Questions about some styles?

Question

Hello. I will be leaving in 2008 to study multiple styles of Chinese Marital Arts for 2-3 years in China. I was wondering if anyone would provide some insight into the styles I will be mastering and what their personal opinion of each style is. I have no previous experience but look very much forward to learning and training.

Shao lin wu bu, lian huan, nan, Ba ji, Ba ji xiao jia (nei gong quan), Ba da zhao, liu da kai, zi mu (son and mom quan), mei hua, 7-star preying mantis, pi kua, pair of practical training, shao yang, liu he, Ba bu lian huan, Jing gan, Ruo han 1-9 routines, Da hong, Da tong, Xing yi long routine, Pi gua, five animal styles routines, Wu he, Xin yi ba, Pu quan, Gong zi fu hu, southern shaolin Nan mei, Ba duan ji, traditional Qi gong, 9-section iron whip basics, 2-section cudgels (er jie guan).

Any info on the above styles would be great.

Answer 1

Before you read on to the forms list, please consider that two to three years isn't enough to learn everything you've listed even if you were to practice 16 hours a day, everyday. I would recommend that you pick a single style and stick to it, be it Northern Shaolin, Shaolin Six Harmony, Eight Extremes/Baji, Pigua, Plum Flower, Shaolin Arhat, or Seven Star Praying Mantis. Any one of these styles would easily take three years for a person to become remotely proficient in. Of course, if your ultimate goal isn't martial application but forms collection, then by all means, knock yourself out.



Shao lin wu bu - (Five Step) This is a very short and basic set. Teaches you stance work, flexibility, power and how to throw a punch.



lian huan - (Continuous Fist) Probably the second set you'll learn. Considered basic but it's quite a bit harder than Five Step. Still standard Shaolin fair.



nan - (Southern?) Do you mean the contemporary competition southern fist set?



Ba ji - (Eight Extremes) This is the name for an entire martial arts style. Not an Shaolin original, though there is a watered down Shaolin Baji set.



Ba ji xiao jia (nei gong quan) - (Small Frame) One of the core Eight Extremes sets. Very useful and hard to master.



Ba da zhao - (Eight Big Techniques) One of the core Eight Extreme sets. Application heavy. Make sure you get to learn how to use every move or you'll be missing the meat of this set.



Liu da kai - (Six Big Openings) One of the core Eight Extreme sets. Teaches fighting theory. Again, application heavy.



Zi mu (son and mom quan) - There are many forms that bear this name but none are from Eight Extremes. I know that Shaolin has a set, Ziranmen has a set, Cha Fist has a set, and Cotton Palm has a set. They all share the same name but are completely different from each other. If you know which system this set you are learning comes from, then maybe I can share a little more detail.



mei hua - (Plum Flower) Again, a very popular name for many different sets from various styles. There's even an entire style with this name. I know Shaolin has a set, 7 Star Praying Mantis has at least three sets, Plum Flower Praying Mantis has God knows how many sets, and then there's Plum Flower style. Invariably they are some of the tougher sets in any of the systems mentioned above.



7-star preying mantis - This is an entire style with 30 to over 100 different forms depending on lineage. Even Shaolin 7 Star Praying Mantis has many different sets. All are tough to learn but very rewarding.



pi kua - (Split and Hang) Another northern style. Specializes in long-range attacks. Comprised of four core forms, many Eight Extremes schools also teach this style to complement their short-range techniques. Similarly, some Tongbei and Monkey systems also teach this style. Whatever others may tell you; this definitely isn't a Shaolin original.



pair of practical training



shao yang – Definitely Northern Shaolin, four sets in all. I know very little about it.



liu he – (Six Harmony) Oh boy, another popular name. Just in Shaolin alone, there’s a lone Six Harmony set as well as an entire sub-branch with that name.



Ba bu lian huan – (Eight Step Continuous Fist) Could be Shaolin, could be Plum Flower Taichi Praying Mantis.



Jing gan – (Diamond Fist) Northern Shaolin. A high level set. Wudang system has a different set with the same name, as does Mizong system.



Ruo han 1-9 routines – (Luohan/Arhat Fist) Northern Shaolin, 18 sets total. I guess you get to learn half. Oh yeah, there’s also an entire Shaolin sub-branch with this name.



