Yes, as far as I'm gathering, Shi Zhenxu had quite a different local tradition before coming to Shaolin and learning the then core content of the monastery martial arts under Shi Henglin.
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Just want to thank you guys for all the work you're putting in on this thread and others like it. I'm not interested enough in the history to do my own research, but it's great being able to read yours. Good stuff!
Lets talk little about the Techniques of TongBei and TongBi quan.
In the non Shaolin Style, the Tongbei Quan every move is a fighting move.Even Arm swingins for or Back.You train how to hit someone in a Pigua art style.Thats great because every martial art has this Warm Ups.How amazing if you know that you can use every exercise and foot or Armswinging for martial art purposes. The basic Techniques after the Warm Up (martial art techniques) are the 5 element palms. It is the same theory like in Xing Yi.
1.Throw Palm-Metal
You rise your Hand and hit from above your Enemy at his Face with the Backpalm.
2.Cotton Palm-Wood
You hit straight to his Face with the center of Palm
3.Spike Palm-Water
You pierce your opponents face with your fingers with palm down or palm up like the Tansao movement of Wing Chun.
4.Deck Palm-Fire
You rise your hand for a block and after that you hit down with your palmedge like the japanese Shuto.You can block with a spike palm and then continue with this.Yo hit with an explosion down.
5.Drilling Palm-Earth
You grab his hand and pull your Enemy towards you.The same Time you hit him with a straight fist at his Belly or Chest.A technique like Taichis Repulse Monkey.Pull and hit.
All this are characteristic movements of monkeys.Not imitation but the same power use like the monkeys do with their Arms.
Now the Shaolin Tongbi
Many techniques are techniques that you can find in Xiao Hong and Taizu Chang Quan.But you use the same monkey power hands like in Tongbei above in different parts of the Tongbi forms.Go and watch Shimpanzees in the Zoo when they are angry.The hit with their Arms down like in Tong bi and Tongbei.