WaterSpirit-6x8

Water-Spirit Forms

HOME
PRODUCTS-Rx
SiteMAP
CONTACT
MySTORY
SEARCH
Friends
LEGAL
NEXUS-Erg
XBASE-TaoYin
XCHANGE-Yiquan
XCROSS-HunYuan
XWalking-Lin Guan-Ming
XBall-WunYuenKao
MindTools
PRINCEPTS-Water
MEDIA-Book
MEDIA-Video
NoteBene
NAMES Search
NAME-Numerics
GLOSSARY
PLEXUS-History
TEACHINGS
LINEAGE-Tutors
LINKS
LHBF-System
ALT.Exercises
 Hua Yu Tai Chi Chuan
華嶽 太極拳 六 合 八法

Of the internal martial styles, LiuHe BaBa is ' rare'. It is a high bred matrix of principles and forms from various sources and times; it can be and has been described partially correctly by many sources depending on the point of view and depth of knowledge/experience. [The addended listing below was written and translated by teacher John ChungLi, available to his students.]   

   It is most often simply described as:
(1) a 3-way union of exercises in series of taiji + xingyi + bagua.
(2) a 4-part-series with an extra-special-part:  part-1: taiji, part-2: xingyi, part-3: bagua, and a part-4: called 'water'-style.  These views are both correct and incorrect.
(3) as an exericse-series that 'blends' together  'taiji', 'xingyi', and 'bagua' forms and principles, into its own unique exercise 'water' style, yet visually remains similar to the other three.

  The LiuHe BaFa exercise consists of sixty-six named-form-postures, each consisting of several motions, collectively the exericse-series including over five hundred martial applications [simple calculating 66x the number of applications within each form would held:  66x5=330, 66x7=462, 66x8=528] In practice, however, there are shorter and longer exercise-series depending on the teaching and the students stamina.

(4) As this 66-form exercise is divided into two sections, again, there are interpretations of each divisions'  utility and intent:  usually it is observed that the 'first' section is a routine more of a 'taiji' and 'xingyi' nature and that the 'second' section is a routine more of a 'bagua' nature. Again, this viewpoint is partly correct and incorrect; both sections can be shown to contain taiji-xingyi-bagua and 'water' style methods and applications.

(5) As there is a division of two sections, it has also been said that the first sections' intent is to bring about a integration of the mind-body relation; while the second sections' intent is more of an esoteric center-channel opening exercise; this is from a taoist qigong-spirit viewpoint. [suggested by taoist Eva Wong]

  This idea is also mentioned by the International Taoist Tai Chi Society Founder, Moy Lin-shin: "Lok Hup Ba Fa (or Liu He Ba Fa) originated with the Taoist sage Chen Hsi-I of Hua mountain (Hua Shan), who lived during the late Tang dynasty, about the 9th century of the current era.  Chen Hsi-I was known for his methods of cultivating health and longevity.  One of these methods was a set of movements known as Lok Hup Ba Fa, the six harmonies and eight methods of mind and intention. Recognized as the internal art par excellence the moves of Lok Hup are designed to stimulate and massage the internal organs and exercise the spine. The Lok Hup form consists of 66 movements that are noteworthy for their graceful, spiral turning. The movements may be regarded as an 'intensifier' of the turning and stretching effects that are already evident through the practice of Taoist Tai Chi. Movement originating from the spine forms the essence of Lok Hup and this art is most beneficial to students who have already developed some degree of spinal articulation through practice in Taoist Tai Chi."

(6) Another way to understand the 'what' and 'how' of this exercise comes from its'  names : 'water style' all of the movements can and in principle should be performed as  'floating clouds', 'flowing water', or as a 'swimming dragon'. Sometimes it is soft-slow and calm, at other times quick and surging.   [Today, one must always ask the question, is the current exericise derived from and continuous with 'water' qigong principles; or does it only contain a reminent of these original 'water' style-principles; or is it a hopeful recreation of them in name only?]  There currently exit three 'teaching' names for this exercise

LiuHeBaFa-Sanpan Shiershi: the principles of 'harmony' by 'methods' is achieved at 3-standing levels and by emmulating  form-principles of the 12-animals, shiershi [advancing, retreating, , which develop mobility skills for moving with a situation or partner.] {this is the line of teaching from Liu Yaoxing}

HuaYo-LiuHe-XinYi-BaFa: the high-standards [like Mt.Hua in Shenxi] guide to achieving 'harmony' by 'methods' [6 as 1 together and 8 method-principles], but the central guiding idea, is xinyi, the heart-center-intent or intention. {this is the line of teaching from the Chen YY. to Choi WaiLun traditional school} This title is also given as HuaYo-XinYi-LHBF, which can be read as famous Mt.HuaShan's 'intuitve' and the 6x8-unity-by-harmony text-principles.

