Intro to Chang Chuan

ORIGINS
Chang Chuan (literally: Long Fist) is the name generally used for the styles taught by Zhao Kuan Yin, the first emperor of
Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1279). Because Zhao once learned martial arts in the Shaolin Temple, and was renowned for his
staff-fighting skills during his conquest, his followers called the styles he taught "Zhang Chuan" (Zhang and Chang are two
different pronunciations of the Chinese character ?), which means, "The way of fist fighting taught by the Leader". Later,
two Chinese characters pronounced as “Chang” were used to mean “long” or “often”, and these may denote this style’s
long reach and wide influence, or mean that it was practiced often. Because there came to be a great number of
practitioners of this style, its influence spread and it eventually returned to the Shaolin Temple, where it became known
as the Chang Chuan Style or the Tai Zhu Style (Tai Zhu means "The Grand Forefather").

The popularity of the style in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) can be gleaned from a passage in Ji Shiao Shin Shu, a famous
military guidebook written by Chi Ji Guang (1528-1587), the most legendary general of this dynasty, who organized
effective coastal defenses against raging Japanese pirates:

“As for the famous martial artists and their styles, whether past or present, there is the thirty-two moves style Chang
Chuan from Sung Tai Zhu, also called Tai Zhu Chang Chuan.”

This is the origin of the Chang Chuan we are teaching here.

The second way of interpreting Chang Chuan is to consider its name as reflective of its combat techniques. The
distinction between “long fist” and “short fist” was used like an old ad in the Ming dynasty and refers to the range from
which the practitioners would strike. Generally, four northern styles are considered the typical constituents of “Long Fist”
because these styles generally strike from as far as possible and practitioners extend their bodies widely in their moves
while utilizing swift and forceful strikes. The four styles are Cha Chuan (Cha is a family name of Muslim origin), Hua
Chuan (Hua is a family name), Pao Chuan (Cannon Fist) and Hong (Red) Chuan. A major concept held by their
practitioners is "An inch longer, an inch stronger."

The third possible interpretation of Chang Chuan refers to the new style Hsin Wushu (literally: "new" martial art),
established by official endeavor in mainland China relatively recently. This style was created by government officials and
incorporates the characteristics of the four styles of “long fist” mentioned earlier, mixing the external aspects of martial
art movements and gymnastic leaps and balances into one new form. The purpose for this official form was to
standardize the forms so the performances could be evaluated in contests. Because of the great emphasis on muscle
strength, flexibility and leaping, this form is mostly suitable only for younger athletes, unlike traditional martial arts.

THE FORMS
Chang Hong Kung Fu's Chang Chuan training contains practice in forms, weapons, seizing and lockholding techniques,
throwing techniques, dueling sets, defense applications and various special trainings.

In general, form training begins with Lian Bu Chuan (Continuous-Step Fist), Gong Li Chuan (Power-training Fist) and Shi
Lu Tan Tui (The Ten Springing Legworks). Mid-level forms include Yi Lu Mai Fu (First Form of Ambush), Er Lu Mai Fu
(Second Form of Ambush), Xiao Hong Chuan (Small Hong Fist), and Shi Zi Tang (The Cross Fist). Upper-level forms
consist of Xiao Hu Yan (Small Tiger-Swallow), San Lu Pao Chuan (Third Form Cannon Fist), Si Lu Cha Chuan (Fourth Form
Cha Fist), Si Lu Ben Da (Four-Way Running Strikes) and Tai Zhu Chang Chuan (The Great Ancestor’s Long Fist.)

In weapon training, the basics are taught with Kun Wu Gwun (staff), Chi Hsing Dao (broadsword) and San Tsai Jian
(straightsword). The more advanced forms are Long Hsing Jian, Kun Wu Jian, Chi Men Jian, Ba Gua Dao, Shaolin Chiang
(spear) and Yang Jia Shi San Chiang. There are also preset weapon dueling moves for paired practice.

CHARACTERISTICS
The most distinctive characteristics of Chang Chuan would be its far-reaching and wide-sweeping strikes, its emphasis on
extending the body, its distinct, orderly moves that are both simple and concise, its balanced emphasis on hand and foot
techniques, and its high combat effectiveness.

The combat techniques can be classified into four areas: precision strikes on acupuncture points, standard direct strikes,
throwing or grappling moves and seizing or lockholding techniques. When practiced, Chang Chuan should look like raging
waves on a great river that follow one another endlessly, allowing for no weak points. By coordinating the hands, the
eyes, the body and the steps, we may achieve such requirements as “Fists swift as falling stars, Waist flexible as
slithering snakes, Steps gliding lightly without lifting and falling as if glued to the ground.” The major hand shapes are
fists, palms, hook hands and claws. The eight major stances are Ma Bu (horse stance), Deng Shan Shi (mountain climbing
stance, which is the same as Gong Bu, bow-arrow stance), Fu Hu Shi (taming-the-tiger stance), Zuo Pan Shi (sitting
cross-legged stance), Du Li Shi (single-leg stance), Hsu Bu (empty stance, weight on hind leg only), Twun Shi
("swallowing" stance, similar to Hsu Bu except the front foot touches the ground on the heel, not the toes) and Chi Lin Shi
(the "Chi Lin" is a horse-like, mythical Chinese creature). As an old saying goes:

“Move as the tide raging, Still as the mountain resting, Rise as the monkey leaping, Fall as the sparrow alighting,
Balance as the rooster on one foot, Stand as the pine with deep roots, Turn as the wheel in a spin, Bend as the bow on
tight strings, Light as the leaf drifting, Heavy as iron sinking, Slow as the eagle gliding, Swift as the zephyr sweeping.”

Chang Chuan's movements are natural and its strikes are all smooth and fluid. When practicing it, the basics are heavily
emphasized. Proper relaxing of the various joints, the flowing and sinking of Chi, understanding the concept of
controlling the center line, coordinating the joints and accurate movements are all vital to sound learning progress. It is
said, "Even great towers began on flat grounds". In learning Chang Chuan, the training stages must not be ignored or
nothing shall be achieved. In our training, Tao, morality and skill go hand in hand. All goals of strengthening, defending,
mental training and health promotion should be pursued at the same time.