Notice: in the Fabrizio Botteghi school he teach only technics that he really do.
F.Botteghi advise to visit also the following Web places:

Some explication about this web place:
When you travel on web checking martial arts, expecially China martial arts, offer is over demand, some web places are valuable on graphic point of view, but is a pity that all these energy are devolved in one way, their target is in anyway a continuous publicity to their own palestra and or on their expensive stages.
Unfotunatelly if a web place offer a lot of adress to practaice Wu Shu Kung Fu this not mean that you have a real possibility to meet the chief school teacher, very problably is that you must learn from an instructor, many inscrutors are improvized, for cash reasons. To meet chief teacher, the sifu, you must pay money for special courses.
My opinion on this Wu Shu Kung Fu organization for its divulgation is adverse.
meanwhile is very understandable that is easy to do a lot of money when you organize open stages to everybody, in the some way incomprehensible how a new martial student with few mounths of trainig can learn across an intensive stage. I think that stages must be dedicated only to 2 or 3 years old students, this is corrected, in this way they obtain something from stages experience.
Said this, in many web places there are not more: few movies, few explications and a great obscure fill, even if is not necessary.
This divulgation way allows to do credit to everyone, but if you look for, the illusion, we speak another language.
The China martial arts require a constant training and there are not substitutes, the best way to learn is following a brave Teacher This web places is a contribution for all Wu Shu Kung Fu lovers.
In the home page you may click on Downloads, The best and Shaolin and you respectively have a free movies downlods of: our trainings, The best performances in the World and Shao Lin.

A good soldiers chief is not bellicose.
A good warrior is not irascible.
A good winner of his enemy is not engage.
A good men master is under his men.
These are the virtues of fight not.
This is the English version of our web address ferroeseta.com
At first I like to do my sincere appreciation to many individuals,this work would have been an impossible task without them. Many thanks to my students who only throughout hard work follow me. A special thank you to my wife Luisa who support and tolerate my life trip.

My way:

In this very strange World there was, there are and there will be a lot of social identification groups, nowadays Earth is become so small, news and ideas go fast but also are born transversal identification. People everywhere follow and change religion, or easily million of teenagers follow rock stars. Really there are not frontiers and impediments, or there are only what we have in mind. I like to say: my group love China's traditional martial arts.
We love them as one of best expression of human intelligence and beauty.
Chinese martial art commonly knows as kung fu (gong fu) has long be a mystery to the western and rarely western historians mentioned the ancient chinese fighting arts.
The western knowledge about gong fu may be show before and after Mr Bruce Lee who broken secret doors, before or later somebody do it.
Kung fu means hard to do, merital work, so not martial art, the exact expression is wu shu. Wu shu do not represent one specific style or section but simply the totality of martial arts. China has two main divisions, the northern and the southern styles. The northern styles are know for their high kicks and long range fighting, the southern on contrary are know for their short range and techniques, stable positions and low kicks; of courses certain styles have northern and southern counterparts. The greatest organization over all training methods and morality was developed in a Buddhist monastery the Shao Lin temple 1500 and more years of history.
Our web Address with an English version is very important to spread up in the world a lot of interesting things we hope.
The most difficult thing to do in gong fu training is to pick up a good master, it is better spend a lot of time for that; likely westerns third or fourth generation of teachers are good, somebody very good but only ten years ago many instructors pass themselves off as teachers of gong fu when in fact they are not teaching chinese martial art.
The practiced style is not so important, all of them are interesting, also the teacher age is not a limit, there are good very yang teachers that began their training when children and very old who are testimonial living of what gong fu do for health. Remember good teachers produce good students.
For instance a good gong fu training include moral criteria and many fundamental stability stances.
For moral I intend morality with its contradictions, in fact we are all humans so we can falling down, even shaolin monks, and and me at first.
For fundamentals stability stance I mean a great number of legs positions that are also good exercises to develop a special kind of energy called Qi, generally students use these exercises for their first study about internal and external energy knows in chinese language as Qi Gong, literally energy job. After fundamentals stationary stances we have fundamentals movements that joint one stationary position to another, at this study step there can be some differences between styles to stYle. Different grow up during successive study.
Another very important classification in, wu shu, is on internal or external style; internal styles use more frequently fine energy and impalpable but efficient maneuvers, we can call this styles esoteric. Externals styles on contrary are an explosion of primordial vigour, these styles are called exoteric; for instance Tai Qi Quan, apparently so smooth is internal, Shao Lin Gong Fu with its fierce grim is external.

About modern Wu Shu sport forms, we my say that at high level of learning is possible to invent new martial sequences.
In now days from 1979 People Republic Of China have named a special Traditional Sport Commission for Physical Culture And Sports this commission have determined the criteria which must follow by a martial artist to build up a new competition form ( Tao Lu ).
The basic order for naked arms or with weapons must include: the three main stances like bow step, crouching step and empty stance. It must include no less than eight different sets of specific forms of style or for instance if you use sword eight different set of sword, if you use broadsword ( Dao ) There must be including the slice, sweep, thrust,stab,chop,entwining the head,and binding the head. Each type of leap or mid air movement should not appear than twice, spin not more than once. Roll and flip may be chosen one time. Even running leap or somersault may only be executed twice in the whole routine.

The Weapons:

Wu Shu Gong Fu include knowledge of a great number of weapons.
Principally there are eighteen military weapons, that means eighteen military arts; many of these weapons are subdivided into the long handled and short handled varieties. For me Shao Lin system uses more weapons than any other martial art.
Can one practise weapon routines if he has not already practised wu shu exercises? The answer is that it is very difficult,itis difficult as wright without a pen. Weapon studio is integral part of wu shu so when practising wu shu you must first practise basic exercise, after a lot of boxing routine you begin to study weapons. Weapons practise includes the easy and difficult; usually first practising staff and broadsword than rapier and spear and so on…..
There are different degree of difficult in learning weapons,a wu shu saying tells: one month for staff,a hundred days for the broadsword and a year for the spear.

The staff ( Gun )

it is a staff of course where its length depend from style and how tall is the performer.
For competitions its length is like performer tall plus his arm extended above head, in manner that palm touch one point of staff.
It my be made of wood, bamboo, rattan and sometime in steel; steel is used in Monkey taff style because performers frequently use support their weight on it.

