Taoist & Wudang
Several Thousand years ago, Before there was the idea of the Tao and before philosophy was built around it , tribal leaders made offerings , to the sky, earth, mountains, valleys, and rivers to renew the bond between humanity and the sacred powers. They danced movements of power that took them to distant realms to gain knowledge and wisdom. we can still see some of these practices to day in Taoist religious ceremonies and in the "moving meditation" and Exercises in Internal Kung Fu.
Wudang Kung Fu
Wudang Kung Fu is one special internal martial arts form in China
and enjoys the parallel position with Shaolin Kung Fu in Chinese Kung Fu field.
Therefore comes the popular saying “In the north respects paid to Shaolin
Kung Fu; yet in the south honor should be given to Wudang Kung Fu.”
It is widely heard that the founder of Wudang Kung Fu was a local Taoist called
Zhang Sanfeng. The historical recordings differ much in different books and
the following below carries some different information:
1. Zhang Sanfeng was a popular boxing player in Song Dynasty. Also an alchemist
in Mount Wudang. 2. Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist, was born in Yi State of Liaoing
Province. Once in a time stayed in Mount Wudang and much recordings concerning
him remained in books in Ming Dynasty,… These are recordings carried
with book Source of Words. It is really a very complicated problem when in
a one book two Zhang Sanfengs came out in different time, one in Song Dynasty
and another in Ming Dynasty. Is it possible that they meant the same person
or did the one in Song Dynasty live a very long life till Ming Dynasty? Yet,
in consideration with the following factors as the same religion, the same
practicing place, the same Kung Fu arts they practiced and the same fame for
themselves, together with traditional Chinese name-giving customs, the historians
in China still cannot give a convincing conclusion as to the details of Zhang
Sanfeng’s personal information.
Other recordings concerning Zhang Sanfeng and his Kung Fu master history may have to be related to Huang Zongxi, who was one famous Chinese thinker and historian in late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. In his books History Files In Song- and Yuan Dynasty, History Files In Ming Dynasty and History Files Of Scholars In Ming Dynasty, he held the view many times that Zhang Sanfeng was a famous Kung Fu master in Song Dynasty. One manuscript handed down by Li Yifan-- who was Wu-style Taiji boxing bearer –- also carried such message as “Taiji boxing originated from Zhang Sanfeng in Song Dynasty.” Therefore, in today’s Kung Fu circle many martial artists generally regard Zhag Sanfeng as the founder of both Taiji boxing and Wudang Kung Fu in Song Dynasty.
It is a general viewpoint circulating in Kung Fu arena that Taiji boxing originated from inter Kung Fu created by Zhang Sanfeng. One collect book with China State Library called Taiji Masters Lineage has the following messages as “Sir Zhang Sanfeng, surname Zhang, first name Sanfeng, went to Mount Zhongnan when he was 61 years old. There he chanced to meet one immortal called Dragon Fire who late transferred his knowledge regarding inner alchemy to him after knowing he was a competent practitioner.”
Later Zhang Sanfeng traveled a lot to famous resorts in the south and finally settled down in Mount Wudang. Then ordering disciple Qiu Yuanqing to stay in Five Dragon House, Lu Qiuyun in Southen Cave, Liu Guquan in Purple Heaven Palace, Zhang Sanfeng constructed a house in the place where Immortal Encountering Palace now stays. Cultivating true self for as long as nine years, Zhang Sanfeng finally succeeded in achieving Tao. People called him an immortal who can excise unimaginable power to restrain the bad and promote the good, and transform all corporeal things into different forms as the he wished to do. All the universe turns to become one thing staying in his hand waiting for him to deal with.
Later, Zhang Sanfeng taught one set of boxing forms to Zhang Songxi and Zhang Cuisan, which was the very original form of Taiji boxing. Because there are only thirteen forms people called it Thirteen-Form Taiji Boxing. Among these 13 forms, stretching out, stamping, squeezing, chopping downward, picking up, changing place, using elbow, leaning against symbolize separately the eight trigrams, while moving forward, retreating backward, watching to the left, turning to the right and staying in the center indicate separately the five elements. From these specific sayings there came the name of Thirteen-Form Taiji boxing. Based upon the Yin- and Yang-Qi theory and aimed at regulating operation of the inner organs according to five-element theory, TaiChi boxing incorporates many soft movements imitating cats, birds, snakes and monkeys, thus gaining the effects of soothing the inner mental state, harmonize the operation of inner viscera, strengthening the immune system, etc. Taichi boxing developed very quickly among general people and later different branches came out to develop into different forms after long-term evolution. Nowadays, Chen-style, Yang-style, Wu-Style, Sun-style Taichi boxing compete to present themselves.
In fact, Taichi boxing originated from inner alchemy. Such key movement points as lowering Qi into Dantian, squaring shoulder, standing spine upright are just as same as the requirements for inner alchemy. Nowadays, people begin to forget their relationship and often treat Taichi boxing as a separate entity. That is totally wrong.
