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Hong Boxing is said to have arisen during the Chin Dynasty. Its fame blossomed during the Ming and Qing times. Among Chinese minority culture, Hong Boxing is strong in ShanXi, Hebei, and Henan provinces where it is a major form of the art. Its content is rich, with numerous forms, comprehensive techniques, and a high level ethic, especially for family virtues. It gives a miraculous presentation with techniques including sticking and leaning, fierce legs, sly striking and attacking. If you want a truly Long Arm style, this is it. Wide ranging whip punches mix with squatting and “lift the curtain” movements. The foot work matches the growing and shrinking of the swing punches; not always easy to find in some versions of Long Arm—actually, a little unusual but welcome. This is a good example of Long Fist’s diversity and adaptability. You can almost sense an invisible spear between the hands. This form follows, generally, the traditional “one step, one strike” structure of many Long Fist forms. The book itself has both Chinese and English and is well illustrated; the English is minimal. On the other hand, this should be an easy form to acquire for someone with experience. It comes with a companion VCD, with English subtitles. |
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VCD#1748 Yan Qing Boxing A long and very expressive form that is almost a one form survey of the Yan Qing. There is some influence, to our eyes, of Contemporary WuShu, but the structure and the movements of this form will take you through a rather beautiful set of Yan Qing (Lost Track) movements. Yan Qing is a popular and widely diversified Northern style and this form combines a number of branches into an fast, smooth and highly changeable representative form. This one had a large range of Yan Qing movements with direction changes and Long Fist attacks. |
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VCD#1749 Hong style Yan Qing Row #6 Hong Quan Yan Qing Liu Tang |
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VCD#1241 13
Section Whip An excellent performance with an unusual weapon. Most steel whips, even in Northern Style, are seven, nine or eleven sections. This 13 section instrument allows for some additional movements not generally displayed such as center twirling the weapon balanced on one finger. The instructor is very familiar with the instrument showing a number of flicks, wraps and twirls hardly every seen. This is a dangerous set to try and learn if you aren't familiar with soft weapons. Be warned. |
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VCD#1242 Yan
Qing Sword Now this is a sword set! Infused with Yan Qing's "dark and light" actions it shows a series of well mastered and interesting as well as beautiful actions. It is a long handled sword so, while performed mostly single handedly, almost all the applications use two handed actions. A beautiful series of movements done with great expertise and originality. One of Yuan's outstanding traits is the "organic" look of his style. As George Xu has said, it there is no "animal" quality you don't have Kung Fu. |
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VCD#1243 Five
Monkey Saber Every weapon in the Kung Fu arsenal is based on specific and universally accepted actions. In the case of saber for instance there is split, hang, rub etc. But a real style, an organic style shows specific differences even in the most basic actions completely unlike modern, urbanized Kung Fu. All that is not to mention that the special surprise of this weapon is that it is change almost constantly in the set from the right hand to the left. That's not to mention that there are reversal cuts, shelved positions and a number of very unusual actions. Applications are shown with some real energy and fierceness. Some of the few we see with even a semblance of practical, ancient usage. |
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VCD#1244 Small
Form Fist A medium length hand form with emphasis on short and long power considered one of the "hidden" forms of the system. Many hand fans, off angle strikes and turns. Yuan Shihfu has a wonderful combination of animal energy and controlled smoothness. His over all body art is high showing the kind of Kung Fu we rarely seen nowadays. He is a fighter and his applications shown on each disk are direct, powerful and flexible. He never does the same thing twice. Definitely the kind of style and shapes that should be studied and imitated by aspiring Kung Fu artists. |
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VCD#1245 Single
Whip Another excellent and interesting form known as the 3rd in sequence. Movements are alternately open and close with much of Yan Qing's unusual rhythm and mutability. Yuan's movements are deeply personal, refined not only to show a high level of flexibility and power but also distinctive angles and approaches. His is the kind of Kung Fu we associate with villages and rural practice which, contrary to what one may think, has preserved much of the best of Kung Fu's skills throughout the centuries. |
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VCD#1246 San
Bu Jia Three Step Form. This form is considered the fundamental one of this branch. Its purpose in the Yan Qing system, is to clearly differentiate between hard and soft and this form does an excellent job. Within the first ten movements there is a noteable section where soft and relaxed energy literally erupts into powerful strikes. Again, we have the unique stepping, twisting and posing of the Yan Qing style. None of the forms of this series could possibly be described as "easy" but this short form gives quite a feeling for the style. |
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VCD#1247 Yan
Qing Staff Mobile, soft, deceptive and changeable: this describes the Yan Qing staff. The actions per particular emphasis on the flipping of the hands back and forth. Good strong and big moves alternate with little shots from underneath, or wrist changes and light handed attacks. A very good staff set of at least intermediate level. It lives up to the unpredictable nature of the style. The applications follow classic technique with the stick, good footwork and very little wasted motion. |
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VCD#1248 Yan
Qing Spear A short set done with the casual style of someone familiar with the weapon. Though very good we don't see Shihfu Yuan's spear as high a performance as his other weapons. But when he demonstrates usage he is knowledgeable and accurate showing the kind of movement which has almost been forgotten. His spear is good, don't misunderstand us, just such a short set that his other stellar performances overshine it a bit. |
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VCD#1249 Applications Dui Shou. The saying for this style is "One hand lies, and one hand tells the truth." This should be evident in application also. And here we have strong applications by a demonstrator who's "got it." His movements show a confidence and directness that only comes from dodging full speed punches. The applications are traditional but also contain that little bit of veracity that makes the possible into the doable. Every application is strong and involves some type of reversal of energy and collision. Good strong work. Based on the fifth form in sequence. |
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VCD#1250 Yan
Qing Boxing The flagship form of the system. A major form with strength, flow and character. A compendium of techniques that is almost "lost" in that the movements are fare less repetitious and range more than most forms. Good postures, timing and excellent representations of power. A sophisticated and interesting form. If you are interested in the style worth a try. Some applications are shown. |
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VCD#1251 Flying
Dragon Form A shorter form than Yan Qing but probably of equal sophistication. Said to be the second in series, it is also a bit "softer" than the other form. It has a distinctive section of spinning and turning where the practitioner slaps himself in numerous places around his body. The movements have some "s" curve footwork that is very spry and unexpected. Applications shown for some movements. |
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