Chapter 130: The True Face of Traditional Martial Arts

In Europe, there is a fighting coach named Victor who is quite famous in the world of mixed martial arts. After encountering Wing Chun, he identified its flaws: inflexible footwork, a rigid adherence to the "centerline theory," a lack of kicking techniques, and virtually non-existent ground fighting skills.

After conducting in-depth research, Victor invented a new fighting system derived from Wing Chun. Because the open arms resemble a pair of wings, he called it "Wing Fighting."

This "Wing Fighting" does not stick to the traditional "centerline theory" of Wing Chun. Instead, it achieves the defensive effects of the traditional centerline by constantly swaying the body while attacking during live combat. Combined with more agile footwork and the addition of ground techniques, Victor achieved impressive results in the ring using this style. Since then, "Wing Fighting" has gained great renown and has become a common fighting style in MMA.

However, back home, traditional martial arts prioritize "inheritance" over "innovation." What is there an abundance of in China? Critics. As long as someone proposes "innovation" in a particular style of boxing, no matter how successful that innovation is, there will always be people standing up to criticize them as "betraying their ancestors," "fooling around," or being "neither fish nor fowl."

Which country’s people currently curse Bruce Lee the most? He has become a legend abroad, yet at home, he is torn to shreds by critics. Even when his daughter sued for infringement because people were using her father’s image for advertisements, critics claimed she was just crazy for money and fame. Do these critics ever use their brains? If one day someone used your father’s photo to make money, would you be happy? Well, generally speaking, critics don't have brains.

Beyond the countless critics, there is another factor: too little real combat experience. There are too few competitions, and private duels have to be conducted in secret, with individuals bearing the cost of their own injuries. It’s no wonder it’s declining.

The martial arts heritage Yang Meng received is the "Way of Slaughter" from Huang Feihu, so his judgment of various traditional martial arts naturally stems from the perspective of the battlefield.

"Do you think Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is strong?" Yang Meng asked Long Teng and Bai Ze.

Both nodded in unison: "The ground techniques are indeed very strong!"

Yang Meng laughed: "People like that would be looking for death on the battlefield. How was war fought in ancient times? First, you set up formations, then one formation clashes with the other, and after one wave, the next follows. Why fight like that? The reason is simple. Think about it: in ancient times, battles involved thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people. When so many people stand together, what is the biggest fear? A stampede! Imagine ten thousand people moving in one direction, and suddenly a hundred people lose their minds and charge in the opposite direction—what happens? Back then, whoever hit the ground first died first! So, what was strong on the battlefield? You know Xingyiquan, right? Well, Xingyiquan was derived from the spear techniques of Yue Fei’s 'Yue Family Army'!"

"Hmm?" Bai Ze was a bit confused: "How can boxing and spear techniques be linked? And they were skills for the battlefield?"

Yang Meng smiled: "All traditional martial arts were passed down from the battlefield! Xingyiquan is no exception. Take the 'San Ti Shi' opening stance of Xingyiquan, for example: the front hand defends the throat and chest, while the back hand defends the abdomen and groin. If you were holding a long spear between those two hands, wouldn't that be the perfect defensive posture for a pikeman? Then, by using the 'mud-walking step' to move forward, you achieve both offense and defense in one. This is why the Yue Family Army was invincible back then! Try using a Muay Thai defensive stance on that battlefield, and you're just begging for death!"

Bai Ze, who practices Muay Thai, mimicked a Muay Thai defensive stance, then compared it to the Xingyiquan stance, realizing it was exactly as Yang Meng said.

"Master, are you saying all fighting techniques came from the battlefield? Is that for real?" Bai Ze remained skeptical.

Yang Meng chuckled: "What’s real or not? Take Tai Chi, for example. Everyone says it emphasizes 'deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces,' 'borrowing force to strike,' and 'using slowness to overcome speed.' But how many people can actually achieve that? Now, imagine a sword-and-shield soldier on an ancient battlefield."

Long Teng and Bai Ze were stunned. If Tai Chi were used in unarmed combat, those maxims would indeed be hard to apply. But if a soldier were holding a shield and someone slashed at them, blocking with the shield is "using slowness to overcome speed." Deflecting the opponent's weapon is "deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces." Finally, taking advantage of the opponent's instability to deliver a counter-strike is "borrowing force to strike."

