LEGENDS OF KUNG-FU #33 Kung-Fu Glossary I'd like to thank all of you who've been reading my "Legends of Kung-Fu" column here in Black Belt for all of your kind e-mails over the past couple of years. Your suggestions help me have a better idea of what it is that really grabs your attention and moves you. In response to a few of those e-mails, I'm doing a glossary of commonly used Chinese terms for this month's column. Some of these terms and definitions are short descriptions of Chinese martial arts, while others are terms that are commonly used in kung-fu circles. For those of you who might want to find out more about a particular style, I've also included a few names of instructors in each of the systems below. The list is by no means complete, so if I've omitted your instructor, please don't be offended. These are just a few names that come to mind off the cuff. There is a major obstacle to be overcome with any discussion of the Chinese language in regards to dialects, so here comes the history lesson. China is such a vast country that has absorbed many different sub-cultures and ethnicities over the centuries. As a result, there are a ton of different dialects that sound like totally different languages, regardless of the written characters that unify the country. The main dialects heard in the US are Mandarin (the national dialect), Taiwanese (which is related to the Fujian (Fukien) dialect), and a couple of sub-dialects of Cantonese. The Cantonese family of dialects (including Toisan, Sai-Yup, and even Hainan Island dialect) is widely heard throughout Southeast Asia, most notably in Guangzhou province and Hong Kong. The earliest immigrants who established themselves in the US were also predominately of Cantonese origin, so words like "chow mein" are actually of Cantonese origin. Add politics to that whole linguistic mess, and now you've got a fairly good idea of what kind of issue we're facing here. The politics comes into play with the different spelling schemes for the national Mandarin dialect. In 1949, China split into two sides because of the Communist Revolution - the Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek) who relocated to Taiwan, and the Communists (led by Mao Tse-tung) who occupy the Chinese mainland and now Hong Kong. So while both sides still speak Mandarin, the Nationalists use the Wade-Giles romanization system, while the mainland Chinese use the Pinyin system. For the terms that follow, I've used the more academically common Pinyin system for those that are most commonly seen or heard in Mandarin. The Wade-Giles romanization appears in parentheses. - ba gua zhang (pa kua chang) - System arguably founded by Dong Hai-quan based on the eight trigrams in the classic text, The Book of Changes or Yi-jing (I-Ching). Known as one of the three major "internal" styles. A modern wushu version has been developed by the mainland Chinese and is widely taught throughout the world. ***Taught by Jiang Hao-quan (CA), Michael Guen (CA), Kevin Zhen-kang Sun (DE), Nan Lu (NY), Adam Hsu (CA), Bok-Nam Park (MD)
- bak mei - Southern style of kung-fu emphasizing powerful blows and dynamic tension. The name refers to the white eyebrows of the renegade monk who founded the system. ***Taught by Wayne Chin (MA)
- Choy Li Fut - Southern style of kung-fu that best represents the fusion of southern hand techniques and northern kicking artistry. The name comes from the surnames of the three Shaolin masters who taught the founder, Chan Heung. Also romanized as Choy Lay Fut, Choy Lei Faht, and Tsoi Li Fut in Cantonese. ***Taught by John Wai (FL), Tat-mau Wong (CA), Doc-Fai Wong (CA), Ng Fu-hang (CA)
- Fut ga - Southern Shaolin Buddhist style kung-fu, borne of the pooling of knowledge from the 5 main masters of the southern Shaolin Temple (Choy, Hung, Lau, Li, and Mok). ***Taught by Arthur & Harlan Lee (HI)
- Hung ga - The trademark system of southern style Shaolin kung-fu, emphasizing powerful low stances, strong arm bridging blocks, and heavy blows. Made most famous by Wong Fei-hung during the late 19th and early 20th century. ***Taught by Bucksam Kong (CA), Yon Lee (MA), Y.C. Wong (CA), Wing Lam (CA), Frank Yee (NY), John Leong (WA)
- lao shi (lao shih) - Mandarin term for "teacher" used by many martial arts instructors.
