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Thursday, December 30, 2021


Kung Fu Conversations Podcast - Episode #9 - Classical vs Modern Training Methods

In this episode, Owen and Randel discuss classical martial arts training methods vs modern training methods and their similarities and differences. 

Learn Chinese Internal Kung Fu at Boulder Internal Martial Arts 

Monday, December 20, 2021

Kung Fu Conversations Podcast - Episode #8 - Speed and its Function in Martial Arts

Kung Fu Conversations Podcast - Episode #8 - Speed and its Function in Martial Arts

In this episode, Owen and Randel discuss speed, hot nasty speed, in the martial arts.

Learn Chinese Internal Kung Fu at Boulder Internal Martial Arts 


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Kung Fu Conversations Podcast - Episode #7 - Kung Fu Movies, Flying Magical Daoists, and Real Kung Fu Training

Kung Fu Conversations Podcast - Episode #7 - Episode #7 - Kung Fu Movies, Flying Magical Daoists, and Real Kung Fu Training

Learn Chinese Internal Kung Fu at Boulder Internal Martial Arts 

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Fundamentals of the Wudang Sword Method - a Manual of Chinese Swordsmanship trans. S.M. Rodell

 


第五戒無恆


學劍者。當發義俠心。堅毅心。勇敢心。孔子曰。人而無恆。不可以作巫醫。況學劍乎。勿謂身弱而自餒。勿謂質鈍而中止。勿因事繁而中輟。勿為環境而中斷。天下事。有志者事竟成。聖人之言。勿我欺也。願學者。三復斯言。

Fifth Prohibition, Inconsistency

"(Those) studying the sword should have a righteous hero’s heart. (He or she) must be persistent, courageous. Confucius said, “A man without consistency can not be a doctor.” Likewise (for those) studying the sword! Do not say (your) body is weak and so lack courage. Do not say (you) are dull-witted and cease (training). Do not say complications cause (you) to give up halfway. Do not let circumstances cause you to break off. In all things under heaven, a really determined person will find a solution. The teachings of the sages, are not trying to fool you. Those willing to learn, will repeat the teaching."

Quoted from -
Fundamentals of the Wudang Sword Method -
Selected Translations with Commentary
from a Manual of Chinese Swordsmanship
trans. S.M. Rodell

http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Wudang.../dp/B0155MS13A

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Thursday, November 18, 2021

Kung Fu - Bagua Piercing Palm Training - Marcus Brinkman

Kung Fu - Bagua Piercing Palm Training - Marcus Brinkman

                  My teacher Marcus Brinkman - Learn Bagua Zhang at Boulder Internal Martial Arts

Explanation of the detailed Body mechanics (Shen-fa) of the Baguazhang hand method (Shou-fa), Piercing Palm.

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Xingyi Quan - 鸡形四把 Ji Xing Si Ba

                                                  Xingyi Quan - 鸡形四把 Ji Xing Si Ba

"王继武所传的形意拳,鸡形四把,王德立师父,何守岐师爷之徒弟,北京武术协会形意拳研究会监事长。Master Wang De Li performed the Ji Xing Si Ba(Four handle of chicken form). Master Wang Deli is disciple of grandmaster He Shou Qi, one of top disciples of legendary 100 years old great grandmaster Wang Ji Wu. Master Wang De Li is one from famous contemporary Beijing masters,member of Beijing Wushu Association and supervisor of the Beijing Xing Yi Quan association.Master Wang is also descendant of Yin Fu(尹福)style of Bagua zhang,the eight trigram palm style (尹福派八卦掌)"

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks: an Interview with Mark Chen


Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks: The History of a Martial Art by Mark Chen 

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Xing Yi Quan Grandmaster Zhang Baoyang, Advancing and retreating linked fist

 

