Chinese Fast Wrestling: The Art of San Shou Kuai Jiao Throws, Takedowns, & Ground-Fighting

by Shou-Yu Liang, Tai Ngo

Overview

San Shou Kuai Jiao (Fast Wrestling for Fighting) is the Chinese martial art of throws and takedowns. A San Shou Kuai Jiao throw can cause tremendous damage to your opponent while keeping you safely on your feet. For centuries, fighters in China have valued this art for its speed and power. Today, China's police and military forces are trained in its techniques.

Chinese Fast Wrestling for Fighting presents seventy-five throws and takedowns against punches, kicks, and grabs, and demonstrates basic training methods such as stances, footwork, and strength training. Written by a gold medal winner in Chinese wrestling (Liang), this book is a complete training guide to this powerful martial art.

• Throw your opponent to the ground - fast!
• Effective for competition and self-defense.
• 460 action photos detail every technique.
• Includes a chapter on ground fighting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781886969490
Publisher:	YMAA Publication Center
Publication date:	04/15/1997
Series:	Chinese Martial Arts-External Series
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	978,208
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Liang, Shou-Yu was born on June 28, 1943 in the city of Chongqian, Sichuan Province, China. When he was six he began his training in Qigong, the art of breathing and internal energy control. When he was eight, his grandfather made special arrangements for him to begin training Emei Wushu.

Through and beyond his college years, Mr. Liang's wide background in various martial arts helped form his present character and led him to achieve a high level of martial skill. Some of the styles he concentrated on include the esoteric Emei system, Shaolin Long Fist, Praying Mantis, Chuo Jiao, Xingyi, Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Liu He Ba Fa, Shuai Jiao, Qin Na, vital pointstriking, many weapons systems, and several kinds of internal Qigong.

Mr. Liang has devoted more than 45 years to training and teaching Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Master Liang, Shou-yu resides in Vancouver, Canada.

In 1985, Ngo began his martial arts training at Yang's Martial Arts Association. Under the guidance of Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, Ngo learned Shaolin Long Fist, Shaolin White Crane Gongfu, and Yang style Taijiquan.

After graduating, he continued to train with Dr. Yang, eventually attaining the rank of Assistant Instructor teaching Shaolin and Taijiquan at YMAA. In 1989, Ngo met Master Liang, Shou-Yu and learned Hsing Yi, Baguazhang, Chen style Taijiquan, and San Shou Kuai Jiao.

Ngo continues to teach and train under Dr. Yang at YMAA Headquarters. He lives in Malden, Massachusetts.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1 General Introduction 1-1. Introduction San Shou Kuai Jiao () refers to the techniques used in free fighting to take down or throw an opponent. Because San Shou Kuai Jiao emphasizes speed, it is known as Fast Wrestling. The words San Shou () in Chinese mean free fighting, and imply the use of bare handed martial skills. Kuai Jiao () means quickly downing or throwing an opponent. Traditionally, Chinese martial arts fighting techniques are divided into four general fighting categories: Ti (), Da (), Shuai (), Na (). Ti is kicking; Da is striking; Shuai (short for Shuai Jiao, ) is wrestling; Na is Qin Na (), i.e. seizing and controlling an opponent's joints and cavities. Generally speaking, when you encounter an opponent in a fight, leg techniques are used in long ranges and hand techniques are used for short ranges. To become a well-rounded martial artist, you must be proficient in the four basic fighting skills mentioned above. In the past, San Shou competition was held on the Lei Tai (), a 24 x 24 foot platform 5 feet high. Victory was decided when an opponent was thrown off the Lei Tai or knocked to the floor. Therefore, Shuai Jiao is an important part of San Shou fighting. A martial artist without any Shuai Jiao skills would not easily survive a San Shou match. Shuai Jiao is believed to be the oldest martial art in China. Its history can be traced back thousands of years. Legend tells that Shuai Jiao already existed during the reign of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Ti, 2697 B.C.) and was used to train soldiers. Throughout Chinese history the art has been adopted by governments of different dynasties as a military training method. However, Shuai Jiao was not only used as a tool for military training, but also widely practiced among civilians. It was the civilians who perfected and popularized the art. In the Song dynasty (960-1278 A.D.), Shuai Jiao skill had reached a very high level and fast wrestling (Kuai Jiao, ) already existed and was very popular. During this period, throws became more complex, and speed and skillfulness of movement was emphasized. Technically speaking, the foundation and basic principles of San Shou Kuai Jiao are based on traditional Chinese wrestling (Chuan Tong Shuai Jiao, ) and adapted for combat training. San Shou Kuai Jiao techniques and principles are very simple, effective and-most importantly-quick. Because of its speed and effectiveness, an opponent often does not have a chance to fight back. San Shou Kuai Jiao is an art that does not rely just on muscular strength-it must be done skillfully. It always emphasizes avoiding direct impact with an enemy's power. It also emphasizes getting close to an enemy quickly and using the enemy's power against himself. Because of its effectiveness, San Shou Kuai Jiao has been trained along with all styles of Chinese martial arts for thousands of years. San Shou Kuai Jiao can cause tremendous physical damage to an opponent.

