USA Shaolin Wuzuquan Federation

Wuzuquan (Five Ancestor Kungfu) also known as Ngo Cho Kun is a southern Shaolin martial arts based on the techniques of five different styles such as: Baihe, Qitian, Taizu, Luohan and Dazun.  There are several versions of Wuzuquan’s history, with some putting the founding of the art around 1300 AD, while other put it as late as the 1800s.

One of these versions is during the Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368) of China; there lived a highly revered kung fu expert, known throughout the lands as Bai Yufeng.  Not much is known about his past, only that he came from a very rich background, but instead of using his time to become scholar, he spent rest of his time in the Shaolin temple, mastering the many Kung fu styles within the monastery.  One day, as Bai Yufeng passed through the monastery, he learned about the Five Experts (names of which we no longer have records of) that had perfected different techniques from the temple.  Eager to learn, Bai Yufeng sent out invitations to urged them to present and contribute the amazing techniques they had developed: some were experts in kicking techniques, some in agile footwork, other in internal force, and so on.  Bai Yufeng merged these techniques into one, which is now known as Wuzuquan.

Another version takes place during the end Qing Dynasty, a monk name Wu Xun taught Taizuquan at Shaolin Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian.  One of his students, who became a master at the art, taught Li Junyan (also known as Lee Chun Yuan).  Several years later, Junyan then went back to Yongchun Village and adapted the Baihe style.  After studying the arts for 10 more years, Junyan discovered that every martial arts style has its own strengths and weaknesses.  Soon after, he set out and traveled to different places, acquiring more martial arts and integrating them into his style and began to teach at the City of Quanzhou.  As an interesting note, as to why the style of Xuan Nu (Shyua Nee) became part of Wuzuquan.  There is a time when Junyan was practicing with some of his students in the woods, a nun came by and watched them sparring.  After a while, she began to laugh and shake her head towards the students as they practiced.  When Junyan asked the nun why she was laughing, she replied that his students’ techniques were not effective, so he invited the nun to test it out.  At this, the nun made a deal with him; if she could beat two of his students, he would have to integrate Xuan Nu into his style.  Junyan agreed.  The nun came out victorious, so Junyan added the Xuan Nu style, which means “Soft Fist”.

Yet another version of Wuzuquan’s history and probably the most popular one goes like this.  Cai Yuming is the founder of Wuzu Kung Fu.  He was also known as Chua Giok Beng, born in 1853 and lived in the village of Fangwei near the city of Quanzhou in Southern Fujian.  He learned and mastered his Kung Fu with a famous shifu named He Yang.  When He Yang died of old age, Cai Yuming personally escorted Yang’s remain back to Henan province.  After decades of continued research and expertise, he took the government board exam and was awarded the title of “Wuxiucai” (martial scholar).  Afterward, Cai Yuming opened up a Kung Fu school called “Renyitang”, where he trained many disciples.  These disciples, in turn, scattered all over the province of Fujian.  Using techniques that he mastered, Yuming put together the styles of Baihe, Qitian, Taizu, Luohan, Dazun, and chose the essence of each style: the swift counter attack of White Crane’s beak, the agile defense of Monkey’s palm, the leg techniques of Grand Ancestor Song, the footwork of Arhat, and the body postures of Bodhidharma; molding these techniques together into a brand new style of Kung Fu and he named it, Wuzuquan.

Although there are different versions of Wuzuquan, all of them have the same characteristics, theories and principles within themselves. The most important form in this style is San Zhan (three combat).  It was for developing one’s power (qi) and help in mobilizing the inner circulation of air flow to reach out to the extremities, in order to bring together of one’s external and internal forces.  It is this shared characteristic that bond all Wuzu practitioners as one martial family.

The true essence of Wuzuquan heritage and tradition is actively propagated internationally. At present there are schools in China, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.