Thank you Xie Xie Ni.

Hahahaha, received our first donation from someone in Tacoma, Washington USA.

After 2 years of running this blog and finally the drought is over; hopefully the water will start to flow after this ……..

Want to say a big thank you (not naming the person for obvious reason) and I’ll buy the Carlsbergs if we ever meet.

 

邱建国 Qiu Jian Guo 1961 – 1998.

Not many, I think, have heard of this one-time crowned “King of Nan Quan” Qiu Jian Guo; his most well known movie is probably “The South Shaolin Master”.

I guess you could say that Jet Li and his “Shaolin Temple” gang eclipsed many who came after them and you can count Qiu as one.

A very powerful and aggressive Nan Quan 6 times national champion in China, he died in 1998 due to nose/throat cancer; I found that out from the then national Wushu coach of Sarawak who is also from the mainland.

Got to tell you that I really like Qiu’s performances regardless of whether solo or 2 man routines, his speed, jin and the other dynamics spell “Southern Kung Fu” …..I think I read somewhere in an old mag that he did some Hakka style boxing before switching to competition Wushu…..

Qiu also co-authored a book – a Nanquan 2 man routine and even though this is competition material, the techniques in the routine is familiar traditional Southern Kung Fu.

Lai Tung Pai in old New Martial Hero Magazine.

Lai Tung Pai is a Shaolin style of martial art. Both external and internal in nature, Lai Tung Pai has several forms that are to be done with external and/or internal power control. The style is mainly a short fist style similar to Wing Chun.  Lai Tung forms are short (24 to 36 moves) with the exception of the Kung Jong form that consists of over 300 moves. The style also performs the traditional Shaolin weapons (staff, broadsword, butterfly knives etc.), and uses several Muk Yan Jong.  Lai Tung Pai also teaches and performs the traditional Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance.

From Wiki , full article here….

Got an email recently asking me for my info source of Lai Tung; a style that I was informed bears strong resemblances to Wing Chun.

Well since this style calls Hong Kong home after leaving the mainland, most of my materials are Hong Kong published magazine from the 70s/80s and 90s.

Got one copy that you can purchase at a very steep price of USD3.75 – just click the “Buy this book at Lulu.com” button.

In this issue, you’ll also find some info on Hung Fut, Wing Chun and on the cover you see Sifu Chen Gung Wu – one time famous TCKF teacher from Indonesia.

I got hundreds of these old magazines and books that I am going to put up but time….. time …. All the scanning, touching up, uploading …………

Carlsberg time        🙂

Burn bright !

Okay, one more entry about Zhou Jia before I move on ……

Looking thru the entire DVD, I see many seniors presenting their very seasoned polished forms etc etc….got to point out that there are forms that I am viewing for the very first time, Zhou Jia covers a very wide repertoire really.

I remember a handwritten book from my Zhou Jia teacher, Sifu Foong Fook Wah, listing something like over 100 forms – a gamut of empty-hands, weapons, 2 men sets etc….

It’s my aspiration to shoot as much as possible of these traditional forms …. So each time I am in Penang, guess what I’ll be doing?

In the DVD, apart from the elders, it’s very inspirational to see the new wave of Zhou Jia students all groomed to keep the fire of Zhou Jia burning.

And burning bright indeed!

Just look at these 2 clips…..

Clip #1 – wow, just look at the kid go!!! Awesome…….

Clip #2 – This is from Zhou Jia Australia, I think and don’t shoot me if I am wrong – I have not met anyone from there. The stick form – outstanding by any standard!

 

 

Singapore Zhou Jia Kuan Dao.

The weapon that is always associated with Kung Kong or Guan Yu….