The two sections staff ( Er Chien Gun )

It is composed of two peaces of wood staff joined together by a chain or simply rope, it may be symmetric or asymmetric, in symmetric the length of the peaces of wood is the same, in the asymmetric one peace is longer than the other.

The three section staff ( San Chien Gun )

As above but the joints are two and the wood sections are three, it is a very spectacular weapon.

The broadsword or scimitar ( Dao )

It is the first cutting weapon, the mother of all the others, this weapon cut in only one side and it prick in point.
The single broadsword belongs to the category of short weapons, it consist of seven parts: the body, point, blade, back, guard, hilt and base. For practise it may be long or short but in competition ( for sport ) it must be conform to the standard length as stipulated by competitions regulations. Regulations competition say that when the sword is cradled in the straight arm, the point should not be below the performer's ear lobe. There is also a colored streamer made of silk attached as decoration to the base of sword hilt, this streamer must not exceed the whole length of weapon, in ancient time streamer was used to fastened sword on wrist to not miss it in battle, bright colours are for enemy distraction, in modern sport competition are only for beauty.
The Dao weight to increase speed performance have gradually decreased, for instance in 1950's dao weighted from more of one pound or over two, now it weights less than one pound.
There are also double broadsword exercises

The sword (jian)

even in this case there are may different jian shapes: long, short, snake shape…
It may differ also the length of final panache. Sword cut in both two sides and prick in point. The sword body consist in: the body, point, two cutting sides,guard,hilt and base; the broadsword ribbon, in sword is a panache.
For competitions there are the same standards of broadsword.
Sword routines are for a single weapon or two one for hands.
Jian weight ever less than one pound.

Seven or nine sections chain ( qi - jiu chien )

these kind of weapons are very similar to three sections staff but the whip effects are greater.
Sometimes it use a coloured ribbon on point; it is a very fast and dangerous weapon even for practitioner if he is not expert.
These weapons may be used one for hand.

The halberd ( Wu Dao )

these weapons are considered as variation of broadsword, there are more or less twelve types of halberd

The lance ( Qiang )

it is a staff with a little sword on point. Its length for competitions is like staff but hand must hold completely extended. On the qiang point are lodged some little iron ball that produce a noise to distract ears enemy and a colorful panache, generally red, for the same thing but for eyes distract.
The lance studio is very hard for the weapon weight and required great strength.
The lance is used in parring, in strike point, strike down, leanings spiral torsions, and typical figure eight qiang motions. A ancient chinese saying tells: Qiang shu movements are like dragon waves.
But Qiang strike on direct line.

Wu Shu fundamental stances.

These are wu shu stances more or less adopted by a large numbers of china's martial arts Today many feel that traditional stance positions training are obsolete; they concentrate only on self defense and become impatient with instructors who require months of standing in one position.
But: you must learn how to crawl before you can walk , walk before you can jump, and think before doing anything. All stances , must be do in both sides. This notice is invalid for ma bu stance of course.

Ma Bu ( horse stance )

Horse stance is very hard and strong position it is very used by Shaolin system. To do this Stance you must split yours feet like or little more the shrouders distance, you squat down bending knees as in sitting position with back strength and relaxed.
In particular, feet fingers grappling the land, knees expand from the body and the grand gluteus muscles contract.
In this position adductors and abductors muscles work in total synergy, for chinese medical point of views this is one of the first external Qi gong exercises.
Tai Qi styles generally use ma bu only in beginning and the ending forms.
You can try this stance in little steps, before one minute it may be hard, when it is not so hard try two minutes and so on, in this way you will hold this stance for half hour or more.
Keep attention that this posture is the exact replica of a man who raiding a horse, the toes may be pointed outward, straight ahead, and things must be parallel to the ground.
Horse stance is called also square horse. Body's center of gravity between two legs.

Gum Bu ( bow step )

Bow step is a very large step in which the front leg appear squatted like ma bu stance, on contrary the second leg is fully extended. For example in left bow step: left foot takes a big step forward, more or less five times the person's foot length , left leg bent to half squat thing almost level and knee with toes in vertical line, right leg straight , toes pulled ion; soles of both feet are firmly on ground, the torso is upright and facing direction of front leg.

Heng Dan Bu (side bow step or stance)

Side bow step is like bow step but the trunk is alienated as feet, in other words it is a lateral step. We call it heng dan bu when squat leg knee is down or like hip level and pu bu when leg knee is above hip level.
When the right knee is bent this is a right side bow step; when left is bent a left side bow step.

Pu Bu ( crouching stance )

The exact meaning of pu bu is, waterfall, feet spread wide apart, one knee bends to full squat, thing and calf close together, buttocks close to lower leg, soles firmly on ground and toes and knee joints splayed slightly outward. The other leg is stretched out to its side , toes pulled in with sole firmly on ground.
Chest out, waist erect and hips sunk.

Xu Bu ( empty stance )

Empty stance is called also cat stance, it is guard stance that uses the front leg for kicking, sweeping or transition. The toe of the front leg is aligned perpendicular to the heel of the rea leg.
Feet apart front and back, one foot pointing outward at 45°, keen bent to half squat wit toes firmly on ground, the other foot extended out to front, knee slightly bent, toes in a bit and just touching ground. Weight of the boy is perpendicular all on rear leg.

Xie Bu ( snake stance )

Snake position is also know as rest stance, stand upright with legs crossed and things pressed together than, bend knees to full squatt.
Chest out, waist erect, two legs pressed firmly together with body weight centred in between.

Zuo Pan

( It is like snake stance but legs are completely squatted to land) Tin Bu ( T stance ) Stands erect with feet close together, bend knees to half squat, one sole firmly on floor,the second foot is with heel raised, toes touching ground besides first foot. Weight is onto the first leg.

Qian Tian Bu ( point stance )

One leg straight, toes turned outward a little, the other leg is extended straight , foot stretched tight so toes touch ground in front of body. Weight inclined to rear leg of course.

Gai Bu ( cross stance stepping forward )

these two techniques represent how you do the some step exercise, gai bu the rear leg pass in semicircle in front side the other. Cha Bu( cross stance stepping backward ) in cha bu the front leg pass after the rear leg, final positions are quite similar.

