History of Cha Quan / Zha Chuan
Cha
Chuan has it's roots in very early Chinese history. It was practiced in
Shandong province at around the same time that Shaolin was developing on Song Shan
mountain (also in Shandong) and is considered to have a very heavy influence in
the development of Northern Shaolin and other martial arts. The
exact origins of Cha Chuan are not really clear, and there are a number of
stories about it. From what I have gathered, and judging by the consistencies
between the stories, it seems that Cha Chuan originated in what is now
Xingjiang province in Northwestern China.
Apparently there was a time during the 16th century, when the eastern provinces of China were being attacked by Japanese pirates. General Qi Jiguang requested all of the most elite masters of martial arts to help defend the country. One group came from Xinjiang province, amongst whom was one Cha Shang Yi. It is said that Cha became ill in Guanxian county of Shandong province and had to stay there to to regain his health. While staying in Shandong, Cha taught the peasants his martial art and from that point on, Shandong became known as the home of "Cha Chuan."
The style is based on quick, agile movements interspersed with sudden stops and steady still stances, performers are said to be 'now moving like the wind, and now standing as if nailed to the ground.' Cha Chuan fighters emphasize kicks and combine them with throws and takedowns. Techniques are graceful, easy, clear, continuous, and rhythmic in execution. Strength and force is generated abruptly and there is economical use of energy. There are a lot of broken rhythm stepping and shuffling methods, as well as sudden leaps and jumps. The boxing method also stresses using both the hands and feet at the same time. Continuous attacks are employed in combination with tactics to evade and deceive the opponent.
The successor of Cha Shang Yi was Sha Liang, nicknamed "Flying Legs Sha Liang", who spread this style among Chinese Moslems.
I understand that there were many famous Cha Chuan masters. Some of whom include the late Wang Ziping, famous for the many Lai Tai (full contact, no rules, on a raised platform) matches that both he and his students had. Also, Zhang Jiwei (1848-1932) who trained "iron fingers" and was said to have defeated several dozen attackers at once. One of Zhang Jiwei's students was Chang Zhenfang (1898-1979) who taught Zhang Wenguang - one of the creators of modern sport wushu, ex-vice-head of the All-China Wushu Association. Hence you will find that the modern competitive "Chang Chuan" routines look a little like Cha Chuan - but of course most of the martial techniques have been modified for theatrical and athletic performance, and hence have lost all combative content. There was also Yu Zheng Sheng, my sifu's sifu, who was the general coach of the HuangPu Military University (HuangPu was the top-level military officer training university 70 years ago in China). Mr. Yu was also a consultant of the Institute of WuShu of the Central Government (Nanjing Central Kuo Shu Institute I believe). Mr. Yu taught four kinds of famous Chuans which were Cha Chuan, Hua Chuan (Flower), Pao Chuan (Canon), and Hong Chuan.
The "Cha System", as opposed to the "Cha Routines", has many empty hand and weapons forms. The essential ones are as follows:
1. Cha Chuan Tan Tui (10 lines)
2. Cha Quan`s 10 'Routines' are of varying lengths and complexity.
The names of the ten forms are:
1.Mu Zi (Mother and Son)
2.Xing Shou (Parallel Hand Movement)
3.Fei Jiao (Flying Foot)
4.Sun Bin (name of famous General Sun Bin)
5.Quan Dong (Eastern Gate)
6.Mai Fu (Ambush Tiger)
7.Mei Fa (Plum Flower)
8.Lian Wuan (Continuous)
9.Long Bai Wai (Shake Dragon`s Tail)
10.Chuan Quan (Vertical Fist)
3. Hong Chuan
4. Pao Chuan
5. Hua Chuan
6. Various two person sets
7. Broadsword sets
8. Staff sets
9. Sword sets
10. Da Dao (Kwan Do) sets
11. Misc. others
Many of the Cha routines are used today in Northern long fist schools, especially the 4th Routine and 5 routines. Both versions have made a huge influence on Northern Shaolin Chuan and the modern Chang Quan (long fist) practiced in China today.
Apparently there was a time during the 16th century, when the eastern provinces of China were being attacked by Japanese pirates. General Qi Jiguang requested all of the most elite masters of martial arts to help defend the country. One group came from Xinjiang province, amongst whom was one Cha Shang Yi. It is said that Cha became ill in Guanxian county of Shandong province and had to stay there to to regain his health. While staying in Shandong, Cha taught the peasants his martial art and from that point on, Shandong became known as the home of "Cha Chuan."
The style is based on quick, agile movements interspersed with sudden stops and steady still stances, performers are said to be 'now moving like the wind, and now standing as if nailed to the ground.' Cha Chuan fighters emphasize kicks and combine them with throws and takedowns. Techniques are graceful, easy, clear, continuous, and rhythmic in execution. Strength and force is generated abruptly and there is economical use of energy. There are a lot of broken rhythm stepping and shuffling methods, as well as sudden leaps and jumps. The boxing method also stresses using both the hands and feet at the same time. Continuous attacks are employed in combination with tactics to evade and deceive the opponent.
The successor of Cha Shang Yi was Sha Liang, nicknamed "Flying Legs Sha Liang", who spread this style among Chinese Moslems.
I understand that there were many famous Cha Chuan masters. Some of whom include the late Wang Ziping, famous for the many Lai Tai (full contact, no rules, on a raised platform) matches that both he and his students had. Also, Zhang Jiwei (1848-1932) who trained "iron fingers" and was said to have defeated several dozen attackers at once. One of Zhang Jiwei's students was Chang Zhenfang (1898-1979) who taught Zhang Wenguang - one of the creators of modern sport wushu, ex-vice-head of the All-China Wushu Association. Hence you will find that the modern competitive "Chang Chuan" routines look a little like Cha Chuan - but of course most of the martial techniques have been modified for theatrical and athletic performance, and hence have lost all combative content. There was also Yu Zheng Sheng, my sifu's sifu, who was the general coach of the HuangPu Military University (HuangPu was the top-level military officer training university 70 years ago in China). Mr. Yu was also a consultant of the Institute of WuShu of the Central Government (Nanjing Central Kuo Shu Institute I believe). Mr. Yu taught four kinds of famous Chuans which were Cha Chuan, Hua Chuan (Flower), Pao Chuan (Canon), and Hong Chuan.
The "Cha System", as opposed to the "Cha Routines", has many empty hand and weapons forms. The essential ones are as follows:
1. Cha Chuan Tan Tui (10 lines)
2. Cha Quan`s 10 'Routines' are of varying lengths and complexity.
The names of the ten forms are:
1.Mu Zi (Mother and Son)
2.Xing Shou (Parallel Hand Movement)
3.Fei Jiao (Flying Foot)
4.Sun Bin (name of famous General Sun Bin)
5.Quan Dong (Eastern Gate)
6.Mai Fu (Ambush Tiger)
7.Mei Fa (Plum Flower)
8.Lian Wuan (Continuous)
9.Long Bai Wai (Shake Dragon`s Tail)
10.Chuan Quan (Vertical Fist)
3. Hong Chuan
4. Pao Chuan
5. Hua Chuan
6. Various two person sets
7. Broadsword sets
8. Staff sets
9. Sword sets
10. Da Dao (Kwan Do) sets
11. Misc. others
Many of the Cha routines are used today in Northern long fist schools, especially the 4th Routine and 5 routines. Both versions have made a huge influence on Northern Shaolin Chuan and the modern Chang Quan (long fist) practiced in China today.