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I might be confusing him with someone else, but if I recall correctly, he claims to practice authentic Shaolin martial arts (something which is extremely hard to find these days -- and definitely won't be found at the temple itself).
I might be confusing him with someone else, but if I recall correctly, he claims to practice authentic Shaolin martial arts (something which is extremely hard to find these days -- and definitely won't be found at the temple itself).
There are something interested to talk about in this clip.
So there are several traditions of this art?
Liu He Quan and old shaolin.
No... this is Shaolin's version of Liu He Quan. There's other traditions that use the Liu He Quan. This is the Liu He Quan developed at Shaolin & maintained there. But Dejian isn't part of the "temple". He's distanced himself for multiple reasons, one of which is preserving his line of Liu He Quan & not having it watered down with the more modern Wushu influences there now.
0.
So it is that His (Dejian) art is a shaolin tradition apart from the "new" temple exclusively?
1.
Is it called "6 harmonies boxing"?
If so, why are people saying 6 harmonies boxing is the same thing as XingYi Quan or
Hsing I Ch'üan?
Because I have seen a number of XingYi forms that look nothing like this in the video... and I find it confusing.
2.
But other non-shaolin traditions also have Liu He Quan...?
Do you mean traditions such as these reported current branches:
Botouzhen Shi Family Liuhequan (Descendants of 5th Generation master Shi Jinsheng),
Cangzhou Li Family Liuhequan (Descendants of 5th Generation Master Li Guanming),
Tian Family or Shanghai Liuhequan from the descendants of 5th generation master Tian Kechun and 7th generation Master Tong Zhongyi and
Beijing Liuhequan as passed by the descendants of 7th Generation Master Liu Dekuan
Ziranmen Liuhequan as passed by the descendants of 10th Generation Master Wan Laisheng.
Or do you mean something entirely different. I am extremely curious.
3.
Do I understand you as saying there is also a second shaolin (temple) version of Liu He Quan. But that it has been mixed with Wushu?
4.
And do I hear you saying.... just that his branch is more pure in source and older (and non commercialized government / temple)?
I am pretty fascinated.
I also found this
Curriculum of Liuhe Quan
Liuhequan is characterised by very clear and defined movements, where there is change but the points of pause and action are clearly divided. The postures are interconnected and the applications straightforward. Liuhequan aims to combine the internal with the external in a balanced harmonious and mutually supportive manner.
The 6 Harmonies of direction: North, South, West, East, Up and down. The 6 Harmonies of the parts: Hands, feet, elbows, knees, hip and shoulders. And so on. In basic skills development Liuhequan concentrates on the 5 skills of Zhuang (Stance), Yao (Waist), Tui (Legs), Zhang (Palms) and Qi (Underlying energy).
In combat it is said 'Once the hands are released then they will strike, if the hands must be retracted the will grab, yet should the hands be lockup up then they will throw, whilst once the legs rise they will kick:" (出手便打,顺手便拿,缩手便摔,起脚便踢) Thus we emphasize:
Therefore in principle every strike can be followed by Chi-na techniques and thereafter by a throw. The development of combat then concentrates on the Bamu (8 roots) of : Ti (kick), Da (Strike), Shuai (Throw), Ji (Hit/beat), Qin (Sieze), Na (Grab), Xie (Take out) and Dian (Press).
- Ti (Kick)
- Da (Strike)
- Na (Grab/lock)
- Shuai (Throw)
Watching in the 6 aspects and fighting in the 8 directions, calmness externally with pure intention internally, the liuhequan practitioner can succeed. Given Liuhequan's combat approach, the practice is comprised of 3 main components :
To develop structure, students are required to practice basic movements, Liuhequan is very structure so that Tantui prepare a very good foundation upon which students can build their skills. Tantui is comprised of rows of simple combinations that are repeated, this repetitive process develops both the strength, stamina, coordination and structure required for the further aspects of Liuhequan.
