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The Journal of Chinese Martial Arts is available free of charge as a service to the martial arts community. All materials are available for personal download for a small fee, based on the length of the publication.
Upcoming Features
Current Features
Interview with Zhu Tian Cai
Zhu Tian Cai of Chen Village, China—one of the Four Tigers of Chen Village—discusses his early training with the great masters Chen Zhao Pi and Chen Zhao Kui. He promotes Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan for both health and self-defense. He emphasizes the importance of relaxation, letting go of tension and stiffness. He describes the significance of Chan Si Jin (Silk Reeling Energy) and discusses the essential qualities of Push Hands practice. He is the founder of the Zhu Tian Cai International Taijiquan Federation. The interview was translated by Kam P. Lee of the Taiji Kung Fu Academy in Florida.
Guo Xian He’s Ying Shou Quan
Guo Xian He, second generation Eagle Claw master. His father, Guo Cheng Yao, was one of the early disciples of Chen Zi Zheng. In this interview, conducted with the assistance of his disciple, Panagiotis Derventis, Guo Xian He traces the history of Eagle Hand Boxing and shares his views on the system as passed down from his father, Guo Cheng Yao. He describes internal training methods (Nei Gong) to develop Qi, and external training for grabbing and striking, joint locking, and attacking pressure points. He discusses seven kinds of strength that are developed in the Ying Shou Quan system, along with Tao Lu (forms) and combat techniques.
Sam Masich Interview
This in-depth interview with Sam Masich provides insights into his early training in several martial arts systems including Judo, Yang Style Taiji Quan, Push Hands, and other internal styles. He trained with a remarkable variety of teachers including Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming and Liang Shou Yu. Selected to compete at the 1st World Wushu Invitational tournament in Xian, China, as part of Canada’s National Martial Arts Team, Masich distinguished himself in competition during the 1980s. He pursued additional studies in China and offers lively descriptions of the training and of his many teachers. He discusses the goals and benefits of competition and offers tips for beginners in developing sticking and adhering skills in push hands.
Long Fist: The Origin of Chinese Martial Arts
Jason Tsou and Art Schonfeld discuss the value of Chang Quan (Long Fist) training as a fundamental way to understand the principles of combat. Long Fist training was originally designed to teach the mind and body essential fighting skills, not to simply demonstrate athletic prowess. The authors describe the origins of the style, methods of training, and the crucial differences between forms practice and application of the techniques in a real fighting situation. They contend that an emphasis on athletic performance, such as in tournaments and competitions, leads to a loss of understanding of the functionality of the movements. In turn, this leads to predictability and hesitation on the part of the fighter. The martial aspects of the style eventually become diluted and the true purpose and effectiveness of the training is lost. Weapons techniques are illustrated and their similarities to empty-hand postures are shown. Qinna and wrestling techniques are covered. Footwork is discussed as a crucial part of the effectiveness of kicks, punches, throws and holds.
