DVDs: Old Masters Out-of-print series

This is a fascinating series of rare footage of older martial artists practicing relatively rarely known forms. The editor of this series is Professor Kang Ge Wu. It's important to understand that the actual performances by these masters represents only a small portion of each DVD. The set is then replicated in instructional form by young Contemmporary Wushu students who "walk you through" the movements of each form. Some applications are given. But the main thrust of this series is the rarity of the performances and the forms.
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NEW! Double DVD#29963 New 2nd Hong Boxing

A classic Hong Fist with the representative arm slapping and foot flicking. Also, somewhat in the vein of Cha Chuan, there is an emphasis on off-timed motion (moves which are not simultaneous). A lot of leg work and pretty tall cranes for a man his age. Zhang’s interpretation is soft and elegant. A long, rather beautiful form.

This set originates from Sun Yuan (three origins) style of the Zhao Men. In the middle of the Qing dynasty Zhang Tian Hu of ZhiLi province taught Zhao Men one branch being San Yuan county, Sichuan and the other ZhiLi Pai.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $27.95 Double DVD see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29964 Bagua Dragon Palm

Research places the origins of Bagua with Dong Hai Chuan (as we believe due to tremendous research of Kang Ge Wu). It might have started in the Xiang Feng during the Qing dynasty from the Zhus in Zhu’An, Hebei, might have established the general style.

Zhao ZiQiu demonstrates. NOTE: incomplete sections of his performance have a “stand in” to show the missing sections. His performances is very “twisty” and rather good. Zhao’s obviously practiced for a long time. Zhang was born in 1904, in ChongQing, and this film made in 1985 when he was 81. We don’t know the style of BGZ but suspect it is from the Yin family.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29965 Tilong Canon

Lin Xuan was born in SanTi county, Sichuan, in 1911. Rising Dragon was created by Ji Ji of Zun village, YongJi county, ShanXi in the late Ming. In the late GuangXu period of the Qing dynasty a Chang’An person from Bao Ding came to Zun village and showed the Ti Long there.

This spry performance resembles nothing so much as a Xing Yi form. Strong and rapid actions are mixed with crouches and standing strikes. Essentially a “road” form done in lines this performance by a man in his seventies is inspiring for its verve if nothing else. Stance work is very fluid with strikes, mostly fist, following one another without pause.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29966 Single Whip Jinzhu Boxing

Wang Deng Zhou is an important figure in Sichuan Kung Fu. Born in 1913, he comes from YiBin, Sichuan. Single Whip JiuZhu (Messiah) is from the Sichuan Sheng Men (Living style). The BingYi boxer, Ma DeSheng, established Sheng Men style. Ma was a student of Liu JiaoGu. Ma himself was shorter than five feet tall, small framed and not particularly strong. Therefore he concentrated on quickness, good timing and ruthless technique. Later he incorporated the philosophy of the I Ching and developed his boxing form. From the phrase Sheng Sheng Wei Yi. Sheng style is occasionally practice on poles.

If you ignored him from the neck up your would be hard pressed to distinguish Wang’s movements from those of someone half his age. A nice, medium sized set, done with elan and fluid movement. At one point Wang drops and executes a few casual leg sweeps from the ground. Overall a great performance for a 72 year old man.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29967 8 Punches on the Poles

Huang Rui Mu was born in Sichuan in 1917. His performance was filmed in 1985 at the age of 68. During the late Qing an armed escort working for Wu PeiFu was named Jiang ZhengNan. Jiang studied Shaolin then fled to Sichuan for refuge. While he was there he passed on this powerful form in the NanChuan region.

This is indeed a powerful form. Very simple at first it proceeds in lines up and back. The movements slowly transform from almost Karate like actions to Pigua like sweeping arms. There is a lot of arm conditioning and a surprised drop to a cross legged sit. Movements are large and distinctively Long Arm. There is an odd emphasis on single arm actions, at least for a Northern style form.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29968 Descending 5 Tigers Xichuan

This is another form of the Sheng Men school. It was also developed by Ma De Sheng.

In this performance Wang shows a forms with sophisticated double hand moves, stomps, retreats and turns. Almost southern at times, there is an interesting emphasis on monkey hands and turning actions. This would be an excellent fist to self instruct as the angles and movements are very clear. This sequence is mostly based on four corner protection and multiple punch combinations with repeated hand patterns.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29969 Lien Bu Chuan Continuous Step Boxing

Most Lien Bu Quans resemble one another at least in the general outline of the stepping pattern. This is a very different animal though it shares some characteristics. The actions are small with retreating cats that then move out to attack. There is a variety of hand actions some of them such as the groin slap common to all types of Lian Bu. Indeed some movements are very similar but the arrangement and order is different. The four directions are emphasized with conservative actions but an occasional broom kick.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29970 Xing Yi 8 Forms Bashi

Ma ZhenDai comes from ChongWing, Sichuan. He was born in 1907. He is an important figure in Sichuan boxing circles. In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, a boxer named Ji Ji of Zun Village, YongJi County, ShanXi Province is said to have originated Xing Yi boxing.

Ma, who was 77 years old at the time, gives a very respectable performance of Xing Yi Eight Forms Boxing. He even includes the hops, foot switches and the dips into Pu Tui. This is one of our favorite Xing Yi forms with its angle changes and occasional wide sweeping moves and Ma’s rendition is very traditional and very clean.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29971 Taiyi Huolong Palm

Lu ZiJian hails from ChongQing, Yongji, Sichuan. He was born in 1893 and is now 115 years old and a famous figure in mainland martial arts. At the time of this survey he is said to have been 91 years old!. The source style, BaguaZhang, was created by Dong Hai Chuan in ZhuJiaWu, Wen An, Hebei in the Qing times.

