Da Liuhe Men | 大六合门

Liuhequan is considered an ancient martial art, the earliest records however date to the Ming dynasty. A famous warrior Zhang Ming (张明) passed through Qingzhen Balizhuang in Botou village, Hebei Province, when he collapsed as he was injured and had been ill. Cao Zhenpeng (曹振朋), a huizu (chinese moslem) took the injured warrior into his home and gave him medical attention. As a result Zhang Ming was indebted and passed his martial arts skills to Cao Zhenpeng. Master Zhang would watch how diligent and ardiously every morning Cao Zhengpeng practised and was impressed by his dedication and development that he also passed on all his boxing and martial skills, including boxing manuals to him. The art was Liuhequan. 

Cao Zhenpeng only taught his son Cao Sheng who in turn passed the art to Li Guanming, Shi Jinke, Shi Changchun and Zhang Maolong. Since the great master Zhang Ming made a point of advising Cao Zhenpeng not to transmit the art easily, It is only in the fourth generation that the art commenced being taught to others.

Shi Jinke taught around 18-20 disciples, who all became well known in the martial world. These include “Heixunfengshenliqianjinwang” (Black tornado Spirited, Strength of 1000 Catties King) Shi Jinsheng. Others included Shi Jinhe, Chu Wentai, Shi Qingzhen and Tian Kechun. Since Liuhequan emphasises the three methods of strike, lock and throw, many Liuhe masters became well known for their Shuajiao (Chinese Takedowns and Wrestling) skills and have instrumental in the development of Shuaijiao.

The original place of concentration and practice is in Botou City, Hebei Province south of Cang County. Mainly inherited by the large Chinese moslem community, it used to be taught with the Huizu Mosque and amongst villagers. Through generations the art has been improved on and developed. Since Shi Jinke was so important in the propagation of the art often Botou Liuhequan is referred to as Shi Family Liuhequan. 

Li Guanming, a Hui from Cangzhou, was an expert of Tantui Men and other boxing methods before studying in Botou under Cao Sheng. Li absorbed many great techniques from the Cangzhou region including styles such as Chahua, Guangdong, Guanxi, Hongquan and specialized weapons such as Qingping Sword from M. Yang En’lin. Li became extremely capable and his Biaoju (Security Logistics Bureau) known as Chengxing Biaoju became both the most respected and the most feared in Cangzhou. In fact there is a famous saying that all Security Bureau’s would have to drop their flags when passing Cangzhou. Whilst commonly told because Cangzhou was home to so many martial arts experts that one should be humble. However, the real legend relates to Li Guanming and his feats of strength, his amazing combat and weaponry skills, the power of his Chengxing Biaoju and the skills of his inheritors. It because of Cangzhou Da Liuhe Men’s founder, Li Guanming that Cangzhou became so renowned. 

A well known master Liu Dekuan, was originally from Cangzhou. studied Liuhequan with Tian Chunkui and Li Fenggang (Li Guangming’s nephew). Later he taught various disciples taught in Beijing including Zhao Jinzhou, Xu Wansheng (1878-1945), Wu Junshan and Li Yongzhu. Practitioners evolved Liu’s teachings to formulate the Beijing Liuhequan school. Since Master Wan Lai Sheng was a well known master of Ziranmen his descendants mostly from Fujian, are often recognized majorily for their Ziranmen. Ziranmen Liuhequan being a derivative of Beijing Liuhequan implies that it is also part of the modified Liuhequan as developed by Master Liu Dekuan. Master Wan Laisheng, became famous many years ago in 1928, through his activities and actions associated with the Central Guoshu Institute of Nanjing, thereafter he was sent to South China (Fuzhou, Fujian Province) to assist in the teaching and development of martial arts. 

