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Tien
Shan Pai originated in the Hsing Chiang Province in Northwest China. Legend
has it that it was practiced by monks who lived in a temple nestled among
the snow-capped peaks of that region's rugged terrain. As the story goes, a
young herdsman was searching for lost animals and wandered too far from
home. The grasslands he knew so well suddenly looked unfamiliar and he
realised that he was lost. Noticing an old monk with a long white beard
approaching nearby, the boy stopped him and asked for directions. When he
returned to his village, the boy told his mother about the old monk. She
replied that he had met Tien Shan Lao Learn, a monk who was noted for his
martial arts skills. The mother encouraged her son to find the monk and
learn his martial arts secrets.
The young boy
set out to find the old monk. His quest carried him deep into the mountains.
Mile after mile, he searched out but could not find the old monk. At the
point of physical exhaustion, the young boy stopped at a nearby stream to
quench his thirst. While kneeling by the stream, he saw a reflection of a
beautiful temple nestled in a snow-capped mountain. Sensing that he was
close, the young boy continued his search for the old monk.
After a long
journey into the mountains, the boy found the temple, but his hopes were
dashed when the monk refused to accept him as a disciple. They were not
permitted to teach outsiders, the monk explained. Instead of going home as
they suggested, they boy knelt in the snow outside the temple doors. On the
second morning, he was discovered lying unconscious from the cold and was
taken into the temple.
Seeing his determination, the old monk
reconsidered. Tien Shan Lao Learn decided to teach the boy, whom he
nicknamed Hong Yein (Red Cloud) because of the mist that rose from his
bleeding knees. He stayed in the temple until he grew to manhood, and when
he left, he eagerly passed on his skills to other dedicated students. Hong Yein Chu Shih,
was the first to teach the monk's martial artistry to the
outside world, and is regarded as the founder of Tien Shan Pai.
A more recent
description of our history would be from Wang Chueh-Jen. He was very small
in stature and was not able to enlist in the military, however, due to his
very high level of skill in the martial arts, the military hired him to
teach combat training to the Special Forces. This training consisted of
fighting and combat training, and Wang would have to train with these men hands on. It was from
this fighting experience that he developed ‘Radar’ fighting, which gives
practitioners the ability to better judge their opponent's movements. Tien
Shan Pai also emphasises moving to the side (called ‘Mizong Pu’, meaning
‘lost step’). Together, these two concepts give the practitioner what some
have called the art of disappearing and has proven itself very effective in
Kuoshu Lei Tai fighting in the early 1950's when there were no weight
classes, no rounds, and the only protection was a pair of thin cotton
gloves.
In 1957, one of
the biggest and most famous tournaments in the world was held. This was the
Kan-Tai Hauo (Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau) and it contained some of the
best fighters from all around, including some very famous fighters
originally from mainland China. In this tournament, they divided into three
weight categories and added time rounds. Tien Shan Pai proved very effective
at this prestigious event, with Wu Ming-Zhe winning in the lightweight
division.
When a
student reaches a high enough level in the Tien Shan Pai system, they train in the
advance method of ‘Tien Ing’ or ‘Tien Shan Eagle’. Tien Shan Pai belongs
to the Northern style; and therefore contains Northern style characteristics
but it also contains ‘Ing shou’ or ‘sound rhythym’,
which is a particular feature of the style.
Tien Shan Pai
students have developed a reputation for excellence and compete successfully
in full contact fighting, forms and weapons competitions in national,
major international and world tournaments. |
