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Lohan
is the oldest documented kung fu style.
Documentation puts down the origin of Lohan at
over 1 000 years ago, putting Lohan Chuan's origins
right at the time of the Shaolin Temple during the Sixth
Century AD.
Lohan
Chuan was named after the 18 legendary Lohan (Arhat or
Bohdivisattva, a Buddhist who has attained Nirvana) who
started out as bandits, converted to Buddhism, and were
so devout that they became enlightened.
These Lohan had well-respected martial arts
abilities and their unique specialities were preserved
for time as 18 statues that still exist in the
(northern) Henan Shaolin Temple.
At
its embryonic one stage, Shaolin Boxing was solely
represented by Lohan Chuan, making it the foundation and
origin of all subsequent boxing routines to come out of
or to be influenced by Shaolin Boxing.
Many of today's kung fu styles have techniques
named after Lohan or they have forms named Lohan Chuan
such as Tang Lang Praying Mantis, Hung Gar, Mi Zhong,
Choy Lay Fut, Lama Pai and many others.
Lohan Chuan also forms the foundation from which
sych styles as Seven Star Praying Mantis, Tai Tzu Chuan,
Wu Xng Chuan (Five Animals), Ngo Cho (Wuzu, Five
Ancestors) and Pa Kua were developed.
The founders of each of these styles were well
versed in Lohan Chuan.
The Lohan style exists today in both northern and
southern Chinese versions.
Excerpts
from Salvatore Canzonieri's article
"Lohan
Chuan - The 18 Routines of the Enlightened Ones"
Wushu/Kung
Fu Magazine June/July 1997
Additional
information regarding can be found in the series of
articles "History of Chinese Martial Arts" by
Salvatore Canzonieri which are part of the Hanwei
Newsletters to be found at Hanwei.com.
There
is a Lohan Chuan coming from Monk Miaoxing (1881 - 1939)
and composed of 18 methods (shiba fa): 6 of fist, 2 of
palm, 1 of elbow, 4 of leg, 5 of grappling / qinna. It
is probable that this style is a "new frame"
of an older Lohan Chuan.
There is a Lohan Chuan coming from Monk Yuantong and
which has been taught in Jingwu Tiyu Hui by Sun Yufeng.
This style have 18 forms, 6 soft, six intermediate and 6
hard.
There is a Lohan Chuan coming from Monk Yang Ji'e (Late
1800's - 1972) who escaped the destruction of 1928 and
taught his art in Shanghai. He had Sun Tongwei (also
expert in Baguazhang) for a student and this master
taught it to Zhu Jiemin (1954 - ). This style is
composed of 12 tantui and 3 forms (one for
"beginner" : Wuhuquan, one intermediate :
"Liuhequan" and one "advanced" :
Gongliquan). It also features many qinna, tuishou and
the use of jing. This style is often considered as an
"internal - external" style.
Finally there is a Lohan Chuan from Fukien province,
mainly using southern shaolin techniques and features.
The forms are : 68 techniques of Lohan, 88 techniques of
Lohan, 108 techniques of Luohan. It features
"hard" qigong and conditioning such as the
"black lohan hand" (luohan heishou). This
style spread to Guangdong and South-Eastern Asia
countries, then worldwide.
Excerpt
from http://www.spheral.com
The
last mentioned Southern-based style of Lohan Chuan
is
the one taught in Shun Wu Tang schools.
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