Eagle Claw (;

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...

: yīng zhǎo pài; ''eagle claw school'') is a style of

Chinese martial arts Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. Th ...

known for its gripping techniques, system of

joint locks A joint lock is a grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent's joints in such a way that the joints reach their maximal degree of motion and hyperextension. In judō these are referred to as, 関節技 ''kansetsu-waza'', "joint loc ...

, takedowns, and

pressure point derive from the supposed meridian points in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda and Siddha medicine, and martial arts. They refer to areas on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific ...

strikes, which is representative of Chinese grappling known as

Chin Na Qinna () is the set of joint lock techniques used in the Chinese martial arts to control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so they cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability. ''Qinna Shu'' ( meaning "technique") ...

. The style is normally attributed to the famous patriotic

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

General

Yue Fei Yue Fei ( zh, t=岳飛; March 24, 1103 – January 28, 1142), courtesy name Pengju (), was a Chinese military general who lived during the Song dynasty, Southern Song dynasty and a national hero of China, known for leading Southern Song force ...

. Popular legends states that he learned martial arts from a Shaolin Monk named Zhou Tong and later created Eagle Claw to help his armies combat the invading armies of the Jin dynasty. It was passed down until the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

. Thus, the style took on long range strikes and aerial jumps. During the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

, the military instructor Liu Shi Jun became known as the modern progenitor of Eagle Claw and taught many students. His student Liu Cheng You later taught Chen Zizheng who was invited to teach the style in the prestigious

Chin Woo Athletic Association Chin Woo Athletic Association (also Jing Wu Athletic Association) is an international martial arts organisation founded in Shanghai, China, on July 7, 1910, but some sources cite dates in 1909. Its name is also spelled in many other ways through ...

during the

Republican era Republican Era can refer to: * Minguo calendar, the official era of the Republic of China It may also refer to any era in a country's history when it was governed as a republic or by a Republican Party. In particular, it may refer to: * Roman Re ...

. The style spread as Chin Woo opened sister schools in other provinces. Today, it is practiced around the world.

History

While the details of the history alter according to the teller, with names and places shifting as they tend to do in any oral history, in essence the story of Eagle Claw began in the

Shaolin Temple Shaolin Monastery (少林寺 ''Shàolínsì''), also known as Shaolin Temple, is a renowned monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu. It is located at the foot of Wuru Peak of the So ...

and in Chinese military training, became a family tradition passed on from parent to child for generations and eventually shed its air of secrecy with the advent of public martial arts schools.

Yue Fei

The creation of the Eagle Claw method is normally attributed to General Yue Fei (1103–1141) who lived at a time of conflict between the

Southern Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

and the Jurchen tribes of the Jin dynasty. Despite being literate, young Yue Fei chose the military path because there had never been any tradition of full-fledged Confucian civil service in his family history. However, the Yue family was much too poor to afford military lessons for their son, so the boy's

maternal ] A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of gestat ...

grandfather Yao Dewang hired Chen Guang (陈广) to teach the eleven-year-old how to wield the Qiang (spear), Chinese spear. Then a local

knight errant A knight-errant (or knight errant) is a figure of medieval Chivalric romance, chivalric romance literature. The adjective '':wikt:errant, errant'' (meaning "wandering, roving") indicates how the knight-errant would wander the land in search of adv ...

named Zhou Tong (周同) was brought in to continue Yue's military training in archery after he had quickly mastered the spear by the age of thirteen.Qian, Ru Wen (钱汝雯). ''Biography of Song Yue, Prince of E'' (宋岳鄂王年), 1924 None of Yue Fei's biographies mention him learning boxing as a child, but martial researcher Stanley Henning states " uealmost certainly did practice some form of bare handed fighting as a basic foundation for use of weapons." However, he doesn't venture to guess if either of his teachers or someone else taught him boxing. Despite this, many modern day martial arts masters have assigned Zhou Tong this position. For instance, the internalist Yang Jwingming claims Zhou was a scholar who trained at the famed