This is a Bagua Men (a derivative of Bagua Zhang) set, Lu’s specialty, and is from the TaiYi branch which is almost a lost school. This “Fire Dragon Palm” . Lu ‘s movements are amazingly flexible for anyone even approaching his age. This set is relatively linear but is expressive of Bagua mostly in the hand formations. Many double palms actions, body change, small circle walks and continuous hand exchanges. Some parts, if you didn’t know, would resemble a nice soft Northern Fist.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29972 Arhat Boxing

Peng Gao Ji comes from NeiJiang, Sichuan. He learned WuShu as a child and has practiced his whole life. He was born in 1912 and was 73 when this was filmed. This Arhat boxing is distinguished by calm movements and poses which represent the Arhats. During the late Qing a boxer, Yang Zhao Yuan, of Lu Shan Mountain followed his teacher, Shi ZhiPu, to Song Shan Shaolin Temple. After mastering the Shaolin he returned to his home and taught in NeiJiang district.

Arhat boxing is always fast, powerful and direct. This performance contains the splits, jump kicks, one arm push ups, and a strong performance of typical Shaolin timing and technique. This would be a difficult for most people half his age. Peng’s hands and legs are still fast and his movements very direct and correct.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29973 Hong Style Hands

Gao ChunHe is from ChengDu, Sichuan. He was born in 1921. He learned from an early age and studied Hong style. This is a key style and form to Sichuan boxing. This style was derived in the 18th year ShunZi of the Qing Dynasty from Zheng ChenGong a Ming general who fled to Taiwan and wanted to restore the Mind. He took the character “Hong” which is from Ming Taizu YuanZhang (Mind Founder YuanZhang) reign “HongWu”. So it is called Hong Sect.

This performance by a 64 year old shows great strength. Hong is much like Shaolin and indeed another name for Shaolin is a different character “Hong” This boxing is very extended and self admittedly based on force overcoming force. Bid powerful moves and also some classic postures. Discontinuous action with strong poses.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29974 Dalian Boxing

Peng YuanZhi was born in 1910. He comes from ChengDu, Sichuan. During the Qing dynasty Ma ChaoZhu, fleeing the Imperial Court, took Henan Shaolin Kung Fu into Sichuan.

This form, shown at age 75, uses many short hand motions. Typical are cover hands, flower hands, willow leaves. The stance is medium high with back dodging footwork. The form is relatively short and fairly easy to learn and generally addresses the four directions.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29976 Huadasi Boxing

Zhang ShaoBo is from ChongQing City, BaXin County, Sichuan. He has practiced WuShu since childhood. This form belongs to the SanYuan branch of the Zhao style of Kung Fu. SanYuan refers to the area where this branch was taught. This school claims origins in the Song Dynasty over 1000 years ago and from the founder of that Dynasty, Zhao KuangYin also known as TaiZu. During the middle Qing period, Zhang TianHu in ZhiLi brought Zhao boxing to SanYuan in ShanXi and Sichuan. This divides the style into SanYuan and ZhiLi branches. Both schools have an emphasis on leg actions, quick steps and sharp eyes.

This form is Long Fist with stretched postures, high kicks, slapping hands and loose actions. The movements bear an obvious resemblance to #22963 of the same style. This is more advanced with Dog style kicking, dropped stances and large circle movements. Zhang is a stylish performer.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29978  Wusong Hands

Gao ChunHe is from ChengDu, Sichuan. He was born in 1921. He learned from an early age and studied Hong style. This is a key style and form to Sichuan boxing. This style was derived in the 18th year ShunZi of the Qing Dynasty from Zheng ChenGong a Ming general who fled to Taiwan and wanted to restore the Mind. He took the character “Hong” which is from Ming Taizu YuanZhang (Mind Founder YuanZhang) reign “HongWu”. So it is called Hong Sect.

This Hong Form also shows the traditional strength of the style. Hong uses open flapping palms and dropping punches with strong stances and definite hand changes. This form adds the drop and uppercut strikes. Much foot stomping to add power to the hands. An easy one to learn because the movements are so definite.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29979  6 Harmony Xing Yi

Lin Xuan was born in SanTi county, Sichuan, in 1911. Rising Dragon was created by Ji Ji of Zun village, YongJi county, ShanXi in the late Ming. In the late GuangXu period of the Qing dynasty a Chang’An person from Bao Ding came to Zun village and showed the Ti Long there.

This Xing Yi set has much running and turning. There is a t least one road of almost nothing but spinning. This is old Xing Yi where each line is a different basic from Chicken stepping to double palms. While Lin’s performance is not necessarily impressive it gives a real feel for the simplicity and directness of the style.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts

NEW! DVD#29980  Bagua San Shou Sword

Wang ShuTian, born in 1918, Wang is a retired professor of WuShu from the Chengdu Sports University. He is a well known WuShu educator.

Wang is rather obviously a professional Wushu coach. His movements are not only very refined but wide open and educational. Is interpretation is performance oriented but with much skill and elegance. His timing is highly refined and though one might have trouble seeing this as specifically a Bagua saber it is nonetheless a very nice rendition of saber work. A completely professional performance by a 67 year old man.

50+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $15.95 see above discounts