As of today, Wudang Taoism Association and other organizations had published more than 30 schools of Wudang boxing forms, 18 schools of Wudang weapon forms, 9 schools inner Qigong practice forms. Among them the popular are as following below:
Wudang Taiyi Five Element Boxing
Wudang Pure-Yang Boxing
Yin Yang Ba Gua Chang
Wudang Sword
Wudang Original Taichi Boxing
Taihe Boxing
Zhaobao Taichi Boxing
Wudang Heavenly-Gate Qigong
Wudang Moon-Watching Qigong
Wudang Southern School
etc.
Another source says this about Wudang Styles:
"The most typical Wudang style is 'Wudang Tayi Wuxing Qinpu' (Grapples and Atacks of Five Pre-elements and The Great One from Wudang mountains), also called 'Wudangquan' (Fist of Wudang Mountains). This style was created by Taoist Zhang Shouxing at the end of XV century. This style has 23 forms, training is separated to training of the steps and training of the hands, there exist 35 methods of using the hands and 18 methods of moving. Style use snake-like moving (S-form moving), force going along the spiral.
Other well-known Wudang styles are:
Kongmenquan. (Fist of the Gate of Emptiness)
Yumenquan. (Fist of the Gate of Fish)
Jiugong Shibatui. (18 legs of 9 Palaces) emphasizes kicking techniques
Udangpai, which also includes 'Wujiquan'. (Fist of Boundlessness)
Yaozi Changquan. (Long Fist of the Hawk)
Yuanzhou Fudiquan. (Fist of Rubbing Monkey, Hidden Near the Ground)
Liubu Sanshou. (Combat Methods of 6 Steps).
Wudang Jian. (Wudang methods of using straight sword). Sword was usual attribute of Taoist monk, was used during religious ceremonies, so it is not strange that sword was also used for fighting."
Wudang Kung Fu is excellent cultural heritage for Chinese people. Nowadays, more and more people get involved in the campaign to treasuring this art form and making efforts to promote its healthy development. Every year, many famous Kung Fu masters, Qigong masters come to ShiYan City to pay respect to Mount Wudang and exchange their experience and skills.
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(Contributor: Wang Tao)
"there are two schools of Kung Fu, External and Internal.The most know of the external is Shaolin meant mainly for attack, and internal meant mainly for defense. No matter what Martial art you take up I would personally not discount learning all of the above for this I feel limits your training, While die hard's would say you are missing out by not putting all your energy into one Marital art.
Taiji quan
Tai - Highest
Qi (chi) - Ultimate- energy, life force.
Ch'uan - Fist
Gong - Skill, Work.
Meditation in movement (or action)
At first I picked Taijiquan (Tai chi) for its continual movement and its combined sequence of offensive and defensive, to improve my over all health and this is were my Martial Arts started, its not only an art in my opinion, its a Wealth of Tradition. The more you put it to it the more Treasure you will find with in it.As my neck was immobilized in a brace I found the slow movements both therapeutic and helpful in the recovery by getting my Blood flow up to speed, So from a heavy smoker and drinker I was now exercising every day adding minutes every day,So I do recommend Tai Chi for starting out ( remember we live in a fast food culture" nothing worth while comes that fast" ).Many people ask " how can anyone defend themselves in slow motion" Tai chi tones and relaxes muscles, muscles move faster the more toned and relaxed they are, it gets your whole body movement coordinated, if you can efficiently ues both your waist and legs you can put both more power and speed in to your hands and Leg movement.
If its flowery fists and music playing in the background you are on the wrong web site !
Yang style has 108 movements altogether! so I started with the Beijing short form which has 24 Form ( the Beijing short form is part of the final examinations of the Physical Education in not only Beijing, but Shanghai & Tianjin. The 24 form might even sound hard at first DONT be afraid of it! 24 movements and at 1 or 2 learned every week is only 12 weeks, but don't forget some double up! A great tip here is to learn a movement and what it is for! Once you have learned what a block is and a kick and punch, you are already starting to know Self defense and the Health will come by itself if you practices every day even if its only for 20 min's a day ! Take a look at the list of the 24 forms and later we will look at the 108 Yang form.
The Beijing Short Form
(24 Forms)
Form 1. Commencing Form
Form 2. Parting Wild Horses Main Left,Right & Left
Form 3. White Crane flashing wings
Form 4. Brush Knee Right,Left & Right
Form 5. Playing the Lute
Form 6. Repulse monkey Right,Left &right,left
7. Stroking Birds tail left
8 Stroking Birds tail right
9. Single Whip
10. Wave hands like Clouds x 3
11. Single whip
12. High Horse
13. Heel Kick Right
14. Punch Ears with both hands
15. Turn & Heel kick Left
16. Lower movement & golden Cock stands on one leg Left
17. Lower movement & golden Cock stands on one leg Right
18. Fair Lady, work at shuttles Right & Left
19. Needle at sea bottom
20. Fan back
21. Turn to deflect down ward Parry and Punch
22. Apparent closing up
23. Cross Hands
24. Conclusion
Just because it is the shorten Form doesn't mean you are Learning less, the Beijing short form has all the moves you will need not just for Health but self defense too.