Li Shuting (1863-1939) studied with Li Guanming’s disciple Wang Dianchen and later also received instruction from Li Fenggang.  Li Shuting’s disciples included Hu Yuntian, Zhang Fengshan, Zhang Dieshan, Liu Yunting, Wang Shaofu, Li Baode, Wang Zixiang, Zhang Baochang, Zhang Zhenjiang, as well as his son Li Zhiyun. Li Shuting was also the first teacher of well known M. Wang Ziping becoming his disciple in 1910. Li Zhiyun (1910-1984) was the son of Li Shuting, he had lived through a lot of turmoil in China and was able to preserve much of Da Liuhe Men. Li Zhiyun taught disciples including Zhang Shaofu, Li Jinrong, Ma Honglin, Zhao Guangdi, Zhang Yingjie, Ma Zhenzhi, Li Hongsi, Wu Jinming, Zhang Kaisheng, Wang Junxiang, Yin Guangpu, Li Baosheng, Yang Liyuan, Wang Youdong, Ma Shuangwei, Zhang Wenzhong, Xiao Wenxu, Wang Wencan and taught his son Li Junde (1960-), the current generation keeper of the style.  

Another well known master of Liuhequan was the great Tong Zhongyi (1879-1963), Manchurian from Cangzhou, Hebei province, who defeated Sichuan Master Wu Shaoji at the Nanjing All China Guoshu meet. He later became well known and taught in Shanghai. Tong Zhongyi had studied with his father, a disciple of Tian Kechun. Regarded as Shanghai Liuhequan, the style has become popular with many practitioners including his early disciples in Cangzhou such as Guan Wenquan, Guan Jixiang and Zhao Yongfu. Master Tong’s family especially his daughter Tong Peiyun (who later moved to Singapore), Tong Jiayi (Taiwan),Tong Jiajun, Tong Jialu (Shanghai). Also his son in law (Tong Jiayi’s husband), Li Yuanzhi (Taiwan) and his main disciples in Shanghai included Liu Fei and Yu Fengyi as well as those general students from his school in Shanghai. Some practiced specific skills (like Shuai Jiao wrestling) or aspects, rather than the whole Liuhe Men System. 

Cangzhou 4th Generation Li Qinlin’s Da Liuhe Men National martial arts academy

Cangzhou Liuhequan (沧州大六合门 Da Liuhe Men) – This branch is the one which made Liuhequan famous as many great Masters were from this lineage. This branch was later to be known as Da Liuhe (Great Liuhe) both because it’s origin with the founder studying in Dachu village, and later since its masters would learn from other styles making the system larger, whilst also resulting status in the martial world at the time. This branch is from the descendants of Li Guanming whom had first mastered Dachu Tantui Me, then Botou Liuhe Men, Qingping sword and other systems. It includes notables such as Li Fenggang, Wang Zhenyi (Da Dao Wang Wu), Liu Dekuan, Tong Zhongyi, Wang Ziping and Li Shuting. 

Botou Liuhequan (泊头六合拳 Liuhe Quan) – This is branch in which the decendants of Shi Family (5th Generation Shi Jinsheng) continue their practice. Both Botou Liuhequan and Cangzhou Liuhequan have similar content in terms of the respective routines and practices, However, Cangzhou Liuhequan includes a lot more material, as during the Biaoshi (Security Logistics/Bodyguard services) times, practitioners would absorb skills from around the region.

Beijing Liuhequan (京师六合拳 Jingshi Liuhe Quan) – This branch is from the descendants of 7th Generation M Liu Dekuan. M Liu studied many martial arts and re-organized Liuhequan into simpler concise routines. His descendants thereafter practice a unique type of Liuhequan, referred to as Beijing or Jingshi Liuhequan today. Another descendant of the Beijing branch includes Wan Laisheng, best known for his Ziran Men, Wan Laisheng also re-constructed the forms and contents of Liuhequan and taught in the South of China (Fuzhou). Thus this sub branch of Beijing Liuhequan, is today referred to as Fuzhou Liuhequan (少林六合门), or ZiranMen Liuhequan (自然六合门).