The most well known and
practiced style of TaiJiQuan in the world today is the Yang school and training
generally available is based on methods taught by Yang Cheng Fu from the mid
1930's onwards. A typical program in the majority of present day
schools,consists of an all-slow-moving form,push hands exercises and maybe a
sword or saber set. Martial arts "applications" are usually kept to a minimum
or are totally absent. However,researchers are aware that Cheng Fu originally
learned a form which was not all slow but contained many explosive movements.
This form he then modified at least three times,removed the Fa Jing
(explosive energy),eliminated the more athletic movements and simplified many
of the complex sections,leaving us with the "modern" Yang style form being
propagated today. The accent in "modern" schools,is on relaxation,stress
management and maintaining general good health,but these bi-products of
consistant practice are not the reason for which the Yang style was invented.
Before the 1930's,TaiJiQuan was taught exclusively as a martial art and without
this training the art is not only incomplete but the great health benefits
associated with it are difficult,if not impossible,to gain.
The
original form,known as The Old Yang style,was invented by Cheng Fu's
grandfather,Yang Lu Chan,the founder of the Yang school. Yang Lu Chan was
renouned for his fighting ability and he taught in the royal palace in Beijing
for much of his adult life. He and his two sons,Ban Hou and Chien Hou were
responsible for training the Emperor's bodyguards and the princes at the
court,in other words,they taught the art to professionals who were already well
trained in martial arts and who's lives depended on self defence capacity. It
should be underlined that there is no mention in this training of
"relaxation","stress management" or the promotion of "general good health" and
prior to the changes made by Yang Cheng Fu,"slow form" repetition as we see it
today,was non existent.
This original system was transmitted by Yang
Shao Hou, Cheng Fu's older brother. Yang Shao Hou taught not only the original
form but several partner training combat sets and highly effective self defence
methods.
The lineage of the original transmission is as follows: Yang
Lu Chan(1799-1872) - Yang Ban Hou(1837-1892) / Yang Chien Hou (1839-1917) -
Yang Shao Hou(1862-1930) / Yang Cheng Fu(1883-1936) (Old Style) (New Style)
Although it is well documented that many people studied with Yang Shao
Hou for short periods of time,the original transmission was passed to three
students who were: Hsiung Yang Ho(1886-1984),who wrote a book on the Old Yang
Style but this has long been out of print and is no longer available. Chen Pan
Ling(1900-1967),a graduate in civil engineering,held several important
positions in the Chinese government. He was head of a committee under the
Department of Education and Military Training which documented over fifty
martial arts styles. Sadly this valuable information was lost during the
Communist take over of mainland China. He moved to Taiwan and his school in
Taipei taught the original Yang Style. This school has been out of operation
for many years,however,a book and a set of five posters on his "synthetic"
TaiJiQuan form have recently (1999) been published in America. Many of the
postures in The Old Yang Style are to be found in Chen Pan Ling's form and in
the Old Wu style as taught today by Wang Hao Da.
Chang Yiu
Chun(1899-1987),was a cousin of Yang Shao Hou and studied with him from 1911
until Yang died in 1930. Chang left China and illegally entered Australia where
Erle Montaigue met him in Sydney in the early 1980's.(For more information on
Chang and his relationship with Erle,consult http:/taichiworld.com) I began
studying the Old Yang Style form and its complementary self defence methods in
1988 with an instructor in Italy who had been trained by a Chinese teacher,Ho
Chan and since 1991 have continued to study information made public by Erle
Montaigue. Contrary to commonly held opinions,Yang Shao Hou taught only a few
people,NOT because the information was "secret", "esoteric" or only for "an
elite" of privilaged "diciples" but for the simple reason that the combat
training was too tough. Students of TaiJiQuan should seriously consider what
they are learning. If their program is the same or similar to that which I have
outlined above,(an all-slow -moving form,a bit of "push hands" and maybe some
static QiGong but little or no combat training)it is questionable if they are
in reality learning TaiJiQuan! This conclusion is not a question of personal
opinion.
If we accept that the art is founded on the YinYang
principle,it is a fact that the majority of "modern" schools only teach methods
which are "yin",this training is,by definition, incomplete as there is no
"yang"! ---------------- I will first deal with the form taught by Yang LuChan
and transmitted by Yang ShaoHou,then discuss the self defence training methods.
On a physical level,this form is more demanding than any modern versions of the
Yang style. It is also much longer and if performed at the same speed as the
well known Yang ChengFu long form,takes almost twice the time to complete.
There are many moves requiring greater athletic ability, including a leaping
double kick and a greater number of low squatting positions. The form also
retains the Fa Jing(explosive energy)expression,eliminated in public classes by
Yang ChengFu. These Fa Jing "explosions",punctuate the form at strategic points
throughout,releasing the "yin" energy built up during the slower sections. The
form is visibly more martial than any of the later modern forms,that is to say
that self defence "applications" are more obvious. The concept of what
constitutes these "applications" will be dealt with later. The form is first
learnt at its basic level,i.e., single movements are added to one another to
complete the first section,then second and finally the third. Even with a good
teacher,it may take three,or more, years of lessons twice a week coupled with
considerable home revision,just to memorise the complete sequence of moves and
feel reasonably comfortable practising the entire form at this basic level.