Xing Yi Quan Grandmaster Zhang Baoyang, Advancing and retreating linked fist

"Footage from 2009 year. Grandmaster Zhang Baoyang(*1922), top disciple of great grandmaster Wang Jiwu (*1891✝1991) in age 87 practice the "Advancing and retreating linked fist"(进退连环拳), Zhang Baoyang is one of last living grandmaster in his generation. Besides the following his master Wang Jiwu, he also learned with his gong-fu uncle "iron luohan" Zhang Xiangzhai (张祥斋) also known as Zhang Changfa( 张长发), who was disciple of Liu Dianchen(刘殿琛), buddhist monk and son of Liu Qilan(刘奇兰). Grandmaster Zhang Baoyang is founder and honorary president  of Beijing  Xing Yi Quan association and living legend of Chinese martial arts.Lineage: Shaolin(少林寺)-Ji Longfeng(姬龙峰)-Cao Jiwu(曹继武)-Dai Longbang(戴龙邦)-Li Luoneng(李洛能)-Liu Qilan(刘奇兰)-Wang Fuyuan(王福元)-Wang Jiwu(王继武)-Zhang Baoyang(张宝杨). Long live to 师爷"

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Gao Style Bagua Zhang: Five (Black) Dragons Wave Tails palm: wǔ lóng bǎi wěi zhǎng: 五龙摆尾掌

Here are the Black Dragon palms from two of Gao Yi Sheng's lineages.

Begins at 5:13

 

Begins at 1:16

Gao Style Bagua Zhang: Five (Black) Dragons Wave Tails palm: wǔ lóng bǎi wěi zhǎng: 五龙摆尾掌

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Bagua Zhang Liu Feng Chun 劉鳳春八卦掌 - Shi JianHua 史建華

 

Bagua Zhang Liu Feng Chun 劉鳳春八卦掌 Shi JianHua 史建華

Lineage: Dong HaiChuan 董海川 --Liu FengChun 劉鳳春-- Liu WenHua 劉文華-- Shi JianHua 史建華 史建華(1933~2004)

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Chinese Sword - Scott M. Rodell


For each cut delivered, 

it is essential to understand where you become vulnerable. 

For every deflection, 

one must recognize where to counter-cut. 

- Scott M. Rodell

Monday, May 24, 2021

The Xingyi Staff 形意棍法

The Xingyi Staff 形意棍法

The Staff Method

"Splitting must be bold and ferocious

Drilling features hooking and scooping 

Thrusting and jabbing is the crushing method

Cannon slashes upward to the left and right

Cross-cut with fierce energy and pressure" 

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Xing Yi Quan Twelve animals 12形,王瑛

 

Xing Yi Quan Twelve animals 12形,王瑛

"This is the Xing Yi Quan twelve animals by 82 years old grandmaster Wang Ying (王瑛) from Sanxi Yuci, sent to me by my Xing Yi Quan friend from Yu Ci. Wang Ying was good friend of our great grandmaster Wang Jiwu. His style is brilliant. The lineage: Li Luoneng(李洛能)-Liu Yuanheng(刘元亨)-Yang Desheng(杨德胜)- Hou Shulin侯树林-Wang Ying (王瑛)"

Friday, May 14, 2021

Xing Yi Quan Grandmaster Liu Zhenjie (刘振杰) 5 elements

Xing Yi Quan Grandmaster Liu Zhenjie (刘振杰) 5 elements

Grandmaste Liu Zhenjie born 1938 in Shenzhou city Hebei Province, then live in Beijing was disciple of old master Wang Jiwu.  王继武张长发系心意拳传承:  刘振杰先生师从百岁心意六合拳师 王继武,祖籍河北深州,1938年生人,现居住在北京。 Lineage: Li Luoneng(李洛能)----Liu Qilan(刘奇兰)-----Wang Fuyuan(王福元)-----Wang Jiwu(王继武)---Liu Zhenjie(刘振杰)

Monday, May 10, 2021

Kung Fu - Bagua Middle Dantian Training - Marcus Brinkman

Kung Fu - Bagua Middle Dantian Training - Marcus Brinkman

                  My teacher Marcus Brinkman - Learn Bagua Zhang at Boulder Internal Martial Arts

"Qu and Chuai are terms which represent the development of the Gao Bagua front and back kicks respectively. In practice however the are developed as a pivoting dynamic which constitute the waving dynamic of the dragon body shape and character. It is therefore also a basis for sweeping and throwing methods which evolve from the "danzhong" or single weighted foot and leg cultivation. This is a brief synopsis of the training progression which arises from the foundational circle walking practice. The leaning body (Kao) movement resulting from this practice tends to focus on the middle basin development of the body and is foundational to "middle dantian' development."

