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Tai Sheng Pek Kwar or "Monkey Kung Fu" is actually the fusion of two different martial arts. Tai Sheng, Monkey, and Pek Kwar, Axe Fist. This art is set apart from mos other Chinese martial arts, which merely copy animal behaviors. To master this art you have to actually become a monkey, act like a monkey, move like a monkey, and do everything like a monkey.
The history of Tai Sheng Pek Kwar is very long so I will only say the important facts.
Pek Kwar was founded in the Shantung province over 2000 years ago by Master Ma Chi Ho. This uses long arm circular movements, low stances, and internal energy of chi. The offensives are circular patterns and angular strikes, like a man striking with an axe . Ma was young and lived near a Taoist temple. He would chop wood for the temple with two axes. One day a priest came up to him, saying "Metal may conquer wood, but the spirit is stronger", without any explanation the priest then walked away. After finishing that day Ma layed down his axes and realized what it meant. Metal meant his axe, conquering wood meant his chopping off branches, and the spirit meant him, or the inner him. Ma then took his axe and swung it, chopping off a branch. He then layed down the axe and angled his fist and arm as if swinging an axe, and swung, chopping off the branch to his surprise. He later perfected this and combined it with some past martial arts he had learned earlier, and called it axe fist.
Ma Chi Ho later passed on this art to his protégé Ken Ming Kwai, who passed it to his son, Ken Yung Kwai, who then, passed it on to his son, Ken Tak Hoi.
Tai Shing begins at the turn of the century near the end of the Ching Dynasty. A short tempered fighter named Kou Tze from northern China killed a fellow villager. The punishment for this was either death or life imprisonment. Some of his wealthy friends bribed the judge to shorten the punishment to only 8 years in prison. In solitary confinement the whole time, he passed the time by training rigorously in the martial arts and watching the family of monkeys living in trees outside his window. He saw that not all monkeys acted in the same way, soon categorizing these into 5 different groups. He soon combined these movements with the Tei Tong style he had learned since birth. The categories became 5 different forms: Tall monkey, Lost monkey, Drunken Monkey, Wooden monkey and Stone monkey. These five forms make up the Tai Sheng art (or Tai Shing). In addition, there are five principles of mental attitude that must be cultivated in this art. They include deviousness, elusiveness, unpredictability, sneakiness and destructiveness. Each of these is employed in each of the five monkey forms. However, each monkey has a unique method of fighting. When Kou Tze was released, he began teaching Tai Sheng to students.
Years later Tai Sheng was passed down from Grandmaster Kou Tze to his best friend's son, later Master Ken Tak Hoi, who was already a master of Pek Kwar. Master Ken Tak Hoi decided to combine these to make a new Monkey Kung Fu, Tai Sheng Pek Kwar, which translates to Monkey Axe Fist.
Well yes I did talk about this on the other thread but no it's not an "alternative" monkey kung fu. It's just another way it was invented into a completely different martial art, they just both happen to be based on monkeys' movements.
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Sorry if you took that as a disrespect, I was simply wondering as I know you had previously gotten into a discussion with Jalek about his post on Monkey style Kung Fu. It is interesting that two distinct styles exist based on the same animal.
it goes to show you that, different people will tell the same story different ways. Or in this case base fighting off the same animal in different ways.
Styles: Tai Shing Pek Kwar, compositional arnis, Budoshin Jujitsu, Krav Maga
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sannin227
Tai Sheng Pek Kwar or "Monkey Kung Fu" is actually the fusion of two different martial arts. Tai Sheng, Monkey, and Pek Kwar, Axe Fist. This art is set apart from mos other Chinese martial arts, which merely copy animal behaviors. To master this art you have to actually become a monkey, act like a monkey, move like a monkey, and do everything like a monkey.
The history of Tai Sheng Pek Kwar is very long so I will only say the important facts.
Pek Kwar was founded in the Shantung province over 2000 years ago by Master Ma Chi Ho. This uses long arm circular movements, low stances, and internal energy of chi. The offensives are circular patterns and angular strikes, like a man striking with an axe . Ma was young and lived near a Taoist temple. He would chop wood for the temple with two axes. One day a priest came up to him, saying "Metal may conquer wood, but the spirit is stronger", without any explanation the priest then walked away. After finishing that day Ma layed down his axes and realized what it meant. Metal meant his axe, conquering wood meant his chopping off branches, and the spirit meant him, or the inner him. Ma then took his axe and swung it, chopping off a branch. He then layed down the axe and angled his fist and arm as if swinging an axe, and swung, chopping off the branch to his surprise. He later perfected this and combined it with some past martial arts he had learned earlier, and called it axe fist.
