A message for Gogita9x (Long Post)
Gogita9x,
Regarding your interest in Dillman/Montaigue, please see my post/reply in the "Karate" section.
To add to the information already supplied regarding White Crane (Hakutsuru):
Those viewing the Butoryu art for the first time are often heard to describe it as "that Chinese looking Karate style". Others say that it looks "kind of like Gongfu" (Guoshu). The truth is that is what it is. China the mother art, Okinawa the father … a marriage of Yin & Yang. The style taught at the Butokan is known formally as Butoryu Tsuruken - "Warrior/Scholar Style Crane-Fist".
The principles of Butoryu Tsuruken or Crane-Fist Boxing, forms the core of our study. Principles are the essence upon which the art is built and represent the essence of the Butoryu Tsuruken method. Technique oriented martial arts are limited. However, Butoryu Crane-Fist technique embodies the concepts and principles at the heart of the art.
Based primarily upon the teachings of Yabiku Takaya Sensei, Sifu Yap Leong, Feeding Crane-Fist Adviser Shifu Paul Wollos, Shifu Guping of Southern China and Ron Goninan's own personal experiences, Butoryu Tsuruken strives for the essence of Tsuruken (Crane Boxing) via the paragon that is kata.
Great emphasis is placed upon two-man drills involving looking in-depth into kata applications that involve life-protection against not only standard techniques but also common acts of everyday violence which plagues our fast-paced society.
Butoryu Tsuruken is more about concepts, principles and essence then it is about techniques. It's about striving to hold true to one's “Fuku maami” (Heart Within). Many of the Butoryu concepts are unique and go against the tide of popular trends within the martial arts. At no time do we within the Kokusai Okinawa Butoryu Gohokan claim to be teaching original White Crane-Fist. We strive to embody the intent, essence and spirit of the original way.
Our teachings are not only of historical interest but also practical in face of today's increasingly violent society. While we maintain a strong historical connection to the roots of Crane-Fist Boxing of both the Chinese and Okinawan traditions, our primary focus is on effective personal life-protection. Ours is a innovative, progressive and traditional approach to the Grandfather of Okinawan Karatedo ..... Hakutsuruken or White Crane-Fist Boxing.
The training is contained within several phases of learning known as Shokyu Geiko which embodies the levels of Nyumon, Shokyu, Chukyu and Jokyu in which the fundamental concepts, principles and techniques are blended with that of the kata. Advanced training takes place within the Joden, Okuden, Hiden and the Kaiden levels. The Kokusai Okinawa Butoryu Gohokan Karatedo Kyokai acknowledges the generosity, assistance and advice of senior martial arts historian and researcher, Mr. Patrick McCarthy Kyoshi for allowing the use of these terms within the Butoryu structure.
It should be observed that there exists several distinctive characteristics and principles which serve to embody Hakutsuruken (White Crane-Fist) as taught within China's Middle Kingdom and the Ryukyu Island's of Okinawa.
The hourglass-like "Battle Kamae", ghost-like step and slide like body shifting motions unrelenting in their forward motions, centred and energy-filled postures, scattered hitting (Shan Da), point striking (Dian Xue), the method of intercepting energy and grappling/seizing/capturing skills (Jieqi Qin-na), bridge-arms which project outward from the centre-line, and techniques in which the practitioner extends the arms like the unfurling of a crane's wings and one-legged stances are all signature characteristics of Crane-Fist Boxing.
Apart from the identifiable Crane-Fist techniques, the Butoryu Tsuruken style has very few fancy looking techniques in it's life-protection mode. To the uneducated onlooker, Butoryu Tsuruken is at once a very beautiful and very ugly, a very weird looking type of martial arts. At the same time its' a marvellous style, containing within a myriad of changes and combinations in response to acts of personal violence.
Butoryu Tsuruken basics look very simple and is best taught in the context of one-on-one training known as Tingxun (courtyard training). There are actually very few of them. However, it takes a good deal of practice to achieve a real power in them. Power used in Butoryu Tsuruken cannot be muscular. All movements are performed with complete relaxation. At the beginning students are required to perform them without any power, in sort of soft, loose movement. This way the "life power" (as opposed to "dead power" of some other Chinese, Japanese and Okinawan martial arts) can be achieved.
There are 6 major basic techniques in Butoryu Tsuruken. Each is named after the 5 elements of traditional Chinese philosophy:
1. Jinshou / Metal Hands - performed using strike with the top of the hands and seen in the opening of the forms.
2. Mushou / Wood Hands - striking with the fingertips.
3. Shueishou / Water Hands - using outer and forward movement of inner parts of forearms and hands.
4. Huoshou / Fire Hands - palm strike, similar to Gojuryu's Mawashi-uke, but differing in it's finishing aspects.
5. Tushou / Earth Hands - fists strike.
6. Gimchiu - a variation of Metal Hands, performed larger. The vibration must be developed in order to perform larger or smaller techniques.
