Methods

The following pages each contain a single method of Korean KWON BEOP. These Boxing methods were taken from over 14 Chinese Boxing Traditions including "TAIZU Long Fist Boxing", "Six Step Boxing", "Monkey Boxing", and "Decoy Boxing". In addition material was taken from "Wen Family 72-Posture Moving Form", "Thirty-six Posture Locking Form", "Twenty-four Throws Pats on Horse", "Eight Evasive Maneuvers" and "Twelve Postures Close Boxing. Also mentioned were some lesser-known arts as "Lu Hung's Eight Throws", "Cotton Chang's Close Boxing", "Li Pan-Tien of Shandong's Leg Maneuvers and "Eagle Claw Wang's Grappling Techniques". Though there was undoubtedly much repeat information, these ways of using the Human body in unarmed combat were identified and characterized by General QI Ji-guang (1526 - 1587) and reduced to 32 methods in the training manual he developed for the Ming soldiers of his time.

In our modern era, misconceptions and misinformation have caused these practices to be both ignored and disparaged. Fear of foreign language, history and culture has denied these methods their rightful place in Korean military history and martial practices. Oddly, with relatively little effort, a martial Art practitioner can quickly come to identify these methods in most, if not all, of today's martial arts including Judo, Karate, Taekwondo and Chuan Fa. One is only required to use an open-mind and careful observation.

On the following pages General Qi's original Ming poetry, characterizing each method, is reproduced along with its English translation. Those methods that are mentioned specifically in Korean manuals such as the MU YE JEBO and the MU YE TOBO TONG JI, though not including all of the original 32 methods will be noted, and the Korean name given as well.

Though often quite stylized in such arts as CHEN TAI CHI CHUAN and traditional Shaolin Long Fist  (C. "Chang Chuan") the biomechanics of each method are effective and typically have both a Concussive (IE. Striking; Kicking) application as well as a Manipulative (IE. Grappling) application. Where possible practical applications of the individual movement, as well as recommended methods with which a single method might be combined, will be included.

Lastly, observations and recommendations that often accompany each method are recognized as being in a constant state of development and revision. Though readily available information on CHEN Tai Chi Chuan and Shaolin Chang Chuan provide insights these are but layers which reflect a kind of understanding known at a point in time. The writings of Ch'ang Nai Chou concerning his little known Internal Boxing as well as the practice of Shaolin Tong Bei Boxing may constitute source materials for both CHEN Tai Chi as well as Shaolin Boxing and reveal yet a deeper understanding of these 32 methods. Just as martial traditions are constantly evolving, so are scholars and practitioners delving ever deeper into the sources of these practices for an ever-fuller understanding of their nature.