Liuhebafa

Note: The art is commonly abbreviated as LHBF, and often referred to by its Cantonese name: Lok Hap Baat Faat

Liu He Ba Fa Chuan
六 合 八 法 拳
Six Harmonies Eight Methods Boxing

File:Tuan.jpg
Also known as	Shuǐ Quán 水拳
Country of origin	China
Creator	Chén Tuán 陳摶, also known as Chén Xīyí 陳希夷

Liuhebafachuan 六合八法拳; Pinyin: liùhébāfǎquán) (literally Six Harmonies Eight Methods Boxing) is a form of internal Chinese martial arts. It has been called "Xinyi Liuhebafa-" 心意六合八法拳 and is also referred to as "Water Boxing" (shuǐ quán 水拳) due to its principles.

History

The Song Dynasty Taoist sage Chen Tuan (Chén Tuán 陳摶, also known as Chén Xīyí 陳希夷) is often credited with its origin and development. He was associated with the Hua Shan Taoist Monastery on Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province.

The Liuhebafa form "Zhú Jī 築基" was taught in the late 1930s in Shanghai and Nanjing by Wu Yihui (1887–1958). It is said he had learned the art from three teachers: Yan Guoxing, Chen Guangdi, and Chen Helu.

Many of Wu Yihui's students had martial arts backgrounds and modified the form to merge it with their own knowledge. This is one of several explanations for its similarities with other martial arts such as Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, T'ai chi and Yiquan.

Six Harmonies and Eight Methods

The Six Harmonies and the Eight Methods are the guiding principles of Liuhebafa that give it its name.

Six Harmonies, 六合

1. 體合於心 (Pinyin: tǐ hé yū xīn) Body and Mind Combine
2. 心合於意 (xīn hé yū yì) Mind and Intent Combine
3. 意合於氣 (yì hé yū qì) Intent and Chi Combine
4. 氣合於神 (qì hé yū shén) Chi and Spirit Combine
5. 神合於動 (shén hé yū dòng) Spirit and Movement Combine
6. 動合於空 (dòng hé yū kōng) Movement and Emptiness Combine

Eight Methods, 八法

1. 氣 (qì) Chi
2. 骨 (gǔ) Bone
3. 形 (xíng) Shape
4. 隨 (suí) Follow
5. 提 (tí) Rise
6. 還 (huán) Return
7. 勒 (lè) Retain
8. 伏 (fú) Conceal

Forms

File:Wu YiHui.jpg

Wu Yi Hui performing Liuhebafa

The system of Liuhebafa, called Huayue Xiyi Men, as taught by Wu Yi Hui contains several forms (套路 taòlù), including bare hand and weapons forms as well as Qigong methods.

Hand forms

• 三盤十二勢 Sān Pán Shí Èr Shì - 3 Divisions, 12 Spirits (1.Dragon, 2.Phoenix, 3.Tiger, 4.Crane, 5.Leopard, 6.Ape, 7.Bear, 8.Goose, 9.Snake, 10.Hawk, 11.Roc, 12.Kylin)
• 築基 Zhú Jī - Discovering the Foundations
• 呂紅八勢 Lǚ Hóng Bā Shì - 8 Essences of Lǚ Hóng's Fist
• 龍虎戰 Lóng Hǔ Zhàn - Dragon and Tiger Fighting
• 螫龍遊 Zhē Lóng Yóu - Coiled Dragon Swimming
• 螫龍拳 Zhē Lóng Quán - Coiled Dragon Fist

Weapon forms

• 心意棍 Xīn Yì Gùn - Heart of Intent Staff
• 露花刀 Lù Huā Dāo - Dew Mist Broadsword
• 玉川劍 Yù Chuān Jiàn - Jade River Straight Sword

Internal exercises

• 韋佗功 Wéi Tuó Gōng - Standing meditation
• 太陽功 Tài Yáng Gōng - Solar Meditation
• 一杰混元功 Yī Jié Hún Yuán Gōng - Primary Definitive Force
• 先天座 Xiān Tiān Zuò - Pre-Heaven Meditation
• 三盤推手 Sān Pán Tuī Shǒu - 3 Divisions Push Hands

source: information and translations provided by "International Liuhebafa Internal Arts Association"

See also

• Chen Tuan
• Wu Yi Hui
• Chan Yik Yan
• Zhang Chang Xin

External links

• International Liuhebafa Internal Arts Association
• Academic discussion and lineage
• GM Wai Lun Choi
• Yun Yin-sen, LHBF and Internal Martial Arts
• UK-based association offering information and instruction in LHBF
• Msr Kam Tung, Hong Kong
• GM Lu Gui-yao, Chin Wo Athletic Association, Foshan, China
• GM Wu Ying-hua, S. China Institute of Huainan, Anhui, China