- Structure
- Strength & Locking
- Throwing & Wrestling
Whilst developing structure and learning the basic methods of Striking (including all parts of the body, legs, knees, hips, back, elbows, hands, head etc...), students also commence the various Shuajiao exercises including stepping methods, various grappling and hand trappings, body and back strengthening, methods of entry, basic throws, lead throws, captured throws, deceived throws, and reverse throws. This then leads to combinations practices, sparring and combat. Concurrently students learn methods of evasiveness, agility and striking, many combinations form small 2 man drills and coordination methods which eventually lead to full 2 man combat set practice, applications free practice and open combat.
Grappling is developed by various exercises followed by the development of grappling alertness so that the practice of Chin-na becomes logical and natural, from the basic self defense grabs to the advanced breaking, limb destruction and artery sealing grabs. This then leads to the practice of two man combat sets designed with many Chin-na methods within and the development of Fan Chin-na (Reverse/Counter Chin-na). The latter stages is when students combine their striking abilities with their locking and throwing ones. The result is a complete and fully capable martial artist which by coordinating all aspects of the body, success in Liuhequan would result.
As I read and research the old "Te" of Okinaiwa... and its Chuan/Quan roots I find these methods pretty astonishingly similar to what I am reading about 6 harmonies Boxing.
The blending of striking and chin'na, joint destruction/sealing and throwling.
It's that Dejian didn't want to go along with "party" lines. So he left, took his skills & went to do where he thought he could continue the traditions he learned, as he learned them. This allows him to not have to go along with the current Songshan temple path.
6 Harmonies is a common catch phrase in some martial circles. Just like Louhan, or White Crane, etc... There may be a relationship to older, existent Li He styles, but I don't practice them so I couldn't speak with concrete authority. This is just information I've picked up over the years.
Li He is a common thread in TCMAs ... much like 2 extremes, 3 battles, 4 gates (doors), 5 elements (or animals), 6 harmonies, 7 stars, 8 trigrams, 9 palaces are. It's like below in the quote you got talking about Shuai, Da, Ti, Na. All TCMAs contain them. There's not one that doesn't. The emphasis & stress placed on each varies, but the ideas/notions/techniques/therories are there to make each happen within the framework of that TCMA.
Nowadays, there's a flu of Wushu inspired/derived stuff at Songshan. It makes for better money coming in because it's flashier to watch. Look at his material. If you were a non-martial artist & went to see a demo, would you want flash or something that looked very cryptic & deliberate?
There's plenty of the old, "original", folk master kept & preserved Songshan Shaolin there, but it's not what most people see out & about. It just doesn't "look" good.
More so than the Songshan Temple & surrounding schools (Taguo, Liang Yi Quan's, etc...) yeah I'd say. But I imagine (China's a big place) there are other people trained in the folk ways that don't care one whit about the wushu stuff & only practice the old curriculum.
That kinda describes Liu He. How it applies to the different styles or is a definition of a particular flavor of Liu He, I can't speak to.
Tell me the name of this "Okinawan Kata" ...
Good questions all around!
The big thing to remember in TCMAs is there are a lot of variations on a theme concerning certain very key items in TCMA. The biggest delineator is (to me) comes from "is it PRC modern wushu influenced or not".
I think the block you are talking about is at :022
There are something interested to talk about in this clip.
- At 0.23, he should use his left hand to cover on his opponent's right elbow joint so his opponent won't change from a straight punch into a
- side way elbow strike on his head, or
- reverse head lock on his neck.
At 0.14, it's more clearly that blocking was missing. If he did, his left hand would be "above" his head. At 0.35, he even demonstrated elbow strike on the side of his opponent's head and followed with a "抹(Mo) - Neck wiping" (similar to "reverse head lock"). He should know that his opponent could do that to him at 0.14 as well.I think the block you are talking about is at :022
There's no block needed at 0:14 because he's using his left arm to pin down the left arm of his opponent while slipping the punch and attacking the head with his right hand. The blocking is not required for that technique.At 0.14, it's more clearly that blocking was missing. If he did, his left hand would be "above" his head
- His left hand pins down his opponent's left arm.There's no block needed at 0:14 because he's using his left arm to pin down the left arm of his opponent while slipping the punch and attacking the head with his right hand. The blocking is not required for that technique.