Fu zhou tiger

Huzun Quan (Tiger Respecting Boxing), also known as Huxing Quan (Tiger Boxing) and Yongfu Huzun (Yongfu County Tiger Boxing) is the traditional Tiger boxing method of Fujian province. It is one of the oldest known styles for which the clawing and powerful methods of Tiger have been influenced from. It is said to be the forerunner of the Southern Guangdong styles such as Hung Gar and of the Karate system known as Uechi Ryu. There are many Southern Tiger Systems that have since developed, Yongfu Tiger Boxing is the parent/ancestral style of many of them and it is the most Tiger centric martial art in China.

Huzun Quan is rare outside of China. The style originated in Yongfu (Now known as Yongtai Country, Fuzhou, Fujian Province China) and is thus why it is also called Yongfu Tiger Boxing. It is a powerful and aggressive martial art which focuses on unrelentlessly attacking often maiming opponents with smashing, ripping blows.

EARLY FUJIAN SOUTHERN BOXING

The southern boxing styles of Fujian have their earlier records to the Southern Song Dynasty. One of the earliest exponents Zhang Ciguan, was said to have practiced the ancient skills of Niu Fa (Cow method) and Hou Fa (Monkey method) in a Daoist sanctuary in YongTai Mingshanshi. In 1176, three daoist disciples Zhang Ciguan, Xiao Faming and Lian Zhongqiang travelled to Longhushan (Dragon Tiger Mountain, in neighbouring Jiangxi Province - The origin of 'religious' Daoism) to study Daoism.

They also wandered around the provinces of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian. Then they returned to reside and teach in the Mingshanshi. Later Southern styles were also developed and thus the foundation for Fujian martial arts were formed.

ORIGINS OF YONG FU HU ZUN QUAN

Tiger Style was founded in Fujian by Li Yuan Zhu who had studied ancient martial arts such as Niu Fa (Cow Method) and Shi Fa (Lion Methods) amongst many others. After years of practice during his mid years he developed a powerful system of martial arts based on the spirit, strategy and concept of the Tiger. “Zun” (Respect) was addded to the name of the style for two reason. Firstly since in China the Tiger is king of all beast it should be respected. Secondly, because the training in the style is so difficult and demanding then the method should be respected.

Li Yuan Zhu taught two main disciples, Zheng Deng Guang and Li Zhao Bei. It is said that Zheng inherited the essence of the tiger’s kicks “Hu Tui” and Li that of the Tiger’s Claws “Hu Zhua”. Unfortunately it is said that Zheng did not pass his skills completely resulting in a diminishment of that branch, although legend foretells of the powerful kicks that had opponents down in not time. Especially famous was Zheng’s San Hu Wei Tui “3 Tiger Tail Kicks” which were deadly.

Li Zhao Bei however travelled to Fuzhou and opened a school there where he accepted disciples such as Yang San Shan and others. Generations later, Zheng Bu Su (also known asZheng Xianji (1854-1929)) was one of the most famous masters who opened a school in Fuzhou and had taught many disciples, the most well known was Zhou Zi He (One of the most famous fighters in all of Fuzhou’s history). Zhou Zi He mastered many systems of Fujianese martial arts but his most favoured was that of Tiger Style. In fact, Zhou accepted a japanese student who studied some basics and went on to be the founder of Uechi Ryu style Karate.

Zheng Dengguang had taught only a few and nowadays most of Yongtai practices the Li Zhaobei method. Descendants of Zheng had also taught the Gan Family (descendants of Imperial Gan Baoguo) who then propagated the style in the Pingnan county area of Fujian, for generations the style was taught to Gan Family members and led to Pingnan becoming also famous for the Huzunquan Style. Currently up to the 8th generation, masters such as Gan Boen, Gan Daisong, Gan Jiutong and Gan Fuxiong carry on the tradition.

Huzunquan was influential on many styles within Fujian but also in neighbouring provinces such as Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Guangdong.

As a result of the fame of the Huzunquan, many masters developed their own interpretations that then provide a different set of curriculum requirements. The classical Huzunquan, contains many forms but the area all very short. Zhou Zi He added a few sets including his famous 108 set, which is one of the longer sets or the Sun & Moon set that is one of the last known remaining sets from the Zheng Dengguang branch of the style.

Huzunquan (Tiger Boxing) is based on the fierceness and ruthlessness of the tiger, motions are powerful heavy and destructive. In addition to direct powerful striking, the style also emphasises clawing, locking and trapping methods including Chin-na and associated Dian Xue(Vital Point attacking).

A basic notion in the style is that of the 6 harmonies:

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Shen [Body] (inlcuding tendons, bones, skin) that covers all manifestations of the body including all the joints, and sinews.
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Ben Shou [ Basic Hands] these are manifestation of power through the limbs by the associated joints and components.
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Ma [Horse] represents all stance and footwork methods. In stillness like a rock in motion light and nimble.
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Jing [Essence] : The vitality of life that shoud be conserved and promoted through nourishment.
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Qi [Energy] : The internal energy supporting all movements, the development and nourishment of that energy Shen[Spirit] :The vitality and manifestation of the spirit through the doors such as the eyes.

