History
While the details of the history alter according to the teller, with names and places shifting as they tend to do in any oral history, in essence the story of Eagle Claw began in the and in Chinese military training, became a family tradition passed on from parent to child for generations, and eventually shed its air of secrecy with the advent of public martial arts schools.
Yue Fei
The Eagle Claw method is said to have been created by General Yue Fei who lived at a time of warfare between the and the Jurchen tribes of the . Yue credited his victories in battle to his martial arts training under . .
While known primarily as an Archer Zhou Tong is said to have taught Yue Fei a method of grappling from the "Elephant Style" which he later expanded to create the "108 Chinna locks" known as Eagle Fist style . He taught this new style to his soldiers and they were victorious in battle.
Elephant Fist
In Chinese, elephant is pronounced ''Xiàng'' . However, the same character can also mean "shape, form, or appearance". The elephant style in question some believe to be a mistranslation of ''xiang'', which actually refers to ''Xiang Xing Quan'' , a fighting technique which emphasizes the imitation of the offensive and defensive actions of a certain animal or celestial personage.
Shaolin
In the late Ming Dynasty Yue Fei's material is said to have made a re-appearance at a Shaolin. Lai Chin/Liquan an expert in the Fanzi boxing method encountered soldiers practicing the hand techniques they called ''Ying Quan'' .
After taking the time to learn and master these skills he undertook the daunting task of assimilating them into his pre-existing Fanziquan sets.
Ming - Qing Dynasty
In 1644 the Ming Dynasty was overthrown and replaced by the Qing Dynasty. Many royal family members of the Ming house went into hiding, with several becoming monks, scholars and artists. On such monk was Zhu Ruoji aka Shitao, a low-level prince. He was only two years old when the Ming fell. Later on in his life he took the name Dao Ji . He had a classmate or student named Fa Seng .
Liu Shi Jun and Liu Cheng You
Liu Shi Jun of Xiong County, Baoding City, Hebei is considered the Sijo of the ''yīng zhuǎ fān zi quán'' . He took up martial arts at an early age and studied under several proponents of Shaolin kungfu, Fanzi, Chuojiao and Liuhe boxing, etc. Around middle age, he learned ''Yue Family linking free hands'' from Fa Seng and Dao Ji. He later was appointed as the military arts instructor for one of the barracks in the capital city of Beijing. He taught the troops fist and spear skills. His two most prominent students were Liu Dekuan and Ji Zixiu .
Liu Chen You first learned martial arts from his uncle Liu Dekuan , who had been a student of Liu Shi Jun when stationed in Beijing. He continued his instruction under other prominent martial artist of the region such as "Dong Xianzhou & Yang Jingshan ". He later later received advanced training under Liu Shi Jun when he retired to his home village. Liu Chen You turned out to be a very strict teacher and only accepted a few students. The more well known of those were Liu Qi Wen , Chen Zizheng and Zhang Zhan Wen One of Liu Qi Wen most prominent students was Liu Fa Meng, who taught not only at teh ShangHai Chin Wu association but went onto teach in Hong Kong being know as the Ying Wong of Eagle Claw or King of Eagle Claw in Hong Kong. It is through the books written by Liu Fa Meng that many people around the world were able to read about the eagle claw system of China. The book published by Liu Fa Mang, cover Dai Hon Keun or Big Hero Fist Yi Ling Ba Cum La Sau or Yhat Ling Bhat Cum La Sau the 108 two man combat principle of eagle claw and also the Dai Do or Big Sword skills
Chin Woo Athletic Association
The Chin Woo Athletic Association was founded by the famed martial artist Fawk Yuen Gop/ Huo Yuanjia in Shanghai. Its purpose was the dissemination of not only Martial Arts but sports and other educational systems to the public. The Eagle Claw system remained relatively restricted to the Xiong County, Baoding City in Hebei until Chen Zizheng was invited to teach at the Chin Wu.
After initial success with the first School in Shanghai, Chen went to his training brother Liu Qi Wen to offer his students careers as Martial Arts instructors in the Chin Woo Association. In time, Eagle Claw was being taught in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guandong, Futsan, Singapore, Malaysia etc.
Lineages
There are three main Eagle Claw lineages known that most teachers/schools can trace their style to.
#Liu Qiwen
#Chen Zizheng
#Zhang Zhan Wen
Training
How the Eagle Claw system is taught varies between each teacher's skill and experiences. What is consistent of an Eagle Claw Master is their knowledge of the 3 core sets of the style.
*Xing Quan is known as the "Walking Fist." This set consists of ten to twelve rows of techniques representative of what is today known as Shaolin Fanziquan.
*Lian Quan is known as the "Linking Fist." A very important set in that it not only provides the exponent with an encyclopedic base of the various seizing, grappling and joint-locks of qinna, but it also incorporates various Qigong skills as well. Most have nicknamed this set the "Dictionary of Eagle Claw" due to the content containing probably 90% of the styles skills and techniques.
*Yue Shi San Shou is considered the "heart" of the Eagle Claw system. It is Believed to be the original material passed down by the style's legendary founder Yue Fei. This material has 108 different categories of skills/techniques that are trained to a level of perfection with partners. One thing to remember is that each sequence is only a example of that catagory which contains numerous variations and off shoots.
Missing any of the 3 core sets will severely hinder a student's hope of mastering this style.
Movies
Below are some of the many films that feature the Eagle Claw Style. Most films have the proponents of Eagle Claw as villains.
* ''Invincible Armour'' with Hwang Jang Lee
* ''Shaolin Martial Arts''
* ''Shaolin Assassin''
* ''Snake in the Eagle's Shadow'' with Jackie Chan
* ''Avenging Eagle'' with Fu Sheng & Ti Lung
* ''Master of the Flying Guillotine''
* ''Death Duel of Mantis''
* ''Eagle's Claw''
* ''Fearless Hyena'' Jackie Chan -
* ''Jade Claw'' also known as ''Crystal Fist'' with Billy Chong
* ''18 Fatal Strikes''
* ''Talons of the Eagle''
* ''Legend of a Fighter'' with Leung Kar Yan & Kurata Yusuaki
* ''Super Power'' with Billy Chong
* ''Eagle's Claw and Butterfly Palm''
* ''Martial Club'' with Gordon Liu & Kara Hui
* ''Undefeatable'' with Cynthia Rothrock; Don Niam; John Miller II
* ''No Retreat, No Surrender 2'' Cynthia Rothrock, Hwang Jang Lee
* ''Kill Bill Vol. 2'' Pei Mei
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