“Like water that drips through stone, with patience, even the weak become strong.”
Liu He Ba Fa Quan, also known as Water Boxing, is referred to as the fourth internal system of Chinese Kung Fu. The creation of this
style was credited to a Taoist Monk named Chen Tuan. He created the art during the tenth century based on the Taoist understanding
of the nature of water.
Chen Tuan never taught the style with anyone else but kept written records of his creation. Soon after he died, Lee Dong Feng spread
the art after discovering Chen Tuan’s works. The original name “Water Boxing” soon was replaced by the name “Liu He Ba Fa Quan” or
“Six Harmonies and Eight Methods Boxing.”
Forms of Liu He Ba Fa Quan include contracting movements that gather energy that are followed by expansive movements, which release
the energy. The release movements clear internal blockage, both physical and emotional. The movements in the forms of Liu He Ba Fa
Quan have a likeness in water flowing down a mountain effortlessly around obstacles, slowing down to the stillness of a pool, and
possessing the powerful force of a waterfall.
Practice of Liu He Ba Fa Quan’s form creates a sense of inner calm that is combined with a great deal of energy. It is beneficial for health
as well as an excellent system of self-defense.
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