First, be advised that all of these VCD's are IN CHINESE ONLY. In our opinion that doesn't matter much because the instruction is clear and the quality of photography very good. But we will not accept returns just because people didn't read... IN CHINESE ONLY. Given that, these are really tremendous deals for the money. Each of these special VCD's can be played on a computer for full enjoyment. Made for PC's they are also Mac compatible by downloading Quick time (for free) and any similar VCD player program. Also playable on most DVD players. For less than $10.00? Wow!
Hong Style Boxing
Not to be confused with the fact that the famous Shaolin style is also known in China as HONG. This particular style of HONG is from Shan Xi (Western Mountain) province. In this case Hong reads "red."
Hong Quan is a category of Long Fist. Tradition says it was created by Song Tai Zu Zhao Kuang Yin 917-975, alternatively it may come from the central plain Shanxi Guanzhong. Hong Quan has ten levels of fundamental exercises. Fist basics include 撑 cheng (prop), 斩 zhan (chop), gou, gua, chan, lan, zhan, 翱 ao (hover): 8 methods. Hong Quan demeanor is very upright, when the hands extend they are accompanied by waist twisting and back sinking, movements are extended, footwork stresses variety, including leg locks, power comes from speed, reach and softness. Some empty hand sets include Big Hong Quan, Small Hong Quan, 3 Road Hong Quan, Guanxi Hong Quan, Guandong Hong Quan, Moonlight Hong Quan, Oriole Frame, 24 Forms, Six Kick Forms, Short Fist, Traveling Fist, 7 Frame Fist, etc.. It is said to have more than 36 forms.
We know Hong was being practiced during the time of Emperor Dao Guang (1821-1851). What is really outstanding about the series is that though the style is "hard" it resembles what has for centuries been the tone and pace of "real Shaolin" far more than many other supposedly representative Shaolin styles. The movements are energetic but sophisticated. as far as unadulterated Long Fist with the spirit and meaning of the martial preserved, we rank this series being higher and more forthright than many of the other items we sell as in the general Long Fist Family. The only problem is that are no applications. But as far as strong classical Kung Fu forms this new series is one of the better presentations we have seen so far. Wushu tournament audiences often are pleased when they see Hong Quan demonstrated.
Instructors included in this cooperative series are: Li Bo Qiang, Dan Shung Ming, Jiou Zhi Yun, He Zhi Cheung and Yang Xing Cang.Click on pictures to see larger versions.
SC236 GuanZhong Hong Boxing
$18.95, 54 pages plus VCD, Simplified Chinese/EnglishA true long fist style. GuanZhong boxing goes back quite a ways to somewhere before the beginning of the first millennium. During the time of the First Emperor, Qin ShiHuang, there was continual development of military skills especially in the western region of Chinese civilization, known as GuanZhong. This was the area where the official military styles was GuanZhong boxing, later expanded into the strong and beautiful style, Hong Boxing. Extended strikes, high kicks, forearm blows; this constitutes a strong style with some unusual moves and others that might be from systems like Pigua, Shaolin,etc.
VCD#929 Hong Fist 5 Tigers Broken Gate Saber
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyA good, strong saber set that is by no means a beginner's form. Weapons sets tend to emphasize certain aspects of each weapon. This set is built around the sabers "Bao" or wrapping moves. Where other sets are content to have the player wrap the sword around his body this set has many of the wraps performed while the body is turning, jumping and spinning. Definitely in the top echelon of more difficult and, we think, rewarding saber forms in our VCD collection.
Instructor: Dan Shun Ming.
VCD#930 Hong Fist Chivalrous Fist
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyXia Quan. A complex form that resembles Lost Track or a Northern version of Choy Lai Fut. Kick combinations with the leg in the air doing multiple little changes. Wide, swinging punches mixed with tight smother motions. A long, powerful set with many combinations and the whipping power of the Long Fist.Instructor: Jiou Zhi Yun.
VCD#931 Hong Fist Inverted Whip
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyA really good short stick set with emphasis on the "whip" designation. This set is not entirely but mainly done with the "inverted" hand grip where the stick extends from the bottom instead of the top of the hand. Complex but very practical with tight fast stick work and a lot of changes such as passes under the arms. Very clean, fast and brisk.
