Dr. Su Yu-Chang

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Northern Praying Mantis
21

Hey Baji fist and kung fu gowboy!

Just to let you know, my teacher learnt from Adam Hsu who also learnt from Liu Yin Qiao! (Lie Yin Chiao)

I have been reading about your training regime and it sounds very similar to mine. I learn primarily Tang lang, but I do know basic Baji, pi kua and ba gua!

We hold the stances too, but for 3 breaths. However, the breathing is more controled, and you said your stances last for a few minutes. Our one lasts about the same time, but ideally at 3 breaths per stance per side. (Obviously the beginners cant keep up so they breath more)

I trained down in Australia, so it’s nice to see cousin schools at the other side of the world!

And to Kung fu cowboys comment about intensity of training, our school definately doesn’t train as hard as other schools I’ve seen, but every time I do square off, I normally come out ahead. It’s amazing because I put in probably 50% of the time and effort that most other schools do, yet I can best most of them.

I’ve beaten practitioners of Judo, kendo, Tong Bei, Wing Chun, tae kwon do, and karate. So don’t be too worried about the lack of intensity, it’s quality.

I was beaten once by a Tong Bei instructor (after i beat his senior student) But he said I wasn’t allowed to kick. I feel I was unfairly beaten despite the fact I slammed him into a wall and that when his shirt ripped I let go and he headlocked me with his spiraling techniques. But the fact that I was beaten still ticks me off, despite the handicaps.

Yep, so dont worry about the intensity, my teacher says, he teaches us technique. If you want to get toned and stronger, you can do that yourself. I get paid to teach technique, not body buidling or fitness.

So think that you should do the more physical side yourself, and realise you are getting good value training!

The Force will be with you…always

22

Greetings fellow kung fu bros

Kung Fu Cowboy,

Yeah, I am sure you will like the Baji class. Look for Andy, his Baji is really top notch! We are still working on Da Baji. I’ve seen the form done in the past and thought it look very easy to do. It wasn’t until sifu taught it to us, I began to realize it was really hard. I am loving every minute of it though! It is a good idea not to learn Baji right away. Baji is very intense and you should gain some experience in Mantis or Chen Taiji before you get into Baji. Oh yeah, sifu does also teach Piquazhang.

Obiwan,

Welcome to the message board. It is always good to see fellow practitioner from Liu Yun Qiao’s lineage. My sifu, Kurt Wong, was taught by sifu Su Yu Chang during the late 60’s. Under Sifu Su, he learned eight step, seven star, six harmony, and long fist mantis, Chen Taiji, and long fist. In the 70’s, sifu became a “Tan” disciple of GM Liu. GM Liu taught sifu Bajiquan and Piquazhang. Sifu also trained under sifu Adam Hsu during the early 80’s. Sifu Hsu helped sifu Wong refine his Chen Taijiquan and Jiao Men Changquan.

Sifu also stresses technique. But the discipleship training requires for us to constantly drill basics and stances in order to develop our fa jing. In the regular class though, sifu asks that we do the endurence stuff on our own. BTW, who is your sifu? Again welcome to the forum and keep up with the training!

You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet.

23

Mantis down under

Mey Baji Fist,

My sifu’s name is Paul Beach. He learnt Seven star from Adam Hsu, as well as ba gua, pikua, chen tai ji, and a few basics of the others including some long fist.

I’m working in Japan right now, and it’s really hard to find a good school around my area. Went to a 6 harmony class, but they were really misguided. Sounds like the guy learnt off someone in China, who didn’t want to teach a Japanese person properly, cos the applications are all wrong. (as in they don’t make sense, not that they’re different)

So, in the mean time i’m getting fat, cos there’s only so much training you can do by yourself, motivation wise. I practiced my forms like crazy as well as strength workouts, but it’s still getting sloppy cos I cant push myself since I cant use the moves on anyone. (No one round here does martial arts that well, eg kendo and judo only.)

any training tips?

The Force will be with you…always

24

Paul

Yes Paul is a good teacher who is also an acupuncturist. He is humble of his art and quite capable more so on the Praying mantis having learnt that from many sources prior to Adam Hsu.

I’d recommend him to anyone wanting to learn Tanglangquan in the area.

Regards

Shi Chan Long

25

baji-fist-

do you also do those kicking drills from hell? basically you do thrusting kicks and hold them out until sifu thinks your going to fall down?
jared

26

Obiwan

Obiwan:

I don’t know where Gunma is, but I know that Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto has a particular style called Taikiken that you might be interested in. This art is also known as Da Cheng Quan and Yi Quan in China. It focuses on chi and power development. So it can probably help you in 3 ways: 1) help give you more power for fa jing, 2) give you more sparring opportunities (that’s a BIG part of their training), and 3) help train your fa-jing methods (another BIG part of your training).

If you just want to spar, you could always find the Kyokoshin karate practitioners – they would take any challenge.

E-mail me at olkat314@yahoo.com if you want more info.

Tak

27

Not lately

When I was studying mantis, we used to do it a lot, but it was at the discretion of the one leading class. When it comes to warm-ups, sifu’s students lead it. But he would come around and help correct their form. Now we are doing Baji, we concentrate on holding low kicks and single action fist strikes.

You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet.

28

Hello Obiwan,

You sound like a very experienced person. I agree with Olkat. If you need some sparring partners you should try out the kyokushin schools in the area. Also might I suggest you try the any pancrase, shootfighting and wrestling schools if there is any. They are normally very open to new people. I think even the Judo people would welcome you. I have found judo people very open to new ideas and am sure they will at least find it interesting.

What are you teaching in Japan? Tell me when you’ll be back in Australia. Maybe all us Aussies can all meet up and get together for some training time together.

29

unfortunatly i have gotten very little baji training thus far. hopefully soon. i just have the 6 harmony spear set, which i beleive is considered baji.
jared

30

Liu Hei Qiang

Liu Hei Qiang is a prep form for the Liu Hei Da Qiang (6 harmony lance). I have also learned the Liu Hei Qiang, from Master Lu Chagn Kuei. He was giving us a history of this form. It was originally a Xing I form, but a lot of the movements were modified to suit our Baji Lance. It is a very good form! I love the actions taught in the spear form. It has very good apps and will help inyour Baji training.

You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet.

31

now i have to ask sifu which one it is! actually he always said the 6 harmony spear form we have was designed for the huge war spears and it was taught to grandmaster by god of spear li so baji was the logical assumption.
jared