TST History question

[RickMatz]

When Xu Hongji formed the Shen Lung Tang Shou Tao, did he actually make any technical changes to the original TST material, or did he simply want to be independent?

[JessOBrien]

From what I heard Xu Hong Ji had other teachers besides Hong Yi Xiang and he added some new forms and conditioning exercises to the system.

[Fubo]

I read that XHJ was also into Boxing... Don't know if he continued after training with Hong.

[Bill]

He wanted to be independent. As he told me once, Chinese all want to be the General, not the soldier.

[taiwandeutscher]

He wanted to be independent. As he told me once, Chinese all want to be the General, not the soldier.

100%+
All want to be boss, not emplyee!

[kenneth fish]

Hsu was a "blood brother" and best friend of my classmate Li Tsonghsiung at the Yizong School under Master Zhang. Li told me that Hsu had some very significant differences of opinion regarding the practice and application of the curriculum - he had learned from other teachers before Hong Yixiang, and afterwards as well.

[JessOBrien]

Cool history!
The martial arts world of Taiwan sounds like it has many cross connections between teachers, friends and lineages.
99% of the story is untold, but it's always fun to hear new things about it.

[Bill]

Ken

In this context what does 'blood brother' signify? Best buds or something closer?

Hsu was always on the lookout for something unique. He told a story once of him being in a park and while watching a man cross the park he noticed that each time the guy put down his foot, the sidewalk would crack underneath. Hsu said he ran up to the guy and tried to find out more info but the man would not talk to him.

When he was a young man he learned boxing and in school, under Japanese rule, all boys had to take judo and learn to speak Japanese. He said when he learned judo there was no weight classes. Big, small, didnt matter.

[kenneth fish]

Hsu and Li's families were close, and at some point they became "jiebai xiongdi" - "Sworn Brothers" -a relationship that is taken quite seriously in China and Taiwan (it usually is done in a local temple, or at least in front of an altar). Hsu was about 10 years older than Li, and Li always referred to him as "ge" (brother).

I also heard the story Bill relates about Hsu seeing a man of mystery in the park- but I've heard the same story related about other teachers as well, and also told by other teachers - it seems (IMO) a popular "tall tale".

[edededed]

Ha ha... Maybe they were all talking about the same guy?

[kreese]

I was approached once by a very old man at CKS Mem Hall who seemed to have an old version of tai chi, very organic and similar to some of the better stuff I've seen at 228. His main emphasis to me was to do everything slow. It was one of those really strange encounters that you might even doubt actually happened later if you don't mention it to someone. I did film myself doing tai chi, the forces of Taiwan were strong that day apparently.

There is definitely something special in Taiwan, at least from where I see it, and yet it is so random I ended up here. I never would have predicted I'd be here, and who I am now compared to who I was 5 years ago, and who I thought I was trying to be...well as they say you have to experience Taiwan to understand what it's all about.

A funny thing is that I met another guy who studied Gao bagua, graduated from the university where I grew up, and is now into eclectic MA or whatever is happening now, and something interesting is a brewin'...

...we should make Taipei a place for an annual RSF blowout training, bbq, meetup, fight club, thing. Yes, I can see it now...

[cerebus]

...we should make Taipei a place for an annual RSF blowout training, bbq, meetup, fight club, thing. Yes, I can see it now...

That would SOOOO rock!

[bailewen]

Hsu and Li's families were close, and at some point they became "jiebai xiongdi" - "Sworn Brothers" -a relationship that is taken quite seriously in China and Taiwan (it usually is done in a local temple, or at least in front of an altar)...

...or sometimes a peach orchard will do . . .

[Bill]

That guy in the park would have been easy to follow home.

[wayne hansen]

In 1975 hsu took us to the airport to greet a group of Bak Mei guys from HK
They were going to fight in a tournament in the south of Taiwan
I was told that hsu had gone to hk to train after his split with Hung
The story was he ended up as the senior student there