Tainan Mantis,
Is this book available in the USA? I would like to get any information on Tai Tzu longfist(the style). The only name I know of in our liniage is Lee (or Li) wai (or wei) Fong. Any information would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance
SA
Its dangerous to think you are immortal.
sifuabel@yahoo.com
Hello All!!!
Hi everybody, it has been a while since I posted. Anyway, about the topic…like RAF Adam Hsu also shared a lot of his knolwedge with us regarding the material from Han Ching Tan. From Adam Hsu we picked up Jiao Men Changquan, Miao Dao, and San Tsai Jian. In Jiao Men Changquan there are three forms taught: Tan Tui, Paoquan, and Zhaquan. Some of the other Long Fist Styles Han had taught Adam Hsu were Shaolin and Mei Hua styles.
From what I understand, Han was Adam Hsu’s first teacher. Dr. Liang also is the kung fu brother of Adam Hsu under both Han Ching Tan and Liu Yun Qiao. It would be interesting though to see the Long Fist taught by Dr Liang since he did marry Han’s daughter.
You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet.
‘San Tsai Jian’
Hello Guo Bao-Lo
How do you translate ‘San Tsai’ in your sword form “San Tsai Jian”
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San Tsai Jian
I totally forgot the meaning of the form. I believe it was the three powers sword, or something life that. Also I am not sure if my pinyin was correct. I have not spent too much time on this form. The jian forms I do practice is from Liu Yun Qiao. I practice Liang Yi Jian and Kun Wun Jian Yi Lu.
You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet.
San Cai=three power indeed (men, earth and heaven)
Miao Dao
Miao Dao means “Sprout Sword” refering to the shape of the sword which is a somewhat longer version of the Japanese Katana but holding to the same specifications of curvature etc. (I have a somewhat expensive katana for Iaido practice). In Taiwan they use a Bokken (wooden sword not the bamboo shinai) which is heavier and longer than the ones found in most Iaido Clubs. Also sword strokes are often practiced from straight down from behind the back rather than any of the horizontal start position variations over the head as common to most Iaido. This sword art is all over Taiwan in many variations, but there isn’t much of it beyond a form and a few exercises and it usually accompanies/practiced alongside some other style. I heard it is still in Fujian. Anybody know anything there?
…
GM Liu Yun Qiao wrote a book (in chinese w/lots of pictures) on Gun Wu Jian. I thought he did San Cai Jian as well. Got video from 2 South Taiwan Meets with Jian demos prior to 1992.
“A wish to go to Heaven is the very beginning of falling into Hell.”
Stumblefist:
GM Liu did not do the miao dao nor the san cai jian. These were taught at the Wu Tan Development Center by Adam Hsu who got them from Han Ching Tang.
The linked two man set is played with bambo Japanese sticks because you would kill the other 0pponent if you slipped–its played very, very fast. It is different from the A and B sides of the basic four lines of the form.
I don’t have the site with me at this computer but will post it later but there is a sword site by Tom Chen who has pictures and compares the katana and miao dao along with its detailed history and translations from China. I think Keven Walleridge posted the site in an earlier exchange.
I have never used a real miao dao. When Tony Yang came to the US from the Wu Tan Martial Arts Development Center in 1980, he brought a box of wooden miao daos (I have one). They are somewhat different from the bokken you normally buy—they are longer and their handle is significantly longer than the Japanese swords.
We have never been able to find anymore of the wooden miao daos both in Taiwan and US. If you know of the locations, please drop the site.
Thanks.
Miao Dao v. Katana
Here is the article regarding the miao dao and katana. This is a great website with lots of good history and translations.
Have fun.
bokkens
“We have never been able to find anymore of the wooden miao daos both in Taiwan and US. If you know of the locations, please drop the site.”
You need a bokken or a katana to learn how to cut properly and with power.
There are stores in both Kaohsiung and Tainan. I saw an all-taiwan meet in '95, many clubs played with the long wooden bokken. Usually the store is just a hole-in-the-wall somewhere. Usually i know how to get there but i don’t write down the address i’ll see if i can dig one up.
Can’t believe they aren’t in the north. Check out the University clubs in Taipei if you go there, and ask them where they bought the weapons.
“A wish to go to Heaven is the very beginning of falling into Hell.”
Thanks STumblefist:
You are 100% correct about the bokken. The one I have from Taiwan is much bigger than the standard Japanese ones you buy in the state.
We are probably headed to Taiwan this summer and will check it out.
Here is the website of Han Ching Tang’s daughter and son-in-law: