FIVE ANCESTORS & WUJI

WUJI

Wuji is a 'soft' exercise, performed at a slow and deliberate pace and contains within its sections specific moments of sitting and standing meditation. Parts of the Wuji form are taught on a variety of Clearcircle courses to raise mental and physical self-awareness, to increase co-ordination and to embody many of the principles that are core to the Clear Circle project.

The art of Wuji is represented by the clear or empty circle. This ancient symbol refers to the original emptiness from which all things arise and to which all things return. It refers to the very ground of being. Within Chinese culture the famous Yin and Yang arises from Wuji. The art embodies the many principles of Chinese culture, such as Yin and Yang, the five elements and the concept of Human, Heaven and Earth..

The exact origins of the art are unclear, but it appears to have been handed down across many centuries from one of the scattered Shaolin Temples. It is a holistic practice, exercising physically and mentally, encouraging the clear and healthy circulation of energy, and eventually being also an effective martial art.

It is made up of 36 different 'characters' or sections, although the first seven on their own form a fairly comprehensive exercise regime for anyone of any age.

ABOUT NANSHAOLIN FIVE ANCESTORS.

SEE A SHORT FILM.

The art of NANSHAOLIN FIVE ANCESTORS embodies all the major aspects of Chinese culture, as well as being a demanding but effective martial art and physical, mental, and spiritual practice.

The tradition, passed down through the Chee Kim Thong School, began some 700-800 years ago in the Yuan Dynasty.

The art has five major elements or Ancestors, all of which must be balanced and synchronized.

The LOHAN system is named after the Eighteen Lohans, whose statues you will s

ee in many Chinese temples. The Lohan system gives the art its dynamic postures and many meditative techniques.

TAMO is the second ancestor. Tamo is perhaps better known as Bodhidharma, Born around the year 440 AD, his legendary roles include introducing kung fu to the lazy, unfit monks of a degenerate Shaolin Temple. Tamo’s most significant and real role was to introduce Chan Buddhism to China, which then developed into Zen in its Japanese form. From this ancestor the system derives its meditation, breathing and energy exercises.

The MONKEY system gives to Five Ancestors its footwork, some handwork and much of

its cunning. This system derives both from the actual study and imitation of the animal as well as from the core of myths and stories about the Monkey King and the Golden Monkey that have existed within Chinese culture for centuries.

The EMPEROR System provides for the proportionate stances and hand work of Five Ancestors. It is associated with the first Emperor of the Sung Dynasty, or Emperor TAIZU (960-976AD). In Five Ancestors Taizu contributes grace and symmetry to the posture and movements, as well as knife like exactness.

Fifthly the WHITE CRANE system adds both hard and soft hand techniques.

There is a hidden sixth Ancestor, sometimes known as the LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS, who put the philosophical element into the art, as well as supplying an additional level of energy and softness to the fighting system. She emphasized the virtues of compassion and humility, as well as refining the rough edges of the five systems.

These then are the main elements of the Five Ancestors system. Each has its own path which must be explored. But there needs finally to be integration and harmonizing. At this point the skills develop exponentially.

The art later migrated to the southern parts of China, particularly to the province of Fujian, where the Southern Shaolin temple gave it a home.

THE LINEAGE OF NANSHAOLIN WUZU.

Grandmaster Han Kim Sen.

GrandMaster Han is the foremost authority in the west on Five Ancestors Shaolin and Wuji (Wu Chi). He is the currently president of the International Nanshaolin Wuzuquan Federation, and has huge experience in the practice and teaching of Chinese martial arts. He was the National Coach for the British Wushu Team for about ten years, and won international acclaim for his students´ high achievements both in competitions and in the film industry. His passions however are Wuzuquan and Wujiquan which are the main arts he now teaches. At present he coaches the British, Irish, and Norwegian Wuzuquan teams. He has now published two books on the art of Five Ancestors.

Grandmaster Han has generously taught John Tuite since he was 14 years old.

GRANDMASTER YAP CHENG HAI.

Grandmaster Yap Cheng Hai ,as well as being a profoundly gifted martial artist, is credited with persuading the late Grandmaster Chee to begin the organised teaching of Nanshaolin Wuzu in Malaysia during the 1960's. He is perhaps more widely known as possibly the top Feng Shui exponent in the world today. Besides a handful of Chinese-speaking peers who remain permanently in China and Taiwan, there are hardly any Masters today who share the same stature and standing as Grand Master Yap.

Since the 1940s Grand Master Yap has provided Feng Shui advice and services internationally to countless business leaders, politicians, celebrities and spiritual leaders. In recent years, laced with enormous humour and countless anecdotes, he has shared his knowledge with students all over the world. He is also recognized by numerous Buddhist associations throughout Asia for his contribution to their services and teachings.

Click on the link to see Yap Ching Hai in action.

Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong.

Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong was born in 1920 in the poor village of Putian, Fujian Province of C

hina.

Grandmaster Chee began training at the age of six and was sought out by many of the twentieth Century's greatest teachers. As a result of the extraordinary body of knowledge he gained from these Masters, encompassing traditional martial arts, medicine and philosophy, Chee Kim Thong was declared a Living Treasure in 1989. He was also awarded the title Dato in his adopted country of Malaysia in 1995.

Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong died in April 2001 at the age of 82.

Here is a rare publicly available video of a younger Grandmaster.

John Tuite has trained in this lineage since the 1970’s. Here a much younger John receives his Green Sash certificate from Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong after being graded by him in 1999. Plus both teaching and performing the umbrella form.