Chuo Jiao

   SPECIAL ARTICLES I - Introduction to Beijing Chuojiaofanzi

THE ORIGINS AND TRANSMISSION OF BEIJING CHUOJIAO FANZI

When Zhao Canyi then headed to Lixian (Li county), northwest from Raoyang, to teach the Liu family. Some of the disciples in Li county included Wei Chang Yi.

WEI CHANGYI (魏昌义)

Wei Cangyi was from Jijiazhuang (Jijia Village) in Lixian and when Master Zhao Canyi was in Lixian as the instructor of the Liu family in nearby Zhaoduanzhuang, Wei Changyi sought out Master Zhao and studied the great art of Chuojiao. Master Wei also travelled to nearby Shanxi province and had picked up skills of various other martial arts. He became a well known martial artist, a famous Biaoshi (Security escorted Logistics Expert) and also was employed as bodyguard for the imperial family. As a result of these posts/careeers, Wei Changyi did not have as many disciples, but did become a renowned fighter. A sample incident is when a famous Xingyi Master Li Fuzhen had a friendly challenge with Wei Changyi, and was so impressed by the powerful kicks of Chuojiao, that he asked Wei Changyi to teach him some methods. Li Fuzhen then developed a set of Yuanyangquan which he incorporated into his branch of Xingyiquan.

WEI ZANKUI (魏赞奎)

Wei Zankui (1854-1951) was the nephew of Wei Chanyi, who studied daily with the great Master for over 10 years and became an expert of the style. There are many legends of Wei Zankui including one in 1900 when the 8 foreign nations invaded Tianjin, 20,000 Qing soldiers were sent to battle the invaders at Tongzhou Zhangjia Bay. Since Wei Zankui was so skilled in battle he became a captain and lead the soldiers to victory, forcing the foreign armies to retreat. The Foreign armies returned with a greater expanded force. Generals of the Qing armies such as Ma Yukun, Chen Zilin, Zhang Chunfa and others abandoned the battle. Only general Li Binheng was trapped and surrounded. Wei Zankui then led the remaining armies to battle all night long to find a way to out maneuver the foreign armies. Wei Zankui with his Yue Dang (Moon Knives) protected the general Li and the armies to safety.

He earned great merit for this feat. After returning to the imperial palace, he also protected the Empress Dowager Cixi to safety to the west of the imperial palace. Again earning merit for his bravery. As a result of these achievements he achieved a great rank (Si Jing Daidao) and Chuojiaofanzi became respected as Yu Fanzi ('Yu' used for imperial purposes). Wei Zankui was a very direct and did not engage in flattery, once upon a time he travelled to Guanghelou to watch a performance of classical chinese opera and had an dispute with Huang Daizi (a royal family member) and he killed one of the parties with the royal family member. As a result he was sent to the army front as punishment. On the way, his group was ambushed and as result, Wei Zankui did not end up going to the front and returned to his birth home in Li county.

After leaving his post, Wei Zankui returned to Li county where he lived in seclusion and accepted some disciples and taught many his Chuojiaofanzi. Wei Zankui was an extraordinary martial artist and therefore gained the nickname if "Iron Leg", he not only could move trees off their roots with a kick but could also withstand iron or cart rolling over his legs. Even at the advanced age of 94, he could still demonstrate his Chuojiao and ditangquan which includes many aerial tumbles and falls with ease. In 1950, when Wei Zankui was 97 years all his friends and students celebrated his birthday and as a result of his excitement as he stood up to perform some routines of Chuojiao and fell accidently, he felt useless in his age not being able to perform his skilled martial art. Not long after, he passed away. There were countless thousands that came to mourn his passing from all the villages around and all the streets were blocked when his coffin was moved through the towns.

Wei Zankui's disciples included: Wei Xing, Wei Youcai, Wei Xishen, Wu Zhentang, Xiao Chunrong and Wu Binlou. In Li county, the descendants of Wei Zankui which were the majority of the disciples above practiced what is referred to as Li County Chuojiao. An exception was Wu Binlou who taught many in Beijing, his style thereafter referred to as Beijing Chuojiaofanzi.

