Guo Yunshen
Encyclopedia
Guo Yunshen (1829 - 1898) was a famous Xingyiquan
master. He represented the xingyi martial philosophy of preferring to become highly proficient with only a few techniques rather than to be less proficient with many techniques. His skill with one technique Beng Quan
was legendary : it was said from him that "with his 'half-step bengquan,' he could fight anyone under heaven without finding an equal." (banbu bengquan da yu tianxia wu dishou), and earned the nickname "the steadfast" (bu daota).
Although it is not historically reliable, he is said to have fought Dong Hai Chuan, the founder of baguazhang
, whereby neither was able to defeat the other. The outcome of their purported match was that practitioners of both arts each highly respected the others. In another version of this story, Guo Yunshen, desiring to fight Dong Hai Chuan, he first went to visit Cheng Tinghua
, another native of Hebei province. Cheng invited Guo to dinner. Guo demonstrated his "Divine Crushing Fist," which Cheng evaded twice. Because of this, he rethought his plan to challenge Dong, knowing him to be a superior practitioner to Cheng.
His teaching was based on the "three truths" (san li), the "three capacities" (san gong), the "three methods" (san fa) and the single/double weight notion (danzhong/shuangzhong) during santishi standing practice. His students should stand still for at least three years before they could learn the forms.
Guo Yunshen had learned with Li Luo Neng
and was also a member of the Hebei
xingyiquan
school. He taught famous students like Qian Yantang, Xu Zhanao, Li Kui Yuan and his disciple Sun Lutang. Wang Xiangzhai
, founder of dachengquan also claimed to be his disciple.
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
master. He represented the xingyi martial philosophy of preferring to become highly proficient with only a few techniques rather than to be less proficient with many techniques. His skill with one technique Beng Quan
Beng Quan
Beng Quan or Peng Ch'uan is the third of five dynamics or fists in the art of Xingyiquan. Each dynamic consists of a single attack method and a turn. One normally practices four to five of the attacks, a turn, and the attacks again...
was legendary : it was said from him that "with his 'half-step bengquan,' he could fight anyone under heaven without finding an equal." (banbu bengquan da yu tianxia wu dishou), and earned the nickname "the steadfast" (bu daota).
Although it is not historically reliable, he is said to have fought Dong Hai Chuan, the founder of baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
, whereby neither was able to defeat the other. The outcome of their purported match was that practitioners of both arts each highly respected the others. In another version of this story, Guo Yunshen, desiring to fight Dong Hai Chuan, he first went to visit Cheng Tinghua
Cheng Tinghua
Cheng Tinghua was a renowned master of Chinese Neijia martial art Bagua Zhang.-Biography:Born in the Cheng family village, Shen County, Hebei , he was the third of four brothers....
, another native of Hebei province. Cheng invited Guo to dinner. Guo demonstrated his "Divine Crushing Fist," which Cheng evaded twice. Because of this, he rethought his plan to challenge Dong, knowing him to be a superior practitioner to Cheng.
His teaching was based on the "three truths" (san li), the "three capacities" (san gong), the "three methods" (san fa) and the single/double weight notion (danzhong/shuangzhong) during santishi standing practice. His students should stand still for at least three years before they could learn the forms.
Guo Yunshen had learned with Li Luo Neng
Li Luo Neng
Li Luoneng was a Chinese martial artist from Hebei province. He was also known as Li Feiyu, Li Nengran, Li Laonong, and Li Neng Jang. He was also nicknamed "Divine Fist Li"...
and was also a member of the Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
xingyiquan
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
school. He taught famous students like Qian Yantang, Xu Zhanao, Li Kui Yuan and his disciple Sun Lutang. Wang Xiangzhai
Wang Xiangzhai
Wang Xiangzhai ) , also known as Nibao, Zhenghe, Yuseng, was a Chinese xingyiquan master, responsible for founding the martial art of Yiquan.-Biography:...
, founder of dachengquan also claimed to be his disciple.