Yang Meng smiled: "It seems you’ve figured it out. Nowadays, both Chen-style and Yang-style Tai Chi include ground attacks—for example, the 'Ground-Cutting Dragon' and 'Falling Fork' in Chen-style, or 'Needle at Sea Bottom' in Yang-style. Laymen watching these moves can't understand their purpose. But if you give these people a sword and a shield, everyone will instantly understand: these are anti-spear formation techniques. Think about it: when these sword-and-shield soldiers face pikemen, doesn't staying low reduce the chance of injury? These moves are for advancing while crouching behind a shield, avoiding the spears above, and attacking the enemy’s lower half with the sword! By the way, there is another move in Tai Chi called 'Grasping the Sparrow's Tail.' What is that for? You are a sword-and-shield soldier; you rush to the front of the enemy’s spear formation and desperately grab several of their spears. At that moment, can't your comrades rush in and mince them like meat? Now, 'Grasping the Sparrow's Tail' has become a leg-takedown move; hasn't its effectiveness been greatly diminished?"

Long Teng and Bai Ze fell into deep thought. Duan Bowen, standing to the side, asked curiously: "Mr. Yang, according to what you say, traditional martial arts should actually prioritize real combat? Is that why you are putting Long Teng and Bai Ze through this training?"

"Exactly," Yang Meng nodded.

"But..." Duan Bowen hesitated: "Mr. Yang, if all these boxing styles are born from war, and our country has 129 types of traditional martial arts, were they all derived from war?"

"Not all of them," Yang Meng shook his head. "After all, not everyone has experienced war, but the vast majority emerged from real combat. There are also some interesting styles."

"What kind of interesting styles?" Duan Bowen asked, puzzled.

"Take Changquan, known as the 'Mother of a Hundred Fists.' My guess is that it was simply developed by street thugs for brawling. Don't go spreading that—people will definitely curse me! I already said it’s just a guess!" Yang Meng said.

Duan Bowen laughed: "I wonder why Mr. Yang would guess that?" Yang Meng replied: "Once you understand Changquan, you’ll see its characteristics. First, it focuses on 'bridge-hand' techniques, which are common defensive means in street fights. Second, it emphasizes movement—hit and move. Finally, and most importantly, Changquan is the style that values the 'brawler’s haymaker' the most. Don’t underestimate the haymaker. No matter what fighting technique you use, when a real fight breaks out, it always devolves into haymakers. It’s the most instinctive form of human fighting. And what are the features of a haymaker? You throw all your power into one go! The first few punches are powerful, but by the end, it’s just 'little fists pounding on the chest.' Isn't that what thugs do most often?"

Duan Bowen burst into laughter: "Alright, Mr. Yang, that actually makes sense. What other interesting styles are there?"

Yang Meng thought for a moment: "From what I know, Baguazhang is also a very interesting style!"

Bai Ze, listening on the side, spoke up: "Master, I have to say something about that. I have a friend I’ve known since childhood; we were at the same sports school, and he practices Baguazhang. I admit the style has its merits—the hand techniques are intricate, and the constant circling footwork makes people dizzy. But the striking power is too weak. To increase it, he had to take up the Iron Palm technique. Many Baguazhang practitioners do this. But because of the Bagua footwork, he can't fully exert the power of the Iron Palm. So now he doesn't know how to progress. Is it only good for performing routines in martial arts competitions?"

Yang Meng countered: "Since he grew up with you, you must know about the unique weapons of Baguazhang?"

Bai Ze nodded: "Of course, that’s one of my friend’s fixed performance pieces—a pair of 'Zi-Wu Mandarin Duck Axes,' also known as 'Sun-Moon Universe Swords.' Legend says they were invented by the founder of Baguazhang, Dong Haichuan. The gear is quite ingenious; it can hook, slash, stab, and cut. Are you saying one must use these weapons to practice Baguazhang?"

Yang Meng shook his head: "Not at all. You have misunderstood Baguazhang. What type of martial art is it? It is an 'assassination art.'"

"An assassination art?" Bai Ze was taken aback.

Yang Meng nodded: "Why does Baguazhang emphasize such exquisite footwork and hand techniques? It’s for the sake of assassination. Those killers don't need 'Mandarin Duck Axes'; just give them a sickle in each hand! Imagine a killer rushing at you with two sickles using extremely strange footwork, constantly attacking your throat, tendons, and groin. By the time you land one strike, they’ve already slashed you five or six times. You want to retaliate? They twist their body to dodge, then continue hacking away! What do you think the 'Nine Palace Steps' in Baguazhang are for? Plain and simple: they are techniques for maneuvering, dodging, and counter-attacking within a crowd or a forest! Remember, traditional martial arts are the ones that prioritize real combat the most! What we use now are 'modified' versions better suited for performance. It’s a completely different concept. It’s not that traditional martial arts aren't strong; it’s entirely our own fault!"

Just then, a man in a white coat rushed in from the door, interrupting their conversation: "Young Master Long, the results are out! You're perfectly fine!"

Yang Meng looked over and frowned: "Hmm? Why are you here?"