There are further levels at which this form may be practiced,each
becomes not only more difficult but the manner in which the postures are
performed also changes considerably. On first seeing this form at its advanced
level,the majority of "modern" practitioners dismiss it as having nothing to do
with TaiJiQuan. Parallel to form practice are taught a number of combat
exercises and partner training sets. Pao Chui Cannon Fist form: this is learned
in two parts, A and B. These may then be executed as a two person set;one
performs part A which interlocks with a partner performing part B. (This form
is particular to the Yang style and has nothing in common with the Pao Chui
form from the Chen style.) San Sao(or Shou): again,partner training forms.I am
aware of three different San Sao forms within the Yang style. Zhe Fa: a short
two person set teaching "the folding principle" for which TaiJiQuan is famous.
Chin Na: locking and controlling an attacker.The mechanics of Chin Na are to be
found in other grappling arts such as Judo,JuJitsu and Aikido but the manner in
which the Yang style applies them is completely different.
Tui Sao(or
Shou):better known as "push hands",this exercise teaches "reading" another
persons intentions through touch alone. With practice,this exercise increases
sensitivity,timing,balance and co-ordination,however,it is fundamental to
understand that it is only an exercise and is not to be confused with self
defence per se. Tui T'ui: "push feet",as the name suggests,the concept is
similar to "push hands" and teaches kicking techniques and defence against
them. Nien Sao:"sticking hands" is a type of "push hands" which,at an advanced
level,is practiced whilst moving,any type of attacking techniques may be used
including kicks and take-downs. Fa Jing Training: this way of expressing
martial power (it is NOT a "technique".)is fundamental to the understanding and
application of the Yang style as a self defence art. Many martial artists,no
matter what their style, level of competence or number of years of
experience,are not relaxed enough to do Fa Jing so, a number of training
methods may be used to address this problem including strikes to a candle
flame,suspended piece of paper or cloth. The importance of Fa Jing cannot be
over emphasized as without this capacity,all the higher levels of TaiJiQuan
applications for health,healing or self defence,are out of the question. Long
Har(or Hsia)Quan: this is not a style or school of Kung Fu but a method of
teaching TaiJiQuan for realistic self defence. Eagle Vision: trains
subconscious reflex actions through the use of wide angle peripheral perception
of an attacker's body language. Falling,rolling and break falling techniques:
these methods are similar to those found in Judo and Aikido and are sadly
omitted in TaiJiQuan schools. Work on the sack and hand mitts: all and every
type of striking techniques; again,sadly ignored in most schools. Standing and
moving Qigong: most students are aware only of basic standing Qigong
exercise,however,there are specific Qigongs aimed at increasing self defence
capacity.
This is a brief outline of basic methods taught within the
structure of the Yang style transmission. --------- To introduce the concept of
"applications",we must first establish our point of departure and this
neccessitates eliminating the "sacred cows" of modern Yang style TaiJiQuan.
First,THERE IS NO "PUSHING" OR "PULLING" IN TAJIQUAN. This is asking to end up
in hospital in a real fight as "pushing" or "pushing" will only make the
attacker even more violent and certainly won't stop him-or them! Second,THERE
IS NO "BLOCKING" THEN RE-ATTACKING. So called "blocks" are in effect strikes.
Third, THE DEFENCE IS THE ATTACK. Trying to block then re-attack is useless
against a really determined person as it is simply too slow. Also,it entails
two moves,both mentally and physically. Fourth,NEVER MOVE BACKWARDS IF SOMEONE
TRYS TO HIT YOU,always MOVE FORWARD AND ATTACK! The "golden rule" is: IF HE
MOVES,HIT HIM! It's of primary importance not to misinterpret this; take note
that I am NOT saying,if he "attacks",but,if he"moves". This fundamental
strategy is found in the Classics of Wang Tsung Yeuh ---- "If he doesn't move,I
don't move.If he moves slowly,I move slowly but if he moves quickly I move
first." (See "Eagle Vision" for training in this.)
For this
reason,"sparring" is useless for training self defence,particularly wearing any
kind of protection. Don't forget,that in a really critical situation,you will
automatically use methods you have trained in. It therefore follows that if you
train for sports events,you will react accordingly and sub-consciously expect
your attacker to do the same. Make no mistake,a violent street attacker will do
anything to take you by surprise and won't use "techniques" that you have
trained in,or seen,in any martial sports program because the only "techniques"
he will use,are banned in agonistic sports! Every move he makes is for only one
reason - to physically damage you. In TaiJiQuan,we use ATTACK-DEFENCE TRAINING.
This allows each student to progress at his or her own speed,eliminates
accidents and does not encourage a false sense of ability or security. At a
basic level,this attack-defence training is "soft",this is to say that the
strikes are "controlled".As the student gains confidence and his or her
competence increases,the strikes are delivered with full power. Using this
approach,a slightly built woman can be trained to effectively defend herself
against a man twice her weight and half her age. |