Shaolin temple Shaolin Monastery (少林寺 ''Shàolínsì''), also known as Shaolin Temple, is a renowned monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu. It is located at the foot of Wuru Peak of the So ...

and later taught Yue other skills beyond archery, such as various forms of internal and external martial arts. Yang believes this later led to Yue's creation of Eagle Claw and Xingyi, another style associated with the general.Liang, Shou-Yu and Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. ''Xingyiquan: Theory, Applications, Fighting Tactics and Spirit''. Boston: YMAA Publication Center, 2002, pp. 15-16 The history that Yang presents does not mention the spearplayer Chen Guang and erroneously casts Zhou as Yue's only teacher. Eagle Claw proponent Leung Shum does this as well and goes so far as to claim Zhou was a full-fledged Shaolin monk who trained Yue Fei inside of the temple itself. Leung believes Zhou taught him "Elephant Style" which the general later expanded to create the "'108 Locking Hands Techniques' or Ying Sao (Eagle Hand)." There is no evidence that Zhou was ever associated with the Shaolin Temple, though. The general's biographies are also silent about him creating any styles of his own. The historian Meir Shahar notes Yue's mention in the second preface of the '' Sinew-Changing Classic'' (1624) is what "spurred a wave of allusions to the patriotic hero in later military literature". He continues, "By the eighteenth century, Yue Fei had been credited with the inventions of Xingyi Quan, and by the nineteenth century the '

Eight Section Brocade The Baduanjin qigong() is one of the most common forms of Chinese qigong used as exercise. Variously translated as Eight Pieces of Brocade, Eight-Section Brocade, Eight Silken Movements or Eight Silk Weaving, the name of the form generally refers ...

' and weapon techniques were attributed to him as well." The ''Ten Compilations on Cultivating Perfection'' (Xiuzhen shi-shu) (c. 1300) assigns the creation of the Eight Section Brocade to two of the

Eight Immortals The Eight Immortals () are a group of legendary ''xian'' ("immortals") in Chinese mythology. Each immortal's power can be transferred to a vessel () that can bestow life or destroy evil. Together, these eight vessels are called the "Covert Eight ...

, namely

Zhongli Quan Zhongli Quan, courtesy name Jidao, is a Chinese mythological figure and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. He is also known as Han Zhongli because he was said to have been born in the Han dynasty. In legend, he wields a large fa ...

and

Lü Dongbin Lü Dongbin (796 CE – 1016 CE) is a legendary Chinese scholar and poet said to have lived during the Tang Dynasty. Whether he actually lived the two hundred and twenty years cannot be determined. Elevated to the status of an immortal in the C ...

Shape-Mimicking Fist

In Chinese, pronounced ''Xiàng'' (象) means "shape, form, or appearance". 象形拳, Xiang Xing Quan, literally means "Imitation Boxing" or "Shape-Mimicking Fist". It is a fighting technique which emphasizes the imitation of the offensive and defensive actions of a certain animal characteristic or celestial personage. In the relevance of the Ying Zhao Fan Tzi system the Xiang refers to moving or movement within the walking fist routine Xiang Quan Shi Lu Xiang Xing Quan is an umbrella term for any martial arts that mimics characteristic/ forms/ movement/ action from anything other than human, and there are more than one school of kungfu practicing imitation boxing. Example of the

animal style Animal style art is an approach to decoration found from China to Northern Europe in the early Iron Age, and the barbarian art of the Migration Period, characterized by its emphasis on animal motifs. The zoomorphic style of decoration was used ...

: Dragon, Tiger, Panther, Snake, Crane style (that falls under Hung Gar) Eagle Style Chin Na, horse, Mantis Boxing and so on.