Ma Chi Ho later passed on this art to his protégé Ken Ming Kwai, who passed it to his son, Ken Yung Kwai, who then, passed it on to his son, Ken Tak Hoi.
Tai Shing begins at the turn of the century near the end of the Ching Dynasty. A short tempered fighter named Kou Tze from northern China killed a fellow villager. The punishment for this was either death or life imprisonment. Some of his wealthy friends bribed the judge to shorten the punishment to only 8 years in prison. In solitary confinement the whole time, he passed the time by training rigorously in the martial arts and watching the family of monkeys living in trees outside his window. He saw that not all monkeys acted in the same way, soon categorizing these into 5 different groups. He soon combined these movements with the Tei Tong style he had learned since birth. The categories became 5 different forms: Tall monkey, Lost monkey, Drunken Monkey, Wooden monkey and Stone monkey. These five forms make up the Tai Sheng art (or Tai Shing). In addition, there are five principles of mental attitude that must be cultivated in this art. They include deviousness, elusiveness, unpredictability, sneakiness and destructiveness. Each of these is employed in each of the five monkey forms. However, each monkey has a unique method of fighting. When Kou Tze was released, he began teaching Tai Sheng to students.
Years later Tai Sheng was passed down from Grandmaster Kou Tze to his best friend's son, later Master Ken Tak Hoi, who was already a master of Pek Kwar. Master Ken Tak Hoi decided to combine these to make a new Monkey Kung Fu, Tai Sheng Pek Kwar, which translates to Monkey Axe Fist.
I must say I am impressed with your knowledge of Tai Shing Pek Kwar kung fu, but I wonder, whom do you learn your art from? The only 2 people that are masters in the United States (and the only 2 non-chinese masters) live on the west coast, and one of them isn't teaching any more. I am a student of Sifu Michael Matsuda, and am getting passed down the full art, along with 5 other students, here in Valencia, California. Are you being instructed by Lloyd od Craig, or are you learning from the videos that Sifu Paulie put out a while ago?
Hi all,
Thanks for everyones info on the said monkey styles; I've found it very helpfull.
Unfortunately though, I cannot seem to find anyone who teaches any of the monkey styles where i live (brisbane, australia).
If anyone knows anything that could help, PLEASE let me know, as i am very keen to begin.
I practice Tong Long Chow Gar, and am loving it's brutal effectiveness, but I have always wished to learn to utilise my legs as more predominant weapons.
Obviously Tong Long, being a southern style, doesnt utilize many kicking techniques. I know there are many other northern styles i could take up in the area, but the movements of Tai Sheng appeal to my personality strongly.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Andrew
You can order the whole DvD set from there. They start with the very basics and work you up teaching subtleties along the way. It's the only video set that teaches genuine Tai Shing Pek Kwar in the world, and they've only very recently been made so the quality, while isn't the best of the best, isn't horrible either. Let me know if you have any questions.
Adam
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Very cool thread even though it's a million years old. Chinese martial arts are fascinationg with the countless different styles and schools. Many of styles are so old the stories about them may have some creative licensing. It's a shame there aren't really many great Kung Fu flicks. Most have the lowest production values, wires, and crappy dubs.
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Hi Monkey Man,
Thanks for your help, it's greatly appreciated. I havent checked the link as im at work. but will do so very soon. will lert you know. thanks again,
Andrew
Hi again Monkey Man, checked the link and i think i might order something in. Im thinking the dvd on Monkey style kicks sounds cool, although i know its probably best to start at the basics, but hey- I'll see if i can figure it out on my own to some extent.
thanks again
Tai Sheng Pek Kwar "Monkey Kung Fu"
. Ma was young and lived near a Taoist temple. He would chop wood for the temple with two axes. One day a priest came up to him, saying "Metal may conquer wood, but the spirit is stronger", without any explanation the priest then walked away. After finishing that day Ma layed down his axes and realized what it meant. Metal meant his axe, conquering wood meant his chopping off branches, and the spirit meant him, or the inner him. Ma then took his axe and swung it, chopping off a branch. He then layed down the axe and angled his fist and arm as if swinging an axe, and swung, chopping off the branch to his surprise. He later perfected this and combined it with some past martial arts he had learned earlier, and called it axe fist.
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