LEGS TECHNIQUES

Legs techniques are fundamentally all types of kick, very low ( sweeping ) Low Kicks, medium kicks,( included the Knee techniques) hight kicks, snapping hight kicks, jumping kicks (forward, backward, turning and many other acrobatic kicks situation.

Heng Cha:

Side split, is used for very low kicks.

Shu Cha:

sagittal split is useful for training high kicks and for low kicks.

Pa Qian Sao:

half forward sweep, for instance if you sweep with right leg, your half circle is counter clockwise. This technique may be do in different level, body trajectory describe a half circle, 180°.

Qian Sao:

Complete sweep, this technique is the some of above but you must turn for 540°

Pa Hou Sao:

half backward sweep, if you sweep with right leg, your half circle is clockwise

Hou sao:

Complete backward sweep, body turns for only 360° in the qian sao techniques the extreme position is: striking leg straight and pivot in full squat.

Tan Twe:

Tan twe literally means spring leg, it is also a name of a very popular gong fu style. Tan Twe kick is a front medium kick with toes extended, for better body performance, you should practise with arms extended sideways and hands with fingers pointed up, or pointing hands to hips level to release back pressure.

Deng Twe:

for Deng Twe there are the same recommendations of Tan Twe but toes are pulled in, or if you prefer the heel should be extended

Che Chuai Twe:

Side Way Kick, is a classic power side kick with heel extended, and the sole in cutting position. Side kick should be load with a preparatory side step and bending knee before strike. It is a good thing tray to do side kick in three main manners: low, medium and high.

Pa Qian Twe:

Half circular kick, this kick is possible perform with avant or rear leg, in Gong Fu is more frequently use the front leg.

Qian Twe:

circular kick, this kick have round trajectory, and you should do very fast.

Pa Hou Twe:

back half circular kick, this kick is the contrary of pa qin twe, and strike with heel.

Hou Twe:

Back circular kick, this is the contrary of qian twe.

Qi Bu:

Little Jump, is an evading technique in which you start a double legs little jump forward with feet together. For body balancing it is useful open arms sideways.

Dan Pai Jao :

Shoot or Snap kick, you should kick forward and trike a palm on foot with a very sound smack.

Li He Twe:

deviation kick from out side to inside, leg and foot describe a counter crescent kick.

Li He Pai Jiao:

this techniques is a li he twe in which foot smack the opposite hand.

Wai Pai Twe:

Crescent Kick, this kick go from inside out outside in crescent shape.

Bai Lian Pai Jiao:

this is a crescent in which you add a smack of its hand or both hands.

Te Cong Bai Lian:

this crescent use a turning jump, you may arrive with two feet or only one, the strike one.

Te Cong Xuen feng Jiao:

double flying smack kick, you should jump high and distends both legs out ward, meanwhile you are in flying, both hands smack on feet.

Te Cong Fei Jiao:

This is a flying smack kick but you smack only one foot with its hand.

Zheng Ti Twe :

high heel kick, fast in go and very fast in return, with leg extended, if you have possibility foot may shoot behind your head, this happen when knee of leg in motion touch its shoulder.

Che Ti Twe :

high heel side kick, this kick differ from above because heel take direction of opposite shoulder, in both techniques you can keep arms open with fingers hands pointed up for balancing.

Acrobatic Performances

Xuan Zhi:

Butterfly kicks, this is a wheel in mid air but horizontal,take arms and legs straight well.

Qian Bei :

Rolling forward, the tumble may be do in different shapes: straight ahead, from side ti side, end reversed.
Wheel with hands help : your body turns as a wheel using hands and legs like rays.
Wheel with one hand help: you may tray to use only first or second and of course in both sides.
Front somersault: Somebody call this kind of jump killer jump, but this is only a tumble in mid air, you should jump high distending arms, meanwhile in air close body in full squat as fast as you can, in this way body will turn in erect.
Back somersault: this other killer loop is somersault more ergonomic than front somersault but may cause some psychologic problems, so you should tray to do it with caution and help.
Normally follow the sequence, you throw both arms high, turn head behind and jump pushing knees at chest. This sequence is enough to do a right landing on feet.
Carter wheel: wheel without hands help, the movements are the some with hands but to increase momentum with speed.

Xuen Feng Jiao:

Lotus sweeping, this kick is a li he twe with jump, you may arrive in both feet, only on one foot, and very fast doing a 540° before landing on strike foot.

Li You Da Ting:

Wu long Jia o Zhu:

The dragon entwining pillar, you turn legs as a helicopter, spinning up.

Pan Twe Die:

This is a xuen feng jiao but body land straight at sole. Horizontal spin: This technique appear as a butterfly kick but in the middle you should close arms at chest, and turn head right or left, depend which side you do spin. The first leg should be throw very high. Walk On Hands: this technique is useful for monkey style, try step after step, you may find some help bending legs a little bit. Stand On Head: this antipode position is easy to do if at first you try to do it near a wall.

Shou fa

HANDS TECHNIQUES

There are a lot of hands techniques used for blocking and attacking, some of them are common in different Wu Shu styles.

Quan:

quan is a fist, this is used in all styles, fingers and thumb grip firmly together, the thumb covers and presses down on forefinger. It may be used indirect line, hook, upper cut and like a hammer

Pi Quan:

it is the general name for hammer kind quan, it is possible do it straight ahead ( Cien Pi ) from side to side ( Cio Pi ) with arms rotations ( Ruon Pi ).

Zai Quan:

Zai Quan give a straight quan from high to down.

Za Quan:

This technique is obteined striking a quan on the opposite palm after a palm rotation.

Guan Quan:

this is the China's name for West hook.

Quai Shou:

it is used in traditionally White Crane Style, it is a kind of hammer hand, it differs from Pi quan because thumb is opposed on the two first falange fingers.

Gung Shou:

it is used in White Crane and consist in a quan with the two first finger protruded, it may called also double finger fist.

Dan Tzu Jien:

it is used in White Crane and it is similar at Gung Shoubut you use only the first finger, you may call this fist single finger fist.

