Great Grand Master Ku Yu Cheung (Mandarin: Gu Ruzhang) (顾汝章) (1894--1952)

Ku Yu Cheung (Mandarin: Gu Ruzhang) (顾汝章) (1894--1952) was a Chinese martial artist who disseminated the Bak sil lum (northernshaolin) martial arts system across southern China in the early 20th century. Ku was known for his expertise in Iron Palm hand conditioning among other Chinese Martial Art training exercises. Ku Yu Cheung has become a legendary heroic figure in some Chinese Martial Arts communities. Major events in Ku’s life are difficult to verify, yet some rare surviving photos related to his legendary feats of strength, resistance and fighting provide compelling evidence. Ku Yu Cheung had been photographed breaking twelve un-spaced bricks with one strike.[3] He entered the first National Wushu Fighting Examination and placed in the top 15 competitors. He was also an instructor for the Guangdong Armed Forces. According to legend, Ku Yu Cheung, in the same spirit as the folk hero Huo Yuanjia, defeated foreign fighters who viewed the Chinese Martial Arts as an inferior system of fighting. The Ten (10) Northern Shaolin Forms Master Gu Yu Chang’s Northern Shaolin style of Kung Fu has ten (10) core forms (routines) which he has choreographed as the curriculum for his teachings. Each form is intended to be a comprehensive lesson on a specific aspect of Kung Fu and not to be mistaken as 10 different artistic routines. An accomplished student of this style should pursue the insight into the deep meaning of each form through careful practice and analysis of the techniques and combinations. The essence and learnings of the Master are expressed in these forms. They are deep and broad. Although not all practitioners of this style agree on or gain the same insight on these forms due to their differences in background, training, and view-point, it is the pursue of understanding that is most important. The following is a top level view of my insights. Form No. 1 -- Essential Entry/Basic Skills To Shaolin (Enter the Door) This set is made up of combinations of basic and physically demanding techniques. The purpose of this set is to teach and train the student in all elements of hand techniques (punch, finger jab, spear hand, palm strikes, crane techniques, elbows, knees etc.), stances (horse, cat, forward, leaning, crane etc.), kicking techniques (front, side, sweep, back, jump, crescents, etc.), aerial techniques, ground techniques, and physical abilities (flexibility, balance, jumping, acrobatics etc.). At the same time, each combination is a real combat application. The Master choreographed all of these into a well-rounded and artistic Kung Fu routine. Form No. 2 -- Leading the Attack (Leading the Way) Form No. 3 -- Counter Attacks (Sitting Horse) Form No. 4 -- Heart Piercing Strikes (Pierce the Heart) Form No. 5 -- Combat Techniques (Martial Skills) Form No. 6 -- Close-Encounter Combinations (Short Strikes) Form No. 7 -- Breaking the Ambush (Plum Flower Fists) Form No. 8 -- Open-Space Fighting Combinations (Leaping Steps) Form No. 9 -- Chained Multiple Strikes (Chaining) Form No. 10 -- Essential Techniques from Other Styles (Technique Patterns)