HuaYo [HwaYue] taichi: Also, taking the most basic forms from LHBF and executing them to the soft, centralized principles of taichi-, this exercise has also been named ; this was a more modern naming by John ChungLi, however, Mr.Li was strongly influenced by teacher friends: TT.Liang while in Boston, and by Han XingYuan while in Hongkong; a touch of ChenManChing-syle with YiQuan; in itself a novel update and a simplification.

(7) A pragmatic historical/principle view would be that its' foundation utilizes both stepping, stance, and the axial-torque-power of LiuHe-XingYi-Quan, and that it adapts the the yin-yang turning-stepping and evading patterns of MiTsung-BaGua and Aikido, and that the resilient-absorbing/neutralizing principles and slowed-pace of practice characteristic of taiji carry throughout the exercise. This view is correct superficially and is also the official assessment of a noted martial-arts historian. {there  exists also personal documents from the survivors of Wu YuHui's family which counter-attest that the exercise does predate Msr.Wu.}

(8) A pragmatic observation is that the exercise encompasses the water-flowing principles [which can be shown  to have an ancient lineage] passed from the three immediate teachers of Wu Yi-Hui were bonefide in principle, but that the actual forms taught by Wu in Nanking show form and principle influence from the exercise known as Lu Hung's eight-strategies [which was also taught seperately] and some martial patterns drawn from other teachers of the Nanking Martial academy. [It can be easily shown that the complete system is also dividable into four (4) parts: a start=finish, a flowing-series which is best in principles, a martial-series mostly within the second half which is almost identical with the Eight-Strategies series (and is thus not a qi-gong like as the flow-series), and a standing and weight-shifting aspect that is partly like Yi-quan and partly like the 'universal' tai chi standing of Kuo Lien Ying, one-legged.]

Also, for current 'styles' of the exercise, there is further influence entering from the yi-quan standing exercises.  Neither of these degrades the LHBF, but both impede the flow character of 'water' style.

(8) The waterstyle-LHBF exercise of Wu YiHui, includes so many concepts and forms, a practitioner can perform them in the stylized-manner of his choice or as a mixed 'plasma' :
  • Center inpenetrable, Shell-Perimeter  soft-yielding, rubber-ball, standing-post, TaiJi
  • Center  void, Shell-Perimeter hard-woven, wire-mesh-ball, orbit-turning-track, BaGua
  • Center  resilient, Shell-Perimeter  hard-inpenetrable, metal-ball, axial-tensigrity, XinYi
  • Center  singularity, Shell-Perimeter  folding-vortex, omnipotent-point, primordial
  • Center  everywhere, Shell-Perimeter  nowhere, spiraling, cirrus, string
Waterstyle-LHBF can and often is done both slow and fast and with fa-jing pulses similar to those seen in Chen-style, 'to stay awake'; I personally do not recommend this, it is better to flow through using occasional fa-li, test pulses. In comparison to LHBF, the pure water-principled-style is more eceletic and free-evolving, ever-changing and without distinct martial style and it can be done without martial intent. This continuous flowing without intention is called mo-jin and is considered a high achievement in yi-quan. I have been told that it appears like a swimming in circles or like a chasing a ghost; I have also been told that when done this way, it is identifiable as unalike any of the other three-styles.

Liu He Pa Fa System:
Liu He Ba Fa 六合八法拳     was originally called "Water Boxing" 水拳  The 'water' principle is the release of the kinesthetic knowledge innate to the body; thus the water style-principle is archaic and long-predates its absorption and renaming within the Nanking taught Liu He Ba Fa boxing-system.
 
The complete Wu Yi Hui, Nanking System consists of six hand forms of various origins, most are associations of water-flowing which is the core principles, have complementary and oppositional balance, and swimming and coiling and hun-yuan circling:

The LHBF principle-form "Zhu Ji 築基" was taught in the late nineteen thirties in Shanghai and Nanjing by Wu Yi Hui

築基    Zhu Ji - Seeking the Foundations [seeking the roots]

築基 六合八法拳 LiuHe BaFa Chuan, Six Harmonies Eight Methods Fist

三盤十二勢  San Pan Shi Er Shi - 3 Level-Divisions, 12 Animals-form

 

Addended-Embedded Exercises of Various Sources:
呂紅八勢 Lu Hong Ba Shi - Lu Hong's 8 Sections  (8 linking palm)
龍虎戰  Long Hu Zhan - Dragon and Tiger Fighting
螫龍遊  Zhe Long You - Coiled Dragon Swimming
螫龍拳  Zhe Long Chuan - Coiled Dragon Fist

Weapon forms of Liu He Ba Fa Chuan:

