Longfist/chang chuan

Its seems as though "longfist" has become quite a generic name in kung fu lately
What are some of the main ideas behind longfist style and what are some of the variations. Just curious

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The style of longfist i study is Cheung Kune Pai (Sung style longfist)

It was created by Emperor Chao Kuang-Yin aka Sung Tai Jow it was the first offensive system of kung fu.It is a very rare style because it was taught only to the royal family and most trusted royal guard.It's a longrange style but can be used in short to midrange also but, with the same extension to drive thru your opponent.

Cheung Kune Pai is referred to as the grandaddy of all chinese martial arts.I don't know anything about any of the other longfist styles.

Some Cheung kune Pai philosophy is.

Act and react before your opponent can act.

Attack your opponent repetitiously untill he falls to the ground either wounded or dead.

Be the first and last to hit.

If you are the first and last to hit your opponent will not have a chance to strike back.

Longfist is comparable to a long river.

You should attack like the waters of a long river endlessy and continuously.

Correct hitting is done invisibly.

You must acquire enough speed to strike your opponent without his seeing the attack.thus using the element of surprise to your advantage.

I'm not sure if thats what you were asking.

If you have anymore questions about Cheung Kune Pai i'll try to answer them.

jmd161

P.S. for more info about Cheung kune Pai my schools website is. kungfuconnection.com

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Yep, i just want to know about some of the different styles and what they are about...I have noticed lately that it seems like "everyone" does chang chuan/longfist....just curious..anyone else

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
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Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

I practise a longfist style, along with Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan (when I can get to the classes). As far as I know, it's not any one specific longist style, it contains elements of several styles, including Choi Li Fut and Chaquan. I think the reasoning is that it's better for students to try different things and see what suits them best.

I practcie changquan too. changquan is pretty much a generic name for northern styles.

There is also a modern wushu changquan which is flashy but not combat oriented unlike the real changquans!

I practice Northern Shaoling Long Fist, with a guy called Peter Allsop. He mixes it up with 5 animal styles, but relies heavily on teachings from Yang Jwing Ming.

I believe his teacher is Master Cheung, who owns the Chien range of martial arts supplies, although not definately sure.

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so the general consensus here is that longfist does have various "schools" but that its often used as a generic name for a mixture. Does it have some general characteristics such as wide open movements...lots of kicks...ect...

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
-Zen proverb

From the pine tree
Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

Does it have some general characteristics such as wide open movements...lots of kicks...ect...


Being that it is a northern system there are lots of beautiful wide open movements and kicks.Punches are done at full extenison even if your attacker is within a few inches of you.

Kicks include butterfly kicks and other high flying kicks as well.


jmd161

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So its strictly northern, that was what I was getting at I guess...kinda mis-worded, I know most northern styles have wider more open movements and more kicks, i personally tend to lean towards southern styles more. I once studied Sun style tai chi and it was very "southern"...and very nice!
So is there any southern variation of longfist or are they strictly northern

PS:On a side note, thanks for the great replies so far guys..very informative

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
-Zen proverb

From the pine tree
Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

I know most northern styles moved into the south as well as southern styles moved into the north but, can't say i know of any southern longfist styles.

Choy Lay Fut i'd say is the closest southern style to northern longfist.


jmd161

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I have seen CLF before, I thought it had tons of kicks and very open movements...Longfist has more than that...Damn thats alot of kicking and swinging! But if its anything like choy lay fut then i have a pretty good idea what it looks like,
Thanks guys

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
-Zen proverb

From the pine tree
Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

One more thing.

Choy Lay Fut movements i think are a little more circular than the longfist movements due to the southern influence.


jmd161

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Ok, cool. That helps out, I have noticed that CLF has some pretty round wide movements, so longfist being less round gives me a good mental pic, Thanks again.

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
-Zen proverb

From the pine tree
Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

Well, I cant say about CLF, but the longfist that I do has some pretty round movements - almost looks like that bird off tekken 3 who does that swallow stance :-)

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I practice the Tai Tzu Chang Chuan system of Long Fist. The system was created by the Emperor Tai Tzu of the Sung Dynasty (Chao Kuang Yin.. the same as Jmd is referring to) in 960 a.d. and pefected and documented only a few years later. This system is a compilation of all documented forms of Martial Arts in China during this era. and is considered to be the grandfather of many systems. Emperor Chao Kuang Yin was a noted general and a Master of the fist arts himself when he was taken by sword in the middle of the night and made to wear the gold robes of the Emperor to lead the Sung to vicotory. He did and was soon given the name Sung Tai Tzu(Great Founding Grandfather of the State). This system contains what Tai Tzu considered to be the best of the shao lin and wu dang martial art forms and has had many others added to it by the Chao Family and others throughout history. The beginner learns the Tai Chi, Hsing Yi, Ba Gua forms of martial arts to develop chi and a strong body, moving on to more external forms as time passes (though the system in considered to be internal). for info on Tai Tzu Chang Chuan you can check out www.dokungfu.com

I have also practiced the Tan Tuei 10 Rountine Set which is an Islamic form often associated with the Hui. I only have 3 of the 10 routines myself but I have seen all ten and its a really nice set. There is also another 10 routine set that has lower stances and a 12 routine set from what I understand. Tan Tuei is "springing legs" so there is alot of lwo movements as well as high and its definatley a longfist set.

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