Nine Falls Eighteen Rolls 九轉十八跌

[Tainan Mantis]

This series of forms or techniques "Nine Falls Eighteen Rolls 九轉十八跌"belongs to the oldest recorded history of Chinese kung fu.

It first appeared in Jiang Nan Jing Luo - roughly translated as Introduction South of the River published in 1568 and republished in 1614. The complete name of this series was "Nine Falls Eighteen Rolls Striking, Beating and Capturing."

This form "Nine Falls Eighteen Rolls" is interesting to me because of its appearance in one of my versions of the old Praying Mantis book Luohan Duan Da. This makes it interesting to those who practice Shaolin owing to the relationship of Luohan Duan Da to Shaolin kung fu.

As far as I know or have heard this form was not taught in Hong Kong or Taiwan. I suspect that it may exist somewhere in China.
The version of this text in Luohan Duan Da. contains 20 roads with 28 characters each as if describing 20 methods of attacks.

I suspect that "Nine Falls Eighteen Rolls" was added to my version of Luohan Duan Da and was not in earlier versions of the work.

I am always looking for more information on this form, or series of techniques.

Kevin

[bawang]

ditangquan is nine roll eighteen falls. it just has a lot of flowery filler in between the actual techniques. because breakfalls and rolls dont flow together and dont make a good form.

you didnt learn any rolls or breakfalls in your praying mantis kung fu?

[Tainan Mantis]

I learned throws and falls in kung fu, as well as forms of Di Gung Quan while studying with Shi Zhengzhong in Taiwan(we never called it ditang).

We also learned forms of Di Gung Quan.

Here is my younger brother, Wu Mingxian, performing the first form of Di Gung Quan that we learn (incorrectly labeled ditang). This is a two person form which gives some understanding of how to enter for takedowns. This solo performance actually has one roll which he left out on that day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvNSDBapxzU&feature=related

The next form in the series, called Bai Ma Xia Shan White Horse Descends the Mountain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6_2KlIWX2E

On a side note, I suspect that the form "White Horse Descends the Mountain" is in reference to General White Horse from the Yuan Dynasty play Story of the Western Chamber.

I briefly touched on this at the end of the article Entering the Sea of Awareness (http://www.plumflowermantisboxing.com/Articles/2010/Monk%20enters%20Nirvana.htm)

The article describes the method from the manual Luohan Gung and illustrates the link between martial manuals of the Qing Dynasty(or earlier) and novels and plays in general circulation from the Yuan Dynasty and on.

Kevin

[bawang]

then what is the problem? you already know them. 9roll 18 falls is just an older name for ditangquan.