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HISTORY OF CHUOJIAO

Chuojiao is one of the most ancient of traditional Chinese martial arts that dates back to at least the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Given such an ancient origin it is difficult to assess accurately. One of the legends of its origin mentions that a Daoist wanderer named Deng Liang created the style commencing with 18 basic kicking/footwork actions and then deriving 108 variations according to combinations developed from the Abacus (Jiu Gui Kou Jue). That became the essential components of the style. At the end of the Song Dynasty the style was nicknamed Fist of the Heroes, Fist of the Knights and Kicking Fists. In the Song Dynasty, traditional Chinese martial arts were divided into 4 great sects : Chi , Bo , Chuan, Wen and ten great boxing styles : Hong, Liou, Zhi, Ming, Mo, Tan, Zha, Pao. Hua and Long. Chuojiao is often referred to as belonging to that of the Wen Sect and of the Zhi boxing style, therefore often referred to as Wenjiaquan or Jiu Zhizi.

Deng Liang is said to have passed his skills to Zhou Tong.A legendary martial arts master from Shaanxi, Zhou Tong had practiced martial arts from a young age and in his later years started teaching military methods to various disciples. Of those one of the more famous disciples was esteemed Yue Fei, a heroic general and Chinese patriach of the Song Dynasty. Given Yue Fei's fame and respect by the Chinese population, the style to this day contains a set of practice known as Yue Fei Sanshou. It is said that Zhou Tong being a master of high calibre taught disciples in accordance with purpose, Yue Fei was said to have excelled at military strategy, weaponry (Archery and Spear methods) and practical chinese boxing. Zhou Tong is also associated with the History of Xingyiquan, and styles such Yingzhao (Eagle's Claw) which is a derivative of Yueshi Sanshou.

Legend proclaims that Zhou Tong taught Hebei’s Hu Jiuyi for 8 years, after which he acquired the skills of Yanqingfanzi and Stick Methods. As a result the style later became known as Yanqingquan (Also popular in Cangzhou, Hebei province and Shandong Province). Zhou Tong also taught Lin Zhong the Fanzi boxing and excelled in Spear methods. Wu Song was said to have mastered Chuojiao, Ditangquan and 8 Drunken Immortals.
 

Another claim to fame is that a number of fighters (such as Wu Song & Lin Zhong) in the world-famous novel Outlaws of the Marsh (Shuihuzhuan-Water Margin) are depicted as Chuo jiao practitioners: also making the style also known as Shuihuquan “Fist of the Outlaws of the Water Margin”. For example in Chapter 28 of the Water Margin Novel "Drunken Wu Song beats Jiang Menshen innkeeper" the words "step of Jade ring, leg of mandarin duck" appeared, these movements being central to Chuojiao.

In every generation that followed countless experts and masters added to their development until this day. Those ancient arts and masters laid the foundation for the various martial arts known today. In fact Chuojiao is one of the oldest Chinese martial arts still in existence. Having its origin amongst warriors and army batallions, the style of Chuojiao continued its development through countless battles. It was trialed, tested and developed generation by generation of not just individuals but complete armies. The addition of various specialised weaponry, the addition of methods from various styles and strategies encountered in battle. Through the efforts of brave and courageous experts, the art of Chuo Jiao continued its application to battles. Shi Dakai, a leader of the huge Heavenly Kingdom rebellion (1851-1864) (TaiPingTianGuo)- a national rebellion that actually took over and held parts of China and involved more people than the American Civil War - was known for his scholastic and martial interests (Wen/Wu). He taught his troops, the famous Shi Battalion, who actually effectively used the skills of Chuo Jiao against Imperial troops in battle. In Volume 20 of the Unofficial History of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it recounts how Shi's soldiers fought Qing Imperial troops using the basic jade ring skills of Chuo Jiao taught by their leader. They stood in front of the enemy line with their eyes covered by their hands, and then jumped back about 10 steps. When the enemy came close, they used both feet to kick the enemy soldiers in the abdomen or groin. If the enemy soldiers were stronger, they doubled their kicks and turned their jade rings simultaneously to defeat their enemy. These selected soldiers were called the braves of Shi and won many battles against the Qing army. Another military commander from the TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom Rebellion, Zhao Canyi, sometimes referred to as Feng Keshan or Zhao Laocan also practiced Chuojiao in addition to many other military arts. After the TaiPing army failed to conquer the city of Tianjin, Zhao and members of his army resided in Raoyang County, Hebei province.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHUOJIAO

In Raoyang Zhao Canyi taught many excellent disciples instigating the commencement of Chuo Jiao in the area which commenced the propagation of the Hebei style of Chuojiao. The most known disciples of Zhao Canyi in Raoyang county were the Duan brothers (Duan Yonghe & Duan Yongqing). Zhao Canyi was originally from Hua County iin Henan province was a strong and capable man. He studied with Tang Heng Lao in Zhu Zhaocun (likely to have been “Meihuazhuang”, another ancient martial art that the Wen/Wu nomenclature possibly originated). Later many great masters including Wang Xian from Jining county in Shandong taught him various advanced boxing skills.

