Issue 4 2015

Issue 4 2015
DoverTaiChiNH/Big-Knife.jimdo.com
Inside This Issue:
Fajing
Chinese Ninjutsu Connection
All I want for Christmas is a Dadao….
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Cover Photo:
Laoshi Joe Kaffko and
Professor Chris Bashaw.
Photo by Kristy Kaffko
CONTENTS
3-Second Sino-Japanese War
Facts
4– Fajing
6-Iron Shirt Chi Kung
8-Why Train in Chinese
Military Saber?
10-Chinese Ninjutsu
Connection
18-All I want for Christmas is a
Dadao
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Second Sino-Japanese War Facts
Second Sino-Japanese War, 1937–45, conflict between Japanese and Chinese forces for control of the Chinese mainland. The war sapped the Nationalist government's strength while allowing the Communists to gain control over large
areas through organization of guerrilla units. Thus, it was an important factor in the eventual Communist defeat of the
Nationalist forces in 1949. In its early stage, the war was often called the China Incident.
Origins
Following the Manchurian Incident (Sept., 1931), the Japanese Kwantung army occupied Manchuria and established the
puppet state of Manchukuo (Feb., 1932). Japan pressed China to recognize the independence of Manchukuo, suppress
anti-Japanese activities, and form autonomous regional governments in N China. The Japanese were partially successful
in 1933 and 1935 when they forced China to form two demilitarized autonomous zones bordering Manchuria.
Outbreak of War
Growing domestic opposition to the Nationalist government's policy of self-strengthening before counterattacking in N
China and Manchuria led to the kidnapping of Chiang Kai-shek at Xi'an in Dec., 1936, by Chang Hsüeh-liang. Chiang was
forced to agree to a united anti-Japanese front with the Communists as a condition for his release. The situation was
tense, and in 1937 full war commenced. A clash (July, 1937) between soldiers of the Japanese garrison at Beijing and
Chinese forces at the Marco Polo Bridge was the pretext for Japanese occupation at Beijing and Tianjin. Chiang Kai-shek
refused to negotiate an end to hostilities on Japanese terms and placed crack troops outside the Japanese settlement at
Shanghai. After a protracted struggle Shanghai and the national capital, Nanjing, fell to the Japanese. The Chinese broke
the Huang He dikes (June, 1938) to slow the enemy advance. In late 1938, Hankou and Guangzhou were taken.
Japanese strategy was aimed at taking the cities, the roads, and the railroads, thereby gaining a net of control. Thus,
although the Japanese by 1940 had swept over the eastern coastal area, guerrilla fighting still went on in the conquered
regions. The Nationalist government, driven back to a temporary capital at Chongqing, struggled on with little help from
outside. Chinese resources were inadequate, and the supplies sent over the Burma Road were far from sufficient. The
Chinese cause continued to decline despite vast resistance and bloody fighting. Dubious of China's ability to sustain a
protracted war, Wang Ching-wei broke with Chiang Kai-shek and established a collaborationist regime at Nanjing
(1940).
World War II
The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor brought the United States into the war and merged the Sino-Japanese War into
World War II as China declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy. American and British loans and supplies, the establishment of military air bases in China, and the aid of an increasing number of U.S. and British advisers helped relieve
China as Japan diverted armies elsewhere. Nevertheless, China's military position continued to deteriorate until Apr.,
1945. In May the Chinese launched a successful offensive at Zhijiang (Chihkiang) that lasted until Japanese capitulation
on Aug. 14. The Japanese troops in China formally surrendered Sept. 9, 1945. By the provisions of the Cairo Declaration,
Manchuria, Taiwan, and the Pescadores were restored to China.
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Fajing
Fa Jin, Fa chin or Fajing actually translates to 'explosive energy'; this means to discharge power explosively or refining
the explosive power generated by your tai chi, keeping in mind that it is not specific to any particular striking method
or technique. Fajing is a term used in some Chinese martial arts, particularly the internal martial arts, such as Xingyiquan, T'ai chi ch'uan (Taijiquan), Baguazhang, Bak Mei and Bājíquán.
In the practice of tai chi chuan we generally speak of fajing as it relates to a sudden release of energy obtained by the
coordinated movement of the entire body, in particular creating a spiral from dantien that sends the energy from center towards the limb or body part (e.g. shoulder, head, hip) that will perform the technique with explosive force. Every technique can and should express fajing, not just kicks, punches, elbows and knees, but also holds, locks and
throws; as one progresses in their training their instructor should be sharing how to build the potential energy
through tai chi and chi kung and then how to release this stored energy with combat application (tai chi chuan).
According to Erle Montaigue the misconception often portrayed by Westerners of fajing is not “pushing” the attacker
back 20+ feet as a technique, but exploding the energy internally inside of the attacker causing them to simply shake
and fall to the ground either unconscious or dead! It is PUSHING that sends people backwards, not fajing. When we
put chi into someone to cause them to die or explode from within, the individual will vibrate and then fall in front of
you, not to be pushed backward. It is not the “mystical” foo-foo bullshit the unenlightened think that it is. True fajing
happens as a result of focus and power generating chi and placing it in the body of the attacker where the whole body
results in visible shaking and internal damage we cannot see. It is a difficult skill to learn, control and perfect. One cannot actually demonstrate this on any one as to do so would be to severely damage that person (warning statement).
“Discharging energy” is the ability to apply energy due to an alignment of proper body mechanics, relaxation, and focused intent. The Way Tai Chi System© starts the practitioner in the development of fajing with sticky hands practice.
