Tag: Shaolin
Sifu Kisu's Shaolim Workshop – in Seattle!
Please join us in welcoming Sifu Kisu of the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association to Seattle for his first workshop in the Greater Puget Sound area!
Students of all experience levels and all styles of martial arts welcome!
Sifu Kisu's Northern Shaolim Workshop
From 9am to 5pm
Tuition $80 for advance registration; or $90 cash at the door on day of event.
International Wudang Internal Martial Arts Academy
2411 South Walker Street
Register Here! on Eventbrite
Tun Da Course
Northern Shaolim training Form No. 6 – Close-Encounter Combinations (Short Strikes)
This form emphasizes techniques and combinations applied close up—within arm's reach of your opponent. In contrast to short-range (or short-hand) Southern Kung Fu styles — including Wing Chun and Southern Praying Mantis — this set also employs techniques and tactics that close the distance between you and your opponent. Like all short range fighting styles, combinations include hand trapping, simultaneous block-strike techniques, and footwork/tactics to 'stick' to an opponent.
The uniqueness in Northern Shaolin Short Strikes is the 'blending in' or 'smooth and subtle transitions' with long-range techniques. It has an advantage over other short-range styles, as it includes high-and-low, and side-to-side shifting, as well as close-up ground sweeping and high/jumping kicks require skillful execution that other styles may not. Northern Shaolin Short Strikes is the easiest form to learn because it adopts direct movements (therefore it is taught first), yet, it's also the most difficult to master. The practitioner's main challenges are to overcome their intuitive fears when up-close, and to develop the keen senses and reflexes required in short-range fighting.
Sifu Kisu is a 5th generation Bak Siu Lum Pai disciple (Northern Shaolim Gate) descended from Great Grand Master Ku Yu Cheong.
Master Kisu has been a dedicated practitioner of Traditional Chinese Kung Fu for over 40 years, primarily focusing on the style of Northern Shaolim Kung Fu from his Sifu, Grandmaster Kenneth Hui (Hui Ho-Kwong), who is the founder of the Northern Shaolim Association of Los Angeles.
His daily practice has led him to understand how to transmit physical/energetic components in such a way that is open and accessible to the Western mind.
His most acclaimed works are documented in the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra, where he acted as chief martial arts director and consultant. In fact, the sword master in Avatar: The Last Airbender series, Piandao, is based directly on Sifu Kisu.
Lifelong experience in his craft inspired Sifu Kisu in the creation of elemental "bending" styles seen in the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, which are symbolic expressions of specific styles of traditional Chinese martial arts.
The Northern Shaolim style of Kung Fu as made famous by Grand Master Kuo Yu Chang is a cumulative set of northern and southern-style Kung Fu techniques, choreographed by the Grand Master into a curriculum he taught both in the Nam Jing Kung Fu Institute and his Canton Kung Fu institute. His curriculum increased throughout his teaching years to include techniques of many styles. The Grand Master, being highly skilled in the Northern style of Kung Fu, emphasized the Northern style of Shaolim Kung Fu in his teachings.Most martial art origin stories–including that of the Northern Shaolim style–are passed down by oral tradition; therefore we discuss it as more part of legend than facts.
There are many legends about the late Grand Master Ku Yu Cheung. According to stories related by his close students, Master Ku's father was an accomplished exponent of the Tan Toi (Snapping Kicks) Kung-Fu style. When he was young, Master Ku traveled throughout Northern China to learn all northern Kung-Fu systems. He was renowned for his Iron Palm techniques and the application of the long spear weapon. He organized all his learnings into what is Northern Shaolim Kung Fu today.
Northern Shaolim style Kung Fu is one of the most prominent traditional Northern styles of Chinese martial arts. The Northern styles of Gung-fu generally emphasize long-range techniques, quick advances and retreats, wide stances, kicking and leaping techniques, whirling circular blocks, quickness, agility, and aggressive attacks.
The system teaches empty-hand techniques and weaponry through pre-determined combinations, routines, or movement of sets.Students acquire the basics by practicing routines until the movements of the routines can be executed naturally and based on instinct. Subsequently, two or more opponents will perform routines to train the applications and responses of techniques learned from the original sets. The practice sets/routines are not only practical through application but also graceful and artistic in nature. The fluidity of movement — combined with acrobatic techniques — are trademarks of the Northern Shaolim Kung-Fu sets.
Our special thanks to Guro/Sifu Azeem McDaniel and his students at Puget Sound Eskrima Combatives for his invaluable assistance in coordinating this landmark event!
Our sincere gratitude to Sifu Lu, Mei-hui and Sifu Chang Wu Na for their generosity and hospitality in welcoming us to hold this event at their beautiful school, the International Wudang Internal Martial Arts Academy!
With over 3,000 square feet, and ample parking in 2 lots and along the street, this is a perfect space for a large martial arts workshop!
WAIVER — ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN BEFORE ATTENDING CLASS
I am aware that martial arts & yoga practice involves physical activities which may result in my being injured. I voluntarily submit this waiver for participation in
Harmonious Fists Chinese Athletic Association classes,
WuDang Internal Martial Arts classes,
Puget Sound Eskrima Combatives classes, and
Vajra Visions – Mace Martial Arts classes, and in consideration for my attendance in the classes, being mindful of the risks, assume full responsibility for any and all damages, injuries or losses I may sustain or incur, if any, while attending or participating in classes or related activities, and hereby waive all claims, actions, causes of action, damages, costs, liabilities, expense of judgments, including attorney's fees and court costs, against instructors and sponsors of these classes for any claim for injuries I may sustain. I have listed all known medical conditions and physical limitations and will inform the instructor of any change in my health between classes. The instructor reserves the right to refuse services for reasons of safety or interference with other students' learning. Furthermore, I agree to indemnity and to hold harmless the instructor and sponsors of these classes from liability arising out of my own negligence or intentional acts. I understand that Registration fees, tuition, equipment, testing fees and private lessons are non – refundable. I grant full permission to use any photographs, video/motion pictures or any other records for these classes.
