Thursday, July 31, 2014

Origin of Taijiquan/Taichi?

One thing that will probably never be fully agreed upon is the origin of Taijiquan. As this Martial Art spread throughout the world and became more known for its heart benefits it only makes since that the lineage of the styles being learned became the accepted one. But it isn't the only one. The most commonly known (in the Western world) says Taijiquan was created in Chenjiagou (Chen Village for ease). The first non-family member to learn this art was Yang Luchan of Yang Shi/Style Taijiquan and from here Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun were created. Unfortunately, this isn't the full picture.
The Zhaoboa Taijquan (& legendary) idea is that Zhang Sanfeng created the method that would grow into Taijiquan on the Wudang Mountains. Wang Zhongyue further developed this type of Martial Art and taught two talented students. One, Chen Wanting, combined these lessons with his maternal lineage Martial Art (that of the Li Family) to create what would be called Chen Taijiquan. The other student of Wang Zhongyue, the senior of the two, was Jiang Fa. He kept to the original teachings, sharing the Art in his hometown. Over the generations this method would come to be named after the town where it was kept, Zhaobao.
An important teacher of Zhaobao, Chen Qingping, had previously learned his Chen Family arts before switching to Zhaobao. He taught He Zhaoyuan who would create He-Style Taijiquan (this story is told in Cloud Hands) but also influence the other styles that came "from" Chen. Yang Luchan, the creator of the most practiced style of Taichi in the world today, wrote in his book: "I learned Taijiquan from Chen Village but mastered it under Chen Qingping of Zhaobao".
Of course, this is a simplified version and I will add an extended version at some point but as this evolution is told in Cloud Hands.....better read the book to see where history and legend overlap. The main point I'm trying to make with this post is that what we "know" is not the full picture. In hopes of avoiding the same half truth that most know as the origin of Taijiquan, Cloud a Hands also has the non-Zhaobao origin story in it. I can't say "hey, what about Zhaobao?" if I did the same thing and ignore the other versions.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

TOW Characters - Iron Wu

Iron Wu may be the "second main character" of the Mark of the Shaolin, but in fact he is the main character of the series as a whole, something that takes place from Book 2 - Swords of Wudang (to be released April 2015).
The descendant of one of history's most important Martial Artists (have to wait til Book 4 to find out who), Iron Wu has inherited his family's vast Internal Energy. This is blessed him with a near impenetrable body and the rare ability of the Qinggong Leaping Skill, a power that can see him jump in great bounds akin to flying seen in Kung Fu movies. Raised in the Wudang Temple, Wu has mastered the art of Taijiquan and possesses one of the greatest weapons from the Wudang Armory, the smoky bladed Yunjian Cloud Sword.
Taller and wider the most, Wu is a gentle giant often times seen as dimwitted by the tilt of his head and ever present smile, when in truth he possesses a genius level intellect and innate comprehension of the Tao, the Way, that governs his every action. His Shifu, his teacher, a man that raised Wu from the moment the baby's dying mother forced such a role upon him, Old T'sung, instructs Wu in the simple yet extremely powerful Still Water Meditation, perhaps the greatest of all Qigong Internal Exercises ever known to mankind, giving him the ability to halt an opponent, or even kill, with thought. It will serve him well as he attempts to become a member of the Swords of Wudang, the greatest warriors of the Taoist temple, and one day the Heir to the Wudang Sect.

