MA KUEI
MA GUI - MA SHIH CHING - MU MA - TS'O TZU
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Ma Kuei was a powerful martial arts master and Imperial Bodyguard for Prince Su in the capital city of Beijing. Ma Kuei was a disciple of our past master Yin Fu, and also trained directly under Pakua Chang founder Tung Hai Chuan. Ma Kuei taught at the house of Prince Tuan in Beijing, training his second son Pu Chin in martial arts. Pakua Chang is one of the primary Wu Tang Martial Arts taught today at Imperial Combat Arts. Pakua Chang is a well proven combat system that had a role in the development of close quarters pistol, knife fighting, and the empty hand combat used by modern special forces. Pakua Chuan contains bare handed strikes, kicks, joint locks, chin na, throws, and melee weapon mastery.
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MA KUEI'S EARLY LIFE
Ma Kuei was born in 1847 in the capital city of Beijing and started training martial arts as a young child. He began his study with several martial arts including Arhat Hand and the Taoist combat art of Tien Kang Ch'uan (Tian Gang Quan). Excelling in martial arts Ma Kuei would come to train directly under Yin Fu and Pakua Chang founder Tung Hai Chuan, beginning at the age of only 12 years old. Early on Ma Gui would also be known as Ts'o Tzu (Cuozi) meaning "Little Ma". Ma Kuei would train extensively with the two Masters until their deaths.
Ma Gui entered into the lumber trade and earned the additional nickname "Mu Ma" or "Lumber Ma".
MA KUEI'S TRAINING AND POWER
Ma Kuei would become one of the greatest martial arts masters of his time. He believed in intense training and strength development, with a heavy emphasis on both toughening and lower leg strength. Ma Kuei would run the circle often in the low realm using a Wolf Stance, he had a net hanging across part of his training ground that would ensure he remained low, as he trained beneath it. By specializing in the low realm, basin walking, and bear walking, Ma Kuei developed incredibly strong legs that had great endurance. He would demonstrate this power by running the circle while underneath a table. Ma Gui's lower legs were so strong and toughened he would allow people to strike them with wooden and iron staves, and it is said his shin bones were protected completely by tissue.
In training Ma Kuei would practice with a sand filled jacket on, and weighted sand belts on his waist and legs. Ma Kuei often practiced with iron rings on his wrists that weighed approximately 10lbs for each arm. Ma Kuei was well known for striking with his bent wrist and extended arm, such as the strikes we use today at Imperial Combat Arts in Pakua Chang, Crane Kung Fu, and Cobra Kung Fu. In the same exercises we still do, he would fall from standing and land on his bent wrists, the strike himself dynamically back to standing. Ma Kuei would come to defeat many famous fighters in his time, ending several fights with his wrist strike. In addition Ma Kuei specialized in Crab Kung Fu, Tien Hsüueh (Dian Xue) pressure point fighting, as well as the Unicorn Fist. Ma Kuei would earn several martial names including T'ieh Ke Po Ma (Iron Arm Ma) and P'ang Hsieh Ma (Crab Ma).
In training Ma Kuei would practice with a sand filled jacket on, and weighted sand belts on his waist and legs. Ma Kuei often practiced with iron rings on his wrists that weighed approximately 10lbs for each arm. Ma Kuei was well known for striking with his bent wrist and extended arm, such as the strikes we use today at Imperial Combat Arts in Pakua Chang, Crane Kung Fu, and Cobra Kung Fu. In the same exercises we still do, he would fall from standing and land on his bent wrists, the strike himself dynamically back to standing. Ma Kuei would come to defeat many famous fighters in his time, ending several fights with his wrist strike. In addition Ma Kuei specialized in Crab Kung Fu, Tien Hsüueh (Dian Xue) pressure point fighting, as well as the Unicorn Fist. Ma Kuei would earn several martial names including T'ieh Ke Po Ma (Iron Arm Ma) and P'ang Hsieh Ma (Crab Ma).
Ma Kuei's primary weapons of mastery were the saber and broadsword. His teachers Tong Hai Chuan and Yin Fu would help him create our famous saber sets know as the 18 Interceptions.
IMPERIAL BODYGUARD MA KUEI
Ma Kuei would become an Imperial Bodyguard in the house of Prince Su working underneath the great Yin Fu.
When Yin Fu first assigned Ma Kuei to the guard the other palace guards thought him a small boy unfit for the job and that his assignment was of favoritism by Yin Fu. This led to a series of challenges from the other guards in which they were severely beaten by the young newcomer. Ma Kuei having proven his skill to the guard, then earned their respect. As an Imperial Bodyguard Ma Kuei's duties would have him patrol the palace perimeter at night. While walking beneath the high palace wall Ma Kuei would toughen his legs by kicking the walls stone foundation with each step. It is said that after years of patrol the stones would become noticeably damaged.
