LITTLE LOHAN FIST
小羅漢拳

Little Lohan Fist

Little Lohan Fist

The Lohan Fist was evolved from the Eighteen Lohan Hands by retired generals at the Shaolin Temple, and became the prototype of Shaolin Kungfu. This evolution was not directed or intentional, but spontaneous and haphazard. As there were many martial monks modifying the chi kung exercises of the Eighteen Lohan Hands for their individual martial needs over a long history of time, there were many different versions of the Lohan Fist.

It was recorded in Shaolin classics that originally there were 18 patterns in the initial versions of the Eighteen-Lohan Fist, modified from the 18 patterns of the Eighteen Lohan Hands. But by the time of the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century, many versions of the Lohan Fist had 108 patterns. The original and shorter versions were called Little Lohan Fist, or "Xiao Luohanquan" in Chinsee, and the longer versions Great Lohan Fist, or "Da Luohanquan".

The Lohan Fist developed into a style by itself, with 10 different sets, conveniently named First Set Lohan Fist, Second Set Lohan Fist, etc. On the other hand, there were also Lohan Fist with special features or from different kungfu styles, like Subduing Dragon Lohan Fist, Taming Tiger Lohan Fist, Big Bell Lohan Fist, White Crane Lohan Fist and Drunken Lohan Fist.

The Little Lohan Fist shown here is created by Grandmaster Wong from his wide and deep understanding and practice of Shaolin Kungfu. Before looking at the answer, can you tell from which chi kung patterns of the Eighteen Lohan Hands are these Lohan Fist patterns evolved? The answer is found at the bottom of the webpage.

1. Big Boss Lifts Bronze Vessel 2. Touch Stone Change into Gold

3. Single Tiger Emerges from Cave 4. Big Boss Removes Helmet

5. Black Tiger Steals Heart 6. Horizontal Sweep Thousand Armies

7. Immortal Lifts Pot 8. Empty Rug-Sack

9. Ride Dragon Strike Tiger 10. Low Stance Tiger Tail

11. Fisherman Casts Net 12. Black Crow Flaps Wings

13. Hungry Tiger Snatches Lamb 14. Fierce Tiger Pushes Mountain

15. Triple Stretching of Pearl Bridge 16. Cannon Punch to Sky

17. Black Bear Sinks Hips 18. Lohan Thinks Silently

Please click on the picture below to view the video of the Little Lohan Fist here, or on the caption to view it at Vimeo.

Shaolin Little Lohan Fist from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

The above patterns from the Little Lohan Fist are evolved from the following patterns from the Eighteen Lohan Hands. Please note that they appear in the same order as in our Shaolin Wahnam version:

The patterns evolved over a long period. For some patterns, the evolution might be straight-forward, like in Pattern 1 where "lifting the Sky" performed standing upright with feet together, evolved to lifting both palms on a Horse-Riding Stance as in "Big Boss Lifts Bronze Vessel".

In others, like in Pattern 15, where Shaolin martial monks might have performed "Lohan Carries Mountain" with the One-Finger Zen hand-form instead of with open palms. Then, other monks might have the One-Finger Zen with the index fingers pointing upward instead of sideways. Later the monks might have found moving the One-Finger Zen as in "Triple Stretching of Pearl Bridge" generate more internal force.

LINKS

Eighteen Lohan Fist
Treasure House of Kungfu Sets
Treasure House of Combat Application

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