Eleventh in a series: Sifu Randy Choy is a well-respected martial arts teacher in Hawaii. Sifu Fong thanks him for graciously sharing his thoughts on training here.

Grand Ultimate Fan

Today, the Grand Ultimate Fan (Taiji Shan) has grown tremendously in popularity among the practitioners of Grand Ultimate Shadow Boxing (Taiji Quan). In 1980, I studied Chinese boxing under Mr. Cheng Bin Wen at Taipei City's New Park. Every morning, you would see groups of men and women practicing the Chinese fan. In fact, the Yang family's Grand Ultimate Fan was among the most popular. Once the chosen weapon of the Chinese scholar, the fan is now practiced by everyone as a form of Chinese health exercise.

The most popular Chinese fan size is the thirteen rib fan. In Hawaii, I have my students use the bamboo, thirteen rib fan. It's light, it doesn't oxidize like the aluminum fan, and it keeps its shape for a long time. You have three colors to choose from, red, blue, and black, or with either the Grand Ultimate design or the Double Dragons design.

Even the Chen family has their own Grand Ultimate Fan form, divided into four routines, consisting of thirteen fan techniques. These techniques are to stab (Ci), to press (Ya), to stir (Liao), to chop (Pi), to open (Kai), to close (Shou), to raise (Ti), to collide (Chung), to embrace (Bao), to draw back (Dai), to sharpen (Xue), clouds (Yun), and to push (Tui).

During the mid-1980's, my martial arts teacher, Mr. David Cheng from Vietnam, introduced the Grand Ultimate Fan in Hawaii. Mr. Lam Jing Kwai introduced this thirty-seven movement fan form into Central Vietnam. Besides the Grand Ultimate Fan, my teacher knew the Plum Flower Fan (Mei Hua Shan) and the Eight Immortals Fan (Ba Xian Shan).

The most popular fan form among the three is the Grand Ultimate Fan, consisting of fourteen fan techniques. They are, to stab (Ci), to press (Ya), to stir (Liao), to chop (Pi), to lift (Ti), to sweep (Sao), to pluck (Tiao), to support (Tuo), to embrace (Bao), clouds (Yun), to push (Tui), to press and cut (An Qie), to open (Kai), and to close (Shou). This fan form is performed slowly to stimulate circulation and promote good health.

So, let us analyze this fan form. The first fan technique is to stab. Stabbing is widely practiced and repeated in this form. You can find in this in movement 7, "Searching the Sea," in movement 10, "Cow looking at the moon," in movement 11, "Green dragon testing its claw," in movement 16, "Meteor star chasing the moon," in movement 18, "Left and right shaking fan," in movement 21, "White snake spits out poison," in movement 25, "Clever cat catches the rat," in movement 28, "Upwards and downwards three stabs," and in movement 34, "Swallow enters the nest."

The second technique is to press, found in movement 29, "Turning back the head to look at the moon."

The third fan technique is to stir, found in movement 3, "Green dragon comes out of the water," in movement 11, "Green dragon testing its claws," in movement 15, "Favorable waters pushing the boat," in movement 19, "Left and right flowers," in movement 24, "Black dragon circles the pillar," and in movement 27, "Fanning three rings."

The fourth technique is to chop, found in movement 22, "Splitting the Wah Mountain," in movement 11, "Green dragon testing its claws," in movement 16, "Meteor star chasing the moon," and in movement 19, "Left and right flowers."

The fifth fan technique is to lift, found in movement 4, "Move fan left and right."

The sixth technqiue is to sweep. The horizontal sweep is found in movement 6, "Turn body back with horizontal sweep," in movment 13, "Lion shakes its head," in movement 20, "Horizontal sweep hits the top of the head," and in movement 35, "Breeze sweeps plum flowers."

The seventh technique is to pluck, found in movement 23, "Major star of the big dipper."

The eighth fan technique is to support, found in movement 8, "Black dragon wags its tail," in movement 17, "Male and female phoenix nodding their heads," in movement 23, "Major star of the big dipper," and in movement 37, "Support the fan and close the grand ultimate."

The ninth technique is to embrace, found in movement 9, "Fan inside of fish belly," in movement 16, "Meteor star chasing the moon," and in movement 26, "Side step your opponent's attack."

The tenth technique is the clouds. Found in movement 3, "Green dragon leaves the water."

The eleventh fan technique is to push, found in movement 5, "Turn body and push fan," in movement 33, "White ape offers the fruit," and in movement 36, "Upwards step while compass points south."

The twelfh technique is to press and cut, found in movment 30, "Great roc spreads its wings."

The thirteenth fan technique is to open the fan, found in movement 2, "White crane spreads its wings," in movement 4, "Move fan left to right," in movement 8, "Black dragon wags its tail," in movement 12, "Finger points up to the sky and down to the earth," in the second half of movement 13, "Lion shakes its head," in the first half of movement 22, "Powerful chop on the Wah Mountain," in movement 23, "Major star of the big dipper," in movement 31, "Left and right shaking fan," and in movement 35, "Breeze sweeps plum flowers."

The final and fourteenth fan technique is to close the fan. It is found in movement 3, "Green dragon leaves the water," in movement 7, "Gesture of searching the ocean," in the first half of movement 13, "Lion shakes its head," in movement 21, "White snake shoots poison out," in the second half of the movement 22, "Powerful chop on the Wah Mountain," in movement 28, "Upwards and downwards three stabs," in movement 34, "Swallow enters the nest," and in movement 37, "Support the fan and close the grand ultimate."

In conclusion, the Chinese fan can be fun and it is good for health. After long practice of the fan, you might consider yourself an "expert." Remember, the fan in the hands of an expert can become a lethal weapon. So enjoy this form of Chinese pugilism.

Mahalo,
Professor Randy Choy
Founder of the Chinese Athletic Arts Academy
Advisor to the Hawaii Martial Arts International Society
Chuk Kai Tai Chi Praying Mantis Organization, Hawaii

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