LIANG SHAN Style

Liang Shan (Liang Mountain), Shandong, refers to a famous novel known as Water Margin (or "All Men are Brothers"). This is the equivalent of the Robin Hood legend in the west. A group of 108 martial artists, all outlaws, band together during a repressive time in China. Many of the characters in Water Margin are permanent fixtures in Chinese consciousness such as Wu Song who fought with his hands manacled together, a sign of indomitable spirit. Some claim Liang Shan is the style of Water Margin. It is a Northern Long Fist, that's obvious, but further historical connection is impossible to confirm though we are sure that there are some wonderful word-of-mouth connections some players might be able to tell you over tea. What we do know is that this version of the style was created by Yuan Tong around 1400.

The demonstrator in this series is Song Yi Xiang, a 21st generation inheritor of the style which is known as Zi Wu Men (Wu Zi Fighting: named after the style's great 9th generation hero). Song is known as "the Knight Errant of Magi Legs".

Click on pictures to see larger versions.

Zi Wu Ba Gua Quan.
This is an unusual form. It structures itself on a BaGua like circle walking then enters with short series of attack and defense motion only to jump back to the perimeter of the circle to resume walking. Each incursion is about four to eight moves and is obviously geared to self defense. Applications included. Originally developed by Liang Shan's Ru Yun Long and Gong Sun Sheng, this form is said to have been used to fight Japanese pirates such as Koxinga in the 16th century (an incident famous in Shaolin history, also). A Chan master, Xi Zhu, is said to have structured the fist which is now this form and called it Ba Gua Fist.

Zi Wu Men Tian Wei Quan.
An intermediate to advanced form distinguished by Tiger stance, dropping punches and whirling arms similar to Tong Bei or PiGua. Applications against fists and weapons. A fancier, more difficult fist believed to have been created by Hu Yan Zhuo, Because Hu was one of the "stars" of Liang Shan this "Big Dipper" fist bears a reference to him.

Yen Qing Quan.
We once taught at a school called Yen Ching Chuan though the fellow who picked the name didn't have a clue to its significance. This is probably the most famous fist from this style. Many schools adopt it even though it is outside their curriculum. The movements are complex and changeable with loose, long arm motions. Angles change constantly and snapping motions are combined with thrusting strikes. An advanced form but, more importantly, a key one. There is also a correlation to the sound, Yen Qing, as another name for Lost Track which many believe is historically linked to the heroes of Water Margin. This is named after the supposed creator, one of the originators of Lost Track.

Chuo Jiao Lian Huan Tui.
As the name implies the Intercepting Leg linked form emphasizes footwork. There are a lot of double hand motions, fast footwork. The name of the set implies not so much just single kicks as the coordination of leg actions with complex hand movements, many of them Chin Nah type. Applications on this tape, against hands and weapons, emphasize kicking responses. This is a "Chuo Jiao" form (the style of Chuo Jiao has been absorbed through the centuries into all kinds of other fists) as a component of the Zi Wu Men. This boxing claims to have been derived from WU SONG himself.

Song Jiang Quan.
This fist is more appropriate to someone beginning to learn the style. It is basic but not simple. In fact many of the movements are artfully slow and resembling styles such as Tai Chi and Tai Tzu. Explosive moves are also represented but the actions are generally single or double as opposed to the longer sequences of other forms. Probably one of the forms in this style most open to personal interpretive timing. This is said to be the "ancestor" fist of the style associated with Song Jiang, the head of the "108" heroes of Water Margin. It was further refined by Dao Yan. Applications shown.

Qi Lin Quan.
A harder, firmer application of the style. This intermediate length fist emphasizes hardness (with softness at the center) more than most of the other forms. Some difficult and strenuous motions such as three broom kicks in a row. Soft sections but predominantly the GANG or firm aspect of the art. The "unicorn" is only an approximate translation of this important mythic creature with long hair and a horn. It often appears in Chinese history to presage the arrival of a great man. The creator this fist is said to be Lu Jun Yi, who was nicknamed "The Jade Unicorn." If was a favorite of fifth generation master, Jiang Hong.

Lin Chong Quan.
A medium form with powerful moves mixed with soft actions. Applications are shown not only against hands but weapons such as saber and staff. This form emphasizes fighting against multiple and armed opponents. It utilizes Long and Short moves and changes of elevation to effect its needs. Another explanation for this common martial name is that the creator was Lin Chong. The later development was from 12th master Cheng Jing.

Liang Shan Gong Fu Tao Lu Xin Shang.
A survey of this style which strongly resembles Shaolin with Xing Yi influence. Forms generally are strong, fluid and angular. They include a wide range of motion along with sweeps and jumps kicks. This is a traditional style with combination based more on variations in fists than performance. This Style Liang Shan is based on the heroes of the novel Water Margin- also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, probably the most famous and beloved of "martial romances" among Chinese people (the other might be Romance of the Three Kingdoms). Kung Fu experts all,they represent the noble opposition, the outlaws fighting for right and wrong. Mao Tse Tung took the image of the Outlaws of the Marsh when he was conducting revolutionary war before 1949. A deeply routed image in Chinese consciousness this style has the shape and actions of an older Long Fist. Yuan Tong, the abbot of Jiang Fu Temple, spread the boxing as did Song Jiang. This is the present inheritor of the line.

Shui Hu Quan.
A relatively short, straight forward form with a mixture of important basic moves and some soft actions. Applications shown not only against hand attacks but against weapons and multiple attackers. More emphasis on infighting. This style may be from creator Wu Jian Xiong.