TOW Characters - Shi/Chen Zhen Di

The man born Chen Shi Di was taken to the Shaolin Temple as a child by his father to escape the turmoil spreading through his family caused by the Scourge, a vicious Huquan Tiger Fist Fighter that happened to also be Zhen Di's elder brother, Chen Dao. His father's dear friend and fellow warrior from days of old, Shi Qing Lei, saw to young Zhen Di's development and secretly taught him the Martial Art that was his heritage.
The story of The Mark of the Shaolin sees Zhen Di at age twenty, about to enter the Hall of Wooden Men, the final test within the Shaolin Temple. He is prepared, he is skilled, but he is also suffering from the shadows of past events that have taken place leading up to this moment. (Have to read the book to see what.)
Skilled in Shaolinquan Martial Arts, especially pole fighting, and that of Huquan Tiger Fist of his family, Zhen Di is a powerful young warrior in the making. As all within his Order, he has been trained in Tieshan Iron Body Skills, Tiesaozhou Gong Iron Broom Skill (a sweep kick method where one develops legs of "iron") and Tiebi Gong Iron Forearm Skill. But Zhen Di's greatest strength lies in the love he has for his family and his righteousness of character, two things that will see him become one half of the greatest Martial Artists of his generation, the Tigers of Wulin.

Tigers Of Wulin (a Trilogy within a Series)

The Tigers of Wulin is the name of the Series, yes, but it also would be a fitting name encompassing the first three books as it is within these three that the two main characters Shi/Chen Zhen Di and Iron Wu begin their journey from birth and evolve into the Tigers of Wulin, legendary Martial Arts of skills unparalleled.
Book 1, the Mark of the Shaolin, starts the journey with Shi Zhen Di, a Shaolin Warrior Monk in training. After completing his training at the famed Shaolin Temple, he returns the wider world for the first time in many years. Readers of the first book will know, his journey is one of choice. Zhen Di must decide whether to uphold his religious vows and maintain the path of peacefulness or avenge his family against his vicious brother, Chen Dao, a highly skilled Huquan Tiger Fist fighter.
If Book 1 is an introduction to the world of Wuxia Kung Fu fiction, Book 2 Swords of Wudang would be a look at the universe. We quickly see our two heroes are not alone in the Jianghu world of mystical arts. Many other Sects and organizations have their own marvelous methods of Kung Fu and there are countless heroes and villains surpassing them in power. It is within Book 2 that we learn Iron Wu's story. While he may be the secondary character in Book 1, the second half of the Tigers of Wulin is actually the main character of the series and their roles reverse. Yes, we still see Zhen Di's evolution as it is an important part of the larger story but Iron Wu is front and center, he's the man! We learn where he came from and see the journey a Wudang warrior goes through upon the most sacred of mountains in all of China, Wudangshan.
Onto Book 3. Without giving away too much of the story we see the destiny the heroes were born into, the very reason the Orders of Shaolin and Wudang were created in the first place. It is in Book 3, Scroll of the Drunken Fist, that we explore a side of the story that has before hand been a background element, that of religion. The villain of Book 3, a demonic force from Buddhist religion......hold on, that's a bit too much. What I can say, later books explore this theme (Christianity was outlawed during the time the story is set) but the Tigers of Wulin series will always be, first and foremost, a story of family and personal growth.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Cloud Hands - the Origin of Taijiquan

Cloud Hands is the story of real life creator of He-Style Taijiquan 和氏太極拳, He Zhaoyuan (1810-1890). Most of the novel tells actual events that transpired, as do most of my books, yet of course certain things needed to be added. We simply can't know the name of every bad guy he fought or every friend he had, but for the most part Martial Artists will find names within the story they are very familiar with. (Yang Luchan, Chen Changxing, Zhang Sanfeng....)
20 years ago, when I started learning this Taijiquan, I could find almost nothing of the history or theory recorded anywhere. A lot of searching, a lot of asking and Cloud Hands came together (thanks mostly to the He Family). This man, He Zhaoyuan, is the embodiment of what Taijiquan/Tai Chi actually is. Equal parts effective Martial Art (today, I taught two new comers to this art and it never ceases to excite me when they discover how far from their perceptions authentic Taijiquan actually is) and healing master, He Zhaoyuan is a name all Martial Artists/therapists should get to know. For generations He-Style and it's parent Art of Zhaobao Taijiquan were closely guarded secrets and it has only been within a generation that they have become known outside of their family/hometown. I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to bring this story to people who may not have heard of it.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Cloud Hands Available for Pre-Order (ebook & print)

