Liu He Ba Fa (Water Boxing)
六合八法拳An internal style known as water boxing. The movement advances in waves that never stop; its documented history begins only with Wu Yihui in the 20th century.
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About Liu He Ba Fa (Water Boxing)
Liuhebafa quan, the fist of six harmonies and eight methods, is often called water boxing because of its flowing movement. It is counted among the internal styles, alongside tai chi, xingyi and bagua, yet it differs from each of them. The movement is neither circular like bagua nor linear like xingyi: it advances in waves that overlap and never come to a stop. One technique passes into the next without interruption, the centre of gravity falls and rises, and the arms trace a path that resembles a current rather than a blow. The teaching consists of six harmonies, which join body and intent, and of eight methods, among them leading, breathing, releasing and concentrating. The basic long form has sixty-six sections and is among the longest forms in the Chinese internal styles. Qigong and weapons work belong to the curriculum as well. Tradition ascribes the style to the Daoist Chen Tuan of the Song dynasty, who lived on Mount Hua in Shaanxi province. That ascription is legend; the documented history of the style begins only with Wu Yihui, who lived from 1887 to 1958 and was the first to teach the art publicly. Wu began learning around 1900 and in 1901 became the disciple of masters Yan Guoxing and Chen Guangdi. In the 1930s he taught in Shanghai, and in 1936 he headed instruction at the Central Martial Arts Academy. Among his students were four leading practitioners of Yiquan.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.