心意棍  Xin Yi Guan - Heart-mind Intent Staff
露花刀  Lu Hua Dao - Flower Broadsword Dew Mist Broadsword
玉川劍  Yu Chuan Jian - Jade River Straight Sword

Other methods:  Internal cultivation,

韋佗功 Wei Tuo Gong - Standing Meditation

太陽功 Tai Yang Gong - Solar Meditation

先天座 Xian Tian Zhuo - Before-Heaven Meditation

推手   Tui Shou - Push Hands [tai-chi, mantis, wing-chun]

一杰混元功 Yi Jie Hun Yuan Gong - Circular-Spiral Force

混元 Hun Yuan Liu - Wooden Ball-Table Rolling Methods

 

Associated Exercises:

陳摶 Chen Tuan Qi Gong -Taoist Sleeping Chi Kung of Chen Tuan

水 Shui Gong -Waterwash Qi Gong

LHBF-HwaYo-Forms Series-1:
LHPF-HwaYo Forms Names
forms-name1.jpg
Series-1
LHBF-HwaYo-Forms Series-2:
LHBF-HwaYo Form Names
forms-name2.jpg
Series-2
Copyright: waterspirit6x8
Letter from Tim Cartmell, Shen Wu Academy Martial Arts
"Dear Mr. Foxx,
   Thank you very much for your letter. I apologize for my delay in response.  First of all, let me say I've been a fan of your work for 20 years, ever since I read an article you wrote on standing practice for Inside KungFu (as a matter of fact, I still have a copy in my files).  In addition, I thing your book on liu he ba fa is about the best work I've seen in English on the principles of internal martial arts.
   In regard to your questions, I'm afraid I can't be of much help.  Liu He Ba Fa is rare to find, even in china.  Actually, besides a wushu performance version of the form, the only traditional Liu He Ba Fa I encountered was in Hong Kong.
   On the next page, I've enclosed a translation from what is generally considered to be the definitive 'Encylopedia' on chinese martial arts in the Mainland.  The author, Kang  Ge Wu is probably the most knowledgable martial arts historian in China and is the recognised historical expert by the govenment.  This is really the only reliable info.  I have heard of the Wu YiHui - Wang XiangZhai friendship, but I personally haven't heard of any other Liu He Ba Fa - YiQuan connections.
   Good luck on your research.  Let me know if I can be of any help.
Sincerely, Tim Cartmell.
The following translation is by Tim Cartmell:
 
History of Liu He Ba Fa, from: 'Pracitcal Chinese Martial Arts Complete'
 
by: Kang Ge Wu  (foremost Chinese Martial Arts Historian)
 
"Liu He Ba Fa is one form of boxing.  It was first taught in Shanghai in 1930 the Manchurian Wu Yi Hui. Wu said that he learned the style from Chen Guang Bi, Yan Guo Xing, and Chen He Lu.  Most are in agreement that the story that the Sung Dynasty Daoist Chen Tuan invented the style is false.
From observation it can be deduced that the style was based on Tai Ji Quan with some of the strong points of Xin Yi Liu He Quan (10-animal Xing Yi Quan) and Ba Gua Zhang incorporated.  Another plausible theory is the Liu He Ba Fa is primarily based on Xin Yi Liu He Quan, with some Tai Ji Quan and Ba Gua Zhang added (In the Compendium of Styles, Liu He Ba Fa is listed as a sub-style of Tai Ji Quan.)" [My personal gratitude to Tim Cartmell for providing this information
 
 
 The following communique is from C.S.Tang,  Hong Kong: Martial Arts Assn.
"Dear Mr. Khan Foxx,
My friend, do believe me.  I have been learning water fist  (*liuhebafa*) since 1966. 
It's the creation of Wu Yi Hui in Nanking; later his students Leung Chi Pang and
Chen YickYan taught this in Hong Kong.  We would say that it's a combination of
internal three schools, ie. Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua.  There is no direct relation between
Yiquan and Sun LuTang. Only we would say Wu YiHui and Wang XiangZhai are friends
at that time.  Wu was also a famous martial artist. 
   This form is not so popular [so the number of people is limited] since the form itself is
too long and not so practical the the 3 schools. But I still like its' beautiful movements.
Master Leung's movement is pretty and with different speed and close to BaGua.
Mr. Chen's is more harder and close to XingYi. 
  
In 'the picture' [the group photo from Nanking] there is nobody still alive already.  Mr. Wan Tin Hung, who practised Lu-Hung [quan], died already.  I,  myself have learned Lu Hung.
   We, our HongKong Martial Arts Assn. held NeiJi Quan competition each year and there are participants.  However, Fong Pak Sing [taiji-styled LHBF] is the oldest teacher available.  My form came from the same source as him, from Master Leung [bagua-styled LHBF]."
[from email dated 30 July 1999]
 
Sincerely, CS Tang