Chinese Boxing History: Background
The exact history of most Chinese Boxing (Chinese Martial Arts) is shrouded in legend and myth. Many Chinese martial arts trace there origin in some manner back to the famous Shaolin Temple; or, in the case of some Taoist martial arts, to Wu Tang Mountain. It is very difficult to state the exact history and separate fact from fiction. The history of a martial art, while interesting, is less important than what the art offers the practitioner. Nevertheless, many myths contain elements of truth so we offer the following background information.
The Chinese Boxing Systems Mr. Casey taught fall into two basic categories: primary arts and secondary arts. The primary arts were maintained as complete martial systems. The primary arts could be further sub-divided into those called “Internal” and those called “Southern.” The secondary arts provided additional material which influenced the Chinese Boxing synthesis curriculums.
The Internal Martial Arts
The exact classification of arts into internal and external is the source of considerable controversy. The term ‘internal’ is used here in the most neutral way. Most arts contain both internal and external elements but history assigns the term internal to the three major classical systems: Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing-I Chuan, and Pa Kua Chang. These three arts share many core principles and concepts. One example of an important shared concept is the use of silk reeling. While each art expresses silk reeling in a slightly different method, the general concept is common ground.
The Southern Chinese Martial Arts
The Southern Arts, or “Southern Hand”, as it is sometimes called, trace their origin back to the dissolution of the Ming Empire. According to legend, Ming loyalists, including royal family members, fled south and sought shelter in the Shaolin monasteries. This eventually led to the mixing of Ming military methods and Shaolin martial arts. These arts were perpetuated in the patriotic secret societies of the time. These secret societies passed down the traditions from one generation to the next. Today, the last extant secret society is the Hong Men Hui. Mr. Casey was the first Caucasian to be granted full membership in the Hong Men Hui. The Southern Hand contribution to our curriculum is significant, including Wa Lu, Yim Wing Chun, and Fukien White Crane.
Other Chinese Boxing Influences
Christopher Casey studied many systems and styles of martial arts. While
he made the six arts mentioned above the primary focus of his teaching,
he drew from several others when developing his personal synthesis curriculum.
This curriculum, called Kai Sai Kung Fu, includes ideas
and methods from these secondary arts. Though some of these arts are supplemental
methods, many of them can be studied as complete styles in their own right.
Examples of these other influences include Ta
Shen Men, Baoding Shuai Chiao, Water Boxing, JKD, and Shaolin.