STICKY HANDS BENEFITS
Sticky hands is a sensitivity drill. That many have difficulty
in interpreting at the early stages of practice. But, it is
extremely important in developing martial skill.
-Intensely focusing on a lightness in your own hands and
sensitivity to perceive the flexing of muscle, a change in
pace, or rounded movement becoming angular in your
opponent.
-Understanding which direction a person’s energy is coming from VS when they are going to use force in their action.
-Not combating a push’s force, but rather meeting it and
angling it off (yielding and redirecting) to a side causing
the partner to retreat or deflect.
-By aligning your body, and discharging your energy, fajing can be heightened by understanding sticky hands.
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The fajing methods are revealed the martial applications and intent contained within all of the forms within The Way
Tai Chi System©; the more “hidden” applications are found in the same forms as the student advances his or her practice and study of the system. When using fajing, the promoters of Tai Chi Chuan should seek to harmonize both internal and external movements; ensuring that they co-ordinate the actions of the upper body and lower body in symmetry
and harmony; clearly differentiating weight distribution; and paying strict attention to timing. This is where your forms
are so important. When first learning your forms you often resemble a mechanical robot in regards to your motion as
you try to learn the movements, synchronize left with right– upper with lower, and internal with external. Over-time
balance and harmony of the process becomes flow. And this process assists in the development of fajing. True fajing is
more than simple brute strength. Rather, it is a sudden, relaxed and fluid explosion of power. Though many people understand Tai Chi Chuan only as a slow motion dance-like exercise, one must understand that the reality is that it was
created as a martial art and not a healing art or exercise that it is known today (but be assured it is also those as well).
Fajing training is important in so much as it is the ultimate objective of Tai Chi practice... to reach a state of balance that
is fifty percent hard and fifty percent soft, yin and yang.
The “One Inch Punch”, which was made world famous by Bruce Lee, is in truth an application of fajing in practice.
The “One Inch Punch” can easily be learned, if one understands the principle behind it; the principle is more than external mechanics, but an infusion of internal as well. Fajing is generated differently depending on the style that embraces
it. In Tai Chi Chuan it is generated with shaking the waist violently. In Wudang Weng Shun Kuen it is generated from
the ground. And some fajing can be generated from the wrist itself. With all these methods the key is relaxation. Without relaxation one can never generate fajing effectively.
Rien Bul, in his article “Fa Jing” suggests to try the following:
“Hold your hand horizontally, palm down, the fingers hanging down. Then make a SUDDEN punching-movement. The
hand should snap into a fist by itself from the sudden speed. The arm and hand should stay relaxed at all times. Also
when the hand is already clenched into a fist. NEVER tighten up! Relaxation and the suddenness of the movements are
major ingredients in the effectiveness of Fa Jing. The opponent can’t prepare himself for it, can’t “brace himself”, so to
speak. That is why it is called “explosive power” and also “release power”. It can be applied to free yourself from holds,
to pull an opponent off balance, for pushing, palm strikes and punches of Bruce Lee’s famous “one inch punch” variety.”
The mechanics this punching method is performed with the elbow down. By tilting the fist slightly upward at the moment of impact, “launch” the knuckles of the little and ring fingers, with a short “jolting” movement, into the target. Do
not do this prior to actually having contacted the target. At the moment of impact, the arm should not be fully
stretched. First stretch your arm after actual contact with the target is made and at the same time you “launch” your
knuckles in an upward arc into it. At the same time, use your footwork to swivel from the hips. This gives you a few extra inches of arm length. Practice until you can hit without stopping at the surface, going through it! The conventional
way of hitting disperses the force over the surface of the target, while hitting INTO the
target creates a shockwave that damages the inside. It is of the utmost importance
that you stay relaxed at all times. This doesn’t just enhance the speed of the punch,
but it also prohibits “telegraphing”. Most importantly it makes your arm into a whiplike structure through which the fajing can travel freely. “Explode” into a sudden movement that goes from zero to 120… within a fraction of a second.
The truth is, is that The “One Inch Punch” SHOULD in fact be a “NO INCH
PUNCH” (“One Inch is already too far away”). That is how what it was originally intended. The technique is typical for the Neija (Internal) styles of Gung Fu like Tai Chi Chuan
and Weng Shun Kuen.
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Iron Shirt Chi Kung
Iron Shirt Chi Kung is a form of hard style martial art exercise for protecting the human body from impacts in a fight.
This is said to be one of the 72 arts of the Shaolin Temple. Some martial arts are based on the idea that a correctly
trained body can withstand more damage than one that is untrained. Iron Shirt is said to be a series of exercises using
many post stances, herbs, qigong and body movements to cause the body's natural energy (qi) to reinforce its structural strength. Practitioners believe that directing energy to parts of the body can reinforce these parts of the body to
take blows against them. Iron Shirt Chi Kung was initially developed for martial art purposes, but can be used for restoring vitality and strength to the body. It involves special breathing techniques such as packing and the empty force.
Long before the advent of firearms, Iron Shirt Chi Kung built powerful bodies that were able to withstand hand-to-hand
combat. One of the seldom discussed aspects of Iron Shirt Chi Kung is the use of sound. One of the most astoundingly
powerful healing treatments recently “discovered” by mainstream medicine is sound therapy (now keep in mind if we
can put something back together with healing, a martial artist can use the same principles to destroy)— and one of the
oldest forms of sound therapy comes from the ancient practice of Chi Kung.
