on technical and cultural exchanges with his and Master Chen senior students. This has helped strengthen the students’ martial arts understanding and helped foster relations between South Africa and China.
Celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2024 is an outstanding achievement. Over the years Marco has brought over 10 of his students to a Si Fu level in our system. Si Gung Marco spends most of his time traveling and teaching the senior levels of all the schools. He is currently translating Master Chen’s books into English for the benefit of all our English-speaking students around the world.