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Xing Yi Quan master Liu Heng in 1995, Dragon form

Xing Yi Quan master Liu Heng in 1995, Dragon form

"Xing Yi Quan master Liu Heng in young age,  before 26 years ( 1995 year) shows Xing Yi Quan  (形意拳} Dragon form (龙形),  from 12 animals set (十二形拳). Master Liu Heng (刘亨) Liu Heng is the youngest disciple of grandmaster Zhang Baoyang (张宝杨), he is high skilled strong Xing Yi Quan master and man of  high warriors morality(武德). except the Xing Yi Quan, he is also mastered in Chuojiao Fanziquan(戳脚翻子拳) and Shuaijiao(摔跤).  Lineage:  Li Luoneng (李洛能)-Liu Qilan (刘奇兰)-Wang Fuyuan (王福元)-Wang Jiwu (王继武)-Zhang Baoyang (张宝杨)-Liu Heng (刘亨)"

Sunday, May 2, 2021

Sifu Adam Mizner shows how Taichi can STOP MMA style Takedowns

Sifu Adam Mizner shows how Taichi can STOP MMA style Takedowns 

In my opinion, this is useless. You are not going to stop someone who really knows what they are doing with a technique like this from taking you down. If he was serious about demonstrating the authenticity of this technique he needs to do it against someone who 1. really knows how to set up and execute a single or double leg takedown and 2. someone who is really using some force. Doesn't have to be FULL force but reasonable use of force would be good. Otherwise it is crap. Mizner has some real taiji skill, but this deno is no good.


Friday, April 30, 2021

Chinese Swordsmanship Defined ~ Scott M. Rodell

Chinese Swordsmanship is defined by more than the type of sword in one’s hand.

It is defined by the principles being followed and how the techniques employed embody these classic principles. These principles were elucidated and recorded by past masters and developed from practical experience. Before we attempt to improve the art, better to have a deep understanding of the way.
~ Scott M. Rodell

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Chinese Swords and Swordsmanship: Qing New Army Sabers

 Chinese Swords and Swordsmanship: Qing New Army Sabers

"After the Qing Defeat in the Sino-Japanese War, steps were taken to modernize the Chinese military. Yuan Shikai was tasked with organizing the New Army with the aid of German advisors. In addition to adopting new uniforms, modern rifles, machine guns and cannon, they also adopted a European Military style saber. This video looks at five examples of these late Qing sabers and the history that lead up to their use."

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Chinese Jian - The Two Types of Test Cutting - Scott Rodell

 

The Two Types of Test Cutting

"When I began cutting practice, no one was test cutting with Chinese swords. In fact the common refrain was that straight swords like Jian didn’t cut well, or at all. Aside from oral transmission, there was no foundation from which to begin training. Fortunately, I was good friends with Paul Champagne, a noted swordsmith with decades of cutting experience. I was quite fortunate to have him as my cutting mentor. 

The first important point Paul clarified is that there are two types of cutting. The first type of cutting tests the sword. The second type tests the sword and swordsman. The first type of cutting requires only two components, proper edge alignment and a powerful enough swing. Since the objective of the first type of cutting is to simply test the sword, the sword is typically swung through a much larger arc than necessary. This almost always ends with the sword swinging well past the target. When the sword is swung through such a wide path, from the view point of swordplay, the weapon is well out of play. This is one notable manner that these two types of cutting differ.

In my next post on Test Cutting I will elaborate the four parts of a correct cut. All the best to everyone in their training." (attached photo of Paul Champagne) - Scott Rodell 
Found HERE 

Monday, April 12, 2021

Chinese Martial Arts History - David Ross - Central Martial Arts Academy

 " According to the New Current Affairs Newspaper on August 20, 1930, after visiting Jpaan and training in Japanese martial arts, representatives of the Central Martial Arts Academy believed that the top priority of Chinese martial arts in this period was to eliminate the number of fancy methods and promote techniques suitable for practical applications".

