paihequan

Hi All, I take this opportunity to invite you all to check out the Kokusai Butoku Kenkyukai Web Site and Association. Who knows, we might have something of value to offer you? The web site is at: http://www.kokusai.cjb.net Best wishes,

I am familar with San He ... it contains many of the concepts seen within the Sleeping Crane form. Lets hear of your views on the different types of energy systems! Regards,

Jeff, I see, well basically these four concepts have to do with the types of energy and applications applied: Swallow, Sinking, Floating, Spitting Out.

The name of the 6 forms from Sleeping to Playing Crane has a certain philosophical meaning in Chinese, as natural phenomenon, to have energy/qi to start with, the Crane has to sleep first. When the Crane wakes up in the morning, first thing he will do is to 'call' as to soothing the qi. Then the Crane has to fly, then to eat (prey). After he is done with eating, he shakes (like dog gets out the water, shakes around to get rid of the water type) to relax. Finally, the Crane is happy and playful. It ends with playing as Chinese' outlook for life. Fighting is application/function but not the purpose of life.

Jeff, Exactly. The concepts may have different names but are the same in action. What do you know of the Four Poems of Crane-Fist (He Quan Quan Jue). This involves T'un - Swallow, Chen - Sink, Fou - Float, T'u - Spit Out. These four concepts are essential to all Crane-Fist. Regards,

Jeff, Comparing terms for principles of what we do in Hakutsuru and Fujian White Crane can often lead to differences simply because we both use different terms to describe that which we do. As a rule though, "inside hitting" as you termed it is one aspect of Fujian White Crane (there are many others too numerous to mention here). Regards

Sure Jeff, All of the above plus Body-Energy-Meridian-Alignment, Ground Reaction Force, Step & Slide, Kunyan-Pu, Dow Ma, Bik Bouh, Connecting the Chinese Coin, Quanmu - Fist Mother, Hequan Quan Jue, T'un - Swallow, Chen - Sink, Fou - Float, T'u - Spit Out, Body Change, Change Body, Four Point Gold, and Element Hands To name but a few.

No I have not trained under Tony but have and am corresponding with him at this moment. I have seen tapes of him in action though. Very good.

Jeff, I have a great deal of repect for Tony Sandoval's work in relation to White Crane. He's one of the few who are on the right path.

Jeff, To explain the concepts and differences as I see them between Fujian White Crane and "Hakutsuru" as relates to Karate would fill up several such forums such as this! You can visit my web site for info as there are many in-depth articles contained within our site: http://home.austarnet.com.au/tsuruken This wisdom of the body is what I term as Original Fujian White Crane Boxing and one that has evolved over millions of years to predict the unpredictable. Take for example that when one slips on say a slippery surface, the wisdom of the body determines (through the integrative action of the central nervous system) the necessary changes in joint angular alignment, sequence, rate and timing to land you safely upon your feet. This is true reaction and it is this that we seek to bring out via the art of White Crane-Fist and not some Oriental Master or his Western Clone. I don’t know about you but I’d rather place my trust and life in the hands of natural process that has evolved over millions of years than in one that has only evolved over the last fifty or so to satisfy the ego of the one who created it. My function as a teacher is to impart this philosophy of the Wisdom of the Body to those who have decided to come to me, to break down combat into realistic situations that call for an immediate, needed response from the individual and that utilise the natural body wisdom, human motor responses, biological, instinctive drives, and action of the art that is White Crane-Fist. I do not prescribe solutions, only simple, realistic and natural body responses to combative stimuli. White Crane Boxing embodies the importance of those natural biological and instinctive drives, aggressive energy, psychological state of mind, the neuromusculoskeletal structure and those specialized sensory, reflexive and behavioural patterns bequeathed by nature and that are the foundation of all human motor responses. Our art is not about obeying the authoritative dictates of some master, be them oriental or otherwise, whose technique is far from optimal and invariably at odds with the martial arts practiced. Indeed most are so hung up on “good form” and looks that they fail to realise the substance of the technique and the application that it contains. I instil into my students that it is far more important how effectively one does the technique or application, rather than how you appear to others to do so. Be honest, there is nothing that is psychologically, bio-energetically, bio-mechanically, strategically or tactically good about the so-called good form of the masters of popular martial arts; that is why I remain critical of those who call themselves “masters.” Traditional Fujian White Crane training revolves around 6 special empty hand forms and one Pair form known as Dui Tao. These forms are traceable back to the originator of White Crane Fang Qi Nang and are: Sleeping Crane, Calling Crane, Flying Crane, Preying Crane, Shaking Crane and Playing Crane. Shaking Crane and Playing Crane are the rarest of the forms and seldom seen even within China today. Regards,

Yes Jeff, most of the history "talks" about White Crane but sadly very few display any real knowledge of it!

Jeff, Please read what I wrote, I stated that I see very little real Fujian White Crane (the mother art of all Crane-Fist) in that passed off as being "Hakutsuru". I have studied Tsuruken (Crane-Fist) on Okinawa and am now linked to the Fujian White Crane of Taiwan and I stand by my statement. Of all the instructors of Hakutsuru "out there" Mr. Sandoval is the most accurate and has my respect. However, Fujian White Crane is very different in its forms and applications.

To be honest, as an instructor of Fujian White Crane I see very little evidence of true White Crane in Karate including the Matsumura and Goju styles. As for "Hakutsuru" I see little evidence of true Fujian White crane within that which is passed off as being Hakutsuru!