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Shuaijiao
(Contributor: Bill Norcott - bill@bimby.posix.tandem.com)
Intro:
The oldest Chinese bare-handed fighting style. Shuaijiao is a
comprehensive fighting style which incorporates the principles
of Taijiquan.
Origin: China
History:
Shuiajiao emerged around 2,000 years ago. It was originally taught
only to the military elite. Starting in the Qin Dynasty, Shuaijiao
was demonstrated in tournaments for the Imperial court. During
the Qing Dynasty, China maintained a camp of 300 full time fighters
who trained for competition with China's allies. Today, Shuaijiao
is still taught primarily to the military and police in China
and Taiwan. Shuaijiao is a Northern Chinese martial art that was
not well known in the south until the 1930's.
Shuaijiao was introduced to the United States in 1978 by Dr.
Chi-Hsiu Daniel Weng. Dr. Weng started martial arts training at
age 11, beginning with judo. After achieving second degree black
belt in judo, he began study of Shuaijiao from Grandmaster Chang
Dongsheng. Dr. Weng spent 20 years studying Shuaijiao with Grandmaster
Chang, including 10 years as Shuaijiao instructor at the Taiwan
Central Police College. Dr. Weng is an 8th degree black belt in
Shuaijiao, and is president of the U.S. Shuai-Chiao Association.
There has been a large growth of interest and participation in
Shuaijiao during the past several years. Major Chinese martial
arts tournaments now include Shuaijiao divisions. Shuaijiao fighters
have also competed successfully in Sanshou (full contact fighting)
competition. The five-man U.S. full contact team sent to the 2nd
World Wushu Championships included three Shuaijiao fighters.
Description:
Shuaijiao integrates striking, kicking, throwing, tripping, grappling,
joint locking, and escaping methods. Shuaijiao fighting principles
are based on Taijiquan, but techniques are applied with more force.
There are 30 theoretical principles of Shuaijiao; the six major
principles are: absorbing, mixing, squatting, hopping, turning,
and encircling.
Shuaijiao fighting strategy emphasizes maintaining balance and
controlling the opponent. Tactics emphasize throwing the opponent
while maintain a joint lock, then following with a vital point
strike. There are 36 major throws in the system, with 3600 combinations.
Shuaijiao is notable for joint attacks and hard throws.
Shuaijiao has a belt ranking system. The succession of belts
is: white, green, green-blue, blue 1, blue 2, blue 3, black. There
are ten degrees of black belt. The 10th degree is reserved for
the founder of the lineage, the late Grandmaster Chang Dongsheng.
Competition is similar to actual combat, except that strikes
and kicks are allowed only in conjunction with a throw. Also,
joint attacks are discouraged. Match is three falls. Point is
awarded upon completion of the throw with control maintained over
opponent. There is no pinning nor submission holds in Shuaijiao
competition; in actual combat the throw would be followed by a
finishing strike. Victory in tournament competition is required
for advancement to blue belt and above.
Training:
There are a dozen stationary training stances to train strength
and flexibility. Twenty moving forms train the position and footwork
used in approaching, joint locking and throwing. Wushu high kicking
excercises train leg strength and flexibility. The kicks most
often used in Shuaijiao fighting are low kicks and sweeps. Unique
to Shuaijiao is "belt cracking", which uses the uses the uniform
belt in excercises that train strength and proper position. Throws
are practised in excercises with a partner, then in sparring.
Sparring is practised at all levels, as soon as the student has
mastered breakfalls. A typical class consists of stretching excercises,
Wushu kicking, forms practise, throwing and breakfalls, and sparring.
Sub-Styles:
Shuaijiao styles are categorized by region. The four major regional
styles are Mongolian, Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding. The USSA
teaches the Baoding style.
For more information, contact:
United States Shuai-Chiao Association,
P.O. Box 1221
Cupertino, CA 95015
U.S.A.
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