When Yin Fu first assigned Ma Kuei to the guard the other palace guards thought him a small boy unfit for the job and that his assignment was of favoritism by Yin Fu. This led to a series of challenges from the other guards in which they were severely beaten by the young newcomer. Ma Kuei having proven his skill to the guard, then earned their respect. As an Imperial Bodyguard Ma Kuei's duties would have him patrol the palace perimeter at night. While walking beneath the high palace wall Ma Kuei would toughen his legs by kicking the walls stone foundation with each step. It is said that after years of patrol the stones would become noticeably damaged.
During the many years working at Prince Su’s palace, Tung Hai Chuan supervised intensive daily training sessions for Yin and Ma.
TEACHING AT PRINCE TUAN'S
Through his reputation Ma Kuei would be offered an instructorship at the palace of Prince Tuan, teaching his guard and second son Pu Chin. Prince Tuan was a big advocate of martial arts and had many famous martial artists assigned to his property. While teaching at Prince Tuan's estate Ma Kuei would meet and another one of our schools past masters, the great Tai Chi Chuan Master Yang Lu Chan, who was also a martial arts Instructor, as well as being a firearms instructor to the Firearms Brigade, of the Beijing's Garrison forces.
Working at the palaces Ma Gui would earn yet another name, one from the nobility, Ma Shih Ching.
THE BATTLE OF BEIJING
In the year 1900 shortly after the Battle of Beijing (or Peking) the foreign forces of the Eight Nation Army took over the Capital City and began a brutal and punishing occupation that lasted for 15 months. As they first moved into Beijing they killed and beheaded untold numbers of people and executed anyone who resembled a martial artist. During this assault as Yin Fu lead the hasty escape of the Empress from Beijing, and Prince Tuan also narrowly escaped the city, Ma Kuei would become trapped at the palace of Prince Tuan, surrounded by the occupying forces.
Prince Tuan's palace was targeted by the foreigners as a result of his campaign against them. There were over a hundred servants including guards that were barricaded in the palace when it came under siege. The foreign army lit the palace on fire from all sides burning alive all those inside, and shooting any who attempted escape. Yin Fu would be the sole survivor of the assault. He fought his was out of the palace killing numerous soldiers with his saber, he broke through the enemy line and disappeared into the chaotic streets of the Capital.
Prince Tuan's palace was targeted by the foreigners as a result of his campaign against them. There were over a hundred servants including guards that were barricaded in the palace when it came under siege. The foreign army lit the palace on fire from all sides burning alive all those inside, and shooting any who attempted escape. Yin Fu would be the sole survivor of the assault. He fought his was out of the palace killing numerous soldiers with his saber, he broke through the enemy line and disappeared into the chaotic streets of the Capital.
One of King Tuan’s granddaughters recalled “Of everyone in the palace that day, Ma Gui was the lone survivor. He broke through, carving a bloody path out of the siege...”
FALL OF THE CH'ING EMPIRE
Ma Kuei would also survive the conflicts and uprisings surrounding the fall of the Ch'ing Dynasty, that would ultimately lead to a Republic in Beijing in 1912. After the Republic Revolution he quickly assimilated to the new local government and worked at the office of the President of China, remaining close to the center of power. Eight years later he would become a martial arts instructor for the National Police School, teaching officers and new recruits the skills needed to survive in China's dangerous Warlord Era. This was a time of civil wars, strife, and crime. During this time there was a lot of Anti-Manchu sentiment, particularly in Beijing where thousands quickly died in anti-Manchu violence. Our past Masters who were Manchurian fled China but would later on reintegrate with our Chinese lineage Masters in the late 50's and early 60's overseas. The stories of these Masters are much less well known than that of their Chinese counterparts.
TOMB OF TUNG HAI CHUAN
In 1930 Ma Kuei would erected a third stone at the tomb of Tung Hai Chuan. Upon it the following is inscribed:
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Tung left us happiness and long age as lasting mountains from the land of Chinese Traditions. May his art shine and expand in our nation. He had an incredible strength and was involved in the education of his country. He was trying to bring happiness by elevating to the origin of everything.
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When Tung Hai Chuan retired from service at palace of Prince Su he had no family. He lived at Ma Kuei’s home in Beijing for several years where he continued to instruct him in the arts.
MA KUEI THE TEACHER
While other Masters were simplifying their arts for beginners and the general public Ma Kuei did not. Ma Kuei was known as an extremely conservative and demanding teacher who was fiercely dedicated to the traditional way he was taught. He refused to modify his arts to make them easier, as he once stated "anyone who feels the art is too difficult to learn should not be taught in the first place". Not surprisingly he was still a highly sought after instructor and ultimately found some worthy men, such as our past master Fu Chen Sung (Fu Zhen Song).
"I don't want to waste time teaching anyone who cannot be great”. -Ma Kuei
LATE YEARS AND DEATH
Ma Kuei continued to train very hard into his senior years and still engaged in sparring. To quote Li Pao Hua: "When Ma Kuei was in his 80s he would still train the triple Chuan Chang. To Liu Wan Chuan, watching from the side, Ma Kuei's body looked very light, as if his feet did not even touch the ground. Ma Kuei was reinvigorated by the skill of some of his students and accepted on of his prime disciples at the age of 12, the same age he was when he started under Tung Hai Chuan. Ma Kuei would die in Beijing, the same city where he was born, some 94 years later in 1941. Some say he ignored advise to tone down his training and died from overexertion and yet of Ma Kuei's nine sons, eight died before their father.