Shaolin

According to legend, in the late

Yue Fei's material is said to have made a re-appearance at one of the sister schools of the Shaolin temple. Lai Chin/Liquan Seng (麗泉僧), an expert in the Bashanfan boxing method, encountered soldiers practicing the hand techniques that was called Yue Shi San Shou (岳家拳). After taking the time to learn and master these skills he undertook the daunting task of assimilating them into his pre-existing Fanziquan sets. Some earlier exponents nicknamed it "Ying Quan/Eagle Fist" due to the numerous grabbing skills present.

Qing dynasty

In 1644 the

was overthrown and replaced by the

. The earliest mention of a traceable lineage of Eagle Claw comes from the Liu Family of Hebei Province.

Liu Shi Jun and Liu Cheng You

Liu Shi Jun (劉士俊劉仕俊(1827？-1910) ( fl. 19th century) of Xiong County, Baoding City,

Hebei Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, an ...

is considered the Sijo (founder/ancestor) of the ''yīng zhuǎ fān zi quán'' (鷹爪翻子拳). He took up martial arts at an early age and studied under several exponents of

Shaolin kungfu Shaolin Kung Fu (), also called Shaolin Wushu (), or Shaolin quan (), is one of the oldest, largest, and most famous styles of wushu, or kung fu of Chan Buddhism. It combines Ch'an philosophy and martial arts and originated and was developed i ...

Fanzi Fānziquán (; literally "Rotating fist") is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes offense and defense with the hands. Its movements have been described as: : ''Two fists are fast like the falling rain drops, and fast like a snapping whip.'' ...

, and possibly Chuojiao and Liuhe boxing which were around at the time. Around middle age, he learned ''Yue Shi San Shou''and Fanzi from Fa Cheng - Fa Seng (法成僧) and Dao Ji Seng (道濟僧). He later was appointed as the military arts instructor for one of the barracks in the capital city of

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

. He taught the troops fist and spear skills. His students were Liu Cheng You (劉成有), Liu Dekuan (劉德寬), Ji Zixiu (纪子修), Xu Liu, Ji De, Li Zhengsheng and others. Liu Cheng You (劉成有) first learned martial arts from his uncle Liu Dekuan (劉德寬), who had been a student of Liu Shi Jun when stationed in Beijing. He continued his instruction under other prominent martial artist of the region such as "Dong Xianzhou (Ba Shan Fan) and Yang Jingshan nicknamed "flying Legs".Dong Xianzhou was the classmate of Facheng under Li Gongran and cousin to Bagua founder Dong Hai Chuan He later received advanced training under Liu Shi Jun when he retired to his home village. Liu Chen You turned out to be a very strict teacher and only accepted a few students. The main 2 were Liu Qi Wen (劉啟文) & Chen Zizheng (陳子正). From them the system expanded and became popular when associated with the famous Chin Woo Association. Many of their students became prolific teachers that helped spread the system throughout Asia were: Zhang Zhan Wen (张詹文) Liu Zhi Xiang, Liu Zhan Wu, Lei Peixian, Bao Xi Yong, Chen Go Qing, Guo Cheng Yao, Li Bao Ying, Liu Fa Meng, Zhang Jung Ting, etc.

Chin Woo Athletic Association

The Chin Woo Athletic Association was fronted by the famed martial artist

Huo Yuanjia Huo Yuanjia (18 January 1868 – 9 August 1910),wushu.org.cn
states that the Chin Woo Athletic Association ...

in Shanghai. Its purpose was the dissemination of not only Martial Arts but sports and other educational systems to the public. The Eagle Claw system remained relatively restricted to the Xiong County, Baoding City in Hebei until Chen Zizheng was invited to teach at the Chin Wu. After initial success with the first School in Shanghai, Chen went to his training brother Liu Qi Wen to offer his students careers as Martial Arts instructors in the Chin Woo Association. In time, Eagle Claw was being taught in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guandong, Futsan, Singapore, Malaysia etc.

