Songshan Shaolin Champion

[LFJ]

Our rules define traditional as:

No aerial movements beyond flying kicks. No flying kicks beyond 360 degrees.
Only two steps are permitted before any flying kick.
No movements which are strictly gymnastic.

That sounds like it indeed rules out the aerial cartwheel as well as the butterfly since neither of them are flying kicks, but both appear in traditional boxing and weapon sets.

The fact is there are plenty of movements within traditional Shaolin sets that are "strictly gymnastic" to build the overall athleticism, agility, and flexibility of the practitioner.

For example, the Southern Courtyard (Nanyuan) Datongbiquan is a very traditional set which has a jump side split in it. It's certainly not there to kick two people simultaneously, or at least that's not a technique I would ever attempt...

I think these movements should be allowed if the competitor can prove they are originally part of an old boxing set, which shouldn't be too hard. There can't be a zixuan division in traditional forms competition anyway. If people are doing butterflies in Qixingquan they're obviously just throwing things in there and breaking the rules, but it is legitimately a part of other traditional sets.

Much of the decision then really depends on the experience/knowledge of the judges.

[RenDaHai]

Much of the decision then really depends on the experience/knowledge of the judges.

Well said there, it is a difficult situation. With more than 1000 forms across the many sects of Song Mountain it takes a very experienced judge.

I mean, yeah, if they throw XuanZi into QiXing quan that should be obvious right? But have you ever seen Er Lu Qi Xing? Or San Lu? It is acceptable to add two roads together.

I think in the vast majority of competitions however it won't be a problem. The same popular sets get passed around again and again.

[GeneChing]

If you look at our rules, we've limited the Songshan Shaolin forms to those presented within Shaolin Gong Fu: A Course in Traditional Forms.

For the sake of this event, Classical Songshan Shaolin forms are defined as forms listed in Shaolin Gong Fu: A Course in Traditional Forms, published by the Taguo Institute. Competitors are not required to execute the form exactly as represented in these books, however the form must be listed.

This special division is still growing. So far, no one has attempted anything overly exotic and claimed it falls within our guidelines. The Shaolin community here has been very supportive of it.

[GeneChing]

Two years in a row. He won with Taizuquan.

2nd Place: Yu Zhenlong
3rd Place: Chris Shephard

More to come.

[webcastGreg]

You can see the form that won this year's Songshan Shaolin competition here:Yang Chengjun

[GeneChing]

1st place: Yang Chengjun



2nd place: Yu Zhenlong



3rd place: Chris Shephard

Congratulations again to our winners!
amitoufo!

[GeneChing]

The Long Fist of the Emperor - Shaolin Special 2013

The next Songshan Shaolin Champion will be determined at the Tiger Claw Elite Championship on June 1, 2013 in San Jose, CA.

[GeneChing]

In the biggest upset of the weekend, Chris Shepherd won the title of Songshan Shaolin Champion for 2013.