Of the thousands of forms of Chi Kung exercises, the healing sounds practice is one of the best known. With the healing sounds practice, specific sounds correspond to certain organs and energy channels in the body. And yes, this is used
to heal, but we can also utilize this information to enhance our martial ability against our opponent (the dark side of
the force) as we enhance (the good side of the force) our “Iron Shirt” in defense. The key you must keep in mind
throughout this article and with the application of this practice is INTENT/INTENTION. A qualified teacher can help
further explain this in your training classes.
The Eight Sounds to Practice
Here are the general effects of each of the 8 healing sounds as practiced standing still:

Ah is a smooth, steady sound that benefits the lungs and relieves respiratory illnesses (asthma, bronchitis, colds,
etc.).

Hh is a silent sound, a quiet exhalation good for the heart and circulation, heart palpitations, chest discomfort,
shortness of breath, heartburn, and irritability.

Heng is a quick, sharp sound that clears up the kidneys, lower back pain, prostate illness, some reproductive conditions, and ringing in the ears.

Hu is a deep, droning sound beneficial for the stomach, excessive or suppressed appetite, and abdominal gas.

Mer is a low, drawn out sound (moo-r) that affects the spleen, thereby alleviating digestive problems.

Xu is a quiet, protracted sound (shh) that’s great for the liver, lower back, some intestinal issues, erectile dysfunction, and urinary difficulties.

•Yi is extended sound (pronounced like the long e, as in easy) that controls the flow of qi in the human body. It can
be especially useful for headaches and back soreness.

Hong is a lingering, sonorous sound that stimulates the lymph system and facilitates the elimination of waste from
the body.
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Each person will vocalize the sounds in his or her own unique way, depending on such factors as:

Breath• Lung capacity• Visualization• Enthusiasm• Vocal cords• Intention• Energy level• Concentration• Emotional state
Especially because individuals naturally vary the sounds to meet their own needs, “Ah for example, my Ah is going to be
different from your Ah.”
The important thing to remember is that whatever sound you vocalize is the right sound for you in that moment—just
as long as you’re practicing proper breathing techniques and intentionality.
Experts say it’s best to start with practicing the 8 sounds while seated. Settle into a comfortable position and let your
mind become quiet. Start by focusing on your breath (mindfulness practice), and then “for each of the sounds, breathe
into your belly [and] as you exhale, make the sound.” Your intention behind the sounds comes both from your Third
Eye as well as your dantien or center.
If you’re practicing the sounds properly, you should be able to feel the sound vibrate
throughout your entire body. Use intent and fajing to send them with the intent behind the
sound into your opponent.
There must be intention behind the practice (either for healing or destruction). Without the
proper intention, the sound is meaningless.
Ideally, you should repeat each sound several times so that the entire practice takes between 15 and 20 minutes. It is suggested that you do 12, 16, or even 24 repetitions of each
of the sounds. Care should be taken when practicing the destructive aspect of the sounds as
the inexperienced practitioner can and often does cause injury to themselves. It is suggested to master the healing first
and then under the instruction of a qualified teacher to work on the dark side of projection. Through healing yourself,
strengthening your body, the Iron Shirt aspect of protection to yourself comes in a defensive capacity.
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Why Train in Chinese Military Saber?
The Chinese Military Big-Saber 大刀 (Da Dao) was made famous by the 29th
Army of the Chinese Nationalist Army fighting against the Japanese invaders
during the 1930s. Legend has it that it's so effective that heads could be cut off easily with ease.
The 29th Army fought and held their position for 7 days and 7 nights at Xifengkou, killing 3000 enemies. However, in
the 500 elite soldiers of the 大刀隊 (Da Dao Dui) "Big-Saber Contingent", only 20 survived (but that is 20 more than the
Japanese).
The Chinese Military Saber is the last TRUE WAR SWORD that was used on the modern battlefield and holds a rich history that the TIGER SWORD SCHOOL is reintroducing to the martial arts community; a tradition almost lost and is rarely
known by many martial artists and their systems. Nowhere is the association between the martial arts and the militarization of the population more evident than in the creation of “Dadao Teams” between the 1920s and the 1940s.
History reveals that the legacy of this weapon was attributed to both men and female paramilitary. Japanese sword
systems come from a male based culture, while Chinese Military Saber embraced both genders with an effective style
for both. Currently the dadao is enjoying something of a revival among students of the Chinese martial arts and they
are bringing the dadao back into the training hall after a nearly half century absence. The recent uptick in the popularity of “realistic” weapons training also seems to be accelerating this general trend further. It was so popular in the
1920s and 1930s that there are many different styles of use just waiting to be “discovered” and reconstructed.
The TIGER SWORD SCHOOL is one of those systems reconstructing the training of the Chinese Military Saber. The TIGER
SWORD SCHOOL was founded to help further the study of the Chinese Military Saber and spread the teachings of this
art throughout the world. The training of the TIGER SWORD SCHOOL also includes combat styled hand to hand and
bayonet/tactical knife training which compliments the forms and advanced levels of Chinese Military Sword Training.
The TIGER SWORD
SCHOOL is a multilevel
system that takes the
novice up to instructor
level. Students can learn
the TIGER SWORD
SCHOOL system of Chinese Military Saber by
attending weekly classes
in their main kwoon in
Dover, NH (USA) or
through attending and
hosting seminars. Those
attending two TIGER SWORD SCHOOL seminars can speak with the Dover School to obtain permission to start a study
group in their area and host further seminars.
The concept of a Formal Chinese Sword School is rare. And like formal Korean and Japanese Sword Schools the training
is historically based and realistic, and in the case of training in Chinese Military Saber something that is very unique. We
hope you will consider training in Chinese Military Saber.
