Is Chang Quan Shaolin?

[cturts]

I'm training Kung Fu with a Shaolin Monk here in England, and I was wondering if Chang Quan, the style I'm learning currently, is Shaolin?

We are also doing a lot of Qi Gong but mainly the meditation side of it, but with this forum being called Shaolin Boxing, I know they do lots of Sanshou at the shaolin monastery but are these non animal hand forms still Shaolin?

Thanks

[Jimbo]

Chang Quan is an umbrella term for many northern kung fu systems. I'm sure some are shaolin-based, but Chang Quan (Long Fist) systems such as Cha Quan/Tan Tuei are of Chinese Muslim (Uighur) origin. Taiji Quan could also be classified as a Long fist system as well.

[bawang]

I'm training Kung Fu with a Shaolin Monk here in England, and I was wondering if Chang Quan, the style I'm learning currently, is Shaolin?

We are also doing a lot of Qi Gong but mainly the meditation side of it, but with this forum being called Shaolin Boxing, I know they do lots of Sanshou at the shaolin monastery but are these non animal hand forms still Shaolin?

Thanks

shaolin temple gets its kung fu from the medieval chinese army, that includes chang quan. if you describe more detail of what you are doing in training i can tell you what it is.

[RenDaHai]

Yes and no. Its complicated. As BaWang says we need a little more detail.

At Shaolin Temple Animal forms are not the focus, thats more of a southern thing. Shaolin even confined to Song Mountain contains many family styles. The styles can roughly be thought of as having 3 major strategies;

ChangQuan (Long Fist), DuanDa (Short Strike) and TieShenKao (Leaning against the body techniques).

Typically Shaolin forms will contain bits of all 3 strategies but when practicing basic skills (JiBenGong) it is common to focus on the longfist techniques.

[cturts]

Thanks guys,

What kind of information do you need? I don't know if it helps, but if you put in Jet Li Chang Quan on YouTube, I'm learning similar moves to that, not the same form but the moves are similar.

unless that's the same as all chang quan forms ha, I'm pretty new and have never had people to talk to about my Kung Fu

[YouKnowWho]

What kind of information do you need?

The long fist system contains 5 major branches 查(Cha), 花(Hua), 洪(Hon), 弹(Tan), 炮(Pao). There are also many minor branches such as 埋伏(Mai Fu), ... Which branch are you talking about?

[pazman]

With regards to Changquan, most schools run by "Shaolin Monks" these days either teach a form called "Taizu Changquan" which is a traditional style associated with Shaolin, or they are teaching a modern wushu form called just "Changquan". This modern "Changquan" is strictly for performance, though some of the moves contained are derived from traditional sources.

[RenDaHai]

Thanks guys,

What kind of information do you need? I don't know if it helps, but if you put in Jet Li Chang Quan on YouTube, I'm learning similar moves to that, not the same form but the moves are similar.

unless that's the same as all chang quan forms ha, I'm pretty new and have never had people to talk to about my Kung Fu

Any names of forms would be useful, (they are hard to pronounce I know)

Well, to be honest a lot of northern kung fu does look a bit like this yes. I see the differences clearly now but if you have seen less of them they will all look very similar. During basic skills practice a lot of the Shaolin will practice techniques a lot like in JetLi's chang quan. All the same jumps and kicks etc.

When it comes to traditional forms and techniques they are different, but if you are starting off then these basic drills are probably the main focus for a while.

Here are some classic Shaolin Temple forms so you can see the kind of the style;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NrLSCa16no Da TongBei Quan - YiLu,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xub2tLJYzRY Xiao Hong Quan - YiLu,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3q4vhzr58 Da LuoHan Quan - YiLu,