... Chinese Wrestling ...

Chinese Wrestling comes from Shanpuying, a wrestling institute set up in the Qing Dynasty. ‘Shanpuying’ literally means ‘good at wrestling’. In fact, Chinese Wrestling has several thousand years of history and is well known for its comprehensive techniques.

Basic Exercises

i.The training of the body

The basic exercises of Chinese Wrestling can be broken down into three categories :

Arm work includes shoulder pressure, rocker arm, elbow rotation, wrist circle and finger pressure.

Waist body skills include lower waist, rinse waist, long waist and shock waist.

Leg and foot skills include head-on legs, side legs, closing legs, swinging lotus legs, squatting kick, kneeling legs, drilling feet, cross legs, pulling legs, etc.

Objectives: to strengthen joints, ligaments and muscles, enhance flexibility of joints and bands, and improve muscle control ability and elasticity.

ii. Tripping exercise

This exercise includes the use of techniques like si bu ru kong (四步入空), xiao wai zhuang (小崴樁), da wai zhuang (大崴樁), tiao wai zhuang (跳崴樁), etc. By strengthening the coordination between arms and feet, students would improve their flexibility, sense of coordination and sense of balance.

iii. Machine-based exercises:

The machines used for training muscular strength in Chinese Wrestling are da bang zi(大梆子), xiao bang zi (小梆子), shi suo (石鎖), etc.

The aim of practicing with machines is to strengthen the power of different body parts. Coupled with the techniques of tripping, this exercise can develop the endurance, tightening forces and muscular explosive forces of students.

i.Name of wrestling frame

Wrestling frame is a unique standing method in Chinese wrestling. It can be divided into two categories: high wrestling frame and low wrestling frame, which can be used for people of different shapes. The station rules used in wartime include opposite frame and top frame.

ii. Basic hand forms:

Tiger fighting hand, including grip shape and master shape

iii. Basic holding forms:

There are eight positions where the practitioner can get hold of the opponent’s clothes. For example, one can seize the collar, the sleeves, or the belt of the opponent.

iv. Basic catch-and-hold forms:

The catch and hold form aims at tripping the opponent without establishing physical contact with his clothes. One may choose, for example, to grab the wrists of the opponent or wrap his own arms around the opponent’s neck.

v. Basic footwork

Including up step, withdrawal step, cover step, back step, defeat step, slide step, follow step, etc.

i. Positioning Techniques:

Front positionP: Wrestling with your opponent face to face.

Back position: Wrestling with your back facing your opponent.

Side position Wrestling by standing or moving beside the opponent.

ii. Falling Techniques

Front falling, back falling, and side rolling.

iii. Wrestling Forms

Attack wrestling is the main attack trip. It can be combined with different positioning techniques to seize all the attack opportunities of the other party and make the other party stumble in the case of binding and tripping.

Counter-attack wrestling: When the attack falls without tripping or becomes passive, the skill of destroying and seizing the attack.

Chain wrestling: it means to reverse an adverse situation by a combination of wrestling moves.

These three types of wrestling include the following three methods:

(i) Using the waist as a means of attack, including the techniques of Nao Che Zi, collapse, big sprain, jumping sprain, crossing the bridge, drilling and carrying, leaning, holding, lying knife and so on.

(ii) Using the arms as a menas of attack, including the techniques of Chuai, breaking, drape, entering, Bie, Huo, cross hand, holding the leg, holding the waist, and so on.

(iii) Turning legs and feet into a means of tripping, including hook, Bie, Da De He, Xiao De He, rake feet, block kick, wrap knife hook, wrap Diao, squeeze, cuddle legs, pipe legs and other techniques.

When you acquire the basics of our wrestling skills, you will progress much faster than you imagine. The basics include:

Head Techniques

Elbow Techniques

Shoulder Techniques Hand Techniques

Leg Techniques

Waist Techniques

Body Techniques : including kao shen (靠身), ya shen(壓身), ting shen(挺身), etc.

Footwork and Stepping Positions : including Tiao bei bu (跳背步), Tiao cha bu (跳插步), San dian bu (三點步), etc.