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Chinese Ninjutsu Connection
The information shared here is bound to upset “Ninjutsu Purists”. How can an art that is Japanese's be Chinese? It is true
that Ninjutsu is truly Japanese, but it does have Chinese roots and a Chinese equal. The information shared here comes
from the International Ninjutsu Society.
The Ren Shu, also known as Foshin Lin Qui, Lin Qui, were an ancient clan that operated in Southern china many hundred of years ago. This individual clan's past and history was shrouded in mystery until now. The true Ren Shu were
farmers that resided in the deep parts of the forests around 587. Some of the farmers were masters in different self
defense systems. The villages were attacked by solders, thugs and bandits etc. the farmers came together and designed
a self defense system like no other. The art never got a name from its founders. The name Lin Qui (Kuei) came from the
bandits and solders of Emperor Wen of Sui (541-604), personal name Yang Jian, was the founder and first emperor of
China's Sui Dynasty. during China's Sui Dynasty (Hanyu Pinyin: suí cháo, 581-618) followed the Southern and Northern
Dynasties and preceded the Tang Dynasty in China. The Tang Dynasty (pinyin: tángcháo) (June 18, 618 – June 4, 907)
followed the Sui Dynasty and preceded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. The dynasty was interrupted by the Second Zhou Dynasty (October 16, 690 – March 3, 705) when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne. The
dynasty was founded by the Li family.. It ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes some of the Lin
Qui traveled to other parts of Asia, Japan and Korea to teach their secret arts and ways to the local villagers. The Lin
Qui broke up in to two main groups. Over the years, many of these methods were used and were incorporated into the
art of ninjutsu, also called shinobi no jutsu, a collection of techniques originally practiced for espionage purposes. It includes methods of gathering information, non-detection, avoidance, and misdirection techniques. Ninjutsu can also involve training in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, and explosives.
Practitioners of ninjutsu have been seen as assassins for hire, and have been associated in the public imagination with
other activities which are considered criminal by modern standards. Even though it was influenced by Chinese spying
techniques and the strategic principles of Sun Tzu, ninjutsu is believed by its adherents to be of Japanese origin. One
version is that the basis of ninjutsu was taught to a Japanese household who fled to the mountains after losing a battle.
There they came across Chinese warrior monks who had fled China. Later, the skills were developed over 300 years to
create what we now call ninjutsu.
Although the popular view is that ninjutsu is the art of secrecy or stealth, actual practitioners consider it to mean the
art of enduring - enduring all of life's hardships. The character nin carries both these meanings.
In the modern world the word ninjutsu usually refers to a certain system (Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu) of self defense, and
its offshoots. It is true that ninjutsu has a long and myth-filled history, but today almost anyone is allowed to practice
modern ninjutsu. As one makes progress in ninjutsu the system gets more sophisticated, and one might realize that the
system contains more than fighting skills. To avoid misunderstandings, "ninjutsu" should just refer to a specific branch
of Japanese martial arts, unless it is being used in a historical sense.
It is believed that some Lin Qui stayed in Japan and made a living as mountain hermits or priests, known as the Yamabushi.
Yamabushi began as yamahoshi, isolated clusters (or individuals) of mountain hermits, ascetics, and 'holy men,' who
followed the path of shugendo, a search for spiritual, mystical, or supernatural powers gained through asceticism. This
path may or may not have had a founder, as the myths surrounding En no Gyoja are numerous and complex; he is quite
similar to a Japanese Merlin in this way. Men who followed this path came to be known by a variety of names, including
kenja, kenza, and shugenja. These mountain mystics came to be renowned for their magical abilities and occult
knowledge, and were sought out as healers or mediums, known as miko. Most of these ascetics, in addition to their
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devotion to shugendo, studied the teachings of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, or the Shingon sect, established by Kobo
Daishi in the 8th century. Shingon was one of the primary sects of Esoteric Buddhism, according to which enlightenment
is found through isolation, and the study and contemplation of oneself, as well as nature, and esoteric images called
mandala. Both the Shingon sect and the Tendai viewed mountains as the ideal place for this sort of isolation and contemplation of nature. In their mountain retreats, these monks studied not only nature and religious/spiritual texts and
images, but also a variety of martial arts. Whether they felt they had to defend themselves from bandits, other monks,
or samurai armies is questionable, but the idea of studying martial arts as a means to improve oneself mentally and
spiritually, not just physically, has always been central to Japanese culture, outside from the specific tenets of one religious sect or another. Thus, like the sohei, the yamabushi became warriors as well as monks.
As their reputation for mystical insight and knowledge grew,
and their organization grew tighter, many of the masters of the
ascetic disciplines began to be appointed to high spiritual positions in the court hierarchy. Monks and temples began to gain
political influence. By the Nanboku-cho Period, in the 13th and
14th centuries, the yamabushi had formed organized cohorts
called konsha, and these konsha, along with sohei and other
monks began to take direction from the central temples of their
sects. They assisted Emperor Go-Daigo in his attempts to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate, and proved their warrior skills
to be up to the challenge of fighting professional samurai armies.
Several centuries later, in the Sengoku Period, yamabushi could
be found among the advisors & armies of nearly every major contender for dominion over Japan. Some, led by Takeda
Shingen, aided Oda Nobunaga against Uesugi Kenshin in 1568, while others, including the abbot Sessai Choro, advised
Tokugawa Ieyasu. Many fought alongside their fellow monks, the Ikko-ikki, against Nobunaga, who eventually crushed
them and put an end to the time of the warrior monks.They have since disappeared. Other Lin Kuei traveled to Korea
and continued their teachings and were named the sulsa warriors.
