Account of a Kung Fu eye-gouging contest, 1891

[dm1986]

I am wondering what some of you think of this:


An American reports from China on Kung Fu eye-gouging contests, 1891 | Martial Arts New York


Any clue as to what style this could be? I'm wondering if the location, or the finger-jabs provide a clue...

 

[clfsean]

Nope. But he was in Xiamen (used to be Amoy) in Fujian. So whatever it was, it was short, quick & finger heavy looking for vital point striking most likely.

 

[CTramonte]

I am wondering what some of you think of this:
An American reports from China on Kung Fu eye-gouging contests, 1891 | Martial Arts New York
Any clue as to what style this could be? I'm wondering if the location, or the finger-jabs provide a clue...

I know this style: it is Bagua (also called Pakua). It is a internal style who focus on the Chi flow and Chin Na (Qin Na) techniques.

In the picture that was presented in the article the two top ones are externalization of the Chi (offensive hits) and the bottom ones are the traditional defensive stance + arrow stance (the arms are in a normal open handed defensive stance and then are simply "rolled down") and the another intermediary defensive stance (the artist pictured a defense/grapple in the middle of the action).

This article is very interesting and all the positions are promptly recognizable, although the pictures suggest they aren't from a fight, but from a form (kati). If you want to see it in a form, the Cheng Bagua Swimming Dragon is a good reference:

 

[clfsean]

Would you mind sharing how you determined it was Bagua by the article? Also the drawings aren't Bagua Zhang. They're of Lam Sai Wing.

 

[qianfeng]

Yea

Would you mind sharing how you determined it was Bagua by the article? Also the drawings aren't Bagua Zhang. They're of Lam Sai Wing.

I was wondering as well, bagua isn't that common back then before the Nanking kung fu institute brought the northern arts south. So unless you have some more info I hope u didn't just read they circled each other and decide it was bbaguabbagua