Baji Quan Canada

Continue the history of the master of Li Shu Wen --- Great Master Zhang Jingxing!

一代武学大师、八极武学杰出教育家--------‘大枪’张景星'3

张景星与弟子李书文把李瑞东的少林八式（少林内廊秘法拳），厘定升华成罗疃硬架的金刚八式，又厘定了武功八式、文功八式，又厘定了揉手功，丰富了开门硬架八极武学体系。
张景星、张毓衡父子在京津名声大震后，父子二人于1904年左右，被驻扎保定的淮军乐子营李凤来部聘为刺枪术教习。张景星年过花甲到京津、保定验证开门硬架体系，真老英雄也。
张景星游历一段时间后返乡罗疃继续训诲弟子，以继续壮大有生力量，罗疃把式房弟子韩化臣、马凤图、马英图成为张景星的严督对象。五世李书文的早期弟子，在年节时到罗疃拜望二位师爷，也得黄、张二公的短期训诲，诸如六世高熙臣、曾宝长、霍殿阁、张子林、崔长友等等。这样，罗疃把式房培养了一大批闻名全国的技击高手。
张景星掌功尤纯，能隔豆腐打砖。枪技更为精绝，晚间在把式房教授张毓衡、韩化臣、马凤图对扎六合大枪，不用掌灯，可见枪技进入神化之境界。练八极拳时，帽头一起一落，顶拔劲的功夫尤深。张景星功夫精深，动作潇洒，艺高劲巧，进入化境。据他的弟子们口述，师父张景星公所练的大杆子重八斤，进行大枪套对扎，非常自如，功夫深厚。

同盟会员叶云表、马凤图在天津组织联络建立中华武士会，1910年（宣统二年）在天津筹备创办，太极拳名家李瑞东带领弟子颇众举足轻重。叶云表是形意拳门的弟子，请来李存义先生，门人声势浩大。马凤图遂请来沧州八极门张景星（拱辰）、李书文等莅临声势甚壮。这样八极门的张景星、王钟铨、李书文、张毓衡、马凤图、张德忠、高熙臣、曾宝长、霍殿阁、张子林、崔长友等汇聚天津，祖孙三代享誉津门。六十八岁的张景星与李瑞东、李存义成为中华武士会的“三老”，艺高德隆。
张景星传授的小架、八极拳（含对接）、六合刀、六合枪，成为中华武士会必修课，各个门派的学员都学习演练，流传至今。八极拳成为京津地区主流拳种，成为武林显学。
1912年10月28日，七十岁的张景星公带领后学张德忠、张毓衡、马凤图、徒侄赵元起代表沧州地区八极门，参加中华武士会举办的“天下英雄会”，表演八极拳和六合枪于津门，雄风不减（大公报报导）。
张景星年至古稀，尚能立足京、津中心地区，位列名家巨手之林，老当益壮矣。

A Generation’s Martial Arts Master, Outstanding Educator in Bajiquan — "Great Spear" [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) (Part 3)

[张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) and his disciple [李书文] (Lǐ Shūwén) took [李瑞东] (Lǐ Ruìdōng)’s Shaolin Eight Forms ([少林八式] Shàolín Bāshì), specifically the secret inner-hall method boxing ([少林内廊秘法拳] Shàolín Nèiláng Mìfǎ Quán), and systematized and refined them into the "Vajra Eight Forms" ([金刚八式] Jīngāng Bāshì) of the Luotuan hard-frame system ([罗疃硬架] Luótuǎn Yìngjià). They further organized the Martial Eight Forms ([武功八式] Wǔgōng Bāshì), the Civil Eight Forms ([文功八式] Wéngōng Bāshì), and developed the Rou Shou skills ([揉手功] Róushǒu Gōng), greatly enriching the open-gate hard-frame Bajiquan system ([开门硬架八极武学体系] Kāimén Yìngjià Bājí Wǔxué Tǐxì).

After [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) and his son [张毓衡] (Zhāng Yùhéng) achieved tremendous fame in the Beijing-Tianjin region ([京津] Jīng-Jīn), the father and son were, around 1904, invited by the [淮军乐子营] (Huáijūn Yuèzǐ Yíng) commander [李凤来] (Lǐ Fènglái), stationed in [保定] (Bǎodìng), to serve as instructors in bayonet techniques ([刺枪术教习] Cìqiāngshù Jiàoxí). Already in his sixties, [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) still went to Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding to validate the open-gate hard-frame system in practice—truly an old hero.

After a period of travel, [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) returned to his hometown of [罗疃] (Luótuǎn) to continue instructing disciples and to strengthen the next generation. At the [罗疃把式房] (Luótuǎn Bǎshì Fáng) Luotuan martial hall, disciples such as [韩化臣] (Hán Huàchén), [马凤图] (Mǎ Fèngtú), and [马英图] (Mǎ Yīngtú) became the focus of [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng)’s strict training. Fifth-generation disciple [李书文] (Lǐ Shūwén)’s early students would visit Luotuan during holidays to pay their respects to the two grandmasters and also received short-term instruction from the elders [黄] (Huáng) and [张] (Zhāng). These included sixth-generation disciples such as [高熙臣] (Gāo Xīchén), [曾宝长] (Zēng Bǎozhǎng), [霍殿阁] (Huò Diàngé), [张子林] (Zhāng Zǐlín), and [崔长友] (Cuī Chángyǒu). In this way, the Luotuan martial hall produced a large number of combat experts who became famous across China.