Another feature of Huzunquan and of fujian martial arts in general are the comprehension of the 5 elemental hands and the supporting requirements of the 4 methods.

Hu Jing (Tiger Power) is a description of the type of power manifested by a Huzunquan practitioner. The most fundamental jing manifestation is that of understanding jing (Dong Jing) and listening jijng (Ting Jing) which are prerequisites to developing Hu Jing. With Hu Jing it is the transmission of all power concentrated into a particular component or surface of attack. Hu Jing in its true manifestion is like a tidal wave which is seen, felt even understood by it cannot be stopped by a single individual its power would surpass anything withstanding it and destroy it with a single strike. Huzunquan truly believes in a single strike kill philosophy.

GONG FA (SKILLS TRAINING)

The most important aspect of training in Huzunquan is known as Gong Fa (Power/Skill Methods) as it provides the strengthening (both internal and external) and skills that form the foundation for the effective use of the techniques in the style. Without the skill training Huzunquan would be empty for the power is the most fundamental of all the learnings of the style.

Some of the methods include:

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Zhanzhuang (Post standing exercise)
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Yuanqi (the qigong training)
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Zhishou (branch hands, including single and double practices)
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Da Shabao (Striking sandbags)
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Wuwushi (Practice with rocks and stones)
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Wushisuo (practice with the stone locks)
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WuTiedadao (exercises with heavy iron rods or long handled knife)
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Chayong (piercing practices for the fingers)
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Zhua Jiutan (grabbing liquor jugs/pots for the exercises of grips
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Da Muzhuan (Striking the wooden dummy) and more.

Originally, Gong fa was practiced for a few years prior to learning techniques and in the past the strengthening combined with San Zhan/San Jian would be all that a student would learn for three years daily. The development of the Gongfa then proceeds alongside the technical and training of the very many drills of the style.

TECHNIQUES PRACTICE

There are many basic methods in addition to the Gong Fa (Skill Training) which we practice individually that help to mould body structure, power and of course technique. Some of these include:

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Er Hu Pu Shi (Hungry Tiger Pounces on Prey)
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Meng Hu Qin Yang (Fierce Tiger Holds Goat)
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Ba Xian Zhang (8 Immortals Palms)
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Lian Zhu Chui (Continuous Pearls Strikes)
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Hei Hu tao Xin (Black Tiger Rips out the Heart)
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Ri Yue Jiao (Sun Moon Kick)
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Li Pi Hua Shan (Splitting Mt Hua)
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Ye Hu Chu Lin (Night Tiger Exits Forest)
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Huang Niu Tiao Jiao (Yellow Ox Incite Clash)
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Lao Hu Xi Lian (Old Tiger Washes Face)
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Meng Hu Xi Zhua (Fierce Tiger Cleans Paws)
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Guan Gong La Xu (Kwan Kung Strokes Beard)

SYSTEM

The study of forms are basically to introduce progressively more techniques into the student's arsenal. In Huzunquan, the number of forms are historically many but since they are not as important as the other features of the style which are power and combat orientated, many of the sets have been lost as many masters practice only a few key ones. Each set introduces the practice of new techniques and as a result are often named after the key techniques which it emphasizes. Forms in Huzunquan are not long (about 30 techniques on average) and they are movement wise simple, however to train and practice properly with the right skill and Hu Jing is very difficult. Some of the most common sets are:

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San Jian (3 Arrows)/San Zhan (3 Battles)
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Si Men (4 Doors)
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Jiao Duan (Short Angles)
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San Shi Liu Shou (36 Hands)
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Jian Shou (Arrow Hands)
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Ba Gua (8 Trigrams)
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Qian Zi Da (Character '千' Striking)
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Meng Hu Xia Shan (Fierce Tigers Descends the Mountain)
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Meng Hu Shen Zhua (Fierce Tigers Stretches Claws/Paws)
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Meng Hu Guo Gang (Fierce Tigers passes the guarded post)
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Meng Hu Chu Lin (Fierce Tiger exits the forest)
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Meng Hu Chu Dong (Fierce Tiger Exits the Cave)
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Tai Zi You Cheng (Young Prince roams the city)
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Ri Yue Lian Huan Jiao (Sun and Moon continuous kicks)
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Pu Di Hu (Pouncing on the ground Tiger)
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Guan Gong La Xu (Kwan Kung Strokes Beard)
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Guan Gong Bao Dao (Kwan Kung Holds Knife)
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Guan Gong Tuo Li (Kwan Kung Drags Force)

Combat Sets

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Shuang Hu Die (Double Pouncing Tigers)
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Liang Hu Xiang Dou (Two Tigers Battlle)
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Dui Chan (2 Man Trident Set)

Weapons

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Ba Gua Gun (Bagua Staff)
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Liu Zhuang Gun (6 Posts Staff)
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Qi Mei Chan (Eyebrow height trident)
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Mao Jia Cha (Brush Structured Trident)
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Mei Hua Gun (Plum Blossom Staff)
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Lang Ba (Wolf Club)
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San Cha Chui (3 Point Tiger Fork)
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Lu Xing Bang (Deer Staff)
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Ban Deng (Bench)
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