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Wushu Styles - Chang
Quan (02)
Chángquán (Traditional Chinese: 長拳;
Simplified Chinese: 长拳;
literally "long fist") is a general term for external (as opposed to
internal) Northern Chinese martial arts (like the term Northern Shaolin in some
cases).
This includes:
- Pào Chuí (Chinese: 炮捶;
literally "cannon punch") pre-Tang Dynasty
- Chāquán (Chinese: 查拳;
Cha Yuanyi style) Tang Dynasty (618-907)
- Tàizǔ Chángquán
(Chinese: 太祖長拳;
literally "Emperor Taizu long fist") Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- Fānziquán (Chinese: 翻子拳;
literally "tumbling fist") Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- Hóngquán (Chinese: 紅拳;
literally "red fist") Song Dynasty (960-1279)
- Hóngquán (Chinese: 洪拳;
literally "flood fist") 13th century
- Huáquán (Chinese: 華拳)
Tang Dynasty (618-907)
- Huāquán (Chinese: 花拳;
literally "flower fist") c. 1700
The core of Long Fist was developed in
the 10th century by Zhao Kuangyin, founding Emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
His style was called Tàizǔ Chángquán, which means the Long Fist
style of Emperor Taizu.
In some Long Fist styles 'the best
defence is a strong offence', and in this case the practitioner launches a
pre-emptive attack so aggressive that the opponent doesn't have the opportunity
to attack. The Long Fist fighter likes to keep the opponent at middle-to-long
range distance.
The Changquan of contemporary wǔshù
draws on Chāquán, "flower fist" Huāquán, Pào
Chuí, and "red fist" (Hóngquán). Of contemporary wǔshù
events, Chángquán, with its whirling, running, leaping, and acrobatics,
is the most widely-seen. Chángquán is difficult to perform, requiring
great flexibility and athleticism, and is often practiced from a young age.
In semi-legendary "classic"
writings transmitted by Tàijíquán's Yang family, their martial art is
referred to by the name Chángquán in one of the received texts. These
texts can only be reliably dated to the second half of the 19th century.
Typical moves in modern Changquan
include: xuanfengjiao (旋风脚;
"whirlwind kick"), xuanzi (旋子;
"butterfly jump"), cekongfan (侧空翻;
"side somersault"), tengkongfeijiao (腾空飞脚;
"flying jump kick").
The forms within the Long Fist style
emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by its appearance
would be considered a long range fighting system. After further study, a Long
Fist practitioner will find that its forms contain Chinese Qin Na techniques, as
well as Shuai Jiao throws and takedowns. Long Fist uses large extended, circular
movements to improve overall body mobility in the muscles, tendons, and joints.
The Long Fist style is considered to
contain a good balance of hand and foot techniques, but the Long Fist
practitioner is also renowned for acrobatic but devastating kicks. Long Fist’s
arsenal of kicks covers everything from a basic front toe kick to a jumping back
kick, from a low sweep to a tornado kick.
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