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Xingyiquan
is one
of the three main internal styles, the other two being Taijiquan (太極拳)
and
Baguazhang (八卦掌). Li Luoneng (李洛能), the founder of xingyiquan
(also
known as Li Laonong 李老農,
Li Nengran 李能然, and Li Feiyu 李飛羽), originally
learned
xinyiquan (心意拳) from the Dai (戴) family in Shanxi (山西) province. His
students spread his art to Hebei (河北) province and other parts of
China.
Back in Shanxi province, one of Li's most famous students was Che Yizhai (車毅齋), also known as Che Yonghong (車永宏). He was born in 1833 and died in 1914. Two stories are regularly told about Che's prowess. The first story involves another one of Li Luoneng's famous students - Guo Yunshen (郭雲深). Guo had travelled all around China and had earned a fearsome reputation with his half step beng quan ("半步崩拳打天下"). On a visit to his teacher, Guo began bragging about his skill, but Li told him that his skill still hadn't equalled that of his senior brother, Che Yizhai. Guo decided to pay Che a visit in Taigu (太谷) county of Shanxi province. On meeting, Guo insisted on a trial of skills and attacked with his famous beng quans. Che initially only defended and did not attack. Guo backed him into a corner and issued enough power to shake the base of the wall, but Che was already gone. From behind, Che tapped Guo on the shoulder, and announced, "Elder brother is here!" Guo
stayed with Che for several months until he had to return to Hebei to
attend to other affairs. But on the way home,
he reached a small river that had been swollen with recent rains,
making it difficult to cross.
Turning around, he returned to Che's home. On
hearing of his predicament, Che offered to see Guo off to the other
side. Making their
way back to the river, Che asked Guo to strike him with a beng
quan. Quickly shifting his shoulders, Che used the snake form to
send Guo to the opposite river bank. Guo thanked him and
continued on his way. The second story takes place in Tianjin (天津), during the
foreign
occupation of China in 1888. The japanese military trainer
stationed there, who's name was either Sakazaki Santarou (阪三太郎) or
Itayama Tarou (板山太郎), hearing
of Che Yizhai's fame, asked for a contest. Feeling a
patriotic duty to his country, Che accepted. The challenger
attacked fiercely with a spear. Che used a white waxwood
pole to deflect the attack and hit the man squarely in the chest,
knocking him down. He refused to admit defeat
and asked for another bout - this time with swords. Che again
accepted. Che overwhelmed the other man with quick advances and
dodges,
striking him in the arm. This time, he
finally admitted defeat and invited Che to teach in Japan.
Che
refused.
Bu
Xue Kuan (布學寬) was, in turn, one of Che Yizhai's most famous
students.
He was particularly known for his "Lion Swallows Hand" (獅子吞手)
technique. Born in 1876, he moved to Taigu county in 1894,
and
died in 1971. He had
many disciples, including Li Tailiang (李泰良) and his father Li Shiquan
(李世全). Li Tailiang currently teaches in the New York
area. He also learned Dai style Xinyiquan from Wang
Yinghai (王映海). |
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