Chinese Martial Arts History - David Ross

State attempts to control and appropriate the martial arts:
Phase One: Republican China

While some individual martial artists had gained status and social acceptance, as a group they continued to present a problem to central authority. Martial arts schools produced trained fighters who remained loyal only to their own teachers and traditions. Many still supported groups which openly challenged the newly established government.

Execution_of_Namoa_Pirates_2

The Nationalist Party (Guomindang) waswell aware of the role of martial artists in popular rebellion. In fact, Dr.Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of the party, had himself maintained numerous secret society associations and had extensively used “Red Pole” enforcers. Thus, once Chiang Kai-Shek had solidified his position, he turned his attention towards attempts to control and appropriate the practice of martial arts.

Sun_Yat-sen_and_Chiang_Kai-shek

In 1928, a year after Chiang Kai-Shek’s “White Massacre” in Shanghai had left him the undisputed leader of the Nationalist Party, several steps were taken to exert control over martial artists. First, the government adopted the term “Kuo Shu”. This term means literally “national arts” and was an attempt not only to reduce the factionalism among martial artists but also to promote nationalism (and thus loyalty to the state).

Communists executed in streets of Shanghai

Communists executed in streets of Shanghai

Open challenges, duels or any kind of public fighting match was declared illegal. The government replaced these duels with state run competitions. These organized competitions were also to identify and screen the best practitioners for teaching positions at the newly founded Central Kuoshu Institute (中南國術館), and in the state administered provincial Kuo Shu institutes. Generals Zhang Zhi Jiang (张之江), Li Lie Jun (李烈鈞) and Li Jing Lin (李景林) held the first national competition in October 1928.

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In 1929, a similar event was held in Hangzhou, China. This event was also organized by Li Jinglin, then acting as vice-dean of the Central Martial Arts Academy. This time there were 125 entrants for the “boxing” or “free fighting” (San Shou) competition which was held November 21-27. The event was very popular, the audiences every day numbered in the tens of thousands.

lei tai pan

The same year, the governor of Guangdong Province invited some of the institutes’s masters (including some of those that had competed in the 1928 lei tai) to come south to establish a “Southern Kuoshu Institute”. General Li Jinglin chose five masters to represent northern China. These men were known as the Wu hu xia jiangnan (五虎下江南 – “Five tigers heading south of Jiangnan.

1. Gu Ru Zhang: Northern Shaolin. He placed in the “Top 15” of the 1928 lei tai.
2. Wan Lai Sheng: Northern Shaolin and Internal styles (including Natural Boxing).
3. Fu Zhensong: Baguazhang.
4. Wang Shao Zhou: Northern Shaolin and Cha style.
5. Li Xian Wu: Northern Shaolin and Internal styles.

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Martial artists who participated in the institute but remained in China after the communist victory in 1949 have consistently denied any direct government involvement, for obvious political reasons, but in reality its establishment put martial artists under direct government regulation. Teachers in Taiwan are far more forthright, openly acknowledging that the government was involved in “an active program” to reorganize the martial arts. The stated goal of the institute was to “consolidate Kung-Fu by bringing together many great masters.” Thus, while the Nationalist Party was less successful, it was involved in a strikingly similar program to the one that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under took with the creation of contemporary Wu-Shu.

1937-guoshu-chainpunches

In 1933, the institute again hosted the national competition. The rules said, “…if death occurs as a result of boxing injuries and fights, the coffin with a body of the deceased will be sent home.” Some of the top winners of this contest included Chang Dung Sheng of Shuai Jiao. He won the heavy weight division and earned the martial nickname “Flying Butterfly.”

Attempts to control and appropriate the martial arts, like most Nationalist social programs, was largely unsuccessful. The government lacked a well-developed structure at the grass roots level and corruption was rampant. In addition, many of the most powerful members of the Nationalist Party were themselves martial artists. According to Draeger and Smith, the martial artists in Taiwan, many of whom were Nationalist Party members and military officers, “were a truly diverse lot: many were illiterate, some took opium regularly, a few were scoundrels.”

Found HERE