From wiki:-

Today, Guan Yu is still widely worshiped by the Chinese, with many shrines to him are found in homes or businesses. In Hong Kong, shrine for Guan Yu is located in each police station. Though by no means mandatory, most Chinese policemen worship and pay respect to him. Although seemingly ironic, members of the Triad gangs and the Hung worship Guan Yu as well. A difference between the statues used by triad gangs and police station for the shrine are indicated by which arm holds his halberd, right for the police and left for triads. This explains in which side Guan Yu is worshiped, by the righteous people or vice versa. The state of Guan Yu’s face for the Triads usually appears more sinister than the usual statue. This exemplifies the Chinese belief that a code of honor, epitomized by Guan Yu, exists even in the underworld. In Hong Kong, Guan Yu is often referred to as “Yi Gor” (二哥, Cantonese for second big brother) for he was second to Liu Bei in their legendary sworn brotherhood. Guan Yu is also worshipped by Chinese businessmen in Shanxi Province, Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia as an alternative wealth god, since he is perceived to bless the upright and protect them from the crooked. Another reason being related to the release of Cao Cao during the Huarong Pass incident where he let Cao Cao and his general passed through safely. As for that, he was perceived to be able to give a lifeline to those that needed it……..more.

Recently, when Chas was here, I gave him a wooden foot tall Kuan Kong statue for his altar in his Seattle school.

Most CKF revere Kuan for his loyalty and trustworthiness, 2 virtues that every student of CKF must have………

And here performing the Kuan Dao, brilliantly if I may add, is Singapore’s Zhou Jia.

Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh………

I don’t care who you think you are, you just DON’T EAT CATS !!!!!!!!!!!

Click here.

Kung Fu Cinema.

Click here.

Zhou Jia.

Aaarrgh talk about big video file …. This is supersized – the Zhou Jia DVD from Peter shot during a Zhou Jia gathering in the mid of this year in China. Over 2 hrs long, can you imagine how much time is needed to convert them to wmv file for editing?

I don’t know what I like more, high quality kung fu performances or families from various branches from all over congregating eating, drinking and performing kung fu.

Look at what’s happening to many kung fu families these days; all the internal squabbling and no end jostling for “head chair”….. sad, really sad.

I long for those days when masters from, not just within one style but  an assortment of sects, lineages and schools all sitting down  ….. A fellowship of sort really.

So what went wrong, a case of “big tree and branches start to rot” perhaps………?

My days with Zhou Jia are relatively short; a couple of years at most but during that time, I find the bond there really strong. Every time I visit Penang for instance, I know I can count on my Zhou Jia family there for support for all that I want to accomplish there.

And to view this DVD and seeing Zhou Jia from the mainland, US, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore etc etc intermingling ……..

Now, that to me is Real Kung Fu !

Here’s a short clip and I will be posting more from this gathering.

Green Dragons & White Tigers.

So the battle rages on ….. Do you treat CKF as a “science” or an “art”?

And the end is nowhere in sight with neither side budging …. Hey maybe some bloodletting is needed , just like in the days of old; meet on some mountain top and physically thrash it out.

Nah ….. that’s antiquated …. This is the new millennium and the internet is mightier than the sword hahahaha ….

But seriously, I like what the late Bruce Lee said; my truth cannot be your truth. You want to approach your training scientifically…..fine.

It’s your life and I wish you all the best.

My path, on the other hand is somewhere in the middle. Absorb what is good but you got to have good fundamentals in order for any absorption to be effective. My own experience has shown that nothing build better fundamentals than time-proven methodologies handed down thru the centuries.

You can have the most sophisticated of modern weaponries but it’s in the hands of  disciplined well trained in the old-fashion manner soldiers that’s going win the day.

And, I am not afraid to admit that I really do love the “art” portion of CKF.

The cultural and literary side that is so “Chinese”……that I sometimes feel only ethnic Chinese really bothers.

You know, the “Green Dragons and White Tigers” of Chinese psyche…..

Here’s a Cha Quan book, published some 75 yrs ago with a page explaining the various facets of CKF – the fighting, sports and performing aspects.

Hmmm, imagine that, 75 years ago and already it was recognized that CKF comes in many guises….

And the poem on the second page …… that’s the “Green Dragons and White Tigers” that I am talking about.

Kung Fu Galaxy store.

Purchase PDF files of old Kung Fu books and magazines …..click here.