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Shuai Jiao
(Chinese Wrestling) is the most ancient of all Chinese martial arts with a
history of over 4,000 years. Its first recorded use, in a military
engagement, was when the Yellow Emperor of China fought against the rebel
Chih Yiu and his army, 2,697BC. They used horned helmets and gored their
opponents while using a primitive form of grappling. This early style of
recorded combat was first called Jiao Ti (butting with horns). Throughout
the centuries, the hands and arms replaced the horns while the techniques
increased and improved. The name Jiao Ti also changed and was referred to
by many names popular at that time in history or by government decree.
The original
Chinese Martial Arts, a combat wrestling system called Jiao Li (Strength
and Endurance Skills), was systematised during the Zhou Dynasty (1122-256
BC). This military combat wrestling system, the first combination of
fighting techniques historically employed by the Imperial Army, consisted of
throws, hand and foot strikes, seizing joints, attacking vital parts and
breaking joints in context of throwing. All of these elements of fighting
skills were practised in training during the winter months and used in
hundreds of battles in ancient China. It is the root and the foundation of
Chinese martial arts. Used primarily in military engagements, Jiao Li
gradually became a sport in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) during the reign of
the Emperor Shi Huangdi. Even as a sport practiced on the Lei Tai (Sparring
Platform) exponents would aim to prove that their skills were superior to
that of their opponent. Only the very best of Jiao Li exponents proven in
battle and on the Lei Tai would be selected to become bodyguards to the
Emperor. As the martial arts of choice for the Emperor’s bodyguard, Shuai Jiao was
also considered to be the most effective of the
Chinese fist styles. Over many centuries the art was taught to the Imperial
Military. And in this century is taught in the police and military academies
of China and Taiwan (ROC). Shuai Jiao embodies the principles of both
Internal and External styles and the vast majority of martial arts have
their roots in Shuai Jiao.
In ancient times,
practitioners of Shuai Jiao competed against one another bare-chested, in
modern times training is undertaken in a heavy quilted canvas cotton jacket.
One important point is that Shuai Jiao does not depend on the opponent’s
jacket or clothing in order to throw them. The priority is to grab the
muscle and bone through the clothing in order to control and throw the
opponent. The use of the competitor’s jacket, that has short sleeves above
the elbows and the jacket itself wraps tightly around the torso with a
canvas belt, adds variety of techniques in controlling and throwing the
opponent. Fast footwork using sweeps, inner hooks and kicks to the
opponent’s leg are combined with the controlling-striking arms that create a
two directional action making a powerful throw. Chinese martial arts pants
and wrestling boots are usually worn, but bare feet are acceptable
for the novice.
There
are many other major styles of Shuai Jiao: Beijing; Tian Jin;
Mongolian (Boke); and Bao Ding which is also referred to as Kuai Shuai (Fast
Wrestling). There are diverse types of wrestling indigenous to the minority
groups in China such as the Uighurs in Sinkiang and Yis in Yunan province.
Most of the Shuai Jiao practitioners in the late Qing Dynasty were based in the
Northern China; until the establishment of the Republic of China 1911, when the
art was then introduced to Southern China.
Famous masters of
the late Qing early Republic of China are: Ping Qing-I, Chang Feng-Yen, Pai
Chun-Feng, Ku Jui-Nien, Man Lao-Ming, Shih Lao-Chin, An Lao-Hua, Wu Szu,
Shan Tien-Pao, Li Jui-Tung, Chu Kuo-Chen, Wang Tzu-Qing and Ma Liang. They
followed by the well known figures of modern Shuai Jiao: Chang Tung-Sheng,
Chang Tung-Ju, Chang Tung-Po, Chang Tung-Chi, Yen Shan-I and Ma Wen-Kuei of
the Bao Ding style; and Shen San, Yang Chun-Hen, and Pao Shan of the Beijing
style; and Mu Hsiang-Kuei, Lui Shao-Tseng and Pu En-Fu of the Tian Jin
style.
When the
Nationalist Government established itself on Taiwan (ROC) in 1949, a few
champions of Shuai Jiao migrated to Taiwan (ROC) and introduced Shuai Jiao.
The most famous Master was Chang Tung-Sheng, others recognised Shuai Jiao
Masters are: Jeng Hsing-Ping, David Lin, Chi-Hsui Daniel Weng (USA), Li Wing-Kay
(Brazil), Yuan Tzu-Mou (France), Hwang Ching-Zeng (Germany), and Luis Lin
(Sweden). These Masters have been responsible for promoting Shuai Jiao
overseas to Europe, the United States and South America. The next generation
includes Masters: Chang Da-Wei (Taiwan ROC) – the grandson of Chang
Tung-Sheng - Rob Simpson (United Kingdom), and Antonio Langiano (Italy).
Modern Shuai Jiao evolved from an ancient form of battlefield combat. Its
techniques are the culmination of tested grappling experience in the best
environment – the battlefield. This
practical and devastatingly efficient method of combat has evolved into a
sophisticated and effective - no nonsense - system of martial arts. Its
philosophy shares the same principle of internal systems of Chinese martial
arts: Yin and Yang. In fact, the advanced Shuai Jiao practitioner utilises
both Internal and External principles and views these principles as two
sides of the same coin meeting at a junction, and complimenting each other, but coming from totally
different origins. In modern times Shuai Jiao Masters are employed by
the police and military of a number of nations across the world including
China and Taiwan (ROC). So even today, Shuai Jiao's effectivness as a
martial art is still being proven, in both close military combat and the
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