Yesterday, Cloud Hands-the Origin of Taijiquan, went live on the Satalyte Publishing website for pre-order of both ebook and print. www.satalyte.com.au

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Self Perfection Vs Self Protection

An Australian friend of mine teaches Martial Arts here in Japan. Most of you Martial Artists will know the name and have an opinion either way about him. I won't mention his name, but it won't be hard to work out who it is (Japan, internationally known Australian MA teacher, varied opinions on him.....). Talking with him a few years back this question came up: Self Perfection vs Self Protection/Preservation. Personally, I did not agree with his concept on this but he had very valid points. Most Martial Arts focus on one over the other, regardless what their advertisement says. It's a fact for the majority of schools. But definitely not all.
I see the Martial Art I do (He-Style Taijiquan) as a perfect blend of both. Neither has the foreground, both need to exist simultaneously. Yin and Yang personified. Our conversation was referring to 90% of Taijiquan schools being focused more so on health. There's nothing wrong with that, the health benefits are obvious, but they are actually only scratching the surface of the full health benefits available. Practicing Taijiquan as the Martial Art it is, the health benefits are allowed to evolve naturally. The lack of thought towards gaining better health lets it happen far quicker. Stance and posture find their required accuracy when you need to maintain your position. Martial applications see to that. Likewise, Push Hands is an essential component of Taichi even as a health system for this reason. The yielding movements transfer over to everyday life and you learn how to cope with the stress or aggressiveness of others by yielding to it (VERY different to submitting to it). This starts the Path to self perfection (no, not in the sense of becoming "perfect" that the name implies, as perfect is unattainable. It refers to the Path towards it, not the goal. But that's a different episode of Oprah).
Long story short, if you are focused on the Martial, look for the deeper side. If you are focusing on the health or spirituality in Martial Arts, take a look at its balancing partner. Your practice will only improve!

Importance of Authenticity

Authenticity. It's a word that is thrown around a lot in Martial Arts circles. Why? Lineage, a complete understanding of what is being taught, a COMPLETE system, these things ensure you are benefiting as fully as you can from your dedication and not learning a watered down art form.
That need for authenticity has transferred over into the Wuxia Kung Fu fiction I write. I had searched for decades and not found anything that I felt accurately depicts Chinese Martial Arts as in depth as it should and wanted to avoid similar feelings from anyone reading my books. I cannot say where all of the research has come from, I simply do to remember it all, but conversations with teachers (not only my own) and other a Martial Artists played a big part. When I did not feel I knew about a certain "style" sufficiently I asked someone who did. The response was amazing! Martial Artists are truly a great bunch of people, especially when you approach them with honesty and sincerity.
Each fight in the books has been played out and tested to ensure it is the best response in relation to the method, personality/body type involved and the character's current frame of mind. These factors play a part in real life fighting and should do so in fiction. At one point in Book 4, the characters discuss this, going so far as to say a hungry or overly full person will not fight as effectively.
But the fights are not the sole content of the Tigers of Wulin series or Cloud Hands. Martial Arts (especially the ones on these books) are equal parts self protection and self perfection (see the next post for more on this). Morals and philosophy play a part in traditional systems. Historically, the time period the Tigers of Wulin books are set in (can't reveal that yet....need to wait a book or two) was a time of turmoil. Rebellions, milita, a lock down on the religious centers of learning where these arts evolved from, even Christianity was banned at a point. There was a "foreign" ruler on the throne. All of this needed to be considered and tied together, the effects altering the characters lives. But there's good ol' fun stuff too. The creation of too many Martial Arts to detail here play out in the nine book story. History has provided the outline and I held to fact wherever possible. Why create something when history has provided us with such a ripper of a tale?

