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Cha Chuan and Muslim Systems
HanmudoFounded by Grandmaster He-Young Kimm, Hanmudo is a Korean martial art that is ..... Cha Chuan is a style of martial art that was developed by Muslims in China. Over ten centuries ago, China became home to Muslim immigrants. During the Sung Dynasty (960-1279), China experienced a huge influx of Muslim immigrants. Muslims in China are referred to as the "Hui" people. The Chinese provinces of HeNan, HeBei, ShanTung and ShaXi had large concentrations of Muslim communities.
Even though the Hui people wielded considerable power and influence in China, they were still very much considered "outsiders." To integrate themselves into the Chinese culture as well as to protect themselves, the Hui people learned Chinese martial arts and excelled in them. A few Hui leaders regarded this undertaking by the Hui people as "holy practice."
The Hui people can be distinguished from the typical Chinese population in that they wore white caps, refrained from eating pork and had a different way of worshipping. Similar to the Jews in Europe, the Hui people were often "caught in the middle" in China. They became political ping-pong balls and soon enough, they realized that it was to their advantage if they knew Chinese martial arts.
The Hui people eventually began developing their own distinct Kung Fu techniques. Two of these Kung Fu methods were the 10-road Tan Tui (Spring Leg) and Cha Ch'uan. The Hui people did not only become experts in martial arts, they also held high ranks in the Chinese military and they often demonstrated their exceptional courage and allegiance to the Emperor. Powerful and brave generals like Chang Yu Chun (who created the popular Kai Pin Spear Method), Hu Da Hai, Mu Ying, Lan Yu, Feng Sheng and Ding De Xing were all Muslim martial arts experts. Each of them was a driving force behind the expulsion of the Mongols from China and helped start the Ming dynasty.
When the Manchus invaded and conquered China during the Ching dynasty, the Hui people remained faithful to the Emperor. The Manchus made sure the Hui people paid for this transgression. The Manchus instituted brutal laws that prohibited the Hui people to own and carry weapons and assemble. Violators were branded as "Hui Zui" or Hui Rebel. For a long time, the Hui people were humiliated and suppressed.
All throughout the history of the Hui people, the Cha style of fighting was a vital force in the overall development of Chinese martial arts. For instance, several martial arts styles such as Jiao Men, Cha Chuan, Tan Tui, Xing Yi (HeBei and Henan styles), Hua Chuan, BaJi, PiQua, Liu He and Tong Bei have been influenced by many Muslim martial arts experts. Even the "Cha" in "Cha Chuan" is regarded as a transliteration of "Chamir," which is a Muslim name.
Even the Tan Tui, one of the most popular Northern Chinese sets, was the creation of Muslims and its original form had a road for every letter of the Arabic alphabet, which consisted of 28 characters. About four centuries ago, Cha Sang Mir developed the Tan Tui. Legend has it that a Muslim general named Hua Zong Qi was en route a military crusade. He fell ill, left behind and was taken care of by the plebian that lived in a village in XinJiang. When the general was healed, he sought to repay the locals by teaching them his Spring Leg set. Not only was Tan Tui a basis for developing the famously elegant, agile and flowing Cha Style, Tan Tui was also a sensible method that other styles adapted it. Among the styles that were influenced by the Tan Tui are: Shaolin, Preying Mantis, Lost Track, Liu He, Ching Wu, Southern Shaolin, and several more, including 6, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 road routines and two-person practices.
Over time, the Cha style advanced and developed into three "family" branches: Zhang, Li and Yang. In recent years, there have been ventures to restore the complete Cha system, including the fundamental ten core sets. The ten sets are the typical Long Fist style. When the Chinese Mainland government needed routines, they based these routines on the Cha sets. The result was modern Wushu, which has remained relatively unmodified for centuries. Even though Cha is considered a representative of the Long Fist style, it has its own unique flavors. For instance, Cha is characterized by a sequence of smooth, elegant movements that have unusual cadence and shifts in angles. Some Cha sets, such as the Cha Road #4, which is the first Cha set that students normally learn early, are popular that other styles (the Northern Shaolin, for instance) have its own variation of it. The versions of other styles still show some of Cha's notable timings and changes. Truly, Cha Chuan is an exceptional style with a colorful past.
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