Related Research Articles
Neijia (内家) is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice neijing, usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects. The distinction dates to the 17th century, but its modern application is due to publications by Sun Lutang, dating to the period of 1915 to 1928. Neijing is developed by using neigong, or "internal exercises," as opposed to "external exercises",
Tai chi, short for T'ai chi ch'üan or Tàijí quán (太極拳), is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training, its health benefits and meditation. The term taiji is a Chinese cosmological concept for the flux of yin and yang, and 'quan' means fist. Etymologically, Taijiquan is a fist system based on the dynamic relationship between polarities. Though originally conceived as a martial art, it is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: competitive wrestling in the format of pushing hands, demonstration competitions and achieving greater longevity. As a result, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims with differing emphasis. Some training forms of tai chi are especially known for being practiced with relatively slow movements.
Zhang Sanfeng was a legendary Chinese Taoist who invented T'ai chi ch'üan and was purported to have achieved immortality. According to various accounts, he was born in Shaowu, Nanping, Fujian during the Southern Song dynasty and lived for over 307 years until the mid-Ming dynasty. His given name was Tong (通) and his courtesy name was Junbao (君寶，君宝). He specialised in Confucian and Taoist studies, scholarly and literary arts. During the reign of Emperor Shizu in the Yuan dynasty, he was nominated as a candidate to join the civil service and held office as the Magistrate of Boling County. While touring around the mountainous regions near present-day Baoji, Shaanxi, he saw the summits of three mountains and decided to give himself the Taoist name "Sanfengzi" (三丰子), hence he also became known as "Zhang Sanfeng".
The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century, during the Spring and Autumn period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimetre (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams. There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts.
Cheng Man-ch'ing or Zheng Manqing was a notable Chinese expert of t'ai chi ch'uan, Chinese medicine, and the so called three perfections: calligraphy, painting and poetry. He was born in Yongjia, Zhejiang Province, Republic of China (ROC). His birthday was on the 28th year of the Guangxu emperor's reign, 6th month, 25th day, which corresponds to July 29, 1902. Cheng died March 26, 1975; his grave is near the city of Taipei. Because of his skills in these five areas, considered among some of the traditional skills and pastimes of a Confucian scholar, he was often referred to as the "Master of Five Excellences." Because he had been a college professor, his students called him "Professor Cheng."
Baguazhang or Pakwachang is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being T'ai chi and Xing Yi Quan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice. Bāguà zhǎng literally means "eight trigram palm," referring to the trigrams of the I Ching (Yijing), one of the canons of Taoism.
Yang family-style T‘ai-Chi Ch‘üan (Taijiquan) in its many variations is the most popular and widely practised style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the primary five family styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
The Chen family-style or Chen-style Taijiquan is the oldest and parent form of the five traditional family styles of Taiji. Chen-style is characterized by silk reeling, alternating fast and slow motions and bursts of power.
The 24-posture Simplified Form of t'ai chi ch'uan, sometimes called the Beijing or Peking form for its place of origin, is a short version of Taiji composed of twenty-four unique movements.
Taoist Tai Chi is an exercise form of t'ai chi ch'uan which is taught in more than 25 countries by the non-profit International Taoist Tai Chi Society and associated national Taoist Tai Chi societies. It is a modified form of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan developed by Taoist monk Moy Lin-shin in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Moy incorporated principles of Lok Hup Ba Fa and other internal arts to increase the health benefits of practising the form.
Taijijian is a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art Taijiquan. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional Taijiquan schools. The different family schools have various warmups, forms and fencing drills for training with the jian.
Chen Weiming (1881–1958) was a scholar, taijiquan teacher, and author. He was also known by his name Chen Zengze (陳曾則), Weiming being his hao, a pen-name.
Stephan Berwick is an American author, martial artist, and actor known for his scholarly research on traditional Chinese martial arts – particularly Chen-style taijiquan, and roles in early Yuen Wo-ping Hong Kong Action films.
Zhang Qinlin (1888–1967) was an influential martial artist, teacher, and lineage holder of the Yangjia Michuan style of t’ai chi ch’uan. In 1929, Zhang won the All China Fighting Championship in the unarmed division.
