FITNESS • FLEXIBILITY • POSTURE
Chun Yuen Quan can be learnt and practiced as a yang compliment to the more yin Qigong skill or can be learnt on its own.
What is Chun Yuen Quan?
Master Michael Tse
Chun Yuen Quan is a martial art skill that originated from the Northern Shaolin Martial Arts Lineage. With an emphasis on good posture, this skill is ideal for creating strong Qi and fitness as well as strengthening bones and muscles. Chun Yuen Quan also works on helping the body to be light and flexible which faciltates mobility and circulation. This skill can be practiced either more gently or with a greater degree of challenge making it accessible to all, regardless of age or ability.
Sifu Vanessa Backus
History
Chun Yuen Quan orginated in Northern Shaolin and was passed down through the Beijing Opera in order to preserve the skill during challenging times. The Chinese Opera very often portrays historical events, particularly those honouring famous generals so it was improtant that performers/actors had genuine martial art skill. Master Wu Chun Yuen, who taught Master Michael Tse, learned the skill from Master Wang Ping who trained the opera actors. In 2002 Master Tse changed the name from Northern Shaolin to Chun Yuen Quan in honour of his teacher.
Master Wu Chun Yuen
What will I learn in class?
As in Qigong, students are guided through the Chun Yuen Quan syllabus at a manageable pace.
Students will first learn the Tse Qigong Centre Warm Up exercises. Making sure the body is relaxed and loose is very important in order to avoid injury. These exercises warm up the body in a systematic way by first working with the waist and kidney area, then the joints in the lower and then upper part of the body. These warm ups, exercises in their own right, offer students challenges and rewards as they become more accustomed to them, and experience improvement in strength, co-ordination and balance. The first form in the syllabus to be taught is Xing Shou. Xing Shou which means “style hand”, helps students to become familiar with the Chun Yuen Quan stance and hand positions. The form can be practiced with varying degrees of challenge by incorporating quicker work and jumps. The next form called Da Bei Gong (Great Sadness Gong) works for co-ordination and fitness and it is particularly beneficial for the lungs. It helps with depression, asthma or other breathing problems and at the same time improve fitness and flexibility