From here, all other methods and variations are developed and the encouragement of refinement (Li-Jing) is then pursued. The aim being to seek knowledge (Qi-Zhi).
The Crane fighting style strongly resembles a crane in combat for it's food and therefore it's survival, reflecting this attitude in real combat. The Crane will become very aggressive when is hungry. It will hunt it's victim down, trap, prepare for a final strike and kill it, in order to feed.
The Crane-stylist pivots to face opponent sideways in order to enter or move away from the line of attack. Additional movements, such as side entry (similar to Aikido's irimi), plus moving forward and backward are also used.
Butoryu Tsuruken theory is to absorb the opponent's power, style, and use it against him. Many movements of Butoryu Tsuruken actually resemble an almost "female-like” approach to the attack. Many movements, steps, etc, all are rather strange in their nature and outlook, therefore leading to the view that one of the major base systems of Butoryu © Tsuruken in the form of Shihequan (Feeding Crane-Fist may well be the original Boxing system developed by Fong Jiniang as mentioned in the pages of the famed “Bubishi”.
The Butoryu Tsuruken art of pressure point striking (kyushojutsu) is approached in a very different manner from that widely seen and promoted. The idea is to strike the entire sensitive part of body / arm / leg rather than impact upon a precise point. It is our view that in a real, full-on combative situation it is virtually impossible to hit precisely into a pressure point. We in the Butoryu Tsuruken prefer to use the area of the point, rather than trying to hit the actual point itself. This method of kyushojutsu makes for a very effective approach to personal life-protection that is easily learnt and applied.
The use of the fists is mastered in the basic levels leading on to the use of finger strikes, open palm, elbows, feet, knees. Shoulders etc. In fact, the entire body serves as a defensive weapon.
In defence of oneself the initial block serves as a means to deliver shock to opponent as to weaken his further attacks, and just about every block is followed by strike or series of offensive movements.
In describing Crane-Boxing, Shihequan (Feeding Crane-Fist) Master Lio Chin-Long stated: "We, in Shihequan, are Feeding Crane. Behave like that crane. Eat attacker bit by bit. Eat his eyes, ears, throat. Always move for final kill. Absorb any skills that may help you - because it's Feeding Crane - the style to which anything can be absorbed, if it serves as means of defence”.
Stances are always in motion, constantly searching the earth for ground-reaction-energy in a manner similar to riding a bicycle … an ever-changing relationship between the Yin and the Yang:-
· Huyepo / Huyao pu - Tiger Waist Stance, similar to karate's zenkutsu dachi, serving as an entering movement (irimi in Japanese).
· Chitiao liongpo / Yitiao long bu - Single Dragon Stance: a sideways position, it can be triangle stance or horse stance performed sideways; serves to shift body to evade or enter the attack. Often used in connection to the Fan-Pal and Tile Palm Strike of the Nanquan (Southern-Fists) styles.
· Tokapo / Tujiao bu - Singe Leg/Empty Stance: Identical to karate's neko-ashi-dachi; serving as a “Body-Change” or evasion movement.
· Guniampo / Guniam bu - Girl Stance: same as a Triangle Horse Stance and the Single Dragon Stance but smaller in length. A very effective stance!
Body movements are closely related to stances, movements include forward, backwards, sidewards and angled movements using a step and slide motion, pivoting movements, changing stance from front to side jumping movements as bouncing away from rapidly attacking opponent, and counter-attacking while landing. Butoryu Tsuruken movements are done fast, with rapid advancement or withdrawal and body-shifting.
In the eyes of the Butoryu stylist, kicking techniques harkens back to olden times on Okinawa when kicks were kept within arms reach. This perhaps comes from times when older Chinese methods of kicking were used. Snapping low kicks are very effective in their nature, and this method is used to great advantage within the Butoryu Tsuruken style.
In defending its territory the White Crane is calm within the face of adversity. The “Shukoken” or “Crane’s Head Strike” is modelled on a crane defending itself. The crane extends its neck pointing its beak downwards and rushing its head forwards like a feathered battering ram displaying a red crown like the ‘rising sun’ emblem of Japan. Ever graceful in flight, the swift up-beat of the crane’s wings followed by a slow feathering of the air as they press downwards with their wings to float on the breeze closely resembles the “Hiko-Tsuru-Hane” Flying Crane Wings” Strike. The various applications of the “Hakutsuru-Hane” or “White Crane Wing’s” are reminiscent of a crane extending its wings in combat to unbalance and overwhelm the opponent.