WU BINLOU (吴斌楼)

Wu Binlou (1898-1977) was born on the 12th December 1898 in Qijiazhuang, Li county western bridge district with the Baoding municipality. Li county is recognised as one of the Chuo Jiao martial arts area of concentration and practice. In 1905 Wu Binlou at the age of 6, he commenced the practice of Chuojiao with tutelage from “Iron Leg” Wei Zankui, at the same time he commenced his general education. He studied for ten years Chuojiao, Cunfanzi, Xiaofanzi, Dafanzi, Kaozhanlian and Weapons. In addition he was fortunate to be taught some methods from his grandmaster Wei Chang Yi (Direct Disciple of Zhao Canyi). In 1915, Wu Binlou followed his father to Beijing assisting in the family business. In addition to helping the business, he also trained his martial arts daily. In 1920, he became the Bureau Teacher for the Ren Mau Biao Jue (Ren Mau Security Bureau). In olden days, security bureaus were used to transport goods, property and offer escort security services. They hired the best martial artists to ensure their reputation was maintained. It is during this time that Wu Bin Lou earned the name as “Hua Bian” (Flower Chain Whip) Wu Binlou. In 1921, the bureau closed down as a result of changes to the economic structure of the region and of commercial enterprising. Since Wu Binlou always intended to complete his studies he returned to Li county in Hebei province and followed his master Wei Zankui in progressing and analysing the deeper aspects of Chuo Jiao. He progressed quickly and improved his knowledge and skill considerably.

DEVELOPMENT OF CHUOJIAOFANZI IN BEIJING

In 1924, following the request of his teacher he returned to Beijing and propagated the art there. For the next ten years he mainly taught martial arts and in fact made a humble living from teaching. In 1928 the National Martial Arts Academy was built. In 1929 the Bei Ping National Martial Arts Academy was built (Bei Ping is another term for Beijing city in the past). Wu Binlou was a great contributor to the research and studies of the National martial arts academies. In 1935, The martial artists in Beijing organised in Zhongsan park a demonstration event and meeting. At that time 10 great masters were revered including Heng Cuishan, Liu Desheng, Xiang Yunyang, Liu Yueting and Wu Binlou. In that same year, the 6th annual people’s sports meeting was held and by destiny Wu Binlou met in Nanjing, a representative from Hubei province (in south central China) Yao Zhiguang who presented “Yanqingfanzi -Badakai”. Wu Binlou and Yao Zhiguang then combined their efforts in redeveloping the Yanqingfanzi, as they had found some of the missing components of the Chuojiao style that he had only received in the family boxing manual but was considered lost. This collaboration resulted in the development of Yanqingfanziquan set of routines.

In his latter years he taught many students and became a researcher for government and other associations. He wrote articles and thesis on many aspects of Chuojiao and taught a large number of students who continue his legacy. With his persistent practise and continuous self development approach, the style that he taught became known as Chuojiaofanzimen by his followers.

STRUCTURE OF BEIJING CHUOJIAOFANZI

Chuojiaofanzimen consists of the following forms contents:

Chuojiao 9 routines: The first 5 are referred to as Baisheduxin (white snake expels poison) and the latter 4 are Huangyingnaxi (Eagle catches prey).

Cun Fanzi 6 Routines: Cunshou (1 & 2), Taiyangquan, WuFengsuo, Dan Fengquan, and San Jieshou.

Yanqingfanzi 18 Routines: As propagated by Wu Binlou in collaboration with Hubei Master Yao Zhiguang, The first 8 referred to as Ba Da Kai (8 Great Openings) and the latter 10 are Yi Tiao Long (A Dragon).

Da Fanzi - 8 Routines in theory, but in actuality Wu Binlou only taught 2: Jiazichui and Sanlanshou.

Xiao Fanzi 2 Routines: The two routines are Yuhuanbu and Yaomotui.

Kaozhanlian 2 Routines: According to the documented records, there are 18 sets of Kaozhanlian which is also referred to as 18 Luohanying. But this was just for the sake of theoretical completeness. In actuality there have only ever been 2 sets of Kao Zhan Lian, and most only ever learned the first set. The second was inherited by very few disciples. Ditangquan 6 Routines: There are six routines of Ditangquan or ground boxing which include Zisundan, Feiqian, Yanzika, Xiaobaxian and Jinsishou.

Weapons: There are many weapons forms/routines of many types in Chuojiaofanzi.

DISCIPLES OF WU BINLOU

Wu Binlou taught many disciples including Liu Xuebo, Hong Zhitian, Sun Changli, Men Huifeng, Deng Zhiliang, Li Zhicheng, Li Jincai, Huang Jinyou, Ma Qingke, Cao Zhaotian, Wei Shuiju, Wei Zhonghan, Wu Zitian, Di Guoyong, Wang Heling, Qi Zhiping, Liu Changqin, Zhou Baohua, Cai Jinghe, Zhong Haiming and Zhang Dawei. All these disciples are now regarded as masters of Chuojiaofanzi. Articles about some of these disciples will be available in this section in future.

PROPAGATION OF CHUOJIAO FANZI

Master Wu Binlou's contribution to the development and propagation of Chuojiao was significant. His disciples have students around the world from Japan,  Canada and Poland. Some of his disciples have won many awards and are members of senior Wushu committees in China.

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