EARLY FUJIAN SOUTHERN BOXING
The southern boxing styles of Fujian have their earlier records to the Southern Song Dynasty. One of the earliest exponents Zhang Ciguan, was said to have practiced the ancient skills of Niu Fa (Cow method) and Hou Fa (Monkey method) in a Daoist sanctuary in YongTai Mingshanshi. In 1176, three daoist disciples Zhang Ciguan, Xiao Faming and Lian Zhongqiang travelled to Longhushan (Dragon Tiger Mountain, in neighbouring Jiangxi Province - The origin of 'religious' Daoism) to study Daoism.
They also wandered around the provinces of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian. Then they returned to reside and teach in the Mingshanshi. Later Southern styles were also developed and thus the foundation for Fujian martial arts were formed.
ORIGINS OF YONG FU HU ZUN QUAN
Tiger Style (虎尊拳) was founded in Fujian by Li Yuan Zhu (李元珠, est.1716-1793) who had studied ancient martial arts such as Niu Fa (Cow Method) and Shi Fa (Lion Methods) amongst many others. After years of practice during his mid years he developed a powerful system of martial arts based on the spirit, strategy and concept of the Tiger. “Zun” (Respect) was addded to the name of the style for two reason. Firstly since in China the Tiger is king of all beast it should be respected. Secondly, because the training in the style is so difficult and demanding then the method should be respected.
Li Yuan Zhu taught two main disciples, Zheng Deng Guang (郑登光, est.1766-1818 ) and Li Zhao Bei (李昭北, est.1761-1827 ). It is said that Zheng inherited the essence of the tiger’s kicks “Hu Tui” and Li that of the Tiger’s Claws “Hu Zhua”. Unfortunately it is said that Zheng did not pass his skills completely resulting in a diminishment of that branch, although legend foretells of the powerful kicks that had opponents down in not time. Especially famous was Zheng’s San Hu Wei Tui “3 Tiger Tail Kicks” which were deadly.
Li Zhao Bei however travelled to Fuzhou and opened a school there where he accepted disciples such as Yang San Shan (est.1810-1873) and others. Zheng Bu Su (also known as Zheng Xianji (郑仙纪, 1854-1929)) was one of the most famous masters who opened a school in Fuzhou and had taught many disciples, the most well known was Zhou Zi He (周子和, one of the most famous fighters in all of Fuzhou’s history). Zhou Zi He mastered many systems of Fujianese martial arts but his most favoured was that of Tiger Style. In fact, Zhou accepted a japanese student who studied some basics and went on to be the founder of Uechi Ryu style Karate.
Zheng Deng Guang had taught only a few and nowadays most of Yongtai practices the Li Zhaobei method. Descendants of Zheng had also taught the Gan Family (descendants of Imperial Gan Baoguo) who then propagated the style in the Pingnan county area of Fujian, for generations the style was taught to Gan Family members and led to Pingnan becoming also famous for the Huzunquan Style. Currently up to the 8th generation, masters such as Gan Boen, Gan Daisong, Gan Jiutong and Gan Fuxiong carry on the tradition.
Huzunquan was influential on many styles within Fujian but also in neighbouring provinces such as Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Guangdong.
As a result of the fame of the Huzunquan, many masters developed their own interpretations that then provide a different set of curriculum requirements. The classical Huzunquan, contains many forms but the area all very short. Zhou Zi He added a few sets including his famous 108 set, which is one of the longer sets or the Sun & Moon set that is one of the last known remaining sets from the Zheng Dengguang branch of the style.