Da hong – (Big Red Fist) Classic Shaolin. Good on ya. Easier than Small Red Fist



Da tong – (Large Through Fist) Classic Shaolin. Of course there’s also the harder Small Through Fist.



Xing yi long routine – (Mind and Intent Long Fist) It is a known Shaolin form. I don’t know if it is anything like the Xingyi style though.



Pi gua – This is the same as “pi kua” before, just spelt differently.



five animal styles routines – Medium difficulty classic Shaolin.



Wu he – (Five Harmony) Five roads total, a Shaolin original. Unique in application and theory.



Xin yi ba – (Mind and Intent Play) High level Shaolin master set.



Pu quan - (Common/Simple Fist) A northern set. Don’t know if it’s actually Shaolin.



Gong zi fu hu – This is Hunggar, classic southern flavors. Boy your instructor sure gets around.



southern shaolin Nan mei – No such thing. Maybe you misspelled?



Ba duan ji – (Eight Silk Brocades) Qigong stretching and breathing exercises. Not a Shaolin original.

Answer 2

Dear Sir: How fortunate you are!! Use the time well, keep a calendar,and a diary. Carry a small paper tablet and pen, or the electronic equivelant. So when your back, you can review, study again what you have learned. I am sure you will have to do the traditional respect and traditional ways. I am sure you know in the last 20 or 30 years, martial arts have progressed at an unprecedented pace. IE. MIxed standing ground techniques. Bring a modern book on military hand to hand killing. You may not want your teachers to see this book. Also a military book on knives. Be very respectful, don't show off. Or display any interest in killing, unless your teacher discusses it. Don't say any style is better then another, unless your teacher discusses it. By the structure of your "question" it sounds like you know what the score is ! Learn all you can. Keeping your notes diary updated daily. Practice everything you are told. You can decide what is not practical or realistic, when you get back. Remember there are only 3 kinds of fighting. #1 your friend who you do not want to hurt, because you have to be friends. #2 Unknown jerk who if you cripple, may take you to court. #3 The fight to the death. IE. 300 Lb. man with knife trying to kill you. All 3 may involve multiple oponants. I cannot right a novel about it here. Once again I think you know the score. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. One more thing When you come back, bring a nice Large Oriental 24K unique neck chain, as a suvenier of your visit. Somthing that does not look like everyone elses common jewelry mart junk. You will probably wear it under your shirt because it will blind people in the sunlight! Have fun and enjoy your learning experience!

Answer 3

hehe! Cool questions! :) 1. If you had boy and girl twins and had to name them after your favorite actor and actress what would you name them? ( you may add your own middle names or add different actors for first and middle names, whatever you want) West Nathaniel (Ed Westwick) and Keira Amber Juliet (Keira Knightley) 2. You have a gorgeous little girl, she named after your all time favorite singer, what is she called? Shakira Giselle 3. You have another girl, she is named after a supermodel (can be an actress too though), what is she named? Heidi Elizabeth Raine 4. You have a boy and he is named after a celebrity who has passed away what is he called? Heath Alexander 5. Next you have twin boys and they are named after two actors who have old fashioned/classic names, what are they called? Elijah Bennett (Elijah Wood) and Adam Christopher (Adam Brody) 6. Last but not least you have a set of boy and girl twins again, they are named after celebs who have either won Emmy's, Academy Awards, or some other major award. What are they called? Katherine Delilah (Kate Winslet) and Jack Carter Finch (Jack Nicholson) :)

Answer 4

with a great teacher, chi kung is essential to help with the rigorous training involved in the various styles. i would also suggest that shaolin 5 animals be studied corollary to Xing yi kung fu as combat application can be easier to understand going from one to the other(dragon to dragon, snake to snake, tiger to tiger, etc.).

Answer 5

2-3 years isn't adequate for mastering even one. I take shaolin (kung fu and tai chi) and Qi gong. They are very nice.

Answer 6

that's pretty cool that you are going to study multiple styles of Chinese marital arts in china, but i would study in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Its a modified version of Ancient Japanese martial art that encompasses throwing, joint locks, striking, and weapons training. made famous by Carlos Gracie in the mid-1920's.

Answer 7

These all seem like Shaolin styles, which should be a wonderful opportunity for you! Enjoy yourself.