Li Shu Wen (1864 - 1934)

 

One of the only images known to exist of the undefeatable Li Shu Wen

The Bear and the Tiger was one family. The Eagle and the Monkey (or some say the Snake) was another family. Once they had all been intermarried but at one point in history they split and lived in two villages: Mong and Luo.

This little fable refers to an unsual marriage of two great styles, BaJi or the Eight Extremes Boxing and Pi Gua or the Split-and-Suspend Palm.These styles, so different looking, were actually taught together because they were perfect compliments for each other. At one point in their history they were split apart with major representatives in the two villages mentioned above.

At the end of the 19th century a child, Li Shu Wen, was born destined to restore these styles - each based on a pair of animals - to the complimentary union they had once been. Li learned first from Jian Dian Sheng (b. 1785) of Mong Village. Then he traveled to Luo Village and studied with Huang Si Hai there.

Grandmaster Li Shu Wen's last indoor student, Liu Yun Jiao.

Li was more than just a student. His martial arts were of the highest caliber. This was attested to by the fact that he was never defeated in his life. His spear technique became so potent he was known as the "God of the Spear." Born in Zhang Sha Village he was a native of the famous Cang County, the homeland of some of the best Kung Fu in all of city geographically AND historically. Gifted with incredible power it was said that he almost never had to strike an opponent twice. He attracted many students who were already formidable martial artists.

Li's last really famous student was Liu Yun Chiao. Liu's grandfather was the Imperial Governor of Cang County. When Liu was small his father hired martial teachers just to improve his health. The final teacher hired was Li Shu Wen who actually lived in the compound with only Liu as his special student. After ten years together they traveled throughout China gaining experience for Liu through challenge matches. Liu himself became a famous and powerful teacher.

Li Shu Wen was not a "nice person." He took on challenges his whole life often boasting to the challenger the movement that would end his life. Even Li's final days was a matter of dispute. Li was challenged to a fight with spears by a much younger man. Though over seventy Li took on the challenge and dispatched his opponent. Furious the fallen boxer's family conspired and had Li poisoned. This was the end of the famous fighter. On the other hand Li was known for impassioned dedication to his art. Every chance he got he practiced his favorite weapon, the Great Spear. His lineage to this day still retains the unusual practice of this weapon.

A great teacher produces great students. Many of those who studied with Li Shu Wen became important in the history of martial arts. Four of his students from Luo Tong Village were Han Hua Chen, Ma Ying Tu, Ma Fong Tzu and Zhou Shu De. These four introduced a form of BaJi Quan to the Central Martial Academy in Nanjing, a very important organziation at the time dedicated to "modernizing" martial technique and education. This was during the struggling Republican period.

Grandstudent Tony Yang demonstrates a move from BaJi Quan, Li Shu Wen's specialty.

Other disciples include warlords such as Li Jin Lin (a famous swordsman), Ren Guo Dong, Zhang Xiang Wu, Na Yu Kuen, Liu Hu Chen and Liu Xu Dong. Li's first real disciple, Huo Dian Ge, became the bodyguard and teacher of Fu Yi, China's Last Emperor. Other people in the BaJi family became the bodyguards of Chiang Kai Shek, and Mao Tse Dong. So, even though these political opponents had deep distaste for one another, they understood the advantage of hiring protectors from the BaJi style also known as the Bodyguard Boxing.