Kua Quan:

It is a kind of hook with thumb, used in Chang Quan and preying mantis.

Dan Shou:

finger tip hand, it is a hook with all fingers touching together. It is used in Eagle Style.

Dan Zhi:

Tiger Claw, this is a palm that facing up with forefinger open and all other close.

Ien Shui:

( or Gou ) it is used in Egle, Tai Qi Qaun, Long Fist, Praying Mantis. This differ from Dan shou because it is slightly soft.

Hou Shui:

White Crane Beak, it is performed in Sui White Crane of course, and it is quite similar to Ien Shui.

Tui Zhang:

is the general name for striking with spear hand form using fingers.

Liang Zhang:

in liang zhang palm describes a circle above head.

Chuan Zhang:

this technique is a combination one hand parring and simultaneously the other hand strike in point of fingers.

Liao Zhang:

This palm is directed to private parts with palm looking up.

Tiao Zhang:

Tiao Zhang is spring able deviation obtained taking up fingers.

Tan Lang Shou:

Praying Mantis Hand, may differ a little bit from school to school that means different geographical changes from Shandong region or Sichuan region. Generally it is a hook with one or two fingers open.

Ien Zhao:

it is used in Eagle Gong fu and it is the imitation of eagle claw

Huo Zhao:

it is the correspondent claw of a White Crane, less offensive than Ien Zhao

Don Zhao:

Don Zhao is the claw of mythologic dragon, it is a very open claw.

Bao Zhao: it is the claw of a panther, phalanges are more retract. Panther is a very fast animal.

Hu Zhao: it is Tiger Claw, in this claw fingers are more closet than panther claw as so as holding a ball into the palm.

Huo Zhi: this is the wings attitude in opening and close manner. These kind of palms are used by all styles.

Zhang:

Palm techniques are used by all divisions; Zhang may work as a spear, like a knife or using the down palm ( iron palm techniques.

Jian Shou:

sword fingers is used in all divisions for the symmetric flow of Qi ( internal energy ) with the narrow blade sword. ( it is very dangerous in private parts and in to eyes.

Chien Bie:

Chien Bie are the forearm techniques that appear in every style.

Zhou Fa

Elbow Strike Tecniques

Elbows may works both for attack and parring, from hight zone to down and viceversa, from side to side, forward and backward.

Din Zhou:

Ding Zhou is a elbow strike in side way supported by hand like salutation position. Din Zhou is a long range elbow strike.

Pan Zhou:

Pan Zhou is a Elbow strike supported by fist pointed on chest, it is used for short distance.

Ge Zhou:

it is a medium elbow parring, from side to side, outward and inward.

Jia Zhou:

Jia Zhou is used in high parring techniques.

Jian Fa

Shoulders Tecniques

Shoulder strike are useful in very short range, Tai Qi Quan, Shao Lin Quan and generally all South styles use frequently this technique, from high, down, and side.

Shao Lin Quan

About Shao Lin Quan it would be necessary many books not only for its real history of 1500 years but also for a quantity myths, novels, points of view. In anycase China's dynasty were over posed so many times in the past that is very difficult to separe the thrue from false, and if this is not eught any new lidership burn all precedent wrigthings. To day under this confution I have read many stranges history on gong fu temple of Shao Lin. I repeat what monks tell: Shao lin Temple means, yang forest, it laises in Henan province, about 600 Km at South West from the capital Beijing, at the feet of of the Shao Shi, one of the sacred valleys of Shao Shan montain. In the 495 A.C. Xiao Wen Di ( Huang Di ) Iimperorator founded Shao Lin Temple, in this time the Chief abat was Da Tuò who probably the firs introduce Qi Gong exercise for his monks. In 527 A.C. There was an holy man, named boddidharma who came from Madras region, in actual India, he travelled to China for Buddha word. In opposition of many martial legends, Boddhidarma didn't joint to any Imperator, didn't traslate any wrighting, didn't found any or other Temple, He left his spiritual eredity only to few followers, one of which was his sucessor, Hu Ke. For Budhish Boddhidarma in China called, Ta Mo, is the 28 th Patriarch after Gotama Buddha and father of Chan school of meditation.
To Day after 1500 years between survival exigens, unrepetable cultural occasions and cult of perfection to Brightness have do Shao lin the great river in which you can find all different corrent of martial arts.
Peacefull you can say who monks don't practaise Gong Fu, they are Gong fu; every day they wake up at 4 ,and sleep at 22 to studing Buddha, mediting on His words and trining Gong Fu on His name. Prey Job and fight.
In the past Shao lin temple was destroyed many times the lost time was in 1928 by a Lord war Xi Yusan, there was some not understoods with Red Gards but now more or less Shao Lin temple works freely. Now day Shao Lin have a new kind of invasion, every day many visitors, turists and gong fu followers are admitted to see monastery and study if they will for a short time under the temple wall. This troumble do meditation hard to do but money improvements have help monks.
The monstery as classic chinese architecture is built simmetrically and in many levels that separe differents day activity.
There are: the Majestic room, Fatang room, Abat's house, the Boddhidarma Pavillon and One Thousand Buddha room. There are also other new buildyngs more or less a quarter of mile to east, there monks and lays tryning together, one of these buildyngs is to do The piles Box ( Mei Hua Zhaung ). The piles have a blossom disposition and are tall 2,40 meters, monks in balamce on piles practaise solo forms, two men forms and fighting. Mei hua zhuanng, or meihauquan or jast simply meiquan is one of traditionals schools, It is popular in Hebei, Shandong and in Henan of course. It has its own characteristic as simply, unadorned and fluent movements, like a winter plam in full blossom when staic and flower blown off when dynamic.
In Shao Lin temple are used all and when I say All I say All types of traditional weapons, more these came from farmer culture, but the emblem of Shao Lin Weapons is the staff.
Tecnically Shao lin monks exerrcise are do in straight line, very fast,with power and flexibility, using a force of one pound to parring one thousand pounds.