Table of Contents

Chinese Fast Wrestling for Fighting The Art of San Shou Kuai Jiao ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vi ABOUT THE AUTHORS vii FOREWORD BY DR. YANG, JWING-MING xi PREFACE BY MASTER LIANG, SHOU-YU xii PREFACE BY TAI D. NGO xv Chapter 1. General Introduction 1-1. Introduction 1 1-2. General Principles of San Shou Kuai Jiao 4 1-3. The Training Stages of San Shou Kuai Jiao 15 Chapter 2. Basic Training 2-1. Introduction 17 2-2. Warm Up Exercises 17 2-3. San Shou Kuai Jiao Basic Stances/Leg Training 26 2-4. San Shou Kuai Jiao Entering Training 33 2-5. Falling 37 Chapter 3. Basic Training With Equipment 3-1. Introduction 43 3-2. Body Conditioning With Equipment 44 Chapter 4. Holding Leg(s) Throws 4-1. Introduction 61 4-2. Holding Leg(s) Throwing Techniques 62 Chapter 5. Over the Back/Holding the Waist Throws 5-1. Introduction 85 5-2. Over Back Throwing Techniques 86 5-3. Holding the Waist Throwing Techniques 93 Chapter 6. Leg Hooking Throws 6-1. Introduction 103 6-2. Leg Hooking Techniques 104 Chapter 7. Other Throwing Methods 7-1. Introduction 125 7-2. Throwing Techniques 126 Chapter 8. Groundfighting/Controlling Techniques 8-1. Introduction 157 8-2. Groundfighting/Controlling Techniques 158 Appendix A. Names of San Shou Kuai Jiao Techniques 179 Appendix B. Translation and Glossary of Chinese Terms 182 Index 188

Editorial Reviews

"Chinese Fast Wrestling For Fighting: The Art Of San Shou Kuai Jiao presents 75 throws and take-downs against punches, kicks, and grabs, and includes a thorough examination of the theories and principles of San Shou Kuai Jiao. It also demonstrates basic training methods such as stances, footwork, and strength training. 460 action photos clearly detail every technique rendering Chinese Fast Wrestling For Fighting a complete training guide to a powerful martial art. Master Liang, Shou-Yu is a gold medal winner in Chinese wrestling, and one of China's top coaches. Tai D. Ngo is a two-time Internal Style U. S. Grand Champion and martial arts instructor. Chinese Fast Wrestling For Fighting is written by experts to be of maximum value to all serious martial arts students."

Midwest Book Review

"Chinese Fast Wrestling for Fighting is written by experts to be of maximum value to all serious martial arts students. "

Wisconsin Bookwatch