Shuai jiao

Six Shuai Jiao masters in Tianjin, 1930.

Over 6,000 years ago, the earliest Chinese term for wrestling, "jǐao dǐ" (角抵, horn butting), refers to an ancient style of military Kung-Fu in which soldiers wore horned headgear with which they attempted to butt, throw and defeat their enemies. Ancient Chinese imperial records state that "jiao di" was used in 2697 BC by the soldiers of a rebel army led by Chiyou against the Yellow Emperor's army.[1] In later times, young people would play a similar game, emulating the contests of domestic cattle, without the headgear. Jiao di has been described as an originating source of wrestling and latter forms of martial arts in China.[2]

An ancient chinese belt plaque, depicting two dismounted horsemen, engaged in a wrestling match, circa 2nd century BC

"Jiao li" (角力) was first referenced in the Classic of Rites[3] during the Zhou Dynasty. Jiao li supplemented throwing techniques with strikes, blocks, joint locks and attacks on pressure points.[1] These exercises were practiced in the winter by soldiers who also practiced archery and studied military strategy.[4]

Jiao li eventually became a public sport held for court amusement as well as for recruiting the best fighters. Competitors wrestled each other on a raised platform called a "lei tai" for the potential reward of being hired as a bodyguard to the emperor or a martial arts instructor for the Imperial Military. Jiao li was taught to soldiers in China over many centuries and its popularity among the military guaranteed its influence on later Chinese martial arts through the end of the Qing dynasty.

The Manchu rulers of the Qing dynasty enjoyed wrestling. In the Qing dynasty, wrestling was referred to as liaojiao, guanjiao, buku and jueli/jiaoli.[5] The Kangxi Emperor was reported to have established the Shanpuying (Manchu: buku kifu kvwaran).[6] This was an institution dedicated to training wrestlers. The camp was located in Beijing and counted 300 members, of which 50 were archers, 50 were riders and the remaining 200 were wrestlers.[7] The camp was split into two wings, left and right, based on which way the direction the camps are located from the perspective of the Imperial Palace. Each of the wings was headed by a different wing commander, both of whom answered to the same Zongtong Dachen 總統大臣 (President). The likely purpose of this split of the camp, Yuhuan writes, was to stimulate rivalry between the two sides so that the wrestlers would always remain competitive.[8] Its members, also called Puhu (or Buku in Manchu) were expected to perform a variety of duties such as guarding the Emperor and wrestling with Central-Asian tribute bearers.[9]

Aside from their normal work, the wrestlers could also earn money by receiving rewards from the Emperor by doing extra duties such as performing at banquets and accompanying the Emperor on his battue hunts. The Mulan Battue/Mulan Autumn Hunt (Mulan Weilie/Mulan Qiuxian 木蘭圍獵/木蘭秋獮) was a Manchu tradition named after the Manchu word muran for the battue held during the deer mating season. The Emperors of the Qing would go to Chengde, beyond the Great Wall, to hold this event. In the event the Inner-Eurasian heritage of the Manchus would be celebrated and Inner-Eurasian subjects of the Manchus, mainly Mongolic, Turkic and Tibetan lords would be invited to join the Great Khan in the festivities. Zhao Yi records that the Mulan hunts were organised so frequently “to subjugate all Mongols, make them harbour fear [our] might and respect [our] virtue, [by] repressing the head and have them submit so that they do not dare to have [ill] intentions.”[10]

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, many of the former members of the Shanpuying were forced to make a living teaching wrestling or by busking on the streets. For example, the progenitor of Beijing wrestling was an instructor of the Shanpuying known as Wan Baye 宛八爷, or Wan Yongshun 宛永顺.[7] Wan Yongshun was the founder of the Tianqiao Wrestling School, a prominent wrestling school in Beijing, which gained great popularity in Beijing. This kind of wrestling was unique as it was a blend between the comedic performance art xiangsheng 相声 (crosstalk) and wrestling, creating a form of comedic performance wrestling art known as wuxiangsheng 武相声 (martial crosstalk).[11]

Wrestling made its way into the Central Guoshu Academy by way of Ma Liang, who wrote the first wrestling manual in China. Shuaijiao was henceforth formalised in 1917 through the manual Zhonghua Xin Wushu 中華新武術 [New Chinese Martial Arts] written by Ma Liang, which was disseminated by the educational department of the Republican Government.[12] This formalised style has been taught in schools since 1928.