[张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) was especially skilled in palm strikes—he could break a brick through a piece of tofu. His spear skills were even more superb. At night, he would train [张毓衡] (Zhāng Yùhéng), [韩化臣] (Hán Huàchén), and [马凤图] (Mǎ Fèngtú) in the paired routines of the Six Harmonies Great Spear ([六合大枪] Liùhé Dàqiāng) in the training hall without lighting a lamp, showing that his spear techniques had reached a divine level. When practicing Bajiquan (八极拳), the rise and fall of his hat emphasized the power of his upward-pulling force ([顶拔劲] Dǐngbá Jìn), which he had mastered deeply. His kung fu was profound, his movements graceful, his techniques powerful and refined—he had reached the realm of transformation ([化境] Huàjìng). According to his disciples, the long staff that [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) used weighed eight jin (about 4 kg), and he performed spear sets and partner routines ([大枪套对扎] Dàqiāng Tàoduìzhā) with great ease, demonstrating his deep internal strength.

[同盟会] (Tóngménghuì) members [叶云表] (Yè Yúnbiǎo) and [马凤图] (Mǎ Fèngtú) organized the founding of the Chinese Warrior club[中华武士会] (Zhōnghuá Wǔshì Huì) in Tianjin ([天津] Tiānjīn). In 1910 ([宣统二年] Xuāntǒng Èr Nián), they prepared for its establishment. The renowned Taijiquan master [李瑞东] (Lǐ Ruìdōng) led a powerful following and played a key role. [叶云表] (Yè Yúnbiǎo), being a disciple of Xingyiquan ([形意拳] Xíngyìquán), invited [李存义] (Lǐ Cúnyì), who came with a grand entourage. [马凤图] (Mǎ Fèngtú) then invited [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng), styled [拱辰] (Gǒngchén), and [李书文] (Lǐ Shūwén) of the [沧州八极门] (Cāngzhōu Bājí Mén) to join, creating great momentum.

Thus, Bajiquan figures including [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng), [王钟铨] (Wáng Zhōngquán), [李书文] (Lǐ Shūwén), [张毓衡] (Zhāng Yùhéng), [马凤图] (Mǎ Fèngtú), [张德忠] (Zhāng Dézhōng), [高熙臣] (Gāo Xīchén), [曾宝长] (Zēng Bǎozhǎng), [霍殿阁] (Huò Diàngé), [张子林] (Zhāng Zǐlín), and [崔长友] (Cuī Chángyǒu) all gathered in Tianjin, with three generations of masters bringing prestige to the city. At age sixty-eight, [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng), [李瑞东] (Lǐ Ruìdōng), and [李存义] (Lǐ Cúnyì) became known as the “Three Elders” ([三老] Sān Lǎo) of the [中华武士会] (Zhōnghuá Wǔshì Huì), admired for both skill and virtue.

The Bajiquan small frame form, big frame form(including partner drills), the Six Harmonies Sabre ([六合刀] Liùhé Dāo), and Six Harmonies Spear ([六合枪] Liùhé Qiāng) as taught by [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng), became mandatory courses at the [中华武士会] (Zhōnghuá Wǔshì Huì), with students from all martial arts schools learning and practicing them. These teachings have been passed down to the present. Bajiquan (八极拳) became the dominant style in the Beijing-Tianjin region and a highly respected school in the martial world.

On October 28, 1912 , seventy-year-old [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng), along with [张德忠] (Zhāng Dézhōng), [张毓衡] (Zhāng Yùhéng), [马凤图] (Mǎ Fèngtú), and his grand-disciple [赵元起] (Zhào Yuánqǐ), represented the Cangzhou Bajiquan School ([沧州八极门] Cāngzhōu Bājí Mén) at the “Gathering of Heroes Under Heaven” ([天下英雄会] Tiānxià Yīngxióng Huì) hosted by the [中华武士会] (Zhōnghuá Wǔshì Huì), performing Bajiquan and the Six Harmonies Spear in Tianjin ([津门] Jīnmén), their spirit undiminished, as reported in [大公报] (Dàgōng Bào).

Even in his seventies, [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng) held his place among the top martial artists of Beijing and Tianjin, standing tall among the great masters—proof that age had not dimmed his martial brilliance.

p.s. short video of my shifu, Grandmaster Wei Jiu Ru, perform the Six Harmonies Sabre ([六合刀] Liùhé Dāo), and Six Harmonies Spear ([六合枪] Liùhé Qiāng) as passed down by [张景星] (Zhāng Jǐngxīng),

#魏鴻濱 #張克明 #六合大槍 #李書文 #張景星 #張玉衡 #八極拳