- ngor chor kun (wu tsu ch'uan) - "Five ancestors" style from Fujian Province. Another fusion of knowledge from five different sources. Very popular throughout Southeast Asian Chinese expatriates, especially in the Philippines, Malaysia, and areas where Chinese of Fukienese descent abound. ***Taught by Hong Li-rong (CA), Andrew Foster (CA), John Graham (AL)
- qi gong (ch'i kung) - Exercises designed to build and develop conscious control over one's internal energy. Contrary to popular belief, these exercises are part of every Chinese martial art to one degree or another. There are many instructors that focus only on qi gong practice.
- qin na (chin na) - Literally "seizing and holding". Refers to the skills found in all of the Chinese martial arts that deal with grabbing and joint manipulation techniques. This is NOT a separate style per se.
- sanshou - Mainland Chinese style full-contact sparring. The rules vary with the tournament and the promoter, but the basic rules allow for punching, kicking, and throwing. Traditionally fought on a raised platform (lei tai) without ropes. *** Taught by Jiang Hao-quan (CA), Cung Le (CA),
- Shaolin - The center of Buddhist-derived martial arts in China, located on Songshan Mountain, and the most internationally known temple in the world. The martial knowledge that emanated from the Shaolin Temple served as the basis for most of the martial arts practiced throughout East Asia. The Shaolin style of kung-fu is divided primarily into northern and southern styles. ***Northern Shaolin taught by Wong Jack-man (CA), Daniel Carr (CA), Lai Hung (CA), Anthony Goh (MD)
- shuai jiao (shuai chiao) - Wrestling art based predominately on powerful and debilitating throws. Anthropologically, it is the oldest of the Chinese martial arts. Many different local ethnic styles of wrestling have variations in rules and techniques. "Shuai" means "to throw" or "to fall". ***Taught by David C.K. Lin (GA), Victor Ke (TX), John Wang (TX), Brian Wu (IL), Daniel Weng (CA), Dave Pickens (TX)
- si fu - Cantonese term for one's martial art teacher. There are 2 characters that make up this title: si & fu. "Si" is the word for "teacher", and the character for "fu" in a traditional martial arts context refers to "father". Thus, a "si fu" is one who not only imparts technical knowledge to his students, but also assumes responsibility for them as human beings and raises them with the same care that a father would raise his children.
- tai ji quan (t'ai chi ch'uan) - The most popular of the Chinese martial arts, commonly used as a slow motion fitness routine by geriatrics. Referred to by some as "Chinese shadowboxing" and one of the three main "internal styles". Born from Shaolin martial arts and imbued with Taoist philosophy. Arguably the most difficult of the Chinese martial arts to learn to apply in combat. Very few competent teachers of the full art. *** Taught by Jiang Hao-quan (CA), Daniel Yu Wang (CA), Daniel K. Lee (CA), Eric Schneider (NY), Benjamin Lo (CA), William C.C. Chen (NY)
- wing chun - The most widely practiced of southern Chinese martial arts, made famous by the late Bruce Lee, and spread throughout the world by his classmates and their students. Founded during the Qing Dynasty by a woman (Yim Wing-chun) and spread by generations of capable fighters. There are different spellings that are related to different political factions (wing tsun, ving tsun, wing tzun, etc.). ***Taught by Gary Lam (CA), Hawkins Cheung (CA), Emin Boztepe (CA), William Cheung (Australia), Randy Williams (PA)
- Wudang (Wutang) - Famous temple, which served as the center of Taoist martial arts, located on Wudang (Taihe) Mountain in Hubei Province.
- wushu - The modern demonstration sport based on a fusion of gymnastics and martial arts developed at the command of Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao to popularize Chinese physical culture without spreading a means of rebellion. Currently in contention to become a part of the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport during the 2008 Beijing games. *** Taught by Bow-Sim Mark (MA), Li Jin-heng (AZ), Christopher Pei (VA)
- xing yi quan (hsing yi ch'uan) - Literally, "form and intent" boxing, this is the third and last of the three main internal styles of Chinese martial arts. Unlike the other two systems that emphasize smooth, flowing movement, xing yi is abrupt, explosive, and crisp. ***Taught by George Xu (CA), Liang Shou-Yu (Canada) |