Hou Quan

Monky Style

Monky style like tai qi quan may differ in others specific styles, if monkey is big, small or drunken. Monky style is very fanny to see and difficult to practaise.
Monky is intelligent, cute couragous and mischievous. A very lively immage of this mammal was created in the character of the, Monky King, Sun Wukong, in the classic Chinese novel named Pilgrimage To The West. Of course the famous, Peking Opera, plays many works with monkey image.
It is natural I say that Shao Lin Wu Shu have its own Monky style because monks are good animal habit wathchers.
The Monky Gong Fu is a system that combines the techniques of attack and difese: kicking, striking, throwing, holding, leaping, and sommersaulting, with the quick response, nimbleness, resourcefulness, and activeness tipical of monkey.
As I saied there are differnts styles, chiefly for regional differences, metod of instruction and personal characteristic. However the basic requirements are the same. These have been symplified in 22 characters meanin: firmness, suppleness, lightnesss, nimbleness, cunning, elusiveness, persistence, vigor, wariness, grasping, burling, retraint, plucking, chopping, parring ( with wrist motion ), gripping,pressing, with palm, pushing, entwining kick, thrust kick, snap kick and springy kick. Only when these technical requirements are reproduced like a monkey you do monkey style, in others words, when you are like a monkey you are monkey.
The ancient China's mytology speaks about a classic book ( Shang Shu ) litterally, Book of History, were there was mentioned all kindes of dance that imitate the forms and movements of an undred different animals, these dances become after years and years varius metods of attack and defese knows as symbolic boxing.
Hou Quan is a kind of symbolic boxing and history tells that it become a very famous in the Ming Dynasty ( The Bright Dynasty ) 1368 - 1644 and in more recents days in Qing dynasty 1644 - 1911there was a kind of box called , Kite Mountains Art Of Training And Fighting, practaised in the mountains of Yuexin County, Shanxi province that was precisely the monkey style itself. Hou quan requir a good phisical tryaining, several dozen principal movements are performed at one go, with no loss of breath.
Monky boxing with its hard exercises prolongs life.
There are five important thing to remember in hou quan, these are called the five cannons of the monkey style. Phisical resemblance, spiritual likeness, concentrate tactics light steps, a nimble body. Phisical resemblance mean that performer should assume the monkey bodily, his shouders should be relaxed, his nek drraw in, his arms curled, his body contracted, and his elbows , wrists and knees bent.
Spiritual likeness, mean that monkey boxing is not a dance, it is not enough jusst to demostrate the monkey agility, but you must express the real sense of attack and defese, otherwise, your performance will not look real.
Concentrate tactics for methods of defese and attack with alternating motion and rest, the enphasis is on the launching a series of three or four movements at time, to not give at the opponent chance for respite.
Light steps are the steps and anyting else moving forward and backward, lightly, fast and noiseless,arms and legs act in close coordination.
A nimble body is necessary to find great speed and agility without which the spirit of this art could be lost.

Spiritual and phisical resemblance of Hou Quan:

A very celebrate sayings in China martial arts is: if you fail the use of your eyes all your achievementin the exercise of your hands will be meaningless.
The eyes are the mirroars of the soul, any action not accompained by proper expression in the eyes will be lifeless.
Anger, joy, sorrow, happyness, dispeasure, resentement and surprise can be expressed throught the eyes so using eyes expression you give an advantage in executing matial tactics. When you learn hou quan you must first of all know the peculiarity of the monkey's eyes. Monky's eyes are always round and forward looking, they never turn sideways or squint, when a monkey whant to see something on its left or right it moves its head, apes not use to shutting their eyes like humans; but there is another monkey eyes job very difficult to do, when the animal blincks its eyes, only eyelids move, not the eyebrowns. To learn this need a lot of practaise.

From The Great hou quan teacher, Xiao Yinpeng, I resume twelve eyes expressions that may help hou quan performers.
1) The monkey comes down the hill in leaps and bounds, this is expression of happiness.
2) The monkey stareswith eyes wide open and snort from its nose, it is angry
3) It knits its brows as if with a havy heart, it is sad
4) When monkey relaxes the corners of its eyes it is a sign of joy
5) The animal lowers its eyes and observer the enemy position is for looking down
6) When monkey raises its head and look out it is attention
7) Monky eyes twinkle but eyeballs do not move, this is peeping.
8) When the animal loos in all directions it is observing.
9) When monkey change its humor easily it is teasing.
10) When monkey easily frightened and it moves to one side, it is scared.
11) The situation changes suddenly and it reacts quickly, this is surprise.
12) When monkey rest in motion it is calm and anruffled, it is at east.

There are some particular actions in hou quan that take their chinese name:
Qimbei, forward sommersault in the air.
Dao Mao, backward sommersault.
Shuqingting, or upright dragonfly.
Antou, head spring.
Li You Da Ting, carp balancing or juggling wih the feet.
Bolangzi, cartwheeling.

These tecnics above do that monkey style can be learnt by oneself but required a long practaise. In studing, hou quan sequence, the beginner must, first of all understand overall structure and patterns of movements; be sure to have tecnical how know to follow the diagram that rappresents the intere choreography. It is very important to have a clear idea of direction.
Disengage yourself from unfavorable situations by distracting your enemy, a monkey stylist uses different tactics under different circumstances. You should attack in different ways and different points.
The most vulnerables spots of human body are: eyes, ears, temples, Adam's apple, back of the head, solar plexus, under belly, soft ribs, joints and of couse private parts.
In one Phrase, You gain the initiative and attack your enemy's weak spots; so this gong fu is different from tai qi quan way of fight.

Zui Jiu Quan

Drunken Boxing

Zui Jiu Quan is a pictographic box that contein movements depicting a person in a drunken state. Teorically every gong fu style may be performed in that state, it is possible to built up a sequence in which performer is a monkey that holdinga staff but in drunken state, but generally or at beginning studios,are used chang quan forms in drunken state.
Like hou quan, zui jiu quan is very hard to perform, the scheme of pugilism hides many tecnics. In this combact system is necessary improve the flexibility of joints, and the elasticity of ligaments.
Drunken state is not a real conditions all is a apparence. The drunken stae is only the form while the skilled combact is the essence. The combact fist should hide in drunkness and combat skills should be posed as much drunken as possible.
This kind of boxing require great joints mobility expecilly for back.
In Zuijiuquan training your action must be guided by your counciousness.
In this style exist different fall: the feing fall, the tough fall and the danger evading fall. These are a monumentum of body movements, if the movements can't look really drunken you not perform Zuijiuquan.