It is believed that they were monks who practiced their ways and customs. the Lin Qui lived secretly in caves, huts in
nearby forests for centuries. Over the years the system masters refined the art and housed it as a family system. Lin
Qui is still taught to day only to a select few. The Head Shr Lin, of the Sanwang Yi Ren Shu System, was Shi LI Wei (Gook
Guon Lui) .
Yin Sen Shu
Yin Sen Shu is one of China's more unusual martial arts. It is known that the Japanese ninja and the Korean Um Tang
Kwon took their technical and tactical bases from a series of Chinese clans, made up of assassins and spies who know
themselves commonly by the names Kuei, Ren Shu, and Fa-Shu and the name the Chinese gave them was Techniques of
Disappearance Also known as the wanderer's or vagabond's style, its interesting and varied history spans many centuries and many provinces.
The Yin Sen Shu is one of China's more unusual martial arts. It has a very interesting and varied history that spans many
centuries and many provinces. The style is also known by the names of Beggar's style and Vagabond School/Style. As
the name implies, it is a martial art that is practiced primarily among China's wandering beggar's population, who form
a loose knit society that is found all over China. They are the equivalent to the infamous "Gypsies" of Europe, sharing
the same transient lifestyle and sometimes "shady" practices.
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The people of this "society" earn their living primarily by entertaining crowds of people with astonishing feats of acrobatics, magic tricks, and displays of Qi Gung prowess. They also sell herbal medicines, heal the sick and injured, perform
exorcisms, break bad luck spells, make love potions, and do fortune telling. Sometimes they do burglaries, pick pocketing, and other forms of thievery. The feats of the Beggars are often legendary, as they thrill the crowds in the streets
of China's major cities with their skills and magic.
Often, these Beggars found themselves in perilous situations. To protect themselves in their wanderings, they also
practiced martial arts, which was composed of a mixture of Northern and Southern style techniques of Chinese martial
arts. Over time, the Beggar's style came to be a blend of techniques from all over China that were very direct and severe in their application. More often than not, the style was used in life or death situations, especially since mercenaries and revolutionaries were recruited from the Beggar's ranks.
The Beggar's are very secretive of their style and it is very difficult to learn the style's devastating moves if one is not a
member of one of their sects. Various Beggars joined themselves into sects to help take care of one another or to carry
out some clandestine acts for the cause of good or evil. Many different sects were formed by the Beggars, some were
politically motivated to help some group or another come into power, others were motivated by more selfish motives
and were centered around thievery. Other Beggar's sects were associated with the occult aspects of Taoism. These
types of sects are very strange and are divided into two main schools, the Orthodox and the Demoniac (also called the
Sorcerous). The Orthodox school practices martial arts, magic, and healing for the good of others. On the other hand,
the Demoniac school practices such things for more negative reasons. The two schools never intermingle, followers of
one will never practice those of the other.
Military Influence
During the period of the Warring States (over two hundred years between 403 BC and 221 BC), China was divided into
many subkingdoms as the various members of the nobility fought against each other in a struggle for supremacy. Over
230 battles were fought during this time period, both large and small. As life became very turbulent for the people of
the countryside, various philosophers arose to help find a way to deal with the times. Many new ideologies arose, each
with a number of followers: Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, and others. Different classes of society took to
one or the other of these schools of thought.
One large class of people, the Military, took after the teachings and philosophy of Sun Wu and Wu Chi, who wrote "Sun
Tze's Arts of War" and "Wu Tze's Arts of War", respectively. Sun Wu was a famous general and Wu Chi was the prime
minister of the state of Ch'u. Their books discussed military strategy for armies (and soldiers), fighting skills, climate
forecasting skills, geography analysis skills, and psychological analysis skills. The theories of both works were studied
thoroughly and over time many remarkable skills and ideas were advanced and developed from them.
The fighting techniques that came from these ancient books were
used by many people throughout the land, especially the peasants
and the poor. These techniques were spread from the exclusive domain of the nobility to those of the lower classes by the famous
Knights Errant, who traveled China in the distant past like "Robin
Hood" figures, aiding those in need. These techniques are often
called the Core Techniques, because they are repeatedly seen as
the foundational techniques that are in common to almost all of
China's traditional martial arts styles. This is because their simplicity, effectiveness, and ease of use make them very practical for
many self defense applications.
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Today, many Chinese martial arts styles still exhibit these core techniques that were developed in the war books. The
Sun Bin (developed by a famous general and grandson to Sun Wu) and the Shuai Chiao styles originated during this
time period and are mostly composed of the core techniques. Since the techniques were developed for the Military,
they were very efficient and effective in the severity with which they were applied.
These early devastating fighting techniques are thought to be one of the roots of the Beggars Style, being passed down
generation by generation. By the Beggar's Style's absorption of only the most severe core techniques of various Chinese martial arts styles, both the Military and Beggar's styles share a similar austere look and practical approach to
ruthlessly overwhelming an opponent. Thus, the core techniques of both styles are very similar, not only in execution
but intent.
Taoist Influence
Another root to the Beggar's style is their various interpretations of Taoism. By the time of the Western Han Dynasty
(about 206 BC to 7 AD), Emperor Wen promoted the philosophy of Taoism, which was founded by Lao-Tse and ChuangTse. Born out of the Warring States era, as a philosophy, Taoism discussed the principles of leading a peaceful life by
discarding all human desires and worries. Taoism looked to the regular cyclic patterns exhibited in nature and in the
universe and implied that humanity was merely a part of these regular cycles. Thus, one should be content by simply
being and shouldn't unnaturally strive to make things happen, instead one should become one with the cycling's of life.
