Greetings from Taiwan

[Brian L. Kennedy]

I am from California and have lived in Taiwan for 14 years now where I teach and write about criminal law and human rights issues. In my university days back in California I studied Buck Sam Kong’s Hung gar and Hsu Hong Chi's version of Xingyi. Here in Taiwan I have done some Yang style Taijiquan, western boxing, a bit of submission wrestling and BJJ. (I know it is weird; I learn Chinese martial arts in California and learn western martial arts in Taiwan—it is a strange world.)

My wife and I do a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine on different historical aspects of Chinese martial arts and we have a book that was published by North Atlantic Publishers a couple of years back titled Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey (which is actually a more interesting book than the title would suggest…I hope!).

Take care,
Brian

[TonyU]

Welcome to Budoseek, Brian.

[Abbax8]

Welcome to BudoSeek!

Peace

Dennis

[sean_stonehart]

Big Welcome!

[Brian L. Kennedy]

Thanks folks, I appreciate the welcome. I will look around a bit and see what I can add to the discussions.

take care,
Brian

[Mike Hoberman]

I am from California and have lived in Taiwan for 14 years now where I teach and write about criminal law and human rights issues. In my university days back in California I studied Buck Sam Kong’s Hung gar and Hsu Hong Chi's version of Xingyi.

Hello, I am also new to the forum.
Were you a student of Mike Patterson for Xingyi?
I believe he is also Hsu Hong Chi line. I've seen some demonstrations of his Xingyi (as well as Iron Body) and was very impressed indeed.

[Brian L. Kennedy]

Hi Mike,
Although Mike Patterson's school was actually somewhat close to my house my xingyi came through a different route; Vince Black taught a guy who taught me. Mike Patterson is a very skilled individual and was very important in the spreading of xingyi in southern California. I guess he and his wife have moved to Los Vegas and I presume some of the senior guys are keeping his La Mesa school going.

Truth be told, over the decades I have tweaked my xingyi into a more "standard" version. Nowadays if you saw me go through for example the 12 Animals, it does not really look like Hsi Hong Ji's version. But I do have tons of respect for him and his students.

take care,
Brian