From ancient China to 21th century Europe .

My article published in latest ''New Martial Hero" magazine issue

One of the greatest and probably best known achievements of classical Chinese civilization is kung fu . Chinese civilization is one of the oldest on the world and Chinese culture in it’s essence contains every possible human experience .A product of that enormous experience, an answer to every possible challenge is a practice of self development called Kung fu. Today , Chinese martial arts belong to everyone and they enriched lives of millions of people all around the world.

                                               Fang Shi-Pei (方世培)(1834-1886)

The most popular arts are certainly Tai Chi Chuan and Wing Chun .While everyone know about these two arts there are large number of lesser known arts, still hidden from world ,unique in their structure , techniques and martial approach. One of these hidden jewels is rare form of White Crane Kung fu , Shaking or Vibrating Crane (Zong He Quan). Zong He Quan is very specific style of White Crane , probably the softest s of all Crane styles . It was founded by Fang Shi-Pei (方世培)(1834-1886) also known as Fang Fei-Shi (方飞石) in the last decades of the Qing Dynasty rule . Master Li (李师) taught Fang Shi-Pei at the Tian-Zhu Temple on Mount Cha Shan for about 10 years . Master Li (李师)was a third generation student of Master Zheng Long (郑龙). Master Zheng Long passed away in 1755 and was a student of Zheng Li who was one of the original 28 students from Yong Chun village in Fujian Province. During his studies under Master Li ., Fang Shi-Pei  noticed a pattern in animal behavior and natural occurrences which led him to believe that Chi is activated by vibrating/shaking movements and sound articulation. Using his previous knowledge and his discovery he created new style of White Crane boxing.

Fang Shi-Pei had many students , among them was Fang Shao-Qi who brought the art to Taiwan and taught students in Kaoshiung, Tainan and Yanshui. Fang Shao-Qi had many students like: Tong Jin-Long, Lin Xi-Di, Li Dong-Liang, Chen Bo, Lin Se, Chuo Ching and many, others.

               Zhao Yi Di (趙依俤) with his 4 students (last one on the left is Hong Guo Rong)

Chou Ching passed the art to to Zhao Yi Di (趙依俤). Zhao Yi Di was low profile teacher and he had only four students .One of these four students is Hong Guo Rong from Tainan .Hong Guo Rong is just an ordinary man, modest ,humble and quiet. He doesn’t attract attention, his behavior is just the opposite, he doesn’t want any. .No one would ever guess he is one of the best kung fu teachers in Tainan. Like his own teacher , he had only small number of students and it is not easy to even find his school and it is even harder to be accepted as his student As a teacher, master Hong is very strict, every little detail must be perfect. On the other hand , word “impressive” does not cover level and amount of his knowledge .

Teacher Hong Guo Rong by the altar dedicated to Fang Shi Pei , founder of Zong He Quan

Teacher Hong with his students

I have started my martial arts journey in 6^th grade . At first I have practiced Karate and Judo . Several years later, in 1989 I have discovered Wing Chun and never stopped  practicing it until this day .One of my teaches and man who greatly influenced my view of the art and life its self is Bobby Gabershek , one of the most influential wing chun masters in European continent . He is the man who invented CQB(close quarter combat)and still using traditional wing chun in his training system ,adapted for special military and police forces and body guards .I have learned practical wing chun and that approach helped me in several occasions , especially in a war against terrorists and invading forces in 1999 . where I participated as a soldier in the first line of combat.

Bobby Gabershek , one of the best military\police\bodyguard instructors on the world today, a man who invented CQB

 I came to Taiwan in 2011 and since that time I have improved my wing chun knowledge learning from several prominent teachers . I have tried other Chinese martial arts as well but I couldn’t actually understand them well nor I could change my body mechanic , well , not until I have found teacher Hong Guo Rong and started to practice White Crane .I have a feeling Zongehe quan is made for me , for my body and for my mind set , I have learned more in couple of months with teacher Rong than in year on other places .The art its self is so fit for me and the teacher is really excellent . Although I am 41 years old I have passion for training which can be compared with passion of young children for new toys . Every day , no matter how busy or how much work there is to be done , I practice one hour of wing chun and one hour of white crane , if there is more time , then I practice more .    Having heard I am practicing Zong He quan , several people from my country expressed a desire to learn this exotic martial style .

