The Xingyi Quan of the Chinese Army

My primary martial arts teacher, Colonel Chang Hsiang Wu (張嚮武 上校) was born in Changyi County, Shandong province, China (中國 山東省 昌邑縣), in 1908. He began his martial arts training in 1915 and learned Hebei Xingyi Quan (his main style); Taiji (from the Yang family); and Bagua. This training included weapons such as sword, sabre, short spear, mandarin duck knives, and so on. He was in the fourth graduating class at the Central Military Academy (Whampoa/Huangpu) at Nanjing (南京黄埔軍校) where he became chief instructor of martial arts (xingyi) and military strategy. He not only taught but was in active combat duty during the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance (抗日戰爭). Colonel Chang was wounded twice during this conflict and carried shrapnel in his knee throughout his whole life – a wound that did not diminish his skills as a martial artist.

I met my teacher in the early 1970’s while studying Chinese archaeology. I am his last senior student.

For information on Xingyi Quan taught in the Chinese military during World War II, check out my books here: Amazon and Monkey Dungeon Publications