Category Archives: Shaolin

– 西域羅漢得道真詮WISDOM OF THE LUOHANS OF THE WESTERN REGIONS[from 少林衣缽真傳 Authentic Teachings of Shaolin]升霄道人by the Daoist Shengxiao[circa 1800] [translation by Paul Brennan, Aug, 2021] – ▵西域羅漢得道真詮目錄CONTENTS 仙人拱手Exercise 1: IMMORTAL PERFORMS A SALUTATION　束手緊腰、偪氣全神、第一勢、　1. TIGHTENING YOUR WAIST, HOLD YOUR BREATH AND FOCUS … Continue reading →

– 羅漢行功法THE LUOHAN EXERCISES許靇厚by Xu Longhou [Yusheng][published within 體育叢刊 Collected Materials on Physical Education, Nov, 1924] [translation by Paul Brennan, July, 2021] – 序言PREFACE 拳術基本教練之法有二。一曰散手。旨在熟練應用。一曰行功法。旨在強健身體。類皆單式練習。行功法則形似體操而運動較之遲緩。其不同者。以精神為主。運用肢體。每式均以意運勁。務令氣血徧於周身。達於四肢。周而復始。無一部偏頗之弊。久則筋肉緊張。氣血暢達。內而五臟六腑。外而筋骨肌肉。槪收發育強健之效。而智慧亦從而增進矣。我國舊、傳五禽圖、八段錦、十二式等。皆行功法也。體育學校設立之初。曾將易筋經內十二式。加以詮釋。用作教材。學者稱便。辛酉歲吾友楊君季子。以手抄羅漢行功論相示。姿勢優美。論述精深。視十二式尤美善矣。甲子春體育研究社擬刊行體育書報。同人以是書委余詮釋。再四披閱。益深嘆服。惟原書總式凡十八。每式中均含有分式。或三或五不等。說明均用詩歌。文字未盡能達其意。繪圖之法亦嫌簡略不完。鄙人不自度量。輒為詳審其詩歌中運勁之原意。及各式名稱之由來。愼辨性質。編列動作。次其秩序。使每一分式。為一動一作。聯各動作成一階段。圖式未善者另繪之。俾得施以口令用作學校教材。竭數月之力乃獲成編。較原書不無出入。然大體要旨。無敢歧也。海內研究體育之同志。盍教正焉。民國十三年八月古燕許靇厚識Boxing arts have two fundamental teaching methods: sparring and exercises.Sparring emphasizes practical skills. Exercises emphasize strengthening … Continue reading →

– 中華國術秘傳　少林護山子門羅漢拳圖影 SECRET TEACHINGS OF CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS: SHAOLIN MOUNTAIN-GUARDING MIDNIGHT STYLE LUOHAN BOXING ILLUSTRATED 朱霞天 by Zhu Xiatian [published Oct, 1930] [translation by Paul Brennan, March, 2021] – 引言 INTRODUCTION 余自垂髫致力拳藝，迄已二十餘年，此二十餘年中曾北走幽燕，西游甘陝，湖海一騎，挾以自豪者，子門羅漢拳亦其一也。此拳余受自第三業師，師法號企岳，系出少林，傳少林當代邁殊大師衣缽，功精內外，余北面執禮躬承提命者凡六年，惜限於天資，未窺堂奧，祇涉蹊徑面已。惟師愛余甚，末後乃以此拳授余，並謂余曰，此乃少林護山法拳，舍達摩點穴拳外，當推翹楚。少林拳藝震天下，然率皆混稱曰少林拳、少林棒，而不知少林系中尚有三乘十二門也。子丑寅卯四門為上乘，辰已午未四門為中乘，申酉戌亥四門為下乘，上乘恃以護山，向不外傳，外傳者僅中乘，而又以午門為多，至上乘中之子門拳，不但拳不外傳，並名亦不使外溢。此拳虎視龍驤，左顧右盼，有雷電飛騰、風雲叱咤之勢，研而精之，當者辟易，今以子天資渾厚、氣度寬大，用以相授，當不致挾以行不逞也，爾其珍之！余受而習之，又將六年，雖未精進，尚多心得。值茲國府提倡國術之際，國術運用，已納於正當途徑，爰為公開之貢獻，演而出之，以供同好，此舉或不致有忤師意也。不然，終恐此大好國術，因年湮代久，漸成廣陵散耳， 霞天謹識 I have devoted myself to boxing arts … Continue reading →

