YIN FU
SHOU YIN - 尹福 - CHAN HUAI TS'UN
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Yin Fu was a highly skilled martial artist who served as the Commander of the Imperial Bodyguard for the Empress Dowager, and the Kuang Hsü (Guang Xu) Emperor. He was also the first disciple of legendary Pakua Chang (BaguaZhang) founder Tung Hai Chuan. 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. 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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YIN FU'S EARLY LIFE
Yin Fu was born in 1840 in the Chang (Zhang) Huai Villiage, Chi (Qi) District, Chi Hsien (Jixian) County, in the Hebei Provence. This region was already well know for it's military warriors and martial arts Masters. During the Ch'ing Dynasty this region was called Chi Li (Zhili) Provence, and is the area directly surrounding the capital city of Beijing. Important to the defense of the Capital, Chi Li was full of multi-generational warriors, military men, men-at-arms, and was also the region where Pakua Chang founder Tung Hai Chun was born. Yin Fu was raised with the study of primary battlefield weapons as well as Snake Kung Fu, Arhat Hand, Plum Flower Fist, and Lian Huan Tui.
Yin Fu's father, named Yin Lao Shan, was a farmer who's lands recently suffered severe droughts followed by a series of catastrophic floods. These natural disasters drove Yin Fu from his home to the capital city where he earned an apprenticeship at a cutlery shop for a short time before hiring on at a bakers shop selling baked goods on the streets. In Beijing the young Yin Fu was known by the locals as "Fried Dough Yin" for his baked goods as well as "Thin Yin" due to a growth spurt making him now tall and slender.
Yin Fu's father, named Yin Lao Shan, was a farmer who's lands recently suffered severe droughts followed by a series of catastrophic floods. These natural disasters drove Yin Fu from his home to the capital city where he earned an apprenticeship at a cutlery shop for a short time before hiring on at a bakers shop selling baked goods on the streets. In Beijing the young Yin Fu was known by the locals as "Fried Dough Yin" for his baked goods as well as "Thin Yin" due to a growth spurt making him now tall and slender.
TRAINING UNDER TUNG HAI CHUAN
Working in Beijing Yin Fu would hear all about the famous Tung Hai Chuan, who worked as a martial arts instructor and Bodyguard in the house of Prince Su, and became determined to study under him. He would constantly ask people in the area about Ting Hai Chuan and chose a business route that was near to the palace of Prince Su. Eventually Tung Hai Chuan would hear enough of this determination and agreed to meet Yin Fu who was now in his early 20's. Yin Fu would start training under with Dong in the early 1860’s. Records say he would train under Tung Hai Chuan morning, noon, and night for twenty years. During this time Tung Hai Chuan would become the tax collector for the region of Mongolia, and brought Yin Fu with him on these dangerous travels. The two would serve the Ch'ing Empire as tax collectors for ten years before being recalled to Beijing.
It is said that in the initial fight between Tung and Yin Fu, that Tung struck his future disciple in the mouth with a spear-hand, knocking out his front teeth.
YIN FU'S RETURN TO BEIJING
Returning from Mongolia Yin Fu would use his accrued wealth to begin a protection and bodyguarding agency, training the guards himself. With Yin Fu's martial reputation his agency was very successful and his guards were stationed with Beijing's elites, guarding their homes, and offering personal protection in the streets, and during their travels. Yin Fu would also open up a private martial arts school in the eastern part of Beijing from where he would recruit the guards in his employ. As his wealth grew Yin Fi was would send food and clothing back to his home village each month. In retirement Tung Hai Chuan would still train hundreds of people up until his death in 1882. Yin Fu would be his first and longest serving disciple in the arts of Pakua Chang.
Upon the death of Tung Hai Chuan Yin Fu and 67 other disciples would make a memorial for their teacher just outside of the Beijing's East Gate near the Red Bridge. Yin Fu's name is the first one listed upon the tombstone.
Upon the death of Tung Hai Chuan Yin Fu and 67 other disciples would make a memorial for their teacher just outside of the Beijing's East Gate near the Red Bridge. Yin Fu's name is the first one listed upon the tombstone.
Yin Fu was said to “fight like a tiger”, closing in quickly and knocking his opponent to the ground, like a tiger pouncing on its prey.
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. There are documented stories of soldiers raping and bayoneting women in the street and a large scale looting of China's ancient artifacts and wealth. During this assault Yin Fu would be named Commander of the Imperial Guard and lead the hasty and daring escape of the Emperor and Empress from Beijing, dressed as commoners and escorted by a small contingent of select body guards. Yin Fu's properties would be left behind to be sacked by the invaders. Yin Fu successfully evacuated the ruling family to the northern capital of Sian.
Fifteen months after fleeing Beijing the royal family would return after establishing a truce with the 8 western nations where upon return Yin Fu was richly rewarded by the Emperor. Yin Fu would retain his position as the Commander of the Guard and teach numerous members of the Imperial Court. For this reason Pakua Chang from this time was often referred to a Palace Pakua.
Fifteen months after fleeing Beijing the royal family would return after establishing a truce with the 8 western nations where upon return Yin Fu was richly rewarded by the Emperor. Yin Fu would retain his position as the Commander of the Guard and teach numerous members of the Imperial Court. For this reason Pakua Chang from this time was often referred to a Palace Pakua.
There were numerous assassination attempts on Empress T'su Hsi (Cixi) during here life, all of which were stopped by her Imperial Guard.
RETIREMENT AND DEATH
Yin Fu would retire from his position as Head of the Guard and leave in charge one of his most accomplished disciples named Kung Pao Tien (Gong Baotian). Later Yin Fu would be put in charge of the imperial granary (Lu Mi Ts'ang), a position of wealth and title in the Empire. Yin Fu was known to always be true to his humble roots and was courteous to the common people often helping those in need. He continued to teach martial arts and still accepted many challenges but remained undefeated. Yin Fu died naturally June 28th 1909 at the age of 70. Yin Fu would leave behind many students and disciples who would survive his martial arts into the future in their own ways. Some of these men have become world famous, while many others remain more obscure. At Imperial Combat Arts today we teach multiple forms of Pakua Chang passed down from our various teachers.
In Yin Fu's time his arts were called "Palace Pakua Chang", "Eastern City Palm", or "Willow Leaf Palm".
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
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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Yin Fu's contributions to Pakua Chang would be survived by his many students and family members, of which our own lineage is but one branch. One of Yin Fu's most recognized disciples named Ma Gui 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 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. Our school 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 Hai Chuan but the truth is not hard to find. Enter Page> Tung Hai Chuan
MA KUEI
Ma Kuei was one of the first disciples of Pakua Chang who trained directly under both Tung Hai Chuan and Yin Fu, starting at the age of 12. Ma Kuei was a Bodyguard and Martial Arts Instructor to China's imperial court and later worked at the office of the President and also taught at the National Police Academy. Ma Kuei was a strong and highly toughened Pakua Master who also trained Tien Kang Ch'uan, Crab Kung Fu, Arhat Hand, Tien Hsüueh, Unicorn Fist and also mastered the Saber and Broadsword. Enter Page> Ma Kuei
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