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by Simon Watson
During the 1999 Summer Camp (Dudley Campus), Professor Li
introduced Chang Quan as part of his warm-up exercises.
The forms presented are known as the
"Combined Exercise for Five Hands and Steps." To help
those interested recall these forms, I have reproduced the
illustrations at the end of this article.
I am also presenting some text on this
discipline for the students and readers to understand how it
differs from the internal school of boxing.
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The Principles of Chinese Wushu (Martial Arts)
Virture and Skill
Chinese Wushu emphasis is on self control and good
character. Martial virtue requires that practitioners and students
exercise self restraint, never abusing their skills for personal
gratification or the oppression of those weaker than themselves. They
should seek to uphold justice, remain fearless in the face of brutality,
cultivate modesty and a spirit of co-operation.
The monks at the Shaolin Monastery, Henan Province,
laid down the ten commandments of Wushu Practice. Some of these
instructions are reproduced below. Shaolin Quan is an alternate
reference for traditional Chang Quan.
"Let strengthening the body and mind be the
chief aim . . . Proficiency in the martial art is only to be used for
self-defence. Guard against all indulgence in one's personal vigour. As
to any who shows pleasure in provoking disturbances or displaying
unwarranted ferocity, the offender shall be dealt with in the same
manner as any offending the rules of this establishment."
1. Chang Quan,
Evolution and Characteristics
The name Chang Quan was first mentioned in Qi
Jiguang's book which refers to the 32 Forms of Chang Quan. However the
term Chang Quan gradually became the reference to a variety of
traditional schools of northern boxing. Rather than a distinct
individual form, Chang Quan now refers to such styles as Zha Quan, Hua
Quan, Dao Quan, Hong Quan, Hwa Quan, Fanzi Quan, Chuo Jiao, Tan Tui and
Shaolin Quan. They all have strong, swift and extended movements with
many leaps and turns. In combat they emphasise taking the initiative in
attack, making long strikes, advancing and retreating swiftly and
seeking to defeat opponents with speed. In 1920 the Wushu theorist Xu
Zhedong, described these styles in his work "An Outline of Chinese
Wushu." Chang Quan is characterised by fast and vigorous as well as
slower movements. The demands on the joints, muscles and ligaments
develop as the intensity of the movements progress. Chang Quan is very
powerful yet graceful, stable yet agile.
2. Essential Skills
The essential elements in the practice of Chang Quan
are posture, co-ordination, strength, vitality (spirit focus), rhythm
and style.
(a). Movement and Posture
The Chang Quan movements and postures make up the
framework. This includes both posture and the pose maintained between
movements as well as the movements themselves.
Correct posture means that both upper and lower
limbs, as well as the torso, must conform with specified demands for
each form. For example the Bow stance requires that the front leg is
bent at 90 degrees and the back leg is straight. In the Horse Riding
stance, the thighs are horizontal with the ground. Basic posture
requires that the head is upright, the neck straight, shoulders level,
chest out, back erect and waist sunk.
Exact movements refer to the four basic skills of
Striking, Kicking, Throwing and Grappling to immobilise the opponent.
Each combat technique, advance or retreat, rise and fall, tumble or
roll, leap or balance, must be clear and exact. The hands, feet, body
and eyes displaying and conforming to the principles. Speed, strength,
height, stability must all conform to the requirements. For instance
Pushing, Thrusting, Chopping and Pulling are all attacking methods using
the open hand, but each is different. The direction of the strike, the
source of the force and the point of the attack are all different and
they must be precisely distinguished.
The Chang Quan saying: "Fist like a shooting
star, eye movements like lightning, waist like a lithesome snake, feet
firm like glue."
(b): Co-ordination
Chang Quan requires perfect co-ordination of the
hands, eyes, body, feet, limbs and joints. In addition concentration,
spirit, breathing and strength must be integrated with the movements.
Two terms frequently met with in Wushu are the "Three
Sections" and the "Six Conformations."
The first refers to the division of the body into
Upper, Middle and Lower sections which must be completely co-ordinated.
The second term refers to the co-ordination of Hands
and Feet, Shoulders and Hips, Elbows and Knees, The Spirit and The Mind,
The Mind and Breath and The Breath and Strength.
This expresses the requirements essential to Wushu
Styles, of complete unity of the body.
(c): Use of Strength
Wushu emphasises strength, Chang Quan demands the
full use of strength in combat, quick and precise action, the
co-ordination of breath and strength. Movements should be crisp, fast,
concentrated and snappy. However one must ensure that one's strength
never becomes stiff or inflexible.
(d): Concentration
Both form and spirit must be developed. One's
attention must be focused, spirit alert and determined. Eye expression
is critical and must be ultimately coordinated with movement. Where the
hands move the eyes follow with absolute concentration. However,
concentration should not be expressed through tension in the face,
frowning, clenched teeth or wild shouts. Expression should remain calm
and composed and movements determined.
(e): Clear Rhythm
Chang Quan is composed of many changes, juxta-posing
slow and fast, still and vigorous, rising and falling and tense and
relaxed movements. These alternations give the exercise fluctuating and
lively rhythm. Without this rhythm the forms would be stiff and
monotonous.
"Moving like waves, towering like a mountain,
darting like a monkey, descending like a magpie, standing like a
rooster, remaining like a pine, turning like a wheel, bending like a
bow, light like a tree leaf, heavy like a piece of iron, moving slowly
as an eagle, acting as quickly as the wind."
These comparisons vividly describe the rhythm of
Chang Quan.
(f): Distinct Style
Each form of Wushu displays a distinct style through
different postures, techniques, strength and rhythms. The movements
should be bold, agile, quick and fluid.
Combined Exercise for Five Hands
and Steps
The diagrams and some text used in
this article have been repoduced from A Guide to Chinese Martial Arts
by Li Tianji and Du Xilian - by kind permission of the publishers,
Mclaren Publishing, 22 Golden Square, London W1R 3PA.
Fax: 0171 437 5994.
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