Tibetan Blue Heron Boxing

Li Family Tibetan Blue Heron Boxing
Xizang Canglu Quan
西藏蒼鷺拳
An Introduction to this Rare Art




One of the original martial art methods developed by the Daoqiquan 道 氣 拳founder, Lama Zurdwang was Tibetan Blue Heron Boxing西藏蒼鷺拳. This is a unique style of martial art incorporating method used to neutralizing attacks with a feather soft touch while simultaneously delivering sharp, piercing strikes with natural body weapons of palms, fingers, elbows, knees and feet. The legend of the Blue Heron Boxing states that the style was created by a Lama / Shaman in Chamdo Tibet after he treated the wounds of a nomad who had attempted to trap one of the large birds.

The Heron had stabbed the man with its dagger like beak, ripped his face with its talons and broken the man's wrist with a single flick of its wings. For many years the Lama studied these birds and created a method of self-defense using Blue Heron qualities. This art was reputedly passed on to Lama Zurdwang who later passed it to the Li family in Sichuan.

It is believed that the Li family method of Tibetan Blue Heron Boxing evolved into a mixture of Lama Zurdwang's original principles combined with concepts from Xingyiquan形意 拳. Within the art is a special emphasis on attacking vital nerve points, muscles and joints with strikes, locks and grabbing tactics.

A COMBINATION OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
Offensively the Blue Heron boxer's hands, elbows and feet are used like the heron's talons and beak. Defensively the palms and arms mimic the actions of the birds' wings slapping, deflecting and absorbing blows from the incoming opponents body weapons in a surprising and unique manner. Students of the art also are also taught the Li family locking and breaking methods (Qinna) 擒拿along with leg attacks, iron shirt and iron palm training and light body skills.

This video of Dr. John Painter's performance was taken at A Taste of China in 2007as a part of the Friendship Demonstrations put on by the instructors teaching programs at the event.

Those interested in learning Tibetan Blue Heron Boxing should contact Mike Leach the office Mgr. for The Gompa to arrange private instruction with one of our instructors.
Thegompa@aol.com

Check out the Gompa website www.thegompa.com and our Yahoo Discussion Groups.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Daoqiquan/

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/JiulongBaguazhang/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kung
• Fu
• Karate
• Baguazhang
• Pa
• Kua
• Xingyiquan
• Tai
• Chi

[paddotk]

Cool stuff. Is this actually Tibetan or is it just the name of the style?

[thegompa]

@paddotk We are not sure the history is unclear. In my personal view it is an adaptation of Li family Xingyiquan and pressure point attacks, however my teacher claimed it was learned by his ancestors from a Tibetan. We know how to do it we are not sure of its exact origins.

[01mrfrank]

caucasians really go in for that 70"s kung fu movie master get-up. too funny. Your humour has merit and you seem entertainment orientated. The demo moves are just pre rehearsed sequences not real time scenarios. I quess everyone finds away to make a living and no one is getting harmed. so it is all good

[thegompa]

Mr. Frank, You are welcome to your opinion. We wear the traditional Changpao 長袍robe to honor our teacher Li, Long-dao 李 龍 道a former soldier in the army of Chiang Kai-shek. Shifu Li taught us wearing plaid shirt and jeans or such a robe as shown here so we honor him on stage. It is true that this is not real time scenarios; however they are not pre-rehearsed. I would not presume to judge your style. You apparently are schooled in the ability to judge things you have not studied. I am impressed.

[tusii1]

go up to your URL bar, put a Q between the words you and tube and then press enter or click go

[thegompa]

Dear @tusii1,

Although the techniques look very simple almost too soft to be real the Blue Heron system is based completely on correct body mechanics and the use of touch to nerve points that can momentarily fool the nervous system into stopping an opponents strikes or kicks. It requires some precise timing but it is nothing that cannot be learned by anyone once they know the methods.

Thank You

John P. Painter

[paddotk]

@thegompa thanks for the info!

[lastrange123]

Amazing

[thegompa]

As a matter of fact the individual in the video is a Karate and Aikido stylist. We often demo this with audience members of other styles. It works just the same. Thank You for your comments.

[chiefkamikaze]

I would also like to see this applied to a live sparring match, with a partner from another style..