Kung Fu

White Crane

History of the Southern White Crane Style

It is believed that White Crane was one of the five original 'animal' systems practiced at the Shaolin Temple and that it may already have existed by the time the monk Da Mo arrived from India in the 6th century. Later, during the 17th century, when the Temple monks dispersed throughout China and the surrounding regions, a monk named Xinglong was sent by the Temple to Tibet to study Tibetan Buddhism. While there he passed down the Crane system which over the years developed into La Ma or Northern White Crane.

During the same century a woman named Fang Chi-Niang combined her White Crane heritage, passed down from her father, with movements she witnessed while observing the behaviour of cranes in the river near her home. This was the beginning of the Southern White Crane system, which now includes four major divisions: Ancestral Crane, Eating Crane, Shouting Crane and Flying Crane. It is Ancestral Crane which Master Yang-Jwing Ming learned as a youth from his Master, Cheng Gin-Sao.

Characteristics of the Southern White Crane

White Crane is one of hundreds of Chinese martial arts styles, and White Crane itself can be divided into numerous schools, each with its own special characteristics and emphasis in training. However, the root of all White Crane styles remains the same. The white Crane learned and taught by Master Yang, Zong He Chuan, is considered the original Southern White Crane system.

Zong He Chuan translates as 'Ancestral Crane Fist.' The system is also known as ' Trembling Crane', 'Sleeping Crane' or 'Jumping Crane'. Each of these names describes a characteristic of the style. The Jin or martial power of Zong He Chuan derives from a shaking or trembling of the body which imitates the shaking off of water by a bird or animal. The legs are firmly rooted and the power is generated from the waist. 'Sleeping' may refer to the idea that the Crane practitioner is motionless until the opponent moves, at which time s/he physically explodes into defense while maintaining mental and spiritual calm. 'Jumping' refers to the jumping movements used in strategic footwork and escape.

White Crane is primarily a defensive system which specialises in the short range. Kicks are low and hands are used extensively in techniques which derive from the shape and movements of the Crane's wings or beak. The Crane is known for its dignity and calm appearance but also for the viciousness with which it defends itself.

White Crane practitioners also train in the use of weapons, including staff, double sticks, sai, sabre, double dagger, spear and numerous other long and short weapons. Training in White Crane demands a conditioned body in order to withstand the great power which can be generated by the shaking jin and the specialised whipping and arcing motions of the chest and spine. Without proper and progressive conditioning it is easy to damage the joints and internal organs in practice. Also, in order to reach the higher levels the pupil must study and practice White Crane qigong (cultivation of internal energy). For these reasons, only the most elementary of White Crane techniques and forms are taught in the first few years of YMAA training.

White Crane is a very deep and specialised style, and it is not possible to do it justice in a short summary. If you are interested in the theory, philosophy, history and methods of White Crane training please see the book Shaolin White Crane by Dr. Yang Jwing Ming available from YMAA SA.

Kung Fu

Shaolin Long Fist (Chang Chuan)

History of Shaolin Long Fist:

The core of Northern Long Fist was developed in the 10th century by Zhao Kuang Yin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, who owed much of his empire building to Shaolin Kung Fu. This original style was called taiju changchuan which means the Long Fist style. During the early part of the 20th century when the Shaolin Temple was still active, two great martial organisations arose, encompassing many of the great styles, which developed from the Shaolin and other systems. One was the Chin Woo Association (1909), and the other was the Nanking Kou Su Institute (1926) (the term 'Kuo Su' means 'national martial technique'). The Nanking Kuo Su Institute drew from the knowledge of a large number of respected Masters, including Chin Woo members, overcoming Martial Arts politics and age-old prejudices to discuss and explore the best techniques from among the many divisions. From this synthesis arose the style commonly known as Northern Long Fist.

Master Han Ching -Tan ( 1903 - 1976) studied Long Fist as a first generation pupil of the Nanking Kuo Shu Institute. He, in turn, taught Master Li Mao-Ching, who also studied Northern Praying Mantis, Chinese Wrestling and Sun Bin Chuan. Master Li passed on his knowledge to a number of pupils including Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, who still visits with and hosts Master Li on a regular basis.

Characteristics of the Long Fist System

In Chinese Martial Arts there is a saying, 'Northern leg, Southern fist' which refers to the belief that, historically, the martial artists of the North specialised in kicking due to their longer and stronger legs, whereas the people of the South, being smaller and stockier, specialised in the use of hand techniques. Long Fist, being a Northern style, emphasises the use of the legs. The style contains a wide variety of stationary, moving , spinning and jumping kicks. Not all of these are for practical use, but practice of the full range develops tremendous strength, flexibility and agility. Long range punches are employed, but the hands are used primarily for blocking and parrying. In YMAA training, techniques of Shaolin Chin Na and the White Crane style are trained for close-range fighting.

Stances in Long Fist are wide and low, allowing for a long range of movement and great stability and strength. Strategically, offense and defense are considered equally important. In some Long Fist styles 'the best defence is a strong offence', and in this case the practitioner launches a pre-emptive attack so aggressive that the opponent doesn't have the opportunity to attack. The Long Fist fighter likes to keep the opponent at middle-to-long range distance to facilitate the use of kicks, and since kicks are of such importance, speed is crucial since it takes longer to execute a kick from long range.

Many weapons are trained in the Long Fist system including Staff, Sword, Sabre, and Spear and others.