After years of training and translating my project is finally finished:
http://www.blurb.com/b/6552640-hao-family-taiji-meihua-tanglangquan-zhai-yao-quan
In my book are applications for every technique found in the six sections of Zhai Yao Quan (Essentials 1-6). My book is the first book to reveal this material in the English language. It can be purchased in hard cover, soft cover or as a pdf.
Those interested in the pdf version can contact me by e-mail at r-tolson@sbcglobal.net
Well, I have received the book and I can’t seem to put it down. Just reading the applications is a wealth of knowledge. However, I wish I could practice this form and know what I’m doing. Do you have a video of yourself doing all of these roads!? I am curious to know about how the footwork is executed. I would pay you to make a video reference just for this forum’s members hahaha
[QUOTE=jared.a.rapp;1288449]Well, I have received the book and I can’t seem to put it down. Just reading the applications is a wealth of knowledge. However, I wish I could practice this form and know what I’m doing. Do you have a video of yourself doing all of these roads!? I am curious to know about how the footwork is executed. I would pay you to make a video reference just for this forum’s members hahaha[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the kind words regarding my book!
Here is a video of my kung fu brother and best friend, Mark Zhang, demonstrating the first section of Zhai Yao: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4yPBXyNuE0
Here is Liu Dianren of the Hao family in Qingdao performing the same section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcoKw5zBkrU
Here is a Hao family practitioner from Master Sun Deyao’s line performing this section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YULuoiVIYo4
Thank you so much for these video references. I am going to study the heck out of these roads while using your book. What a treasure.
Some videos for Zhai Yao Er Lu (second section):
Liu Dianren: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcj7JxLQXcs
Master Liu leaves out a few moves, then adds a few moves at the end.
Hermann di Mauro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nw5WLp-v8E
Mr. Mauro faithfully preserves the moves of the set. Note how the form ends facing the opposite direction as the start. This is correct if you remember that originally Zhai Yao was one very large form before it was broken into pieces. When the sections are put back together correctly, section six ends facing the same direction that section one begins facing.
Alternatively - Zhaiyao actually isn’t ‘broken into pieces’ the way Bazhou (sort of) is. The 6 and 7 duan that exist today were never meant to be connected as one large series (at least not practiced that way - though people occasionally do so as a challenge). Therefore the start and end of each section doesn’t, and wasn’t specifically intended to, seamlessly link. Certainly not in terms of orientation/position of the practitioner. They can be made to though. It is possible that the ‘break down’ of a larger zhaiyao most likely occurred with an earlier version which then became the basis of the current 1 and 2.
BT
We have six duan that are open, the seventh is “secret”. Our sixth duan flows seemlessly into the first five. Like the second duan, our sixth duan begins and ends facing different directions, though some add movements to change this. When done as in our quanpu, six ends facing the same direction as the first.
Certainly other families of mantis may do things differently.
Last night I sent out pdf copies of my book to mantis practitioners all over the world (US, England, Germany, China, Malaysia, Austria, Brazil, Poland and Italy) for peer review. I can’t wait to hear back from them.
Interesting facts about Zhai Yao Yi Lu and Er Lu
I recently finished teaching (reteaching for some) sections one and two of Zhai Yao at Mantis Masters Academy.
The gou lou chui (hook, hold and strike) principle is found at least five times in sections one and two. One of these instances begins my favorite combination found in section two.
As is common in the Taiji Meihua family of mantis, I teach the combination as a chain of five techniques:
Here is the explanations of the moves reprinted from my book:
Right Seal, Left Chop
Application: The enemy comes with his left fist to strike my center area. I move my right hand toward my left side to seal the enemys incoming arm, at the same time I advance my right foot and use my left palm to strike the enemys face.
Take Treasure from the Sea Bottom
Application: The enemy sees my left palm about to strike his face, so he will certainly move his body backward and the enemys abdomen will stick out. I promptly use my right reverse hand to chop upward to the enemys groin.
Left Seal & Right Folding Elbow
Application: The enemy comes with his right fist to strike my center area. I use my left hand to seal the enemys wrist, advance my right foot and swing my right elbow forward to strike the enemys heart or chest area.
Left Seal, Right Collapsing Strike
Application: The enemy uses his right or left hand to strike my center area. I use my left hand to seal and stop him. Then, I advance my right foot and use my right fist to strike the enemys face with a downward swing.
Incline Body, Mandarin Duck Leg
Application: When I use Left Seal, Right Collapsing Strike, the enemy may lift his face upward and shift backward to escape. The enemys upper body will be protected, but his lower abdomen will be exposed. So, I incline my body and use my right leg to kick the enemys groin.
In short, I charge him with shuffling steps forward and strike his face, groin, chest, face and groin in rapid succession. Like plum blossoms blowing in the breeze, my strikes fall from multiple directions and at various levels.