About Tai Qi Quan:

Also Tai Qi Quan word not rappresents one specific style of this discipline, infact Tai Qi Quan is developed in a division of styles.
Chen, Yang, Sun, Wu and new Wu for instance and may differ a lot each other.
In any case Tai Qi Quan can be write in latin letter as tai chi quan, tajiquan or simply tai qi an taiji.
Tai Qoi qun, is a majior division of the traditional chinese martial arts,has existed for more than three centuries. More or less in 1950's the People Republic of China commission for Phisical Culture and Sport Developed and published simplyfied sets of Tai Qi training to widespread popularity both at home and later in 1980's followed a English vertion for foreings.
Tai Qi Quan derive its name from the philosohical term taiji that first apperared in the Book of Changes written anonymously during the Zou dynasty ( 11th to 221 BC ), this Book says: in all changes exist taiji, which causes the two opposites in all things; the two opposites cause the four seasons and the four season cause the eight natural phenomena. The eight natural fenomena denote the heaven,the earth ,thunder, wind, water, fire, mountains and lakes.
We said that Tai qi styles differs each other, the stylse take their name from their developers so Yang style came from Yang Luchan but go in order.
Thake present that more or less all old and new tai qi teachers practaised also externals style of gong fu. There are different assertions as who was the father of Tai Qi Quan. Generally the honour should go to Chen Wanting who lived in 16 th century.
Nobody knows his birth and death date, it has been confirmed that he belonged to the ninth generation of Chen family in Wexian county, Henan province, local cronicles said that he served as royal guard in his home village in 1641 and retired after the fall of Ming dynasty three years later.
It was in the 1770's that chen evolved five Tai Qi Quan routines, long range boxing in 108 formsand Paochui, cannon boxing. Of course this martial art not used, tai qi, to identified it self but a sinonimus of, box of the maind, tou tao, in chinese languages.
Probably Chen Wanting was greatly influenced by Qi Jigung (1728- 1587) a famos general in imperial army,Qi Jiguang compiled 16 popular routines in a old military text, Chen assimiled and rielabored into his box of mind (tai qi quan) in a style distinctively his own.
In the following three centuries the original routines fell into disuse but not at all. In presente day Cannon routine become the second routine of tht school, the firt tai qi quan routine branced into the, old frame, and new frame helping birthing new tai qi quan styles.
If Chen Wanting was father of tai qi, Yang Luchan exported it out of Chen family.
Yang Luchan born in 1799 and died in1872. His family in an impoerished Yongnian County, Hebei province, Yang Luchan left his home at ten and worked as servant in the Chen family in Wenxian county .In this time his master Chen Dehu was faund of martial arts and employed Chen Changxing of the 14 th generation to teach the yang in the evenings. The story tells that Luchan would watch attentively, Chen Changxing rapidly accepted him as one of his disciplines; after a very hard training Yang distingushed himfelf as a Wu Shu artist.
At age of 40 Yang returned to Yongnian and lodged at the pharmacy owned by Chen Dehu, making living by teaching tai qi quan, also a landlord named Wu Yuxiang with his two brothers taken lessons from Yang. After a while, Yang Left Yongnian for Beijing (Peking) to teach Tai qi quan there, he adapted his tai qi for fit, successively his third son revised and further improved Yang style, Yang Jianhou changed his style into a, medium frame, with easy moderate postures, slow , steady, and flowing movements. These were later revised by Jianghou's third son Cheng fu into a, big frame, which is more or less the present form of yang school of tai qi quan.

Stretching.

In Wu Shu Gong Fu expecially in all external styles stretching is very evident. Stretching involves the whole anatomy. The main porpouse in stretching work is elongate muscols, improve blood circolation loosen and stregthen the joints, but stretching help also to exercise vitals organ an gain longevity with good health.
There are many stretching systems, it is very important to remember that proper breathing and thre right mental disposition will help you perform these exercise correctly. Without regolar stretching your body will rapidly lose its elasticity, even children may have problems. Stretching is important like eat, drink, wash, breath ….
Is important to know that Qi goes everywere during stretching, creathing a warm feeling in your body. In the beginnig students should be aware of the proper breathing pattern before any type of exercise, every execise must be performed very slowly to warm up muscols, before moving on to advanced exercises.
Betwin all stratching system the bouncing one is the worst because it may cause muscols,ligaments and tendons demage.
Of course you may have some individuals limitations that came from body, muscols structur, mental requirements and correct breathing, so at first work slowly and try to achieve a little more each training section. Slow progress is better than no progress.
If you have a daily routine you will help your mobility and flexibilty as you get older.

The softest thing in the world falling down on the hardest one. Without sostance it penetrate were there are not interstices.

Tai Qi:

Tai Qi born in central South China but become great in the north.
About Mr Wu Yuxiang we know who born 1812 and died in 1880 as I saied came from a famili of Wu Shu lovers who associated with Yang Luchan from whom they learned tai qi quan. When Yang Luchan went in Beijing he paid a visit to Chen Changxing but only to find him too old to give instrucions, so he found one of his nephews than born the Wu school of tai qi quan characterized by quick and short range movements.
Meanwhile his brothers served as officials in many corners of China, Wu Yuxiang lived a secluted life in his home village teaching martial arts, somebody say that even at his death bed, he was still discussing tai qi quan with his students.
Wu Yuxing best performer was Li Jinglun who was his sister son. She born in 1832 and died in 1892, from her teachments we arrived to Mr Hao He (1849- 1920) Hao He was so strong that in practising the push hands exercise he could lift his enemy ten feet away.
One of Hao He students founded another style of tai qi quan, the Sun style.
Sun Luntang born in 1861 and died in 1932, his birth place was Wnxian county in Hebei province, e was a good performer of Xingyquan, form and will boxing, who mastered under great teacher Li Kuiyan and Baquaquan, eight trigram boxing under Chen Tinghua. As teacher he enjoied a high reputation in Beijing and was nicknamed like a legendary hero in chinese mytology, Living Monkey King. In 1912 Sun Luntan happened to meet Hao He and help him when he fallen ill gotting the best doctor to treat him. Gratefull for Sun's attentions Hao He taught him tai qi quan; Sun Luntang incorpored tai qi in his system of figting creating Sun school characterized by a smooth cooerente sequence of movements in advanced and retrat.
Sun Luntang Si Fu has left many books on differentWu Shu routines.
Another imortant variation about tai qi quan came from Mr Wu Jianquan (1870- 1943) who founded a similar sound Wu School but with different meaning.
Wu Jinquan was native of Daxing county, He was Manchu nationality region., his father lerned tai qi quan from Yang Luchan and Yang Luchan second son, named Yang Banhou (1837 - 1882 ).
During Qing Dynasty in 1911 The society of phisical culture in Beijing, founded by Xu Yusheng teached the small frame of Yang tai qi , here was Wu Jianquan, after repeated improvements in the years followed, Yang style gradually developed in one of slow and gentle movements as we know, without jumps and leaps. When members of Yang family spopped teaching the small routine, Wu Jianquan continued his reserch until its system was recognized as a distinct style.
In 1928 Wu Jianquan was invited to teach in the Shanghai Wu shu Society and Jingwu Sports society, after in 1935 he founded the Jianquan Taijiquan Society which played an important role to promoving Wu School of tai qi quan.
Tecnically wu style is a combnation of big and frames with movements compact and unrestrained. Another very important exponent of Tai Qi Quan was Chen Xin (1849-1929) He was a forerunner, he started to record movements and explain them in written form for future followers; before time there were little or no writings about it, Chen Xin who was both a man of letters and Wu Shu expert do it. He was the first great teacher, nicknamed Chen Pisan who used Tai Qi instead Tou Tao and tried to explain Zhansijin, the spiral energy.
Chen Xin Spent a lot o time more or less12 years to write Taijiquan of the Chen School, the mauscript in more of 200,000 words were completed in 1919, unluckily died and only in 1933 his work was published in four volumes. They are the most original an complete books on the ortodox school of tai qi quan, if you find by it at once.
Today threre are many good tai qi teachers but it is not so easy find them if you haven't correct informations of this martial art.
We can say that China as people of course have made great contributions to world's civilizationone of which is a special kind of martial art, Tai Qi Quan.
After the founding of New China in 1949 governament incorage the gem of china's cultural henritage, all wu shu has developed quickly as never before and in different dierctions. Under the order ,divulgation, in 1956 was compiled a simplified set of tai qi quan in 24 forms, based on the most popular sequences of Beijing Yang Cheng Fu school, in 1959 followed a more comprehensive set in 88 forms; these two books spread across the nation and after their tradution in forening languages across the World too. As we have jast say there are many styles inside Tai Qi quan world so much that noboby knows the exactly number, but Yang style of tai qi became famous for its extended and and natural posture, well-knit gentle and steady movements, the Yang style.
Combines vigour with gentelness, with its actions following and circular path. This school has three fram forms. high, medium and low; the lerner may be determined by his or her age, phisical conditions, disenses, phisical training, recrestion or competition. Probably Yang style is well know because it is relatively easier than Chen style, but gentelness not mean weak, tai qi quan is an art with strength conceled in the gentyle movements, like an iron hand in a velvet glove or a very dangerous needle conceled in cotton.
There is another aswer on great Yang tai qi diffusion and it is for is terapeutic efficacy of treating chronic disease.
In learning tai qi one should start from the quan jia, or frame of boxing; he he should practise accordind the routines and follow if it is possible the master's every movements carefully, keep each action in maind ; than also he should pay ettention to Nei, Wai , Shang and Xia. Nei Means using the maind rather than force. Wai means relaxion of the limbs, shouldersand elbows, making the movements from the foot and leg to thewaist gentle and continuos.Shang means straightening the head, and Xia is sinking the breath to the lower belly.

Generally all tai qi quan styles follow these ten points:

1) Straightening the head and neck naturally erect, with the mind concentrte on the top Do not strain or be tense, on contrary blood and vital energy cannot circolate smootly.
2) Keep chest in correct position slightly inward to sinkyour breath to the tan tien (lower belly) do no protude your chest otherwise you will fill uneasy in breathing and somewhat top eavy.
3) Relax the waist, the waist is a dominant part for human body, when you relax waist you willl be strong enough to form a firm base with your feet, vital force comes from the waist , wrong movements in tai qi steam from the erroneus actions of the waist. ( this is right for every sport ).
4) Understanding solid and empy stance. It is important distinguish between Xu, empy, And Shi, solid, If you shift the weight of the body from one leg to another one leg is Empty and the other is solid, Whe your weight is on the left leg, this leg is firmly planted on the ground and the right is empty, only in this way you can turn and move your body.
5) Keep your shoulders in natural relax position. When you lift shoulders the Qi , the energy, rise with them and whole body will be without strength. In this way also elbows should be down
6) One should use the mind instead of force so vital energy will follow in the wake of the mind and circulate all over the body in according with princioples of traditional China's medicine and the teory of Jinglu, meridians. Through costant practice one will be able to have a great genuine internal force.
7) Coordinations between upper and lower parts. In Tai qi The roots is in the feet the force is launched thorough the leg, controlled by the waist and finaly expressed by the fingers; all these elements form a harmonious whole. Eyes follow all elemento to coordinate. 8) Find harmony between internal an externalparts, this martial srt take focus in the miand and consciouness, with tranquillity in the mind the movements will be gentle and gracefull.
9) The continuity,on contrary of the outer school that enphatize attak with frequents stops which leave openings where opponent may take advantage of: in Tai Qi the movements from beginning to the end are continuos like a river flows or how like to China people ( like reeling the silk thread off cocoon.
10) At the end, tranquillity. Outer boxing school point emphasis on leaping, bounching, punching and the extertion of force, in practising the frame in slower manner you will have better results, this because when the movements are slow you can take deep breath and sink it to the Tan Tien or Hai Di ( Sea Qi ) corrispondent more or less at belly zone.

