Dog Kung Fu
Encyclopedia
Dog Kung Fu, i.e. Góuquán (狗拳), i.e Dishuquan (地术拳), is a martial arts style from China
. This is a southern style of Chinese boxing that specializes in takedowns
and ground fighting
. This martial art also teaches Iron Shirt
and Iron Palm
fighting methods as well as specialized leaping techniques. Its creation is traditionally credited to a Buddhist nun
who developed the style to defend herself from bandits on her travels.
in Fujian
Province, resided the White Lotus(白蓮) temple, where often the nuns who were admitted previously lived secular lives. At that time women were often subjugated to the practice of footbinding. Therefore, any practice that required standing physical exertion was difficult in the least and practically impossible at worst. In response to these physical constraints, the nuns developed a system of fighting that they could use to defend themselves from bandits and wild animals. During the Qing Dynasty imperial regime's destruction of the temples, a nun by the name of Si Yue had left White Lotus Temple and traveled to the northern areas of the province. Supposedly she had fallen ill in the Yongtai region near Fuzhou
, it was there that she was assisted by the Chen Family who took care of her until recovery. As she was indebted to the Chen Family she remained and taught their son, Chen Biao, Gouquan. The Chen family kept this art a family secret for several generations.
Another Legend suggests that the famous Fong Sai-Yuk
was a master of Dishuquan and had passed his skills to monks in the Zhuyuansi Temple (nowadays known as Guanyuan Temple), this was passed through various generations until a monk named Hui Kai taught the style to Zheng Yishan.
, Chen Ayin, a descendant of Chen Biao, fled to Singapore to escape imprisonment for accidental manslaughter when defending a friend against a village troublemaker. He was taken in by a one of the Chinese immigrants, Chen Yijiu. Being ever grateful, he taught Chen Yijiu his art without reservation.
Chen Yijiu, already having learnt martial arts such as Muay Thai
, Dragon Kung Fu
, and Zui Quan
, spent several years refining the techniques in Dishuquan and building himself a reputation in Southeast Asia as the "Iron Leg". He left Singapore in 1932 and moved to Fuzhou
, where he resided until his death. There, he spent the rest of his years teaching Dishuquan, spreading the art around and through Fuzhou
.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. This is a southern style of Chinese boxing that specializes in takedowns
Takedown (grappling)
A takedown is a martial arts and combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground, typically with the combatant performing the takedown landing on top. The process of quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known...
and ground fighting
Ground fighting
Ground fighting is hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are on the ground, generally involving grappling...
. This martial art also teaches Iron Shirt
Iron Shirt
Iron Shirt is a form of hard style martial art exercise for protecting the human body from impacts in a fight. This is one of the 72 arts of the Shaolin Temple. Some martial arts are based on the idea that a correctly trained body can withstand more damage than one that is untrained...
and Iron Palm
Iron Palm
Iron Palm or Iron Hand is a body of training techniques in various Chinese martial arts. These conditioning techniques are typically meant to condition the hands to allow a practitioner to deliver very powerful blows without injury to his or her hands.-Overview:Iron Palm is a broad term covering...
fighting methods as well as specialized leaping techniques. Its creation is traditionally credited to a Buddhist nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who developed the style to defend herself from bandits on her travels.
Origins
One of the legends on the origins of Dog Kung Fu says that in the southern area of ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province, resided the White Lotus(白蓮) temple, where often the nuns who were admitted previously lived secular lives. At that time women were often subjugated to the practice of footbinding. Therefore, any practice that required standing physical exertion was difficult in the least and practically impossible at worst. In response to these physical constraints, the nuns developed a system of fighting that they could use to defend themselves from bandits and wild animals. During the Qing Dynasty imperial regime's destruction of the temples, a nun by the name of Si Yue had left White Lotus Temple and traveled to the northern areas of the province. Supposedly she had fallen ill in the Yongtai region near Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
, it was there that she was assisted by the Chen Family who took care of her until recovery. As she was indebted to the Chen Family she remained and taught their son, Chen Biao, Gouquan. The Chen family kept this art a family secret for several generations.
Another Legend suggests that the famous Fong Sai-Yuk
Fong Sai-Yuk
Fong Sai-yuk is a Chinese martial artist and folk hero. He is first introduced in Wuxia stories from the Qing Dynasty such as Wan Nian Qing. He is also featured in several forms of media, of which the most notable is the 1993 film Fong Sai-yuk.-Early life:Fong Sai-yuk is a native of Zhaoqing,...
was a master of Dishuquan and had passed his skills to monks in the Zhuyuansi Temple (nowadays known as Guanyuan Temple), this was passed through various generations until a monk named Hui Kai taught the style to Zheng Yishan.
Chen Yi-Jiu
During the early years of the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, Chen Ayin, a descendant of Chen Biao, fled to Singapore to escape imprisonment for accidental manslaughter when defending a friend against a village troublemaker. He was taken in by a one of the Chinese immigrants, Chen Yijiu. Being ever grateful, he taught Chen Yijiu his art without reservation.
Chen Yijiu, already having learnt martial arts such as Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, Dragon Kung Fu
Dragon Kung Fu
The movements of the Southern Dragon style of Shaolin Boxing are based on the mythical Chinese dragon. The Dragon style is an imitative-style that was developed based on the imagined characteristics of the mythical Chinese dragon....
, and Zui Quan
Zui Quan
Zui Quan is literally Drunken Fist, also known as Drunken Boxing or Drunkard's Boxing) is a concept in traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as a classification of modern Wushu forms...
, spent several years refining the techniques in Dishuquan and building himself a reputation in Southeast Asia as the "Iron Leg". He left Singapore in 1932 and moved to Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
, where he resided until his death. There, he spent the rest of his years teaching Dishuquan, spreading the art around and through Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
.
External links
- Sifu Tom Wong master in Dishuquan and Wing Chun
- Fujian Shaolin Dog Boxing information
- Taiping Fujian Dishu Quan (Dog Boxing)
Training books
- FuJian Shaolin Dog Boxing by Chen Zhi Fan (TC 515)
- Shaolin Dog Style Boxing Manual by Ding Xiao Se (TC 509)
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/0870409247# Fukien Ground Boxing: Nan Shaoling Leg Techniques (Chinese Martial Arts) by Chu-Xian Cai (Author), Mei Xue-Xiong (Translator)
Images and videos
- Di Tang Ground Boxing 地趟 (VCD#755)