Zhao Canyi became a wanderer and had travelled from Dezhou county in Shandong province to Hua county in Henan province. He changed his names many times and as a result was known in each area often by a different name. Only his closest disciples would know his actual name. In Raoyang he first taught Huaquan (Marvellous Boxing) in 12 Tangzi (Routines) in the Southern villages. In the Northern villages he taught Jinggang Jia (Jingang frames) in 8 Tangzi and Jing Gang Strikes in 8 Tangzi. In Shen county he taught Shaolin Boxing - Erlang quan and Bafan shou. The Duan brothers received tuition in Chuojiao as they were taught privately (Zhao Canyi was hired as a private martial arts teacher for the household).

Zhao Canyi then headed to Lixian (Li county), northwest from Raoyang. He was introduced to the Liu family (to teach their three sons) by Duan Yong He to become resident teacher there. The Liu family had in fact employed 3 well known teachers of the time Zhao Canyi (Feng keshan), Yang Jing and Tang Youyi. This time Master Zhao taught a complete and ordered system which included Liu He Gen, Jing Gang Jia as fundamentals and then 18 sequences of Chuo jiao divided into scholarly and military. In addition Yia zi Chui, San lan Shou and other great works were developed. Although teachers of the Liu family proper other locals were also taught. Some of the disciples in Li county included Wei Chang Yi and Wei Laofang amongst many others.

In addition to the teachings of Zhao Canyi the other two masters also imparted their knowledge: Yang jing was a known exponent of old 13 postures Taijiquan amongst other indigenous arts and Tang youyi was an expert of Ditanquan. In time however certain disciples had realized the situation and asked the great master why they all learnt different styles. Why some learnt ruan quan (soft boxing styles) and others ying quan (Hard Boxing styles). Master Zhao responded “none is better than the other, none is complete nor incomplete, you are all brothers (as disciples) if you like you can mutually exchange your skills. Certain disciples did with the assistance of Master Zhao just that, and as a result the commencement of the comprehensive Chuojiao style began.

Another Master Wang Zhiguo of the same generation as Master Zhao Canyi, was also a practitioner of the Chuojiao and Fanzi martial arts and contributed to various branches of the style. His sons were sent to study with Zhao Canyi and developed excellent skills. The complete art then became a very comprehensive system of martial arts known as “Chuo Jiao Men”. Since Zhao Canyi spent many years in Hebei teaching in different areas, the variations to Chuojiao are numerous. Fundamentally, however they have all become similar in concept and essence whilst the structure and organization of the systems contents may differ.

Presently there are 3 main branches of Chuo jiao teachings. Hebei Chuojiao, Dongbei Chuojiao and Beiping (Beijing) Chuojiao. Hebei Chuojiao is classified as the ‘Original’ with two main sub-branches, the Raoyang school and the Lixian school. Both counties are recognized as “Wushu Zhi Xiang” (Chuojiao zhi xiang) a term used in China to indicate the concentration of martial arts skills in areas. They are known as representative of the Hebei branch of Chuojiao and probably the most original. Of the students in Lixian, the Liu Family continued the teachings proper and following the Wen/Wu classification of the sets. Zhao Guanyi returned to his county Gao Yang and only passed the art to his sons and their family retaining all original teachings, being supplemented later by his ancestors and the boxing styles from neighbouring villages. Wei Changyi taught the style which later became the Beijing Chuo Jiao Fan Zi style as passed on by Wu Binlou, who had researched all branches and attempted to restore the style in accordance to the styles classic fist manual. Master Wu binlou was famous in Beijing and taught many students. The arts contents differ in structure and the forms contain many ‘fanzi’ based names. Although a division of Chuojiao it was known as Chuojiaofanziquan. Since the developments above Master Zhao Canyi (Feng Keshan) is regarded as the first patriach/generation master of Chuojiao.(In some lineages it is Master Wang Zhiguo).