"A thousand repetitions of Jiazi will suddenly increase the strength of the practitioner."
“Secret Texts of Meihua Quan”
Meihua Quan Cheng Quan (Change Boxing)
INTERNATIONAL MEIHUA QUAN FEDERATION
Jiazi & Cheng Quan
Meihua Quan Frame & Duilian
Jiazi is a fundamental training path in the practice of Meihua Quan. The goals are for a person to form a solid root, strengthen the body, acquire through diligent training the theory of the style and more profound concepts of the philosophy of Meihua Quan.
Repeating Jiazi a thousand times would lead one, according to the ancient texts, to reach a level defined as “Shenhua” (transformation of the body) followed by “Qihua” (transformation of Qi).
Cheng Quan means Duilian or training in pairs. In the past, it was taught after three years of Jiazi practice. Now, Cheng Quan is taught after one year. It is a more advanced training method between two people and respects the structure of the "eight directions and four doors." The practice of Cheng Quan between more than two people is called Qun Quan (group boxing).
Cheng Quan Method
The purpose of Cheng Quan is actual combat training. The routines have specific technique skills with multiple counterattack options (Yin & Yang, Yi Jing triagrams, hexagrams, and many more). The movements are highly variable and flexible, and the potential for change is unlimited.
People with different physical capabilities (men & women or young & old) can perform techniques in harmony with their fitness level and discover what is suitable for them.
Cheng Quan
Rules, Skills & Path of Study
The fighting techniques of Cheng Quan can be used in a real fight, such as grabbing, closing, unbalancing and throwing, hitting (Zhua, Na, Shuai, Da), falling and rolling, and performing acrobatics.
In addition, Cheng Quan trains the defense and attack skills in the “three sections of the body,” hitting the opponent on targets at different levels.
Four Fundamental Rules
The fundamental rules governing the study of Cheng Quan are:
1) Chu Shou Yin Shou (a technique to attract the opponent’s attack);
2) Jian Shou Shi Shou (a technique to react to the opponent’s attack);
3) Jian Jin Shi Jin (perceive the opponent’s strength before using your own);
4) Jie Jin Shi Jin (take advantage of opponent strength if his movements invade your sphere of action).
Three Skills & Path
Studying Cheng Quan leads to the understanding of three skill levels:
1) Ting Jin (perceiving the opponent’s strength);
2) Hua Jin (transform the opponent’s strength);
3) Dong Jin (estimate the depth of the opponent’s attack and understand where his inattention lies).
The next step for a Meihua Quan student includes:
1) Use one’s strength by “borrowing” that of the opponent in a single moment (Jian Jin Shi Jin Ta Jin)
2) Induce the opponent to enter our space without allowing him to reach his goal (Yin Jin Luo Kong)
3) Hit the opponent directly whenever the opportunity arises (De Men Rr Ru)
Theory of Changes
Through the physical and theoretical understanding of the theory of changes, it is possible to defeat the enemy with a surprise movement or, even more surprisingly, to change a defeat into a victory.
The strategy and tactics in the Meihua Quan techniques are from the Taoist Sun Zi’s “Art of War” on military art written in the 5th century BC. The book explains the destructive force of water, adaptable to the forms around like an army facing the enemy adapting to the circumstances to win the war.
Cheng Quan’s practice teaches to make a sudden change rather than hitting the opponent straight.
“In martial arts, an unpredictable strategy, a mysterious shape, and unexpected movements are essential; in this way, it is impossible to take countermeasures. What gives an excellent general the certainty of victory is inscrutable wisdom and a way of operating that leaves no trace. Only that which is formless cannot be damaged. The wise men are hidden in inscrutability, and their feelings are not known; they operate formlessly, and their lines cannot be hindered.”
Book of the Masters of Huainan Taoist Canon Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD)
In the training of Cheng Quan and Ying Quan, there are systems for increasing Qi. There is even a particular type of Qi in actual combat called “attacking Qi” (Dian Qi) used to damage the opponent. This type of Qi is a peculiarity of Meihua Quan. It does not concern specific points along the acupuncture channels (meridians) but rather penetrates the opponent’s body producing devastating effects, such as bone fractures, tendon lacerations, and damage to internal organs.
The combat legwork used in Cheng Quan is Bafang Chun Bu (Group of Steps in the Eight Directions). This method enables the practitioner to move left and right, approach or retract, attack, and defend smoothly so that the body movements are quick and flow like the wind, while the positions are stable, like a nail driven into the wood.
It is one of the reasons why the “style of plum blossom poles” has always been handled with prudence and respect over the centuries.
Cheng Quan with Weapons
Meihua Quan has many duilian techniques and applications of various weapons in real combat situations. They are pre-established routines using the Jiazi techniques.
Empty hand vs. dagger
Empty hand vs. spear
Empty hand vs. saber
Two daggers vs. flower spear
Hooked saber vs. flower spear
Double saber vs. spear
Double crutches vs. spear
Trident vs. halberd
Fighting with sticks
Fighting of large Chen Xiang woes vs. flower spear
Double crutches fighting
Swords fighting