Wushu Warriors Series : Alfred Hsing

Wushu Warriors: Chang Quan Series

Wushu is the courage to never give up and the determination to become the best in life. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing a seasoned champion overcome obstacles with great ease and confidence. On behalf of Wushu Shaolin Entertainment, USA Wushu Champion Alfred Hsing is invited to demonstrate northern long fist also known as Chang Quan (長拳). After countless years practicing Chinese Martial Arts as a member of the USA Wushu Team, Alfred Hsing has developed a clear and concise understand of modern Chang Quan. 

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Practitioners of the Long Fist trained their style on live trees, hardening their limbs, improving their foundation and stances; and practicing to break bones.

History of Long Fist

The core of Changquan / Long Fist was developed in the 10th century by Zhao Kuangyin, founding Emperor of the Song Dynasty (960--1279). His style was called Tàizǔ Chángquán, which means "the Long Fist style of Emperor Taizu." In semi-legendary "classic" writings transmitted by Taijiquan's Yang family, their martial art is referred to by the name Chángquán in one of the received texts. These texts can only be reliably dated to the second half of the 19th century. The Long Fist of contemporary wǔshù draws on Chāquán, "flower fist" Huāquán, Pào Chuí, and "red fist" (Hóngquán).

Widely perceived to have a strong Shaolin influence, traditional Long Fist was promoted at the Nanjing Guoshu Institute by Han Qing-Tang (韓慶堂）, a famous Long Fist and qin na expert. After the defeat of Chiang Kai-Shek and subsequent closing of the institute, the new People's Republic of China created contemporary wushu, a popular artistic sport inspired largely by traditional Long Fist. However, this new evolution of changquan differed from the old style in that it was exhibition-focused. Higher, more elaborate jump kicks and lower stances were adopted, in order to create more aesthetically pleasing forms. Applications were then reserved for the sport of sanshou, which was kept somewhat separate from the taolu (forms).