"The basis of his martial power, at least according to Ma, was at least as much due to his sitting practices, which were pure Taoist meditation, as to his martial arts techniques."
PAKUA IN SPECIAL FORCES
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Pakua was taught by Tsai Ching Tung, a bodyguard to the Empress Cixi, to William E. Fairbairn who later developed the hand-to-hand combat training for the allied forces in WWII. Fairbairn is considered the father of close quarters pistol, knife fighting, and unarmed combatives the military still uses today. Fairbairn trained under Tung for 10 years and considered him "a man of terrifying prowess". The idea of fighting several men, overlapping them, using chin na and strikes combined, as well as the ability to use anything as a weapon, is combat Pakua.
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64 PAKUA PALMS
The hexagram palms relate to the 64 hexagrams of the Taoist I-Ching. These strikes/turns are grouped into 8 sets of 8 palms, each set represented by a trigram. This is an advanced study of Pakua that many never reach as it requires a lot of familiarity and dedication to the style. Most schools today only teach the 8 Primary Palms and have not retained the original fighting style, or its weapon and combat applications. Imperial Combat Arts teaches full combat Pakua Chang with all 64 Palms. Enter Page> Pakua Chang
Ma Kuei opposed simplifying Pakua Chang to just 8 palms, as many had done.
Therefore he taught all sixty-four palms.
Therefore he taught all sixty-four palms.
PAKUA ANIMAL STYLES
There are eight animal styles trained within the art of Pakua Chang. Each animal represents a trigram. The animals styles themselves have their own unique histories and applications that are taught in other styles such as H-sing-I Chuan. These styles have become an integral part of Pakua Chang and give specific options against various types of opponents, various styles, and in different positions or situations. While the Pakua animals are trained in our Pakua Chang, they are a very different study from our Taoist 8 Animal Styles. Enter Page> Pakua
PAKUA CHANG AT IMPERIAL COMBAT ARTS
Pakua is taught throughout the week at Imperial Combat Arts alongside the other Wu Tang Martial Arts. Our focus is on Modern and Full Feudal Combat Training, for lethal combat situations. We begin all students with the Wu Tang Arts teaching combat martial arts as taught for military use, and as arts that can be developed quickly with the natural body. We begin all students with the study of Knife, Gun, Club, and Improvised Weapons as taught to U.S. soldiers from our military history. Enter Page> Pa Kua Chang | Baguazhang
PAKUA CHANG LINEAGE
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Ma Kuei's contributions to Pakua Chang would be survived by several students, of which our own lineage is but one branch. One of Ma Kuei's most recognized disciples named Fu Chun Sung would further survive the arts for us to train them still today. Other branches of Pakua Chang also enter our arts much later via our Masters Tong Sing, and from our Grandmaster Chang.
Many schools of Pakua have moved into training only empty handed, for performance, or with their primary focus on spiritual development. It has become increasingly more difficult to find true combat Pakua. At Imperial Combat Arts our focus has always been feudal weapon training for lethal situations and we teach traditional battlefield weapons as they were practiced by the Imperial Guard for warfare. Most of our schools were already moved from China before the rise of today's performance and theatrical Wu Shu style of martial arts. |
TUNG HAI CHUAN
Tung Hai Chuan (Dong Haichuan) was a highly skilled martial artist renowned for the development of Pakua Chang (The 8 Trigrams Palm), one of the primary Wu Tang Martial Arts taught today at Imperial Combat Arts. Tung Hai Chuan's legendary teachings would make their way into modern special forces and become studied across the globe today. There are many tall tales and legends about Tung but the historical truth is not hard to find. Enter Page> Tung Hai Chuan
YIN FU
Yin Fu was the first disciple of Tung Hai Chuan and a highly skilled martial arts master who served as the Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard for the Empress Dowager, and the Kuang Hsü (Guang Xu) Emperor. Yin Fu would become the chief martial Instructor to the Imperial Court with Bannermen trained by him being stationed throughout Beijing and Zhili (Hebei) province. Yin Fu also trained Snake Kung Fu, Arhat Hand, Plum Flower Fist and mastered battlefield weapons with the Willow Leaf Saber as his primary. Enter Page> Yin Fu
CHENG TING HUA
Cheng Ting Hua (1848-1900 C.E.) was a powerful martial arts Master and the 4th disciple of Pakua Chang founder Tung Hai Chuan. Ting Hua mastered several martial arts including Mongol Wrestling, Shuai Chiao, H'sing-I Ch'uan, and Tai Chi Ch'uan, in addition to Pakua Chang. Ting Hua also mastered battlefield weapons specializing in Saber and Iron Staff. Ting Hua helped unite the Wu Tang Arts under one study, as taught at Imperial Combat Arts today. Enter Page> Cheng Ting Hua