Chin Woo Athletic Association

Chin Woo Athletic Association
Huo Yuanjia, the founder of Chin Woo Athletic Association.
Formation	year July 7, 1910
Legal status	Federation
Purpose/focus	Martial Arts
Location	China
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	150 Affiliated Countries
Official languages	Chinese is the official language.
Website	Chin Woo Athletic Association

Chin Woo Athletic Association (simplified Chinese: 精武体育会; traditional Chinese: 精武體育會; pinyin: Jīngwǔ Tǐyùhuì; lit. Elite Martial Athletic Association) is a Chinese martial arts association founded in Shanghai on July 7, 1910, but other sources also cite dates in 1909.^[1] It can be found spelled in many ways - Jing Mo, Ching Wu, Jing Wo, Jing Wu etc.

Many sources say that Chin Woo was founded by Huo Yuanjia^[2] (霍元甲), the famed challenge fighter who died within months of its establishment. This gives the false impression that only one person founded the entire association when in reality it was founded by a committee of people. Due to Huo Yuanjia's popularity and recent death, the committee had decided that he should be the "face" of Chin Woo, resulting in his strong association with it.^[3]

Because Huo was widely admired as a Chinese national hero, a series of other masters agreed to teach at the school including Eagle Claw (鷹爪派) master Chen Zizheng (陳子正), Seven Star Praying Mantis (七星螳螂拳) master Luo Guangyu (羅光玉), Xingyi (形意拳) master Geng Ji Shan (耿繼善), and Wu Jianquan (吳鑑泉), the founder of Wu style Taijiquan (吳式太極拳). Master Chao Lianhe/Zhao Lianhe (趙連和), a master of Northern Shaolin Bizong Style became the Chief Instructor after the sudden death of Huo.

One of the first public martial arts institutes in China, Chin Woo was intended to create a structured environment for teaching and learning martial arts as opposed to the secretive training that had been common in the past. The Chin Woo was also used as a training center for the Nationalist Party members to fight against the rise of Communism in China.

The founders of Chin Woo felt that the association would keep alive traditions that secrecy and social change would otherwise doom. The basic curriculum drew from several styles of martial arts, giving practitioners a well-rounded martial background in addition to whatever they wished to specialize in. The Chin Woo Association inspired the ecumenism seen in the Chinese martial arts community during the Republic of China giving rise to such efforts as the National Martial Arts Institutes. Sun Yat Sen (孫逸仙), founder of the Republic of China, attended the third annual event held by Chin Woo in 1915, giving a speech of encouragement to the attendees.^[4] When Sun Yat Sen attended again at the 10th annual event in 1920, he also wrote for a special Chin Woo newsletter and made a plaque with the engraving "martial spirit".^[4]

Shut down by the government of the People's Republic of China in 1966,^[5] the Chin Woo Association was allowed to re-open after the Cultural Revolution, and currently has more than 150 branches around the world.

Curriculum

During the early days of Ching Wu (Jing Mo) in Shanghai, chief instructor, Zhao Lianhe developed a curriculum that became the standard Chin Woo sets (Fundamental Routines).

• Shi Er Lu Tan Tui 十二路潭腿 (Twelve Rows of Spring Leg)

• Gong Li Quan 功力拳(Power Fist)

• Jie Quan 节拳 (Connecting Fist)

• Da Zhan Quan 大战拳 (上)(下)(Big Battle Fist - Upper & Lower)

• Qun Yang Gun 群羊棍 (Shepherd Staff)

• Ba Gua Dao 八卦刀 (Eight Diagram Broadsword)

• Wu Hu Qiang 五虎枪 (Five Tiger Spear)

• Jie Tan Tui 接潭腿 (Tan Tui Sparring)

• Tao Quan 套拳 (Set Fist)

• Dan Dao Chuan Qiang 单刀串枪 (Broadsword versus Spear)

Styles taught varied from school to school, depending on the local Masters: for example, Northern Mantis, Northern Shaolin Lo Han, Eagle Claw, Bizong, Mizongyi, etc. The standard curriculum, however, was universally taught in all Chin Woo Associations.

Chin Woo in popular culture

• Fist of Fury, a 1972 film starring Bruce Lee. It tells an account of Chen Zhen, a fictional Chin Woo student, who continues to uphold the Chin Woo legacy and avenge Huo Yuanjia.
• New Fist of Fury, a 1976 sequel to Fist of Fury. Jackie Chan played Lung, a successor to Chen Zhen.
• The Legendary Fok, a 1981 television series based on Huo Yuanjia's story and featuring Chen Zhen's story as a subplot, starring Wong Yuen-sun and Bruce Leung.
• The Fist, a 1982 sequel to The Legendary Fok, with Bruce Leung reprising his role as Chen Zhen.
• Legend of a Fighter, a 1982 film based on Huo Yuanjia's story, starring Bryan Leung.
• Fist of Legend, a 1994 film starring Jet Li. It is based on another version of Chen Zhen's story.
• Fist of Fury (TV series), a 1995 television series starring Donnie Yen as Chen Zhen.
• The Legend of Huo Yuanjia, a 2002 television series adapted from The Legendary Fok, starring Vincent Zhao and Wu Yue.
• Jingwu Yingxiong Chen Zhen, a sequel to The Legend of Huo Yuanjia, with Wu Yue reprising his role as Chen Zhen.
• Fearless, a 2006 film centered on the life story of Huo Yuanjia, starring Jet Li.
• Huo Yuanjia, a 2008 remake of The Legendary Fok, starring Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan.
• Jingwu Chen Zhen, a sequel to Huo Yuanjia, with Jordan Chan reprising his role as Chen Zhen.
• Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, a 2010 film that tells the story of Chen Zhen after he avenges Huo Yuanjia. Donnie Yen reprises his role as Chen Zhen, whom he previously portrayed in the 1995 television series Fist of Fury.

See also

• Huo Yuanjia, founding member.

Footnotes

1. ^ Kennedy and Guo (2010). Jingwu. Blue Snake Books. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-58394-242-0. 
2. ^ chinwoo.org.cn. Chin Woo detailed history (1). (Chinese)
3. ^ "Martial Arts of the Jingwu". Kung Fu Magazine. http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=924. Retrieved 2010-10-14. 
4. ^ ^{a b} chinwoo.org.cn. Chin Woo history summary. (Chinese)
5. ^ chinwoo.com. History

Jingwu Athletic Association - 100 Years by Robert Yandle (ISBN 978-189251535-3)

References

• Morris, Adam (2004). Marrow of the Nation: A History of Sport and Physical Culture in Republican China.. The University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24084-7. 

• Kennedy, Brian; Elizabeth Guo (2005). Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey. Berkeley, California: North AtlanticBooks. ISBN 1-55643-557-6. 

• Yandle, Robert (2010) 'Jingwu Athletic Association - 100 Years'. Beckett Media. Dallas, Texas (ISBN 978-189251535-3)

External links

• World Chin Woo Federation
• Locations of Jing Wu Sports Federations all over the world with contact details
• Western Australia Chin Woo Athletic Association
• Chin Woo Athletic Association of New Zealand
• Chin Woo Italia
• Shanghai Chin Woo Athletic Association (Chinese)
• Chin Woo History
• German Chin Woo Athletic Association
• Jingmo.org
• Italian Chin Woo Athletic Association
• Romanian Chin Woo Athletic Association