The Lineage of Northern Shaolin Long Fist
Great-Grandmaster Han Qing Tang
Historically, around 1928, the Koumingtang in China established Zhong Yang Guo Shu Guan. Within this organization, the dream was to establish a national martial arts school that would bring famous teachers from all around together in one place, thus offering students a situation of study that had never been achieved within before that time. Within this Guo Shu Guan, students would have the opportunity to work with teachers from a variety of styles in such a way as to promote healthy communication and deeper understanding of the many martial arts traditions present in China. Some of the many famous names that came from studying at there at that time are Han Qing Tang, Li Yuan Zhi, and Chang Dong Shen, just to name a few.
As the Kuomingtang was forced to move to Taiwan, part of the student population from this school moved across the strait as well. In approximately 1983, a cultural university was opened in Taiwan with the idea of once again bringing together famous martial arts instructors for the purpose of training interested students and carrying on a cultural tradition. Zhong Guo Wen Hua Da Xue (a cultural university) thus began to do in much the same manner what had earlier been accomplished in China. Within this university, students studied over 100 forms with the idea that doing so, they could distinguish and bold fundamental knowledge outside the university walls regarding the myriad of Kung fu styles they may encounter as they went on to become martial arts coaches.
Grandmaster Li, Mao-ching
Grandmaster Li, Mao-ching was born on July 5, 1926 in Qingdao City ( Shandong Province ), and grew up there. Later, when World War II began, he was drafted into the army. When he was in the army he started to learn Shaolin Long Fist (Changquan) from Han Qingtang, Praying Mantis (Tanlangquan) from Fu Jiabin, and Sun Bin Quan from Gao Fangxian. Grandmaster Han was the first generation of well-known teachers at the Nanking Central Guoshu Institute. When Jiang Kaishek's party retreated to Taiwan , he was invited to teach Chinese martial arts in the Central Police Academy . Grandmaster Han was also well known because of his high skills in joint-locking techniques.
Master Nelson Tsou, Yen Kai
Master Tsou, Yen-kai began his formal training for traditional Northern Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu in 1958. He was a senior student under the tutelage of Great-grandmaster Li, Mao-ching in Taiwan (Formosa), ROC. Master Tsou was the founder of the Shaolin/Five Tiger Martial Arts Center that was established in NYC during the early 1970's.
Master Tsou, Yen-kai is a living example of a discipline that has been preserved for over three thousand years. His highly polished skills, and the ability to make clear the movements to all students, are a result of countless hours devoted to the practice and perfection of traditional Northern Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu as a Chinese cultural art.
Master Nelson Tsou, Yen Kai meets Dr. Yang, Jwing-ming
Sifu James Chin, Master Nelson Tsou,
Dr. Yang, Jwing-ming
NYC, NY 1987
"In the first year that I went to Taipei to study physics at Tamkang College , I met a new classmate, Mr. Nelson Tsou. In a couple of months, I discovered that he was learning Shaolin Long Fist from Master Li Maoching. Long Fist styles focus on long-range fighting skills and kicking applications were seriously emphasized. White Crane specializes in hand skills and also short-range fighting. When Mr. Tsou found out that I had learned Southern White Crane, we decided to give each other a test. Therefore we went into a classroom and pushed all the chairs aside so we could spar. After a few rounds I realized that it was very difficult to get close to him because he knew how to keep a safe long-range distance from me. However, he also discovered that once I got into the close-range, he had difficulty in defending against my attacks.
After a couple of fights, I asked him to teach me Long Fist. However, he suggested we found a Gongfu Club and invited Master Li to be our supervisor and teacher. In just a couple of months, the Tamkang Guoshu Club was established. Then I started to learn Long Fist from Master Li. I remember that when we practiced for the first time there were 105 students in our group. However, after a few times sparring for Master Li, this group shrunk to only about twenty within a few months. When I graduated four years later, there was only four of my group who survived the training."
Sifu James Man Chin
Sifu James Man Chin began his training in 1973 at the Shao-Lin/Five Tiger Martial Arts Center in New York City with Master Nelson Tsou, Yen Kai. Subsequently, James Man Chin was authorized by Master Nelson Tsou, Yen Kai to teach Traditional Northern Shao-Lin Long Fist Kung Fu.