Lineages

There are 3 main Eagle Claw lineages known that most teachers/schools can trace their style to. #Liu Qiwen (劉啟文) (Lau Kai Man) #Chen Zizheng (陳子正) (Chan Tzi Ching) #Zhang Zhan Wen (张詹文) (Chian Jin Man)

Lineages Outside Asia

United States: * Shum Leung 岑亮 (NYC) - Instructor: Ng Wai Nung 吳惠農 (student of Chan Tzi Ching, Lee Pu Yin, and Lau Fat Mang 劉法孟) * Lily Lau 劉莉莉 (Liu LiLi) (California) - Instructor: Lau Fat Mang 劉法孟 (student of Lau Kai Man) * Gini Lau 劉曼雲 (Liu Man Yuen)(California) - Instructor: Lau Fat Mang 劉法孟 (student of Lau Kai Man) * James Lau Chi Kin 劉志堅 (Liu Zhikin) - Instructor: Lau Fat Mang (student of Lau Kai Man) * Fu Leung - Instructor: God Father & Lau Chi Kin Brazil: * Li Wing Kay 李榮基 - Instructor: Lau Fat Mang 劉法孟 (student of Lau Kai Man) * Chan Kwok Wai 陳國偉 - Instructor: Zhang Zhan Wen 张詹文 (student of Liu Cheng You) United Kingdom: * Julian Dale 道志鸿 - Lineage Instructor Chen Jun Xin 陳俊新 (student of Yin Zhi Jiang 尹志江 & Liu Shu Yan 劉書彦) (Instructor #1: Fu Leung - Instructor #2 Gini Lau )

Training

How the Eagle Claw system is taught varies between each teacher's skill and experiences. What is consistent of an Eagle Claw Master is their knowledge of the 3 core Hand sets of the style and the Spear. *Xíng Quán (行拳) is known as the "Walking Fist." This set consists of ten to twelve rows of techniques representative of what is today known as Shaolin Fanziquan. *Lián Quán (連拳) is known as the "Linking Fist." A very important set consisting of 50 short lines/rows repeting techniques on both the left side and right side, in that it not only provides the exponent with an encyclopedic base of the various seizing, grappling and joint-locks of

qinna Qinna () is the set of joint lock techniques used in the Chinese martial arts to control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so they cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability. ''Qinna Shu'' ( meaning "technique") ...

, but it also incorporates various

Qigong ''Qigong'' (), ''qi gong'', ''chi kung'', ''chi 'ung'', or ''chi gung'' () is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial-arts training. With roots in ...

