The Traditional Gong Fu
The following is a list of forms considered by my master, Shi De Cheng, to be the most significant of the historical traditional gong fu. It is only represents less than a half of the traditional forms that he is expert at.
There is a lot more than this, but, these are the most commonly taught and most commonly known traditional gong fu forms taught at Shaolin temple.
* Shao Hong Chuan: "Little Red Boxing", or, "Little Hong Boxing", Hong being a family name. It is the most commonly taught Shaolin form, consisting of many of the Shaolin basics (Ji Ben Gong). It is comprised of about 64 steps, which makes it an average form in length. The original version dates back about a thousand years.
* Da Hong Chuan: It is commonly believed that there are four versions of "Big Red Boxing", or, "Big Hong Boxing", Hong being a family name, but in reality, there are only two. The original version dates back about a thousand years, and it is comprised of about 80 steps. The more recent version, developed soon after the original, is itself comprised of three forms, each form individually also known as "Da Hong Chuan", and each form, about 60 steps in length. The more recent version of Da Hong Chuan, therefore, in its entirety, is well over 180 steps, and because of that, is rarely known or practiced as one form.
* Tong Bei Chuan: Considered to be a moderately advanced form, it is not as large as the more basic Shao Hong Chuan, but the moves are far more interesting and complex. The form involves lower stances and higher kicks, which tends to make it more difficult to perform, but, more beautiful to watch. It has some interesting, and devastating, applications within it.
* Xiao Lohan: Small Lohan; it is comprised of about 60 steps, involving many low stances and "sleeping Lohan" positions. It is completely different from Da Lohan. It is considered to be an advanced form.
* Da Lohan: Considered to be not only an advanced form, but, a sacred one also. The entire original form is not well known or taught by the monks of the Shaolin temple. There are two "Big Lohans" being taught at Shaolin, the most common one is basically an abridged (about 60 steps) and simplified version of the complete one. The complete Da Lohan is rarely known by the current monk masters of Shaolin, as, being 108 steps in its entirety, was considered to be too long to teach by the few old masters that survived the Cultural Revolution. (Or, because of its length, not much interest was generated by the disciples to learn it). Besides, most of the "fun" maneuvers in Da Lohan reside in the more commonly taught first half. "Da Lohan" (the abridged version of the first half of the original entire form) is rarely taught to foreigners in its entirety, if it is taught to foreigners at all. (They might get half of the abridged version of the first half). This has caused much confusion, as some people who have learned this "form" feel that Xiao Lohan is the abridged version of the abridged version of Da Lohan. This has led people to believe that there is a Xiao (small), Zhong (medium) and Da (large) Lohan, all related and similar, but different in their lengths, which is not true. The complete Da Lohan is considered to be an advanced traditional form; it is fascinating to watch, replete with many, many advanced and basic fighting applications, and is, in my opinion, an absolute wonder to perform. I'm slightly biased here, as this is, without a doubt, my favorite form to practice and perform.
* Lian Huan Chuan: "Tied together like a chain", this form is very small form, and very basic.
* Mei Hua Chuan: Mei Hua is a flower; it is a very traditional and very old form.
* Qi Xing Chuan: "Seven Star Boxing", it is about 60 steps in length.
* Chang Hu Xin Yi Men Chuan:
* Pao Chuan: "Cannon Boxing", comprised of a lot of double fist strikes, unlike the other gong fu, which usually have palm strikes included within them.
* Tai Zu Zhang Chuan: Named after an emperor from the Ming Dynasty.
* Chao Yang Chuan: "Face to the sun" boxing.
* Qi Xing Tong Long Chuan: "Seven Star Praying Mantis. The more commonly taught Tong Long Chuan is not as old or as traditional as the Seven Star Praying Mantis form.
* He Chuan: "Crane Boxing"
* Ying Chuan: "Eagle Boxing", a complicated form of moderate length, that is comprised of many maneuvers that mimic the eagle both at rest, in flight, and in fighting.
* Di Long Chuan: "Dog Boxing", a difficult form to perform due to its acrobatic complexity.
* Wu Xing Ba Fa Chuan: "Five Animal Boxing", comprised of the dragon, tiger, leopard, crane, and snake maneuvers.
* Ing Shou Gun: "Negative Hand Bow Staff", a basic and very traditional form comprising of about 40 steps.
* Zhen Shan Gun: "Shaking Mountain Bow Staff"
* Mei Hua Gun: "Flower Bow Staff"
* Shao Lin Mei Hua Do: "Shaolin Flower Sword", a very traditional broadsword form.
* Shao Lin Shi San Qiang: "Shaolin Thirteen Spears", comprised of thirteen spear thrusts.
* Da Mo Jian: "Da Mo Double Edged Sword"
* Jiu Jie Bian: "Nine Section Chain Whip", an advanced weapons form, that has many variations.
* San Jie Gun: "Three Section Staff"
* Chuan Qiu Da Dao: "Spring Autumn Broadsword"
* Pu Dao: The Pu Dao is basically a long pole with a heavy blade at the end.
* Shuang Dao: "Double Sword"
* Shuang Dao Jin Gun: "Two Man form: Double Sword against the Bow Staff"
* Pu Dao Jin Gun: "Two Man form: Pu Dao against the Bow Staff"
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- Written by: doc