Curriculum

CONTENT
Students learn Chang Chuan, Hong Chuan, and Yang Style
Tai Chi Chuan through a set course of study. Chin Na
(joint locks) practice provides the student effective
defense methods useful in controlling and incapacitating
an opponent. Chi Kung is also practiced, allowing the
student a chance to focus on the development of internal
power.

LEARNING PROGRESSION
A new student will first learn basic stretching and
fundamental movement exercises that condition the body
for the next level of practice. Together with punching and
kicking practice, these comprise about half of a typical
daily class and are initially a student's main focus.

Once a student has a basic understanding of these
fundamentals, the first empty-hand form, Lian Bu Chuan
(Linked-steps Fist), will be practiced. Here, the word
"Fist" (the translation of the word "Chuan") has a meaning
similar to "fighting style". Forms are set sequences of
movements that teach attack and defense techniques, as
well as improve balance, coordination and strength. The
practice of forms not only helps teach martial technique
and train defensive reflexes, but also refines a student’s
movements, making them more agile, powerful and
controlled.

More information on form practice can be found here:
Forms.

As a student learns a form, the martial applications of
selected movements will also be practiced. Together with
Chin Na (joint locks), these applications constitute the
majority of martial technique a student will initially learn.

Typically, a student will focus on a particular form for a
two to three- month period before starting to learn the
next. Review of forms and applications occurs regularly,
since a student's experience and understanding will
gradually reveal details previously unnoticed when first
learning the form.

Learning to relax the body and its joints is the vital first
step in the study of Kung Fu. As this is achieved, students
can more easily integrate their movements to properly
produce power, which is the second step of progress.
Following this, students begin to focus more on
self-defense and on developing martial capability through
free-sparring, learning to apply the techniques they have
developed while learning forms.

DEMONSTRATIONS
There are sometimes opportunities for our school to share
what we do with the public in the form of demonstrations.
Attendence is never mandatory, and it is up to the
individual student to decide whether they wish to
participate. Preparing for these demonstrations offers
students the opportunity to push themselves and focus on
getting to the point where they feel comfortable displaying
what they have learned to the general public.

COMPETITION
Once a year, at the end of November or the first part of
December, the Chang Hong Kung Fu schools come together
to hold a competition and exhibition called Chang Hong Bei
and often held at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei.
As with demonstrations, attendence is not mandatory, but
students are always encouraged to challenge themselves
and bring out their best.

SUMMER AND WINTER CAMPS
Twice a year, usually during the third week of January and
the third week of June, special training camps are held,
offering students an opportunity to focus on improving
their abilities and push themselves a little harder than
their regular schedule might allow. They typically start at
about 7 am with an hour of Chi Kung, and continue after a
short breakfast with extended group foundation training,
which includes Tan Tui (ten connected short Long Fist
training sequences). After this, students separate into
smaller groups that each focus on a form being taught
over the week. After lunch, there is an extended group
stretching session, followed by more Tan Tui practice,
special training methods and sparring practice.

FORMS
The following is a partial list of forms, in the order they
are most often studied:
1. Lian Bu Chuan (Linked-step Fist)
2. Gong Li Chuan (Power-training Fist)
3. Pan Long Gwun (Coiling-Dragon Staff)
4. Gong Zi Fu Hu Chuan ("I" Shaped Taming-the-Tiger Fist)
5. Yi Lu Mai Fu (First Form of Ambush)
6. Hong Men Jian (Hong Family Sword)
7. Er Lu Mai Fu (Second Form of Ambush)
8. Liu Ye Dan Dao (Willow-Leaf Single Broadsword)
9. Dan He Chao Zhi (Lone Crane Faces Branch)

CLASS FREQUENCY AND FEES
Students typically attend class twice a week, for one and a
half to two hours per class session. Because classes are
not separated by rank, there is a great amount of
flexibility in arranging individual attendence schedules.
Students may also opt to attend class once per week.
Either way, a student pays tuition for a two-month period
at the start of the period. Attending class more than twice
a week may be arranged with the instructor, at his
discretion, once a student approaches an intermediate
level of study.

Please contact the school for current class fees.

TESTS AND RANKING
Tests are usually held once every three months, and a
student's eligibility is based on their progress. Although a
student will be encouraged to sign up for a test once the
prerequisites have been met, it is up to the student to do
so. There are four lower ranks and five upper ranks in the
Chang Hong Kung Fu system. They progress as follows:
Novice, San Ji, Er Ji, Yi Ji, Yi Duan, Er Duan, San Duan, Si
Duan and Wu Duan.

The lower level tests consist of a review of fundamental
exercises, punching, kicking and forms. The upper level
tests check the development of internal power, include
sparring, and are held at the main school in Taipei.