Tai Qi Quan for your helth:

Tai qi expecially Yang Style is famous for its increment in human helth, in effect tai qi is an exercise for whole body, it trains both mind and body, in anycase traditional China's medicine does'not find distinction between these two parts. The waist is of primary importance, for it leads the movements of the four limbs.
In practising Tai qi, when one part moves,all the other also moves.
Howwever, many lerners tend to divide the body into three parts even inconsciusly: The Arms, the trunk and legs, in this way at last the result is that part moves on its own witout any connections; so I would like say few points to rememember.

1) For its position the waist the waist performs the function of linking up all parts og the body: the hips, the leg, the back, the arms and the head above, so you must be shore that waist is in the central link to coordinates the movements. Now, without relaxation body parts can't each other. Take the waist as axis and use it to lead movements of four limbs and of the trunk of coruse, infct when the main axis moves, all the other parts will follow it.
2) Another point must be clear, the base of the body is in the feet like root tree, above feet legs and the base will not be firm without straightening or propping movements of the legs.
3) Remember the ccoordination between the upper and lower limbs, we must see that waist brings along the back and the arms. We also pay attention to the natural lowering of shouders, elbows the pose of wrist and palms, the slight bending of the fingers and the right space between fingers.

There are a lot of essential phrases that may help you in Tai Qi practaise:
Let the mind direct the Qi so that it sinks deeply and steadily and can perneate the bones.Let the Qi circulate throughtout the enteire body freely and without hindrance si that the body will follow what the mind say.
When you feel as if your head were suspendet by thread from above, your vitality will be raised the defects of obtusesness and clumsiness will be no more.
The mind and Qi must respond ingeniusly and efficaciously to the exchange of substantial and insubstantial so as to develop an active and harmonious tendency.
When attacking, the energy should be sunk deeply,completely and relaxed, concentrate in one direction.
When standing, the body should be erect and relaxed, able to substain an attac from any direction. To direct the Qi is like streading a pearl with nine crooked paths, there is no hollow which it does not penetrate.
The energy when occour is like steel refined hundred times over, there is no stiff adversary who cannot be overthrown.
The apparece is like a haws seizing a rabbit, the spiritual insight is like a cat catching a rat. In resting, be as still as a mountain peak ; in moving, act like the current of a river.
To store up Qi is like drawing a bow; to relase Qi is like shooting an arrow.
Seek the straight frtom the curved, reserv energy before relasing it.
The qi is relased from the spine, the changing of steps must be in accordance with movements of the body.
To withdraw is to attac, to attac is to withdraw , the Qi is separed and again rejoined. The Qi should be cultivated naturally and harmoniously, to have'n ill effects; the Qi shoul be reseved sligtly.
If your opponent does'n move you do'n move.
The mind is leader and body is the follower.
Take steps as so as a cat walking and mobilize the Qi as if reeling silk from a cocoon. The Qi is like casrtwheel, the waist is like an axletree.
Tai Qi Quan ( the supreme ultimate Boxing ) cames froom Wu Qi (the limitness) it is the source of motion and mather of Yin and Yang.
In motion yin-Yang separate, in quite they fuse into one.
There shoul be exess and no insufficiency, you bend when opponent stretches out and expand as he contracts.
Adher to your opponent.
You respond quickly to your opponent fast action and slowly to his slow actions, althought the changes are numerous, the principle remain the same.
A light and nible Qi is to be preserved on the top of the head, the Qi is to sink to the Tan Tien. There should be no inclination and no leaning, suddenly disapeared and suddenly apper.
When advancing, one feels the distance very long; when retreating, one feels it too much short. Feather cannot be added to the body, nor can a fly alight.
My opponent does't know me, but I know him quite well.
Stand like a balanced scale; move actively like a carterwheel
If your weight is on one side, you can adapt to all circumstances, if you double weight ( ma bu stance) your actions will be impeded.

Tai Qi Quan have its particolars body exercises descriptions.

In Tai Qi Quan there are 13 base forms that are the eight for hands and five for legs. For hands they are:
Peng, parring
Lu, retract in rotation
Qi, press
An, push
Lie, extend down
Cai, pull down
Zhou,elbow strike
Kao, shoulder strike

For legs they are :
Jin, go ahead
Tui, Go back
Ku, go to left
Pan, go to right
Ding, stand to center

Tai Qi Quan (Zhansijin)

The Zansijin is a peculiar way to move energy in spiral manner and Chen style developed it very much. Chen Pisan named it in his book. Zhansijin Qi is a spiral energy that interes all the body and not only hands, even if hands zhansijin is the first exercise mastered. It consist to move right hand clock wise and left conterclock wise to form taiqi diagram. This system must be repeated with the others joints.
In right hand work the movement is divised in two parts, the first in median line were yang change in Yin is called (shun zhansi) the second in counter clockwise is called (ni zhansi); for the left hand is exactly the contrary. At the beginner is racomended to practaise hands Zhansijin in Yubeishi stance and with hips help, if there are difficults to draw tao in the air, it is possible describle simples circles left and right at first.
The zhansijin exercise may be practaised only with one hand at beginning. Using right hand, you should separe legs each other of 3 feet, point right hand at chin level with palm turn over and toes to left, the left hand is on left hip. Right hand descrive a air circus clock waise and at the some time legs help the movement rolling gentle to left. With the othe hand you should move in simmetry, so left hand describe a air circle counterclock waise.
After have know one hand zhansijin tray two hands zhansijin, this apparently easy exercise is very important because it is a concrete example of full and empty.

Yubeishi:

Body stands in natural erect position, legs apart as so as shoulders level, ,feet straight ahead. Arms relaxed, eyes and head ahead, eyes sometimes may be half closed. This position and relaxation system is also called Wuji Zhuang ( infinite position ). Wuji position is very important in two other internal styles, The Ba Qua Quan and Hsing Yi Quan.
Meamwhile you stand in Yubeishi stance,inhale and exhale for a time without distractions to find relaxation.

Zhangzhuaggong:

To practaice zhangzhuaggong body do the some things of Yubeishi , arms are high in front at shoulders level, hands loo more or less each other, legs are open as shoulder or more and knees bent. This position is also called, of the tre balls, ( three circles ). One is the immaginary ball on which you rest with legs ( big ball) two is the ball under arms ( medium ball) and three is the ball that you hold between hands ( little ball).

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