Oh no, not another one!!!

So you think I am exaggerating when I said that Crane arts are multi-layered?

In all my years of collecting CKF materials and in particular Crane related, I’ve found variegations that, literally, know no bound.

Apart from the 20 over styles and sub-styles recorded in Taiwan, the equal number in SE Asia (so far) and now with more access to materials from the mainland, I am starting to see diversifications that I’ve only but heard about from Crane elders and seniors.

And there I was thinking the great divide is between Fujian Cranes and Fuzhou Cranes that splintered into a variety of Cranes that later left for outside of mainland……

Now the emerging picture is that even within Fujian Cranes, there are many branches each with their distinctive features to keep researchers busy for a long time….hahahaha…..

So when you read about Karate and Wing Chun having relationships with Crane, the 6 millions dollar question is which Crane are we talking about?

In the absence of proper documentations, simply by comparing the arts might not be so simple after all.

Say you’re taught that your style is an off shoot of Yong Chun White Crane and you start comparing what you do with the “mainstream” YC White Crane from Fujian and you find big incongruities between the 2. What are you to conclude?

Wrong transmission of info in your family line maybe?

Or could it be that you’re looking at the “wrong” YC White Crane ……..

Take a look at this next video I found, Yong Chun White Crane that is a strong shade off the regular YC White Crane that you might encounter.

Just look at that elaborate opening salute sequence … I am almost sure it’s telling a story of some sort.

Now I just got to find the right people to enlighten me on this………

Arrh …..love it…….

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