The term "shuai jiao" was chosen by the Central Guoshu Academy (Zhong Yang Guo Shu Guan 中央國術館) of Nanjing in 1928 when competition rules were standardized .[13] Subsequently, the first Chinese Shuaijiao competition was held in 1935.[14] The art continues to be taught in the police and military academies of China.

A wrestling match during the Tang Dynasty.

The word "shuai," 摔, stands for "to throw onto the ground", while "jiao" may be one of two characters: the first and older, 角, stands for "horns" and the second and recent, 跤, stands for "wrestle or trip using the legs". In modern Chinese Shuai Jiao is always written using the more recent characters 跤, and should be translated as "to throw onto the ground through wrestling with legs". The use of the character 角 is because in the earliest form of Shuaijiao, players wore helmet with horns and head-butting was allowed. This form of Shuaijiao is called 'Ciyou Xi'.

The practice of Jiao li in the Zhou Dynasty was recorded in the Classic of Rites[3]

Shuaijiao can be divided into the following styles:

Zhili (直隷) or Hebei (河北) Style. This style traces the lineage to the Yellow Emperor who fought two decisive battles against Chi You and Yan Emperor in modern-day Zhang Jia Kou (张家口) Region in Northern Hebei, to the NW of Beijing. The modern training methods and rules are codified by Shan Pu Ying (善撲营 The Battalion of Excellency in Catching) of the Nei Wu Fu (内務府, Internal Administration Unit of Imperial Household Department). It comprises Beijing, Tianjin and Baoding styles, listed below. Wrestlers wear a jacket called Da Lian.

Beijing Style (北京) - This is in essence the lineage from the Manchu Buku style that was practised by the Imperial Guards Brigade, Shan Pu Ying (善扑营, literally the Expert in Wrestling Unit). The main characteristic is the use of the legs to kick and off-balance opponents, and the use of arm locks.

Tianjin Style (天津) - This is the lineage of Ming Dynasty Shuaijiao mixed with Manchu Buku (布庫). The main characteristic is the use of legs to kick and off-balance, and the use of forearms in blocking and striking.

Baoding Style (保定) - This is the lineage that is called Kuai Jiao (快跤) or "Fast Wrestling". The main characteristic is the fast application of technique. Another characteristic is the adaptation of Shaolin Quan from Ping Jingyi, a famous teacher of Shuaijiao who learned Shaolin style from the Meng family of Nanguan County even though he was a Muslim Hui.

Qing Dynasty match, a man has taken control of his rival and is about to throw him off a lei tai.

Shanxi Style (山西) - This is the lineage of Song Dynasty Shuaijiao. It is mainly practised in the counties between the mining city of Datong in northern Shanxi and the provincial capital Taiyuan in central Shanxi. The main characteristic is leg catching techniques, as traditionally wrestlers wear only tight knee-length pants.

Mongolian Style - This style traces its lineage to the wrestling styles of the Dong Hu (东胡) Confederation, which included Xianbei, Khitan and Mongol people.

• Chang Dongsheng
• Bökh
• Kurash
• Khuresh
• Alysh
• Chin Na
• Wu-shi Taijiquan
• Jujutsu
• Sambo
• Ssireum
• Sumo

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General references

• Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Chinese Language, entry 35831.82
• Chinese Fast Wrestling for Fighting, Liang, Shou-Yu and Tai D. Ngo, ISBN 1-886969-49-3
• Journal of Asian Martial Arts Volume 15, No. 1, 2006. Via Media Publishing, Erie Pennsylvania USA. ISSN 1057-8358

• ShuaijiaoNation.com Online Community
• United States Shuai Chiao Association
• European Shuai Jiao Union
• British Shuai Jiao Union
• Combat Shuai Chiao
• World Shuai Chiao Society: Shuai Chiao
• Mongolian Shuai Jiao Association: Shuai Chiao
• Shuai Chiao Association
• Middle Kingdom Wrestling - Chinese Pro Wrestling