Fujian White Crane

 
 

Origin

Although there are several versions as to how Fujian White Crane originated, they all acknowledge the founder as being a woman by the name of Fang Qi Niang. Her father Fang Wei-Shi, a disciple of Shaolin Gongfu had fled to Fuzhou to escape persecution from the Manchu government. Being a practitioner of martial arts he had taught her martial arts from an early age.

It is most widely believed that one day while washing her clothes at the rivers edge a white crane became overly inquisitive. To discourage the bird Fang Qi Niang attempted to ward it off with a stick. To her surprise the crane did not retreat and effortlessly deflected all her attacks.

The point of the style is to emphasize evasion and attack an opponent's vulnerabilities instead of using physical strength. In this way it is similar and complimentary to Taiji.

The Form

The form consists of four sets and include the eight principles of White Crane namely: Swallowing, Spitting, Floating, Sinking, Springing, Lifting, Bursting and Rebounding

  • Pah Pu Lian

  • Lohan (Monk Fist or sometimes called Quick-Fist)

  • Hua Pah Pu

  • Chung Chien (Central Frame)

Practitioners

Xie Zhong Xiang/ Ryu Ryu Ko

Of the well known White Crane Masters of this century, Xie Zhong Xiang is perhaps the most famous. Having learnt from Pan Yu Ba, Xie Zhong Xiang became the first generation master of the Whooping Crane. The founder of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do - Chojun Miyagi, was a student of Higashionna Kanryo, who learnt White Crane from Xie Zhong Xiang. Okinawan’s also refer to Xie Zhong Xiang as Ryu ryu ko.

Huang Xing Xian

Following the death of his mother at an early age Grandmaster Huang learnt his first martial art, Fujian White Crane, from Xie Zhong-Xiang from the age of 14. After a few years of personal tutelage Huang Xing Xian still only in his late teens, was sent by Xie Zhong-Xiang to study full-time for two years with his eldest disciple Ch’en Shih Ting. In 1930 Master Huang went on to train with another famous White Crane exponent P’an Ch’un-Nien, who also began teaching him the use of medicinal herbs. Though Huang is predominately known for propagating Taijiquan, to a few select disciples Huang Xing Xian passed on his Fujian White Crane.

Wee Kee Jin

Wee Kee-Jin was one of the few estimated 10,000 students to learn the four White Crane sets. Before his teachers death, Huang expressed his wish to broaden the access to the art of Fujian White Crane to the world. Because of this Jin holds workshops on the Fujian White Crane as well.