Over time, as people investigated these various natural cycles and occurrences, they were able to also discover the
chemical changes that took place in the world, such as the smelting of minerals, and changes that occurred in the human body. Gradually, the basis for this knowledge led to the development of Alchemy, which works with the various
transformations that minerals and chemicals undergo, and to the development of various Qi and Nei Gungs, which
work with the various transformations that body energy undergoes. Later, Indian Buddhism was imported into China
and it too was found to be concerned with Qi and Nei Gungs. Finally, a new religion was developed in China, that of
Religious Taoism, which combined all these ideas together into a more formal system. Unfortunately, the next time
period, the Eastern Dynasty (about 25 to 220 AD) was also a time of great turmoil. Militarists revived the study of
"Sun's and Wu's Arts of War" in response. But, some Taoists combined these military arts with the scientific principles
of alchemy to form a very esoteric and mysterious school of Taoism that is often associated with Black Magic. These
Taoist followers disassociated themselves from the original, orthodox (and peaceful, noninterfering) nature of Taoism.
They instead worked on researching matters that were similar to sorcery and witchcraft, centered around both killing
and life saving. Their practices were condemned as heresy by the orthodox Taoists because they involved such things
as assassination, ambush, spying, and poisoning. The Orthodox branch separated from the heretics and was called the
"Refining and Cultivating Sect" and the "Sect of the Alchemists". This branch pushed the doctrine of refining one's nature so as to be able to achieve immortality. Chi and Nei Gung, Meditation, Quietude, and Alchemy were emphasized
into its religious system of philosophy, science, health, and martial arts. The chief school of this more positive branch
was called the "Chuan Chun" or "Perfectly True" Denomination.
The Heretical branch came under the "Amulet Sect" (which had three denominations: Lung Hu/Dragon Tiger Style, the
He Fu Style, and the Mou Shan Style). Despite the public disdain, loyal practitioners silently passed on its skills throughout history. (In fact, during the 6th Century, followers of one of these sects traveled east to Japan and help develop the
infamous Ninjutsu, who learned the skills of manipulating fires, medicines, and poisons, as well as mind reading, disappearing, and other mysterious pursuits). As generations passed on the heretical knowledge, specialized areas of the
Black Arts developed, such as being expert in burglary, killing, casting spells, witchcraft, and simple magic tricks. Such
practitioners became sought out for their abilities and people paid handsomely for them when they needed such
things. Thus, some became alchemists to kill or to heal. Soon, people wished to earn a living with such occult skills and
traveled to wherever their services were needed. Often these people masqueraded behind simple magic tricks and
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and physical feats as they traveled the countryside with bands of roving entertainers and beggars.
As the various Chinese dynasties came and went throughout the ages, the secrecy of this branch caused its various
sects to become scattered and lost, and they took on many different names (the most infamous being the Mou Shan
Shu sect, who practiced evil Taoist witchcraft to cure, bewitch, exorcise, and work with spirits and the dead). Such sects
also are part of the roots of the Beggar's Style of martial arts and compose the social circles that it operates in and
through. The Beggar's Style is inseparable from its dark arts influences.
Political Influence
Centuries later, the time of the Yuan Dynasty (1227 to 1368 AD) saw the Han Chinese people overcome by the Mongolians. Many revolutionary groups arose throughout China to try to overpower the invading government, often in competition with one another. A Han national named Lee was forced to work in the palace and become a eunuch. He picked
up a set of black arts techniques and when rebellions broke out all over China, he escaped the palace and set up a secret revolutionary group. But, Chu Yuan Chang's revolutionary force was first to be successful in overcoming the Mongolian rulers and he became the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Eunuch Lee and all the other rebel groups in China had
to disband their forces and soon these various people roamed the countryside, essentially being rebels without a
cause. As many of these people were from the extreme poverty of the lower social classes, they used their occult practices to be burglars, street magicians, exorcists, or sell medicine as they wandered. But, many of the members of these
groups maintained contact as they traveled, using secret codes, gestures, and messages to identify themselves and
communicate. Eventually, these peoples formed a loose network that became known as the Beggar's or Vagabond's
School. They grew to be a strong power along the coastal areas of North and South Eastern China.
Formation of the Vagabond's School
When the Manchurians invaded China and established the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911), the various rebel groups were
again given a cause to follow. Many revolutionaries were recruited from the various traveling Beggars and were known
as the Vagabond's School, hiding out amongst the traveling Beggar troupes. The practice of martial arts became very
important to one's survival and was also useful to assassinate the Manchurian guards and spies. Many areas of southern China was successfully able to be free of Manchurian rule for decades.
Once the Manchurians were finally defeated and the China Republic was formed, these revolutionary activities were
again no longer needed and the Vagabonds went back to their old ways and methods. But, this time they remained together via roving groups. They were most concentrated in such places as Shantung, Kiangsi, and Hunan provinces. Originally, they operated in the northern Chinese provinces, but since the winters are too harsh there for homeless travelers, they collectively migrated to the warm south and to the basin area of the Pearl River. By February or March of the
next year, they moved back again. This has been done for many generations.
Originally, the purposes of the Vagabond School and Beggar's Societies were to resist foreign aggression, stand against
tyrannies, act with a sense of justice, and fight the strong to help the weak. But, being that the members these roving
groups came from all walks of life, both criminal and not, good and bad was intermingled in them. As ever, both the
Orthodox and Demoniac (heretical) skills were a strong part of the traveling Vagabond School.