Instructor: Li Bo Qiang.
VCD#932 Hong Fist Twig Whip
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyThis is a short staff set or a "whip" set. Great emphasis is placed on rear butt poles alternating with wide whipping actions. Since the stick is short the hand changes are many and varied. One section resembles the whipping jumps of the famous Five Tigers staff.
Instructor: Jiou Zhi Yun.
VCD#933 Hong Fist Hawk Enters Forest
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyYao Zi Ru lin Quan. A complex set with true Shaolin energy. The instructor seems a little portly but his movements are fluid and powerful. This is a smart, fast set with Long Arm strength and some quick hand combinations. Not too difficult but definitely for someone with speed and strength.
Instructor: Jiou Zhi Yun.
VCD#934 Hong Fist Small Red Fist
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese Only"Small" can mean all sorts of things. In this it implies fewer moves, but also covering less ground. But this is still a sophisticated set unlike many of its "Shaolin" brothers. Multiple strikes all sandwiched in between a kick and planting the foot on the ground characterize this "Small" version of Hong Quan. Good solid performance of a Long Arm set with explicit and rapid hand changes.
Instructor: Dan Shun Ming.
VCD#935 Hong Fist Red Fist Second Road
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyThough this is a Long Fist form it is a little tighter than others in the series. Unusual angles of attack. The practitioner moves, takes a poses then executes multiple actions. Much is done between kicking and putting the foot back down. Definitely a Shaolin style form but almost with some Southern Shaolin energies mixed in. An advanced version of Hong Quan. .
Instructor: Dan Shun Ming.
VCD#936 Hong Fist Hong Cannon Fist
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyA line set like Tan Tui but much more complex. Lively and powerful with some Xing Yi like movements and Long Fist actions almost as extended as Pi Gua. Compared to the series that is presently being shown as "Shaolin" this is one of a series of sets that shows what Shaolin evolved into, not what was at its beginning. Most people are unaware that Shaolin was NOT a famous style until the Ming Dynasty. Which, do you think, brought it to prominence: it's primitive beginning or its evolved form?
Instructor: Yang Xing Cang.
VCD#937 Hong Fist Spring Autumn Knife
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyA very good Big Saber set based on the Four Directions. Strong clean moves. The beginning portion of the set is done in a surprisingly small amount of space but then the set travels a bit. No around the back flowers and very few show stopping moves but the set is powerful and actually more interesting and formally structured than most Big Knife forms. Definitely in keeping with the good quality of the rest of the series.Instructor: Yang Xing Cang.
VCD#938 Hong Fist 10 Words Big Opening
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyA major form of the Hong Quan. Complex whipping hand strikes, long kicks, variations on changing positions with an emphasis on alteration and major angular deviation. Imagine Mantis without the hooks and animal characteristics and you might have an idea. Each form in this series raises the stakes on the previous one for complexity and stuffing more and more moves into a single body action. This is definitely one of the advanced representatives of the style.
Instructor: Dan Shun Ming.
VCD#939 Hong Fist Small Linked Sticks
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyA very respectable double "nunchaku" set. Chinese in structure but using most of the major moves of the weapons. This one definitely covers some ground and includes a ground roll into the famous ground spinning flower where you pass the weapons under your body as you roll. A very good double weapon set with just the right mix of unusual and strong, basic movements. We assumed every knows that the Okinawan Nunchaku originated in China.
Instructor: Li Bo Qiang.
VCD#940 Hong Fist Hawk Step Boxing
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlySide steps, sitting stances, and unusual shifting horse stances characterize this Long Arm set known as Hawk Stepping. Many fast hand combinations but they take a second place to the emphasis on footwork with back crossing steps, stances shifts, side steps and some truly unusual angles. But, as with the rest of the series, solid performance and strong technique.
Instructor: He Zhi Cheong.
VCD#941 Hong Fist Survey
About an hour, VCD pricing, Chinese OnlyThis is a sampler with all the sets represented in the series plus a few. Of note is the addition of the Hong Spear and the Meteor. This VCD starts out with warm ups and stretches by a young boy. Not essential but it encourages you to try the splits before watch the rest of the forms.
