Yang Family Tai Chi Discussion Board

Martial arts in china goes back several thousands of years so the Yang family even before Yang Lu Shan had to have been doing some form of self defense against bandits, rebels, invaders, ect. The knowledge was there and interest in martial arts. From what i have gathered Yang Lu chan was already interested in martial arts and when he heard of the Chen fighting arts he went there to investigate and learn.

So I am wondering what martial arts if any is recorded in Yang Family history besides Chen taijiquan. Chang Chuan or chanquan longfist was popular at the time as well as Shaolin Martial arts. Just curious.

matt

Greetings Matt,

Yang Zhenji says in his book that Yang Luchan learned Hong Quan as a youth before he went to Chen Jia Gou. Hong Quan, I believe, is what is known in the south as Hung Gar—in Mandarin: Hong Jia [Quan], and sometimes known as Tiger-Crane, after some sub-routines in its system. I’ve seen in other sources (ex., Wile, Lost T’ai-Chi Classics) that Wu Yuxiang and his brothers also practiced Hong Quan prior to learning Taijiquan, so it must have been popular there at the time. It’s a powerful, vigorous style. My first sifu shared a studio in Sacramento in the early ‘70s with Y.C. Wong, a great proponent of Hung Gar, so although I never learned it, I was able to see plenty of demonstrations! It’s considered a Shaolin art.

Y.C. Wong was especially well-known for his “nine-link chain” routine. This was a weapon that consisted of nine foot-long metal sections linked together, the end-most sections being sharpened blades. On special occasions, Master Wong would do the nine-link chain routine in the middle of our small studio. The students all stood tightly against the walls. Y.C. would go to the middle of the room, take a couple of test swings to gauge the dimensions, then leap into action. As long as we didn’t move, we would be safe. That was pretty exciting, seeing those blades whizzing so close to our heads at such speed!

Take care,
Louis


[This message has been edited by Louis Swaim (edited 05-19-2005).]

Greetings,

I guess I botched it pretty well in my conjecture that Hong Quan was related to Hung Gar. I’ll just disclose here and now that I know even less about Hong Quan than I do about Hung Gar!

Oh well. At least I got a chance to tell my Y.C. Wong story. Those are good memories.

Take care,
Louis

No problem...I am now finding out more about Hongquan now. The northern Longfist one and not the southern fist.

matt

Hi Matt,

I hope you don't mind sharing when you reach a suitable point. I am curious as to what Hongquan was or is like.

Take care,
Audi