Video of the Week Ep. 22 – Wudang/CMAC & Hard Qigong

This is a short video of two students from the Wudang Taoist Traditional Kungfu Academy–Yuan Shen Cai and Tian Shao Miao are performing the Wudang hard qigong —bending the three really sharp spears with the throat. Please take notice of the white CMAC tee being worn by the master. That is Master Yuan, my master from 2004 when I was living there, and that is the tee shirt I gave him as a gift. This video makes me very nostalgic and forces me to ask the question…”is anyone interested in spending some time training there?” I still have a very close relationship with Master Yuan and I will be organizing a trip to take some students there in the next couple of years. I’m very much looking forward to it and I hope many students are as well!

Below is an excerpt from his website regarding some of the history of Wudang. You can read more here: www.wudangwushu.com

The Development of Wudang Kung Fu

Wudang Wushu (also called Wudang Kung Fu or Wudang Gong Fu) has its home at Wudang Mountain. Wudang is one of the most famous mountains in the world and is the holy land of Daoism (also spelled Taoism). Wudang Mountain is the birthplace of internal martial arts where the great Daoist priest Zhang San Feng came to live as a hermit and learn the Daoist methods of attaining immortality. During his time here and through his practice Zhang San Feng created Nei Jia Quan, or what is now more commonly referred to as Tai Ji.

Quan (also called Tai Chi, Taichiquan, or Tai Chi Quan). With a long history of deep knowledge and culture Wudang Mountain was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994.

Zhang San Feng was born Zhang Jun Bao in Liao Dong during the late Yuan Dynasty. His family lived in Longhu Hill, Jiangxi Province. His father was an expert in reading fortunes by watching the stars and constellations. As he predicated there would be good fortune in Liao Dong, he moved there before Zhang Jun Bao was born.

At the age of five, Zhang Jun Bao suffered from an illness and lost his eyesight. His father heard that some nearby Daoist priests had an incredible way of curing illness; so, he took Zhang Jun Bao there. Within a week, he was cured. The Daoist priest loved Zhang Jun Bao and took him as a disciple teaching him both writing and martial arts. Like all fathers, Zhang Jun Bao’s father wished him every success. Zhang Jun Bao was expected to take the state exam for a career in the government. However, he was not interested in becoming a politician or minister. He loved martial arts and visited many ancient temples. Later in life he traveled to Yan Jing and took up a local government post through the relationship of a good friend. But Zhang Jun Bao soon quit and returned to Liao Dong where he spent most of his time in a deserted temple..

One day at the temple, a Daoist priest approached him. They talked throughout the night, and treated each other as old friends, regretting not having met earlier. As they parted, Zhang Jun Bao missed living a life of solitude, wanting to be free like the clouds and birds. He spent the next few years visiting various places, learning martial arts and becoming famous. When he was visiting Shan Xi Province, he realized that the Daoist priest he met earlier was Qui Chu Ji, the disciple of the renowned Wang Chong Yang.

Zhang Jun Bao moved to the Jin Tai Temple in Bao Ji and was accepted by the respected Daoist Huo Long as a disciple. He became versatile in Daoism and named himself San Feng , which means heaven and earth. (In the 8 trigrams, San represents heaven, or qian . Feng represents earth, or kun .)

Zhang San Feng came and went without shadow. Settling down in Wudang Mountain, he was inspired by watching a snake fight a bird. By incorporating his training in wushu, Daoist internal alchemy, and qi gong Zhang San Feng created Nei Jia Quan (Internal Martial Arts), which was later called Taijiquan or the Tai Ji Quan 13 Style. The Tai Ji Quan 13 has formed the basis of Wudang Internal Martial Arts, often referred to as Daoist Gong Fu or Taoist Kung Fu.

The Wudang San Feng Pai, meaning Wudang San Feng Sect or lineage, continues the traditions and teachings of our patriarch and the teachings of his successive follows. Wudang Internal Kung fu is based upon the principles of Infinity (Yi Wu Ji), Supreme Ultimate (Tai Ji), and Two Extremes (Liang Yi). Through the years of combining these principles, various styles have developed and flourished, most notably: Baguazhang (Eight Trigrams Palm), Xingyiquan (Form and Intention Fist), Liangyiquan or Taiyiquan (Two Extremes Fist), Xuangongquan (Dark Gate Fist), Baxian (Eight Immortals Style), Fuhuquan (Taming the Tiger Fist) and so on.

Wudang is also famous for its weapons, most notably is Wudang Jian or Wudang Sword. Wudang Sword includes Taijijian (Tai Ji Sword), Taiyi Xuanmenjian, Baxianjian (Eight Immortals Sword), and Longhuajian (Dragon Sword). Other weapons included in the Wudang San Feng Sect are Baxiangun (Eight Immortals Staff), Fangbianchan (Monk Spade), Xuangong Dao (Broadsword), Da Dao (Large Broadsword), and Fuchen (Horsetail Whisk).

Wudang Master Yuan Xiu Gang is dedicated to teaching Wudang San Feng Sect wushu and transmitting the knowledge and practice of Daoism to the world. He is a kung fu master of unparalleled knowledge and skill and has been living in Wudangshan and practicing Daoist wushu and Wudang Daoism for 20 years.