Li Ho Ba Fa (hear after named LHBF) Is pften though as a syntehis of Tai Chi/Taiji Pa kua/BaGua, and Hsing-I/Xingyi. In truth is really its own art which resembles the other three. One of the “water” styles of kung fu, it is said to have begun in the 900 C.E.
LHBF is known for its up and down movements of the body, and its opening and closing of the limbs.
In the Chinese martial arts, thre are three levels of styles. The first kind of style is a beginning style to prove the student’s dedication to the martial arts. Next comes the common martial art practiced by most of the students. Finally, there are the ‘closed-door’ styles, where the student is taught one-on-one by the teacher, hidden behind the doors from prying eyes.
And then there are arts like LHBF, which are taught not master to student, but from master to master.
LHBF is famous, even legendary, for its effectiveness. More than a century when there were still organized martial tournaments without rules in China, LBF stylists won two games in a row. Then LHBF was banned from the games…because it was too deadly!
Master Wai Lun Choi, the chosen successor of LHBF, site :
http://www.liuhopafa.com/
Lineage and furher descrption of LHBF:
http://www.h2oboxing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=36
Pros: LHBF is easier to learn than any of its daughter” stles (Taiji, Bagua, and XIngyi) because there are at least two good DVD sets about it (one of these is a single DVD; the other has three.) and several teachers. (one is in Boston, the other in Maryland, and the final in Chicago.)
LHBF concentrates by taking away the opponents advantage, and then counter-attacking with techniques ranging in deadliness from join locks to dim mak (nerve points.)
This is done by combining multiple defense principles. The most obvious is “quartering,” where the LHBF practitioner evade the attacker and leads the atTacker’s motion into emptiness.
Finally, because its “Water style” movements in three dimensions strongly resemble those of Taiji, Bagua, and Xingyi those styles can be learned more easily after learning LHBF.
Cons: LHBF is still hard to find, but less so than Tai Tzu. Its few flaws ars its lach of training against maodern weapons like guns and thrown items, as well as ground fighting.
Comments
Helen Liang has 2 dvd-s with Liuhebafa, they are quite good, Liu Xiaolong has a dvd (these 3 dvd-s can be found on Amazon.com). They have the form and the fight applications. There is a 7-disc set called "Eight Types Of Huayue Heart-Mind Harmony Fist" that can also be bought online and watched for free here: http://www.eztakes.com/store/watch/The-Series-Of-Eight-Types-Of-Huayue-H...
The form looks more like Liu Xiaolong's style, and there are many fighting applications. One could actually really learn it from the online version. The practitioners are just OK, but good enough to help someone learn the basics. For higher level I recommend Helen Liang or Liu Xiaolong.
There is also a newer Liuhebafa video with Yang Yang performing the form in a similar way with Helen Liang (but with several innacuracies), I got it from someone, not sure where one can buy it.
Also, there is a free video of Yun Yin Sen perfrming it here: http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/seIbmCR6iG4/ it is good for reference. Also - looks more like Taijiquan.
Of course, a search on youtube will also show plenty of demonstration forms.
For me, it seems there are two ways of doing the form: Liu Xiaolong way, close to Taijiquan in resemblance and Helen Liang way, more like a combination of Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. For me, I've got first Helen's dvd-s and learned the full form from there. I got Liu Xiaolong's dvd much later and found it interesting, but so far I haven't learned to do the form his way yet.
Liuhebafa is NOT easier than Taijiquan to learn. It's a very complex style, with many fajing style movemmens. Having about 14 years of experiencce with Taijiquan and 4 with Liuhebafa, I can say that they are about as difficult to study. At beginner level, Taijiquan seems easier to study to me. So, for any reader, please don't believe what the article says about Liuhebafa being easier than Taijiquan. Because Liuhebafa is more difficult.
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