Taizuquan Explained

Tàizǔquán (太祖拳, eng. Boxing of Tàizǔ or Great-Ancestor Fist) is a style of Chinese martial arts whose name refers to Emperor Tàizǔ of Sòng, the founder of the Sòng dynasty.

There are two distinct variations of Tàizǔquán, the Northern Style: Tàizǔ Zhǎngquán (Eng. Taizu Changquan), and the Southern Style: Nán Tàizǔquán. Tàizǔ Zhǎngquán styles are taught in Guǎngdōng. Nán Tàizǔquán is taught in Táiwān. Both styles are found in Fújiàn.

Traditional Aphorisms

The essence of the style is to use the enemy's offense as means to control the enemy itself.

The routine moves are rigorous, the footwork is flexible, both firm and supple.

The practitioner is like a cat; shaking like a tiger, walking like a dragon, and moving like lightning.

It requires one courage, two strengths, three exercises, four breaths, five tricks, six changes, seven evils, and eight cruelties.

When attacking, check the situation and observe carefully; rush through the middle opening whenever weak, and step around when encountering a strong front.

The hands are connected with each other, up and down, attacking where there is a gap, and coming back together when there is a leak.

Focus on actual offense and defense. Like the wind, the shock is like electricity, the front hand is led, the back hand chases, and the two hands are exchanged.

The technique is either offensive or defensive, with the style's philosophy indicating that two are interchangeable.

Tàizǔquán Zhǎngquán

According to Wu Bing and Liu Xiangyun, the Tàizǔ boxing method is the quintessential Shaolin (少 林 寺; Young Forest Temple) martial art (武 艺 ; Wǔyì) of the northern school, and is also called Taiziquan (太 子 拳).[1]

Tàizǔquán has been associated with Zhǎngquán since the time of the Ming Dynasty because Ming general Qī Jìguāng (戚 繼 光) wrote "of the ancient and current families of boxing, the peaceful Taizu had thirty-six figures of Long Boxing".[2]

Practitioners of this style are found in mainly in Láizhōu, Shāndōng.

Tàizǔquán Zhǎngquán Routines

This style of Zhǎngquán has the famous Sānshí'èr shì (三 十 二 势 ; 32 Techniques) mentioned in General Qī Jìguāng's Jìxiào xīnshū (紀 效 新 書; Eng. New Treatise on Military Efficiency).

Tàizǔ Zhǎngquán has 4 routines:

Tàizǔquán in Cāngzhōu

During the reign of the Kāngxī Emperor (1654-1722), Tàizǔquán was spread in the Cāngzhōu area of Héběi province.

The bare-hand routines:

The routines with long weapons:

The routines with short weapons:

The partner routines:

Nán Tàizǔquán

Southern tàizǔquán is particularly common in Taiwan.

The taolu or characteristic forms:

The forms with weapons:

The partner routines:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Wu Bing 武兵 e Liu Xiangyun 刘向芸, Taizuquan zhu Shanxi de chuancheng太祖拳住山西的传承 (The Legacy of Taizuquan in Shanxi), article originally appeared in Jingwu magazine in 2008 issue 2
  2. Jixiao Xinshu: 古今拳家，宁太祖有三十二式长拳

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