Here is a video of one of my students, John Spolarich, practicing the above mentioned combination on BOB:
This was his first class learning the drill.
Here is a combination taken from the third section of Zhai Yao:
The combination consists of: a “secret elbow” strike to the throat, a failed hair grab, an uppercut to the liver, a straight punch to the throat, an iron palm strike to the face and a backfist strike to the face.
Here is how it is described in my book:
Jade Maiden Threads the Needle
Application: The enemy comes with his right fist to strike my upper area. I use my left hand to seal the enemys fist at my right side and use my right secret elbow to strike the enemys throat.
Close Door, Take Hair to Rear
Application: If the enemy attempts to avoid my Jade Maiden Threads the Needle maneuver, he may move the top of his head, or turn his head, or use his head to strike my chest. In response, I incline my body to the left rear to get out of the way. At the same time, I use my right hand to capture the enemys hair and throw the enemy to my right rear.
Advance Left Step, Left Separate, Right Piercing Strike
Application: The enemy uses his right fist to strike my upper center area. I use my left hand to hold the enemys fist suspended at my right side, making it ineffective. At the same time, I advance my left foot and use my right fist to violently strike the enemys abdomen or right flank.
Left Follow, Lock Mouth Strike
Application: The enemy sees my Right Piercing Strike about to hit his abdomen. The enemy will certainly bend his waist to withdraw his abdomen, which will cause the enemys upper body to stretch forward. So, I will immediately use my left fist to strike his throat or face.
Left Seal, Right Pluck, Left Thrusting Elbow
Application: The enemy comes with his left fist to strike my upper center area. I use my left hand to hold the enemys fist suspended at my left side, making it ineffective, and use my right hand to pluck the enemys left upper arm. Then I advance my right foot to hook the enemys rear heel. Finally, I strike the enemys face with the heel of my left clenched palm.
Left Seal, Right Collapsing Strike
Application: The enemy uses his right or left hand to strike my center area. I use my left hand to seal and stop him. Then I advance my right step and use my right fist to collapse strike the enemys face.
Here is a video of the first five movements of Zhai Yao San Lu:
Here is an explanation of the applications of each of these moves from my book:
Right Seal, Left Pluck, Right Thrusting Elbow
Application: The enemy uses his right fist to strike my upper center area. I use my right hand to grasp the enemys fist to seal it at my right side. At the same time, I use my left hand to pluck the enemys right upper arm. Then I advance my left foot and strike forward with the heel of my right palm to the enemys face.
Left Open, Right Separate Elbow
Application: The enemy appears and I use my Right Thrusting Elbow to strike his face. The enemy uses his left hand to block my right fist. I use my left hand to pluck the enemys wrist and use my right forearm to stick to the enemys left arm. I use waist power toward the left side to roll downward. The enemy will certainly be thrown to the left rear.
Turn Body, Jade Maiden Works Shuttle
Application: The enemy comes from my rear to strike. I turn my body and use my left hand to seal the enemys fist outward. Then, I use my secret elbow to strike the enemys face.
Take Hair to the Ground
Application: The enemy pulls back his head to avoid my right hand. I stop his ability to lift his head by plucking the enemys hair with my right hand. Then I use a backward step to pull his body forcefully to throw him at my feet.
Raise Body, Rolling Dragon Elbow
Application: The enemy comes with his right fist to strike my upper area. I use my left hand to seal his arm and incline my body to the right to make the enemys fist ineffective. I incline my body to the left and raise my right leg to insert it at the enemys right side. I use my right arm to roll and strike the enemys abdomen. To use this movement, I must be close to the enemy, and coordinate the power of the waist, leg and arm to throw the enemy to my left front.
Some Zhai Yao drills from class Sunday morning.
Here are the applications for the first three moves of Zhai Yao Yi Lu (Essentials #1):
Frame Hand Strike
Application: The enemy uses a fist to strike my upper or middle level, I use the radial part of my right forearm to block his incoming fist’s forearm. Immediately, I use my left fist to strike his right carotid artery.
Hide Peach within Leaves
Application: The enemy uses a right straight fist strike to my face or a circle strike to my head. I use the left forearm to lead his incoming fist suspending outward to my left side. Simultaneously, I use my right fist to strike his bladder.
Left Seal, Right Collapsing Strike
Application: The enemy uses a straight fist strike to hit my center or upper area. I use my left hand to seal his incoming hand’s wrist. Then I use my right fist to collapse strike his right eye and cheek bone.
The video was taken at a seminar I taught for the Great Lakes Kung Fu Championship this year. Thank you to black sash Tom Gencope of the Shaolin Kung Fu Institute for acting as my opponent.
Here is a video showing moves from the first two lines of Zhai Yao Si Lu (Essentials #4):
The movements were done slowly, because I was teaching them to my students at the time.
A lesson from Zhai Yao Si Lu (Essentials #4):