Participant Signature:
Parent/Guardian Signature:
(if participant is under 18years)
Azeem McDaiel
Chang WuNa
Chinese Martial Arts
Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association
International WuDang Internal Martial Arts
Lu Mei-hui
Northern Shaolin
Puget Sound Eskrima Combatives
Shaolim
Sifu Kisu
Vajra Visions
What are "Mixed Martial Arts"?
Bagua Zhang Throwing technique
From Mace Martial Arts — The Other MMA!
What we call "Mixed Martial Arts" today is mostly a sport-based amalgamation of Western Boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazialian jiu-jitsu, usually practiced in sporting events where fighters compete in a matted "cage" or ring. There are often other systems that influence the athletes in the sport, but these systems are the most common and popular. "Mixed Martial Arts" is the newest fad in martial arts training, and became popular in 1993 with the heavily promoted 'Ultimate Fighting Championship.'
Actually, all traditional Martial Arts are "Mixed Martial Arts."
Modern Muay Thai is a sport that comes from a root of older "Muay Boran" (traditional combat styles from Thailand), and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu comes from a simplified combination of Japanese Jujutsu systems and Judo.
Judo itself is a blend of several different Jujutsu systems compiled by Dr Jigoro Kano, simplified to be presented to the public at large in Japan, with a focus on self development at its core.
Taijiquan (Tai Chi) comes from 5 different martial arts systems, combined by a battle hardened Chinese General 500 years ago. Though it's the most widely practiced martial art in the world, most people only learn the outer shell of it for exercise and meditation, without any understanding of the practical self-defense roots at the core of Taijiquan.
Choy Lay Fut is a well-known Chinese Street-fighting martial art combination of 3 different systems (that were also combinations of other family systems).
Wing Chun is widely popular Chinese Martial Art, with roots in various martial arts from the Shaolin Temple, made famous by it's most legendary proponent, Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee is often credited as the "Father of Mixed Martial Arts", as his philosophy "Jeet Kune Do" ("Way of the Intercepting Fist") was to learn the basics of a system, then adapt, "use no way as way", and express one's self without the limitation of style. Though Bruce Lee was an inspiring visionary, the practice of mixing and adapting in martial arts has been with us since their inception several millennia ago.
The legendary Shaolin Temple and Wudang Temple are both important melting pots of hundreds of different systems in China. The Shaolin ("Young Forest") temple is often credited as the birthplace of Chinese Martial Arts, but this is not so — the Chan (Zen) Buddhist Shaolin Temple was built in the 7th Century AD, and Chinese martial arts were already deeply systematized over 4,000 years before that (refer back to Sun Tzu's "Art of War").
Karate is commonly translated today as "Empty Hand", however, it originally meant "China-Hand" in Okinawa, because it was comprised of multiple different systems imported from China. Later, in the early 20th Century, when Karate began to be taught in Japan, the Imperialists in Japan changed the characters' meaning Kara (Chinese) to Kara (Empty), because of racist politics of the fascist regime at the time.
Tae Kwon Do & Tang Soo Do are both Korean derivatives of Shotokan ("Shoto's House") Karate, Shoto meaning the nickname for the Okinawan Instructor Gichin Funakoshi, who brought Okinawan Karate to Japan.
Silat are a collective of hundreds of very different martial arts styles from Malaysia, Burma, Indonesia, and the Phillipines, many of which are heavily influenced by Chinese styles of martial arts.
Dong Haichuan (1797-1813)
The system taught here at Mace Martial Arts is Bagua Zhang ("8 Trigrams Palm"),
the origins of which is credited to Dong Haichuan (1797 – 1882), who was already an accomplished expert of several different Shaolin martial arts styles, before he purportedly traveled to live at a Taoist Monastery for a decade. It is there, where Dong Haichuan learned the the ancient Taoist circle walking practices (at least 4,000 years old) and secretive martial arts that formed the foundation of what he synthesized with his previous martial training and later started teaching in Beijing as "Zhuan Zhang" ("Turning Palms"), which was eventually termed "Bagua Zhang" ("8 Trigrams Palm"). Dong Haichuan is therefore acknowledged as the primary transmitter of the system, not the actual founder, as the original arts arts Bagua Zhang was based on were taught secretly for thousands of years before he was introduced to them.*
Dong Haichuan selectively accepted many disciples, though purportedly only ones that were already experts of other martial arts. Dong Haichuan then took each students' individual background training, and enhanced it with the dynamic circular principles of Bagua Zhang, resulting in myriads of different branches of the system. The differences between branches of Bagua Zhang is further widened, as each disciple was encouraged to find their own natural expression of the art, after they had built a solid foundation with the basics of Bagua Zhang.
* Regarding Bagua Zhang's ancient history before Dong Haichaun, please read this fascinating article by Bruce Frantzis.
Thank you for being a part of this rich tradition here at Mace Martial Arts!
Introducing new Bagua Zhang Package Programs at Mace Martial Arts!
Now offering Package Programs — for students that want an immersive learning experience, with more support and resources to help guide you to your goals.
Bagua Zhang Package Programs Online
by Dennis Mace
Bagua Zhang Package Programs
Choy Lay Fut
Circle Walking
Dong Haichuan
Tang Soo Do
Zhuan Zhang