– 少林拳圖解 SHAOLIN BOXING ILLUSTRATED 傳授者　金陵金佳福 instruction by Jin Jiafu of Nanjing 作文者　維揚金一明 recorded by Jin Yiming of Weiyang [published by 上海中西書局發行 Chinese & Western Press of Shanghai, Dec 1, 1931] [translation by Paul Brennan, July, 2020] – 金佳福　金一明　合著 by … Continue reading →

– 少林迷蹤派羅漢拳 SHAOLIN MIZONG LUOHAN BOXING 潘茂容　葉雨亭 by Pan Maorong & Ye Yuting [published in Hong Kong by the 健民國醫學院 Strengthen-the-People National Medical School, April 4, 1955] [translation by Paul Brennan, June, 2019] – 少林迷蹤派羅漢拳 Shaolin Mizong Luohan Boxing 葉雨亭演式 … Continue reading →

– 新編練步拳圖說 A NEWLY ARRANGED HANDBOOK FOR THE FOOTWORK-TRAINING SET 胥以謙編述 by Xu Yiqian 張之江　吳峻山 with input from Zhang Zhijiang & Wu Junshan 金一明繪圖 drawings by Jin Yiming [published in serialized form in 國術週刋 Martial Arts Weekly, Oct—Dec, 1934: postures … Continue reading →

– 南拳入門 FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUTHERN BOXING ARTS 許太和 by Xu Taihe [1926] [translation by Paul Brennan, Nov, 2016] – 江陰許太和先生五十小影 Portrait Xu Taihe of Jiangyin at the age of fifty 王瑩若題 photo by Wang Yingruo – 太和先生與遠才君的父子對拳 Xu Taihe and … Continue reading →

– 單戒刀 SINGLE DEFENSE-SABER 金一明 by Jin Yiming [published by 新亞書店印行 New Asia Press, Oct, 1932] [translation by Paul Brennan, Sep, 2015] – 當頭捧喝 Offering a toast to the one before me. 何超 – [calligraphy by] He Chao – 精神舉畏 … Continue reading →

– 岳氏八翻手 BAFAN BOXING OF THE YUE SCHOOL 王新午 by Wang Xinwu [1930] [translation by Paul Brennan, Dec, 2014] – 著者小影 Portrait of the author – 岳氏八翻手目錄 CONTENTS 自序 Author’s Preface 一　八翻手之源流 One: The Origins of Bafan Boxing 二　八翻手之真義 Two: … Continue reading →

– 拳術基本　潭腿圖說 BOXING ARTS FUNDAMENTALS – ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK FOR TANTUI 何光銑先生演式 postures performed by He Guangxian 胡健先生编輯 text compiled by Hu Jian 上海中華圗書館印行 published by Chinese Library of Shanghai 民國六年五月出版 1st edition – May, 1917 繪圖者　宜興徐悲鴻 drawings by Xu Beihong … Continue reading →

– THE TEN HAND SETS OF NORTHERN SHAOLIN (according to three primary documents) [circa 1960] [translation by Paul Brennan, Jan, 2012] – [This trio of documents was supplied to me through a trio of sifus: Nelson Ferreira, who obtained them … Continue reading →

– 龍形劍 DRAGON SHAPE SWORD 金一明著 by Jin Yiming 新亞書店印行 published by New Asia Press [Oct, 1932] [translation by Paul Brennan, Feb, 2011] – 夭矯如龍 Be supple as a dragon. 錢君試 – calligraphy by Qian Junshi – 真傳衣缽 Hold back … Continue reading →