Li Family Tibetan Snake Boxing

CLICK HERE FOR ALL INFO Tibetan Snake Boxing (Ground Fighting)

This is one of the families of Daoqiquan martial art methods developed by the Li clan. Tibetan Snake boxing (Panxuan-she Qanji) also know as coiling serpent boxing specializes in fighting while, kneeling, sitting, rolling or lying on the ground. The Snake Boxer through tumbling, rolling and coiling controls the balance of his opponent by striking or locking vulnerable joints or striking pressure points with devastating effectiveness.

On this video can be seen short scenes from the DVD Tibetan Snake Boxing Vol. 1, workshop footage and a demo performed by Dr. John Painter (age 64) at A Taste of China 2007. Only a few of the hundreds of combat techniques are illustrated here in each segment.

The art has three levels:
1. Standing tactics
2. Kneeling tactics
3. Reclining tactics

According to Li family legend the method was allegedly created in Tibet (Xizang) over four hundred years ago by a Tibetan Lama who later taught it to Lama Zurdwang Rinpoche. Master Zurdwang then passed it down to the Li clan a Chinese family of professional bodyguards (Baobiao). Snake boxing, as we know it today is now a part of the Li family Daoqiquan Gongfu system. It is highly energetic and requires a high degree of flexibility and tumbling skills to perfect.

As to the art really originating in Tibet this seems doubtful. Most likely the method was devised by Lama Zurdwang after he entered China or a member of the Li family. Dr. Painter suspects it was named Tibetan Snake Boxing because it was a good Chinese military tactic right out Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." One way to keep the enemy nervous and on edge is to never let him know your plans and to make him believe you possess a secret weapon or skill that he cannot stand against.

Tibetans Lamas were thought to be skilled in mystical powers. They were thought to have developed their Lung (Qi / internal energy) to such a high degree that they could run for miles without becoming winded (Lung Gompa), survive in sub-freezing temperatures dressed only in thin cotton garment (Gtumo) and many other mystical feats. If it were thought that one was in command of such knowledge and there was also a secret Tibetan martial method unknown to the Chinese martial arts societies spreading such misinformation could prove a tactical advantage.

Lama Zurdwang Rinpoche is said to have also created another method used by the Li clan, Blue Heron boxing. In all probability he developed these methods after he had studied in China for many years and had embraced the Daoist way of life. All of this is conjecture based on legend. What is a reality is that the two martial arts Tibetan Snake Boxing and Tibetan Blue Heron are real martial art systems, part of the Daoqiquan arts that were passed down to John Painter from Li, Long-dao. Parts of these two systems are presently taught to students and law enforcement officers around the world. Traditional Li family Chinese martial and Qigong arts are taught at The Gompa in Arlington Texas and though our branch schools.

Write Thegompa@aol.com for workshop and study information.

The DVD TIBETAN SNAKE BOXING VOL 1 was professionally produced in Los Angeles by John Adams it was filmed at the House of Champions using a few of their full contact fighters as attackers. You can order it from the IAM Company for $29.95 + $3.00 Shipping.

Email thegompa@aol.com for details.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Ground
• Fighting
• Snake
• Boxing
• Bagua
• Xingyi

[WDTripps]

This is not even close to the snake style I learned which was traced back to china.

[thegompa]

@WDTripps Dear Sir, I am not sure if you read the explanation of the style origin found below the clip. This is a "family style" created by the Li family. This would be why it was not "Close to the snake style" you learned. There are many styles called Snake styles or Snake Boxing. China is a huge country with many things perhaps not dreamed of in your philosophy.

[dragob732]

you have to learn forms to practise this style,it seems good practical

[thegompa]

@dragob732 There are no long or formalized forms in this art just as in most of the Li family methods. The system is based on practical principles that can be used to create a never ending supply of techniques and methods suited to the moment. Thanks John Painter

[thegompa]

And a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.

[xxxxxNUMBER1xxxxx]

are they have semilar technique like BJJ ground grappling position like mounting position, side control etc.?

[solid902]

All martial arts are related in the sense that it is all body mechanics you all are just putting techniques in a box and giving them a name.

[thegompa]

Dear Sir,

As I understand it Dog Boxing uses ground fighting tactics as does Li family Snake Boxing. I do not think they are related except in that they both use ground tactics.

Thank You

John Painter

[Tazz77]

Awesome.

[thegompa]

Dear Sir,

The name Li is very common in China like Smith in the USA. I doubt that there is any connection as Li. Long-dao and his father Li, Zhang-lai were the only two males from this particular family from Sichuan to come to the USA after the war. The system you studied was most likely from another clan with the sur-name Li.

Thanks for asking