07/23/2026
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Tan Tui is a pillar of the core techniques of the northern Shaolin eighteen hands.
Master Gu Yu Cheong's Northern Shaolin style of Kung Fu has ten core forms choreographed as the curriculum for his teachings. Each intended to be a comprehensive lesson on a specific aspect of Kung Fu. An accomplished student of this style should pursue into the deep meaning of each form through careful practice and analysis of the techniques and combinations.
Hui Hui Spring Legs
Tan Tui (弹腿) Is Not Just a Drill.
It is a traditional Chinese martial art root essence with a long history. It was originally one of five major sections**
in the Northern schools:
In ancient China, many pugilists were specialized in this skill which spread Far and wide all over China particularly in Henan, Hebei, Shantung and Shaanxi provinces, as well as in some overseas lands.
The "Ten Routine Spring Leg" is one of the most favorite sports of the Hui nationality on the Chinese mainland.
It Is the DNA of Northern Shaolin.
"If steps are not swift, hands are bound to be inert; if steps are not solid, hands are certain to be disorderly."
After some years practice and teaching, I keep coming back to the foundations. In Grandmaster Gu’s Northern Shaolin system.
Tan Tui isn't just an entry level leg exercise, it is the bedrock. It’s the engine where structure, timing, and explosive force (Fa Jin) are forged.
Historians and old masters trace these ten routines back to the Ming Dynasty with the Hui master Chamir (Chashangmir).
When you practice Tan Tui, you're tapping into centuries of battlefield heritage, the same lineage that forged the saber tactics of Qi Jiguang.
There is a reason the old proverb says: "From Beijing to Nanjing the best players of Spring Leg come from the Hui."
The Ten Lines of Northern Shaolin Tan Tui (十路弹腿)
Every single sequence carries a distinct combat lesson;
hand-and-foot coordination,
and vector of force:
First Sequence (第一路: 衝掃似扁担): Swing and punch like a paddler’s carrying pole on his shoulder.
Establishes the central shoulder axis, rotation, and structural root.
Second Sequence (第二路: 十字人拉鑽): The "Cross" punch and kick combine to the "pulling the drill" punch. Trains dual-vector power where hand and foot explode together.
Third Sequence (第三路: 蓋錘雙披打): Swing overhead strikes to two directions. Clears high attacks while opening multi-directional power.
Fourth Sequence (第四路: 撑磨出奇関): Hand combination with swift footwork to escape from a defensive situation. Focuses on spatial management and dynamic angle changes.
Fifth Sequence (第五路: 看管封逼然): Simultaneous block and punch combination with tight guards for pressing attacks. Traps the opponent's frame while jamming their line.
Sixth Sequence (第六路: 荘跥似轉環): Wheeling palm striking technique with low kicking. Uses continuous circular upper-body energy paired with destructive lower-gate entries.
Seventh Sequence (第七路: 碰鎖重閃門): Block and Lock combination into power punch and kick. Seizes contact, locks joint control, and delivers decisive force.
Eighth Sequence (第八路: 栽捶跟蹬足): Down Strike followed by back heel kick. Combines downward crushing power with hidden rear structural kicks.
Ninth Sequence (第九路: 雙称十字腿): High double front kicks with blocking covers. Coordinates upper defensive doors with high explosive leg extension.
Tenth Sequence (第十路: 栽花似箭弹): Low advancing snap kicks like arrows. Delivers swift, non-telegraphed pe*******on straight through the defense.
The Signature of Long Fist:
“Tan Ma Quan (探馬拳)
Look at Tan Ma Quan, also known as San Huan Tu Yue (“Three Rings Spitting the Moon”).”
~Master Han
In traditional martial arts, the very first move of a routine reveals the essence of the entire system, the creator’s signature intention.
In Tan Ma Quan, you see the hallmark features of Long Fist combat: precision strikes, takedowns, and joint control. Once contact is made, the opponent is instantly seized, sticky hands become joint locks, and joint locks become throws. It is this smooth transition from control to domination that defines true combative flow: using finesse to break power, and power to control the opponent.
The Golden Rules of Springing Legs:
The Waist is the Gear:
As you set yourself in motion with hands the gear is your waist. Power ripples from the heel, through the hip socket, guided by the spine, and out to the shoulders, elbows and wrist.
Smooth, Relaxed, Tense, Accurate: Tension at the wrong time locks your joints and ruins your speed. Stay relaxed (Yin) until the exact microsecond of impact (Yang), snapping the force like a bowstring releasing an arrow in fractions of a second.
Legs Need Rooted Footwork:
"Hands are like two doors, yet it is the legs that deliver the most powerful strokes."
But without solid steps, hands become disorderly and kicks lose their leverage.
Do not look down on Tan Tui for its plain postures and simple tactics. "Training the fist a thousand times makes a perfect bodywork."
Keep the root deep, train the waist, and let every line teach you the true flow of the Northern Shaolin.
~ Sifu Kisu
北少林
Northern Shaolim Kung Fu Association
The Harmonious Fist
**
In traditional Northern Chinese martial arts and Shaolin Long Fist (Changquan) taxonomy the classic Northern Shaolin systems are traditionally grouped into five major section schools (often referred to as the five major Northern style families):
1. Cha Quan (查拳 - Cha Fist)
Characteristics:
Known for its long-range strikes, fluid dynamics, elegant posture, and sophisticated footwork.
Focus:
Emphasizes extension, speed, and agility, utilizing high kicks, wide stances, and precise technical combinations.
2. Hua Quan (華拳 - Hua Fist / China Fist)
Characteristics:
Celebrated for its smooth rhythm, continuous energy delivery, and expressive, large-frame movements.
Focus: Blends fast hand combinations with well-balanced, grounded stances, focusing on "striking like thunder and moving like wind."
3. Northern Hong Quan (洪拳 - Northern Red/Flood Fist)
Characteristics:
Distinct from Southern Hung Gar, Northern Hong Quan features vigorous, explosive power and firm, stable rootwork.
Focus:
Combines strong, direct attacks with sudden evasive footwork, forming the structural foundation for many traditional Shaolin hand forms.
4. Pao Quan (炮拳 - Cannon Fist)
Characteristics: Highly aggressive and direct, mimicking the explosive release of artillery or heavy weaponry.
Focus: Relies on compact, heavy, linear strikes and simultaneous defense-and-attack mechanics (Lian Xiao Dai Da) to break through an opponent's guard.
5. Fa Quan / Wa Quan (發拳 / 花拳 - Flower Fist or Launching Fist)
Characteristics:
Known for deceptive angle work, intricate trapping hands, and sudden changes in rhythm and direction.
Focus:
Uses fluid wrist and arm maneuvers to deflect incoming force before releasing sharp, short-to-mid-range strikes.
Note on System Evolution:
While these five traditional branches developed distinct stylistic flavors, they share the foundational principles of Northern Shaolin: long-range reach, dynamic footwork, flexible hip rotation, and seamless transitions between high and low postures.