Monday, July 7, 2014

Cloud Hands coming soon (August 2014)

When we set about getting ready for my next release I wanted to try something a bit odd and not release Book 2 (although that one, Swords of Wudang, is possibly my favorite in the whole Tigers of Wulin series). Instead, we are going with the fictionalized, true story of Taijiquan's creation. While there is plenty of the story focusing on the art's creation by Zhang Sanfeng and Martial Artists will see familiar faces (Yang Luchan, Chen Family etc) the story focuses on He Zhaoyuan, the creator of He-Style Taijiquan. It was another one of the stories growing alongside the Tigers of Wulin but is set....hold on, can't give that away just yet. Tigers of Wulin is set in a certain time period but we can't find out exactly when for a book or 2. Let's just say Cloud Hands (the final name of the Taijiquan story) is set between 1820-1890, a different time frame to the main series. 
This story is one I never thought I would write due to not wanting to depict a person so dear to me in any false light. But with ample detail provided by the He Family I was able to construct a story that sticks entirely to fact (in relation to He Zhaoyuan) and one I am deeply proud of. When you write about a person you have admired for your entire adult life it is daunting to write about them in a fictional sense. I hope I have honored a man that should be known by all Martial Artists for his embodiment of the Martial and Healing aspects of these arts we treasure so much.

1 Thousand Years in the Making.

My first book, Mark of the Shaolin -Tigers of Wulin Book 1 - came out on April of this year.  For 20 years I had been creating this story in my mind of a Shaolin Warrior Monk and a Wudang Taoist Warrior and thought one day I'd write it but was in no rush. See, I loved reading and loved Kung Fu but could never find Kung Fu fiction. Not any that I liked anyway. The stories weren't the problem, it came down to "he punched him" and little more that could really be called Kung Fu fiction. Even fantasy seemed to be limited to "he thrust the spear" or a deeply descriptive account of riding a horse into battle only to have a pay off of "they fought for what seemed like hours....".
In the meantime I had become a teacher of He-Style Taijiquan and wrote a guidebook for my students. There was (& still is) so little information on this method out there that I hoped to provide my students with easy access to the history and theory behind what our lineage says is the original method of Taijiquan. But then the Head Representative of He Family told me to turn it into the definitive English language manual of our Taijiquan. The writing was easy, the next part not so much. So in an attempt to meet publishers and learn about the process of having a book released I decided to write the first part of the story that had been growing in my mind. All of the legends, creation myths, rebellions/militias, wondrous and near mystical Martial Arts had woven their way into this story and writing the first book was as easy as watching a movie and transcribing what you saw on the screen. Six days after putting a small piece of it online I was working with Satalyte and everything just took off from there (including deciding to release the manual that started all this with Satalyte). In the time between signing and release I'd written the follow up 3 (or 4, can't remember) parts to the series. This story is complete in my mind so there's little effort required. That's not meant in a bragging way, just that this story took my 20 years to create before I put finger to keyboard.
These stories a full of historical/mythical (depending on your point of view) tales that Martial Artist search years to find. Most I know have a library of books that have provided tiny pieces of information in each. Well, this series brings all of those together and shows how they are interconnected. There's Shaolin, there's Wudang. Those names most will know. But there's also more obscure methods detailed in a manner that I have never seen in any book even up to this day. Perhaps the best way I can put it is to use the words of my teacher when she read Mark of the Shaolin. She said she had thought it would be very difficult to write fight scenes with so much detail but was surprised at how accurate these depictions were (my words, her exact words not coming to mind but the sentiment is the same).

Mark of the Shaolin is available through Satalyte Publishing,
www.satalyte.com.au


I'll be honest, I started this blog when I opened my school and.....over three years later I still haven't written anything. So why the sudden change? In short, I've released a Wuxia (Kung Fu fiction) book in April with another coming in a month through Satalyte Publishing and there are a lot of good books coming out through them. In the spirit of sharing, and the persuasion of my fellow Satalytians, I've opened this blog in hopes of more people finding their books.