Beggar's Style Martial Arts
The main types of skills emphasized by the Orthodox branch include medical healing skills (herbs, etc.), osteopathy,
hunting skills, acrobatics, Qi Gungs, and martial arts. The Vagabonds or Beggars made good use of these skills to earn a
living. Martial arts are essential to them because as they traveled amongst the more baser elements of society, they
needed martial arts training to survive. Thus, they developed the Beggar's or Vagabond Style. This style was so effective
and deadly that Fan Shiu Wai, a Beggar Stylist, when traveling overseas, entered a no-holds barred martial art contest.
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Wearing no protection, he won the contest by killing his opponent, a Thai Boxer champion, in a few moves.
Beggar's Style martial arts when witnessed are seen to be a mixture of the strong points of both the Northern and the
Southern schools of China. As the Beggars roamed the land, they picked up and integrated more of the most efficient
and effective of techniques, including those of the Dim Mak (one finger "poison" strikes to vital acupuncture point areas), and added these to the core techniques they already practiced.
Generally, the Beggar's Style is noted for its complete independence from gentlemanly rules generally followed in Chinese martial arts. That is, they do not perform pretty movements, instead they act according to circumstances and do
not pay attention to politeness. Also, fighters of Beggar's Style use neither "distance" fighting (long range) nor "hand-tohand" (short range) fighting. Its movements are very quick, hurtful, and fierce. Attacks are made immediately to the vital parts. Often techniques are employed that cause death as soon as they are made. This is due to the fact that Beggars
were often caught in extreme circumstances and fast action was needed. Thus, there is great secrecy often associated
with the teaching of this style.
There is not a large number of techniques in the sets or
forms (kata) practiced by the Beggar's Style. The main
forms used are Shaolin Tiger Boxing form, a Lo Han Boxing form, Mo Tang Chiang form, general Ten-Postured
Boxing (Shih Xing Quan), Blind Man Wiping the Wall
form, and others. The weapons used are the silvery needles, iron rulers, meteor hammers, staff, sai, spear, harrow, rattan shield and single broad sword (used together), Chai Yang Halberd, double short knives, butterfly
knives, flying pendulum, and even the towel, among others.
The hand techniques of the style have a close relationship to those used by the Southern Hakka (a type of
Southern Mantis), Fukien (White Crane, Tiger, and other
Southern Shaolin), and Min-Nam martial arts styles. The
boxing forms are simple and short, hands are placed in
front of the chest mostly in defense, narrow stances, and
many movements are applied with one hand to grab and
the other hand to punch. The leg techniques show some
of the distinctive kicks that are typically part of the
Northern Chinese styles.
Even though the Beggar's Style exhibits many of the
same core techniques found in all traditional Chinese
martial arts styles that can be traced back to the Sun and Wu Arts of War, these same moves are given vulgar or inelegant names. Most of these movements have an evasive, deceitful, "dirty tricks", and cruel nature that makes their application seem similar to street fighting. Often, concealed weapons are used, such as metal fingernails, dirt to the eyes,
etc. Remember, Beggars use their martial arts to survive very tough situations, as they travel among some of the worse
elements and places in society, living their out of doors, transient lifestyle. The purpose of the Beggar's Style is not to
produce elegant boxers, but to train the practitioners to efficiently and effectively defeat the opponents, immediately.
The deadly military tactics of the Art of War are ingeniously applied in this style. Often they are used by people are do
not consider themselves martial arts experts but simply people with a need to survive their dangerous encounters.
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Common Fighting Techniques/Postures
There are a few techniques that are fully representative of the Beggar's Style and by which the style is most easily recognized by.
Some of the techniques are from the South and some from the North. Following is their description:
"Beggar Asking for Rice" - is the pre-fighting or "ready" posture of the style. Both hands are positioned in front of the
chest, the right hand being placed out front, and the left hand placed behind it and lower, left fingertips near the right
elbow. The right palm is turned to face up (left faces down). The legs are placed in a "half hanging meridian stance" or
"cat stance", right leg directly in front of the left, forming a 90 degree angle (heels lined up). The right hand is used to
intercept the opponent's incoming attacks from the middle upper direction, while the left hand does the same for incoming attacks from the middle lower direction. For defense, the right hand usually responds to "block" (redirect) and
grapple the attacker's hand and leaves the left hand free to counter-attack the opponent. This similar to hand movements in the Wing Chun style (chi sao).
This pre-fighting stance is very similar to Southern Mantis' pre-fighting stance, which is also called the "Beggar's
Stance", the only difference being the legs. The Southern Mantis uses a back leaning stance, with the front foot turned
perpendicular to the back foot. The hand movements are about the same, except Southern mantis has refined them to
a greater degree.
"Blind Man Wiping The Wall" - this technique most exemplifies the characteristics that are unique to the style. It is a
simple, unflowery movement in which one hand grabs and the other counterattacks (i.e., punch, joint lock, dim mak,
etc.). Both hands are raised in front of the chest and drop forward to the right in a counterclockwise manner and then
are raised upward to the left to complete a circle. Immediately then, the hands are pushed forward together, while the
left leg suddenly steps forward, making maximum impact. The technique is
also done in a clockwise manner, with right leg stepping forward.
The application of the technique is to use the force of the circular movement of the two hands together to parry and redirect incoming attacks,
open up the opponent, and then quickly counterattack by pushing the
hands out into the opponent. The hands are used to blind, claw, strike,
push, or topple of the opponent. The technique is very similar to the
"Butterfly Hands" technique seen in such Southern Chinese styles as Five
Animals, Fut Gar, and Hung Gar.