Traditionally, there are very few actual White Crane-Fist forms, although modern schools have devised and or resurrected numerous variations via the medium of research. A unique feature of the White Crane system is the manner in which these empty-hand and weapon forms are designed. The traditional forms are comparatively short and revolve around the development of the practitioner’s energy. The emphasis is on understanding the essence, the essentials and the foundations of each form.
The longer forms are considered to be more combative in nature and application. These forms can be done as fighting sets with a partner.
Additionally to forms (Quan / Kata), Butoryu Tsuruken also uses "pre-forms combinations (Xin). These are just basic techniques performed in series of movements. This system ensures an organised approach to mastery of not only the individual movements, but also the fighting theory (known as “Crane-Thinking” or “Crane-Mind”) and real-world life-protection applications of the form.
All White Crane-Fist forms embody the following “essentials”: Sinking, Swallowing, Floating, Spitting, Lifting, Rebounding, and most importantly of all Softness (“Rou-Jin”) and Listening (“Ting Jin” …. reading the opponents intentions and energy).
The highest level of Butoryu Tsuruken comes in being able to completely avoid an opponent's assault having the option of either evading the assailant until he is too exhausted to continue or to deliver a fast, effective terminating pressure point strike.
Butoryu Tsuruken contains all the essential qualities and essence of other Crane styles. In order to feed, crane must be able to fly, whoop, and rest. All of which is held within the Butoryu Tsuruken style. Methods of using the Crane's voice (He Sheng) are also explored (He Ming).
The Butoryu method merges the rivers of knowledge contained within Chinese He-Quanfa (Crane-Fist Boxing) with that of Okinawan Tsuruken (Crane-Fist) and Ryukyu Kobudo to offer an all inclusive and comprehensive art with martial arts spirit and self-development being its primary objective. This is achieved via the exploration of the combative and philosophical principles contained within:-
· Waza: Techniques and applications of same.
· Kata: Hidden ritual application concepts related to everyday life and situations.
· Bunkai/Futari-Renzokugeiko: Two-person training routines symbolic of combat & combat
principles.
· Ryukyu Kobudo: Okinawan Weapons – form and function.
Great emphasis is placed upon establishing a symbiosis of all these concepts within the practitioner so that they are not only a part of the art as the art is a part of them.
We have found that it is impossible to standardise people as they vary from individual to individual, as do the methods by which to instruct them in the ways of the martial arts. Personalities and the interaction they bring with them constantly changes. Therefore the essence and essentials become far more important than the way in which one appears to the casual observer. This is, something that sadly many modern current martial arts practitioners and instructors seem to have forgotten.
We don’t have hundreds and hundreds of kata (forms). "It is better to plow deep in a small garden than to plow lightly in a large garden, for a better crop will grow in the small garden" . In brief, the kata we have are those we know internally including the myriad of applications they yield.
NOTE: Butoryu Tsuruken is the signature system of Ron Goninan and his personal research, experiences and innovations of the principal teachings within the field of Crane-Fist Boxing.
This is Butoryu Tsuruken.
AUTHOR:
Ron Goninan
Kokusai Okinawa Butoryu Gohokan.
Australia.
E-mail: tsuruken@hwy.com.au
Web Site: http://www.100megspopup.com/butoryu
· With special thanks and acknowledgment to Mr. Paul Wollos (Feeding Crane-Fist Technical Adviser) of the Lio Family Original/Unique Martial Arts School: Paihemen Shihequan.
Bibliography:
"Zhen Zhong Nan Pai Shao Lin Quan - Mi Quan - Pai He Men Shi He Quan" -
"Traditional/Original/Orthodox Southern Shaolin Fist Style - Hidden/Secret Style/Fist -
White Crane Gates/School Feeding Crane Fist/Style.
© Copyright: 2001. Kokusai Okinawa Butoryu Gohokan. All Rights Reserved.
WOW again a snide lil' attitude.
Wow Shorinichi, one would think that what with your obvious martial superiority, and the fact that you practice a purer, more effective version of Shorin-ryu than us, that you would have acheived some form of philosophical growth from it; but instead....Apparently your TRUE Shorin-ryu teaches you how to be a snotty little brat with no respect for anyone else. Also, im really sick of hearing you talk like youre an Okinanwan, your'e (as as far as I know) an American who apparently has lost his bearings and think he has some sort of "pure" understanding of a culture far removed from his own.
Apparently your teacher, even given the fact that his training is purer, better, and less Japanese than everyone elses; has neglected teaching you any sort of humility whatsoever; or perhaps he hasn't and it's just you:)! People with your attitude in the martial arts make me laugh, it's almost as if youre out to adamantly prove that youre just plain better than everyone else. Grow up man. As far as leaving the forum goes, good! Your ratio of useful, interesting stuff versus juvenile crap is bad; youre hanging WAY too far on the juvenile crap side of things. I hope youre younger than I think.
Go do some cardio karate.
-Zach Z