Basic Zonghe Quan drill

 I hope , with my teacher’s permission , I will bring this interesting style to those who are willing to learn.    From imperial China to 21th century Europe in only 5 generations ,a great journey of a beautiful form of Chinese kung fu that united people from the opposite parts of the planet.

Vladimir Zlatić

                                   

「從古代中國到21世紀歐洲」

中國文明中最經典也最為人所稱讚的莫過於"功夫〞。

中國文化可說是世界上最古老的歷史文化之一，蘊含豐富深粹的人文經驗，

而〞功夫〞則是貫穿這悠久歷史下，傳達出各種無限可能與法展多樣的最佳體現。至今，功夫甚至已影響全球上百萬人，融入生活中。

〝太極〞和〝詠春〞是最普遍常見的武術，即便如此，在這兩大武術背後仍隱藏少有人知道ㄈ的體系、技巧以及要領。而白鶴功夫中的〝縱鶴拳〞就屬其中瑰寶。

縱鶴拳是屬於白鶴功夫中一種特別的拳法，或許是所有鶴拳中最柔軟的拳法。這拳法是在清朝後期由方世培(1834-1886)所創立，他也被許多人稱呼方飛石。他的師父 李師在茶山上的一間寺廟傳授教導方世培功夫10年。而李師 是鄭龍的第三代弟子，鄭龍於1755年過世，而他的師父 鄭禮是福建省詠春庄中原傳28個弟子之其中一個。

在李師的教導下，方世培體會到一種於動物行為與自然之間微妙關係，這讓他相信〝氣〞的運行是來自於身體震動和丹田發聲。因此結合他之後所學與後來所發現的，創立了〝縱鶴拳〞。

方世培有很多學生，其中方绍耆將這套拳法帶到台灣，並在高雄、台南等地傳授教導許多學生，包含弟子 卓慶，他將功夫傳授給趙志鵬。趙志鵬只有4個弟子，來自台南的洪國榮就是其中一個。洪國榮是個安靜、謙遜有禮，低調樸實的人，不說沒有人會知道他是台南最好的功夫師父之ㄧ。就如他的師父一樣，洪國榮只收少數幾個學生，他教學非常嚴謹而且仔細，在經驗與知識上也很淵博。

我在小學6年就開始接觸武術，起初是學習跆拳道跟柔道，過了幾年後在1989

，我發現了詠春，並且一直學習探索到現在從沒間斷。Bobby Gabershek是其中一個影響帶領我對武術有另一層認識的老師，他在歐洲是具有影響力的功夫師父，他也創立了CQB(close Quarter Combat),他持續延用詠春拳在他的訓練系統中，並再加入一些特殊的軍式與警用防衛技巧。我所學習到的詠春技巧，幫我順利渡過一些事件，特別是在參與從役1999年戰爭中得以應付恐怖份子和多次無預警的攻襲。

2011年我來到台灣，在幾位傑出的老師教導下，讓我在詠春上的經驗與知識的累積又再增進。我也曾嘗試學習過其他的中國武術，但始終沒法非常了解透徹，

直至我遇見洪國榮師父，並開始學習縱鶴拳。我感覺到縱鶴拳就像是為我的身心量身打造的，在洪師父優異的教導下，幾個月的學習體驗可媲美在其他地方約一年的學習。

即使我已經41歲，但我對練功夫這件事所抱持的熱情可不輸小孩拿到新玩具。不論每天有多忙，我還是會堅持每天練習一小時的詠春和一小時的縱鶴拳，如果有更多空檔時間，我就會練習更多。有好幾個來自我家鄉的人，一聽聞到我正在練習這獨特的拳法，也都表示強烈的興趣想學習，我希望有朝一日可以在洪師父的同意下，將這拳法介紹給真正想學習的人。白鶴拳從中國皇朝到21世紀歐洲才經歷5代，這套優美拳法的旅程將繼續延伸下去，並將來自地球不同地方的人連繫一起。

Special thanks to my friend , Master Wayne Yung for all his help and support