Shaolin Luo Han Quan Styles and Training Skills

Luo Han Quan

Luo Han Quan, or Luo Huan Chuan as the chinese people call, is also called Arhat Boxing. It was created by monks in the Shaolin Temple, by observing and imitating the forms and expressions of each Arhat Statue in the temple.

Qi Shi (Commencing Form) of Luo Han Chuan

Luo Han Quan Essentials: stand straightly in chasse, hands fall down naturally on both sides; eye to the front.

1. Ma Bu San Chong Quan (three punch in seated position)

Essentials: take a left step by the left foot with distance between the feet the same as the shoulder width; place palms together in front of the chest; shake the left foot and smash the fist; beat the left palm by the right fist in front of the abdomen; take a step to be the seated position and punch three times, right hand first and then the left; eye to the front (figure 2).

Mistake: the strength for the foot shaking and the foot smashing is not enough.

Correction: use full strength for the foot shaking and the foot smashing and coordinate the strength well.

2. Gong Bu Pan Zhou (hook elbow in bow step)

Essentials: turn the body right for 90 degrees; twist the right hand with the right hand above and the left hand below; twist the left hand with the left hand above and the right hand below; turn the upper body right slightly and keep the right leg still; stroke the right let to right bow step and hook the elbow. For right arm elbow hooking, protect the right wrist by the left palm, punch the right fist upward inversely and then punch downward; eye to the right fist.

Mistake: the fist lines are not acquired accurately.

Correction: complete the hand twisting, elbow hooking and the fist slashing fully in coherence.

3. Bing Bu Ya Quan (fist press in chasse)

Essentials: turn the body left for 270 degrees in chasse; hold the left fist to the waist; punch the right fist upward. Step feet at the same time in chasse and squat; move the right fist to the waist and then punch to the front lower place; punch the left fist to the rear upper place; eye to the front.

Mistake: the squatting in chasse is unstable.

Correction: practice the chasse and fist pressing separately.

4. Gong Bu Guan Quan (side hook in bow step)

Essentials: kick the right leg backward; shake the right foot and step the left foot to be the left bow step; punch forward the both fist from the waist; eye to the front.

Mistake: the leg kicking is not made to the right place and the side hook is lack of strength.

Correction: the leg shall be lifted up higher than the waist; punch the fist when stepping forward.

5. Gui Bu Chong Quan (punch in kneeling step)

Essentials: turn the body left to be the right bow step; whirl the left arm to smash the fist; move the legs in seated position; place palms together in front of the chest; squat the right leg to be the right kneeling step; punch the right fist forward; protect the right elbow by the left palm; eye to the right fist.

Mistake: actions of the upper and lower limbs are inconsistent.

Correction: kneeling with tiptoes directing forward.

6. Deng Tui Za Quan (leg stroking and fist smashing)

Essentials: stoke the right leg; whirl the let arm and smash the fist; lift up the knees and punch the right fist to the right; land in left bow step and punch; punch the right fist while kneeling on the ground; repeat three times the leg stroking and fist smashing; eye to the front.

Mistake: the leg stroking is not made to the right place.

Correction: keep the foot not more than the height of the waist when stroking leg.

7. Luo Han Shui Jiao (Arhat sleeps)

Essentials: get up; jump by stroking the ground by feet and land for hunker with left leg above and right leg below; place the left leg on the right leg and erect the right elbow on the left ankle to be a Arhat sleeping gesture; eye to the left fist.

Mistake: the positions of hands and legs are inaccurate.

Correction: practice jumping, leg withdrawing, landing and hunker separately.

8. Ma Bu Kai Gong Quan (bow drawing fist in seated position)

Essentials: turn the body right for 180 degrees; move legs to be the seated position; punch the left fist from the waist to the left front and withdraw the right fist to the waist, eye to the left front.

Mistake: the seated position and the fist punching are not made in place.

Correction: keep the distance of three feet for the seated position; chest out, head out and place the two fists as drawing a bow.

9. Gong Bu Xia Zai Quan (plunge fist in bow step)

Essentials: step the right leg and lift up the knee; land forward to be the right bow step; move fists along both sides of the body from down to up and then plunge fist; eye to the fists.

Mistake: actions for fist plunge are inconsistent.

Correction: practice the bow step and the fist plunge separately.

10. Ma Bu Pi Zhang (chop palm in seated position)

Essentials: turn the body left for 180 degrees; step the right foot and land to be the seated position; withdraw the left fist to the back of the waist; chop the right palm from up to down; eye to the right palm.

Mistake: palm chopping position is inaccurate.

Correction: chop palm to the place between the legs forcefully to the heel of hand.

11. Tong Zi Bai Fo (boy worships Budda)

Essentials: get up and stoke the right leg; push the left palm; hold the right fist to the waist; turn the body right for 90 degrees; land the right leg and stroke the left foot out; whirl the left arm and smash the fist; bend the right leg slightly; place the left foot on the right leg; place palms together from up to down to before the chest; eye to the front.

Mistake: center of gravity for right leg supporting is not stable.

Correction: hold the ground by toes of the right foot; when placing the left leg on the right leg, press the body forward.

Shou Shi (Closing Form)

Essentials: land the left foot, stand by feet apart; bend elbows and place palms together in front of the chest; eye to the front.