skills as well. Based on Older Fanzi Routines that were combined and restructured by the Eagle Claw King Chen Zi Zheng. Most have nicknamed this set the "Dictionary of Eagle Claw" due to the content containing probably 90% of the style's skills and techniques taught within 50 Rows. *Yuè Shì Sàn Shǒu (岳氏散手; ''Yue Clan Free Hand'') (aka Yī Bǎi Ling Bā Qín Ná 一百零八擒拿 – ''108 Seizing Grabbing'' techniques) is considered the "heart" of the Eagle Claw system. It is believed to be the original material passed down by the style's legendary founder Yue Fei. This material has 108 different categories of skills/techniques that are trained to a level of perfection with partners. One thing to remember is that each sequence is only an example of that category which contains numerous variations and offshoots. Other Hand Forms: Sì Liù Quán (四六拳)、''Four Six Fist'' Bā Bù Liánhuán Quán (八步連環拳)、''Eight Step Linked Fist'' Shàolín Chuí (少林捶)、''Young Forest Hammers'' Wǔ Hǔ Quán (五虎拳)、''Five Tiger Fist'' Wǔ Huā Bào (五花豹)、''Five Flower Leopard'' Liùhé Quán (六合拳)、''Six Harmony Fist'' Bā Bù Chuí (八步捶)、''Eight Step Hammers'' Tài zǔ Quán (太祖拳)、''Great Ancestor Fist'' Dà Xióng Quán (大雄拳)、''Great Hero Fist'' Xiǎo Xióng Quán (小雄拳)、''Small Hero Fist'' Dà Mián Zhǎng (大綿掌)、''Great Cotton Fist'' Xiǎo Mián Zhǎng (小綿掌) 、''Small Cotton Fist'' Dà Bā Miàn (大八面)、''Great Eight Expanses'' Xiǎo Bā Miàn (小八面)、''Small Eight Expanses'' Yàn Háng Quán (雁行拳)、''Flying Goose Fist'' Qián Liū Shì (前溜勢)、''Slip Forward Power'' Méihuā Quán (梅花拳)、''Plum Blossom Boxing'' Luóhàn Quán (羅漢拳)、''Arhat Boxing'' Zuì Liù Tǎng (醉六躺)、''Drunk Six Laying'' etc... Qiang/Cheung (枪) -Spear is the primary Weapon associated with the Eagle Claw Style. There is no consensus as to what the original spear routine was as numerous diverse sets exist in the different branches. It is felt that there were mainly loose skills that one would practice singularly then against an opponent. Legend tells us that Yue Fei's was called Lì Quán Qiāng (沥泉枪; ''Trickling Fountain Spear'') which is still taught as part of the Yuèjiā (岳家) System preserved by Zhang Lan Yei, 26th generation inheritor of Yue Family Fist. Various sets and routines that exist(ed) are: Sān Bù Qiāng (三步槍)、 ''Three Step Spear'' Liùhé Qiāng (六合槍)、''Six Harmony Spear'' Méihuā Qiāng (梅花槍)、''Plum Flower Spear'' Luóhàn Qiāng (羅漢槍)、''Arhat Spear'' Shàolín Qiāng (少林槍)、 ''Young Forest Spear'' Líhuā Qiāng (梨花槍)、''Pear Blossom Spear'' Liánhuán Qiāng (連環槍)、''Linked Spear'' Liùhé Dà Qiāng (六合大槍)、''Six Harmony Great Spear'' etc... And with these single person routines there exist numerous partner sets that are paired against the spear: Empty Hands, Saber, Spear, Guandao, Three-Sectional Staff, Daggers and straight sword, etc. Other Weapon Forms: Pole Forms: Qí méi gùn (齊眉棍)、''Eyebrow Pole'' Qí mén gùn (奇門棍), ''Strange Gate Pole'' Single Saber Forms: Méihuā dāndāo (梅花單刀)、''Plum Flower Single Saber'' Liánhuán dāndāo (連環單刀)、''Linked Single Saber'' Liùhé dāndāo (六合單刀)、''Six Harmony Single Saber'' Wǔ hóu dāndāo (五侯單刀)、''Five Nobles Single Saber'' Double Saber Forms: Méihuā shuāng dāo (梅花雙刀)、''Plum Flower Double Sabers'' Xuěpiàn shuāng dāo (雪片雙刀)、''Snowflake Double Sabers'' De tǎng shuāng dāo (地躺雙刀)、''Ground Laying Double Sabers'' Sword Forms: Dà liánhuán jiàn (大連環劍)、''Great Linked Sword'' Xiǎo liánhuán jiàn (小連環劍)、''Small Linked Sword'' Pole Cleaver Forms: Chūnqiū dàdāo* (春秋大刀)、''Spring & Autumn Great Blade'' Sì mén dàdāo (四門大刀)、''Four Gates Great Blade'' etc.。 * ''Dadao translates literally as great blade. It refers to a pole-blade, pole-cleaver, or sword-staff; otherwise known as a glaive, voulge, guisarme, or falchion in English.'' ** ''Tài (太) implies great, grand or esteemed. Dà (大) implies big or large. xiǎo (小) implies small, Shào implies young or new.''

References

External links

History of Fanzi/Bashanfan
Satirio.com. Accessed 2/26/2010.

Satirio.com. Accessed 2/26/2010. {{Kung fu schools Chinese martial arts