"Thrush Threading on the Open Rack" - in this technique, if the opponent is wide open, the forefingers reach out and
grab the collarbone, pulling it done, while stepping forward and delivering a knee strike. This is often followed by "Open
the Door to See the Moon", in which the defender's hands suddenly let go and separate while a massive head butt is
delivered.
"Yellow Dog Scratching At the Sand" - is a technique where the defender suddenly drops to the ground. Here the defender crouches into a kneeling posture, scratches the ground (to pick up dirt and refuse) and then stretches to rise as
both arms swing forward to throw material into the opponent's face. What follows next is usually a sudden kick to the
groin and a straight blast punch. The technique is done mostly when the opponent has a weapon at hand.
"Cock Seizing the Eggs" - is a deadly technique done with metal fingernails put on the ends of the fingers. The hands
cross in front, grabbing while the body is leaned forward, and then suddenly the body leans back as the hands separate
widely, clawing the opponent severely.
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"Thunder God Cleaving Rocks" - is another crouching technique, in this one, one arm redirects an incoming blow up
and way (overhead) and as the defender suddenly kneels down in a cross legged position, a swift, strong punch is delivered straight down into the opponent's groin or abdomen.
"Two Snakes Splitting Up in Different Directions" - is a hand technique in which a double uppercut punch is delivered
and then a step forward is taken while both fists open into palms and the fingertips suddenly stab into the opponent's
abdomen, throat, and so on.
Various Hand Techniques - many hand techniques from Southern Shaolin are employed, all of them involve first redirecting an incoming blow and grabbing the opponent's arm, while the defender simultaneously counters, often with an
elbow, overhead hammer strike, a backfist, or a claw to the face (known as "Hungry Tiger Catching the Lamb"). Sometimes if a grab is not made, the incoming blow is punched down or away with a forearm while counterattacking.
From Shaolin's Crane system, a technique known as "The Roc Stretching Its Wings" is used in which an incoming blow
is intercepted by a crossed hands approach and then the arms are suddenly spread open like bird's wings and the force
of the movements continued to strike the opponent's neck with a palm edge strike. The style makes use of many of the
hand movements of the Tiger system as well. There are many tiger claw techniques employed in much the same way as
those done by Shaolin's Five Animals, Hung Gar, Choy Li Fut, and others. The upside down leopard punch is used in
some Beggar's style forms. Even the famous Shaolin bridge hand (with characteristic index finger pointing up) is employed to intercept and redirect incoming attacks, which is most known by Southern martial arts styles.
The Beggar's style also employs long range hand techniques that come from such Northern styles as Lohan Shaolin.
From it, such techniques as "Lohan Drying a Corpse in the Sun", "Lohan Coming Out of the Cave", and others are used
that involve redirecting an incoming blow by intercepting it with a swinging motion of the arms while swiftly swinging
the other fist out in a counterattack as an uppercut, hammer, straight punch, etc.
Leg Techniques - are not as numerous as in many Northern styles, but the few employed are effective. Knee strikes,
sudden leg sweeps, front kicks, springing leg kicks, and jumping kicks are the main ones used.
"Left and Right Illusory Kicks" - is one of the main kicking techniques of the style, coming from Northern China. The left
leg fakes an attack in order to distract the opponent (or block an incoming attack) and then the right leg suddenly delivers a violent kick when the opponent is preoccupied with the faked left kick or is unable to respond to his blocked
attack. Often a straight punch is delivered at the end of the right kick for good measure.
"Tiger Tail Kick" - is a close range kick technique that is executed be suddenly squatting down, hands on the ground,
and then while bent over delivering a tremendous side kick into the opponent. While the opponent is falling back from
the blow, the defender can rush in, grab the opponent with the left hand, and deliver a smashing back fist to the face.
Often the kick is done after a sweep and as soon as the opponent
falls, the kick is made to the opponent's head.
Conclusion
The Beggar's style is a very rarely known one that is most secretive
about its existence. All in all, the style is one practiced for the survival
of a nomadic subculture that is often faced with dangerous living conditions. As such, it has no use for flowery movements, and all its techniques are meant to be very efficient and effective in their delivery.
Though its stances and techniques may seem exotic and unusual,
even cruel, they are second to none in self-defense application.
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Běi Měizhōu 'Hao Ch'uan' Association
Běi Měizhōu 'Hao ch'uan' simply translated to a modern verbiage “North American Tai Chi Chuan”. The name for the
North American continent is běi měizhōu; and 'hao ch'uan' means loose boxing”. A more straightforward translation is
‘the loose boxing method of the American continent’.
Many Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan practitioners and schools in North America have no organization to call home; the Běi
Měizhōu 'Hao Ch'uan' Association can be that home. The Běi Měizhōu 'Hao Ch'uan' Association aims to bring together
all forms and styles of Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan and operate in association with each individual to promote and successfully influence clubs to higher recognition World Wide. The Běi Měizhōu 'Hao Ch'uan' Association does not discriminate against any style of Tai Chi Chuan or Tai Chi, we are here to assist all styles and all sizes of clubs, from smaller
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our members. We do not interfere with the running of individual schools but support and recognize each martial artist
and club as highly valued members within the Běi Měizhōu 'Hao Ch'uan' Association.
We do not GOVERN your school; your rules and regulations are your own and we respect every instructors discipline
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The Běi Měizhōu 'Hao Ch'uan' Association accepts Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan traditions from all lineages. We are very
glad to offer a FREE MEMBERSHIP to all those, who are interested to join us as a member of our organization. To join email the
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website of where you study (instructors may register their club).
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enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and mu (the void).
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