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan, the Yang Family Secret Tradition is a t'ai chi ch'uan style created by Yang Luchan, founder of the Yang style. He passed this special style to his son Yang Chien-hou who transmitted it to his student Zhang Qinlin. Master Wang Yen-nien was taught the Yangjia Michuan by Zhang Qinlin and chose, in order to avoid the disappearance of this style, to teach it to a great number of students all over the world.
Chen Wangting (1580–1660) was a Ming Dynasty general who founded Chen-style t'ai chi ch'uan, one of the five major styles of the popular Chinese martial art. Sometimes called Chen Wang Ting or Zouting, he devised the Chen family-style of t'ai chi ch'uan in his home of Chenjiagou, Wenxian county, Henan province after he retired there following the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
Wudang quan is a class of Chinese martial arts. The name translates as "Wudang fist." In contemporary China, Chinese martial arts styles are generally classified into two major groups: Wudang (Wutang), named after the Wudang Mountains; and Shaolin, named after the Shaolin Monastery. Whereas Shaolin includes many martial art styles, Wudangquan includes only a few arts that use the focused mind to control the waist, and therefore the body. This typically encompasses Tai ji quan, Xing-Yi chuan and Bagua zhang, but must also include Baji chuan and Wudang Sword. Although the name Wudang simply distinguishes the skills, theories and applications of the internal arts from those of the Shaolin styles, it falsely suggests these arts originated at the Wudang Mountains. The name Wudang comes from a popular Chinese legend that incorrectly purports the genesis of Tai chi chuan and Wudang Sword by an immortal, Taoist hermit named Zhang Sanfeng who lived in the monasteries of Wudang Mountain.
Tung Ying-chieh was a leading master of t'ai chi ch'uan, and a top disciple of Yang Ch'eng-fu. Born in Ren County, Hebei, China, his given name was Wen-k'e. Famous in his time for defeating a foreign boxer in a public challenge match, he dedicated his life to the martial arts, training intensively in multiple styles, serving as chief assistant instructor for Yang Ch'eng-fu, and going on to found his own thriving t'ai chi legacy.
Yang Lu-ch'an or Yang Luchan, also known as Yang Fu-k'ui or Yang Fukui (1799–1872), born in Kuang-p'ing (Guangping), was an influential teacher of the internal style martial art t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan) in China during the second half of the 19th century. He is known as the founder of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan, the most popular and widely practised style in the world today.
References
- ↑ Roth, Steven M. "Why Learn Chinese Swordsmanship in this Age of Smart Bombs and Terrorism?" Kung Fu Tai Chi, September/October 2004, pg. 102
- ↑ Zhang, Xinhua, "Follower of the Dao of Taiji." (trans.) Wu Jian Shen, Sept. 1992, pg. 9.
- ↑ Douwes, Joppe. "A Weapon's Weekend with Scott Rodell." (trans.), Taiji-Vizier, 2005-4, pg. 6.
- ↑ Douwes, Joppe. "Weapon Workshop: Training with Scott Rodell" (trans.), Mix Fight, December 2005, pgs. 16-17.
- ↑ Zeng, Huiping. "Wang Yen-nien 'Famous Yang Style Taijiquan Martial Artist'." (trans.) Great Sports Daily, Taipei, Taiwan, December 7, 1999, pg. 8.
- ↑ Yang, Chengfu. Taijiquan Yongfa Tujie, Taipei, Hua Lian Publishing Co., August, 1984, pg. 2.
- 1 2 Parks, Howard D. "Interview with Scott M. Rodell." The Journal of Well-Being, January, 1991, pg. 27.
- 1 2 Rollins, Jonathan. "Taiji Jian: The Way Of The Sword." Inside Kung-Fu, April 2005, pg. 88.
- ↑ Sullivan, Mark. "An Historic Meeting of the Minds: Russians Receive Tai Chi Word." Inside Kungfu, Nov. 1992, pg. 16.
- ↑ "Martial Arts Master Has Students in Tartu." (trans.) Tartu Börs, Nov. 24, 2000, pg. 1.
- ↑ Kalkun, Kristjan. Sports Star, February, 2001, pg. 41.
- ↑ Doeve, Petra. "Workshop with Scott Rodell." Taiji-Vizier, 2006-1, pg. 9.
- ↑ Rodell, Scott M. "Yang Family Taijiquan: The Hidden Tradition." Inside Kungfu, Mar. 1993, pg. 46.
