MEI HUA "Plum Blossom" BOXING

We have practiced the Mei Hua style throughout the years with pleasure and appreciation. It is a beautiful and profound fist with many techniques and also wide "marriages" in the arts. Thus it has combined with numerous other styles. Mei Hua has an interesting history and technique.

There are certainly more than 12 techniques here but they are based on strong Mei Hua foundations with a specified number of basic or "embryo" techniques. Yuan Guo Jun shows all the strategies and angles of Plum Blossom's counters. There are some standard grappling techniques such as wrist binds. There are also some combat oriented movements from "casual" positions such as hands folded in front. Yuan's movements are simple and efficient. The last part of the VCD is a survey of Mei Hua sets not necessarily on the other disks such as Green Dragon Sword and Mei Hua Spear. The Swallow set shown is particularly interesting with Lost Track of BaGua like changes of directions and the Swallows typical rising power.

We are familiar with a number of staff forms all called by this same famous phrase which signifies a fierce and combative series of movements generally of a intermediate or higher level of stick work. This example is no different showing a form with many whirling actions, flexible footwork and numerous hand changes including switching form the right to the left. Teacher Yuan then shows many applications all of which are grounded in correct and strong staff usage, a very rare thing to see. For those who know, there are few "clacks" here.

A subtle and complex form. The Mei Hua branch represented here combines very fluid footwork with sophisticated and often symmetrical movements many of which are classic Plum Blossom such as rolling back hand. There is a interwoven series of movements with coiling arms, short crisp actions and extreme changes of angle. Most of the movements are shown as applications by Shihfu Yuan who is an able fighter with good, strong technique. Mei Hua's special emphasis is on "Open" and "Close" also known as Fen and He or Kai and Guan.

BA FANG QUAN. This Plum Blossom fist form moves, as the name implies to the eight directions. The arm motions are mixed with many coiling actions followed by explosive short movements, often as concentrated as finger strikes. The Mei Hua fist always shows distinct and complex footwork. In this form there are a number of crossing and running sequences, common to the style. Applications are shown with good, solid usage. None of the forms in this series are "beginners" sets.

MEI HUA CHUAN. As one might expect from a form that takes the name of the entire system, this is a "master form" with sophisticated and complex movements. Many moves, much stepping and footwork. Also, Yuan is a good and casual kicker and there are some high and difficult kicking techniques. Movements in the form are shown correlated to their applications. Arms coil, the characteristic "rolling backhands" are used extensively as are jumping moves with fan hands, cross and opening punches and other Plum Blossom signature movements. The theory of the style entails the use of "folding and flowering" and there are many actions with the whole body or hemispheres opening and closing.