Thursday, April 01, 2010

The Shanghai Incident 1932

Kean Chong

[Editor's Note: Grandmaster Chee is said to be a member of the Big Knife brigade. Here's a background story related to this brigade during the Shanghai Incident of 1932 before the start of the Sino Japanese war in 1937.]

March 1, 1932
Japanese troops launched another fierce attack, the 19th Army retreated, Songhu end of the war

After fierce fighting, the Japanese occupation of Woosung forts

L March 1932, the Japanese army in Shanghai launched attacks across the board. General offensive before the Japanese reached Shanghai 7 million people, about 150 aircraft (160 aircraft while the Navy) and the Navy first, the Third Fleet. At this point, the Chinese 19th Route Army (including the Fifth Army) total strength of only 4 million people, and has relatively weakened, the right-wing military loss of about 1 / 3, left-wing military loss of about 1 / 4, defensive line stretching over 50 km great loss of weapons, only a sense of strength on weak defensive front. Also intended to send more troops to defend, but due to shortage of troops, is repeatedly an urgent telegram for help, only that Chiang Kai-shek, "tenacious", "to strengthen vigilance", but delays in the military reinforcements.

Japanese troops under the cover of the main aspects of the 11th Division landed in Liuhe, in the temple town of aspects of a violent offensive line in order to close the main force is holding the 19th Army, making it difficult to transfer to the 11th Division landed side. At the same time to confuse the other's attention, but also in various parts of the feint, especially in the Zhabei Bazi Bridge, the Heaven Temple Road and other places frequently launched attacks. Um Road in the vicinity in the days pass, the two sides continued to battle up to eight hours long, defenders 60th Division continued to send death squads jumped out of the trenches, close combat, forcing the Japanese back to the Di Siwei Road. Other parts of the fighting has been extremely intense. Zhabei character bridge and tug of war, the defenders lost three positions have three, large casualties; Japanese casualties are very heavy, leaving countless dead, head of the forest rise of Colonel were killed.

Yong Feng teaches some of the Volunteer Corps and seven Yakou
Yang Lin mouth and so bravely against the Japanese landing

At half past six on the 1 March, the Japanese launch line of attack against Songhu region, the first Japanese to aircraft, artillery bombarded the defenders position, the time for 3 and a half hours, and then the infantry tanks, armored vehicles, attack. Ninth division, hybrid 24th Brigade and the Marines to the temple line, Riverside, west of the bridge line for Zhabei character onslaught, both gun attack Lion, Yang Lin I, 7 Yakou, etc.. 7 pm, they dispatched aircraft bombed the town of big games. Under the dominant Japanese general offensive defenders, although the Japanese breakthrough in several positions, but still tough and fight the enemy again. Japanese 9th Division in the morning attack left-wing forces to justice in Guangdong, wheat wangzhai, land and homesteads line; to 14:00, then advancing on homesteads, Yang F, South Bridge and the east line. The right wing forces to attack, the defenders suffered severe destruction, but also has occupied the afternoon Chuk Yuen Tun and justice to both sides of the Guangdong terminal region, and into the week of homesteads, the four front line, its central team captured 23 Park North, blending the 24th Brigade occupied the Dai family home and into the Chang Bridge, the western end of frontline AKB.

Japanese tanks stormed Jiangwan

While the 19th Army and Fifth Army and the Japanese military stalemate in the front face of stubborn fighting, the Japanese 11th where he studied under at 6 o'clock on the March 1 start, respectively, from seven Yakou, mouth and six Hong Yang Lin I landed. Liuhe area warning the Central Military Academy to teach with and a few corps a Volunteer, in landing a powerful artillery and infantry attacks on the Japanese, despite the public enemy to few, strong resistance. 19th Army Division headquarters Jitiao 87th Brigade 61 second rush to the rescue, but the lack of means of transport, combined with Japanese aircraft were bombing along the way, until 18 o'clock, there is one group went to Liuhe, at this time Liuhe has been relegated to an opponent, the Japanese being the direction of radical Jiading.

When the Liuhe critical moment, the 19th Route Army troops to reinforce non-motorized, had requested the Department of speed to send military forces rush to the rescue of two divisions Liuhe, but the military ignored the Department. Liuhe fall, so the defenders side and rear have all been a serious threat to the evening of March 1 of last resort in the whole army retreated to the second line of defense (ie yellow crosses, side Thailand, Jiading, Taicang the line).

Chinese army team sent to the front sword

19th Route Army's retreat is an active defense to transfer to the new. As the American journalist Edgar Snow, said: "Contrary to many people by surprise, this retreat is not the collapse prevention. [... ...] And I have talked to foreign military observers have all praised the command of General Choi's strategy in this orderly retreat was very capable, very tactically correct. In all able to move the guns were withdrawn after the withdrawal of troops before the front. almost no looting and chaos. the withdrawal is done in such a quiet, cover was so cleverly the Japanese navy Zhabei to large light only to find the enemy has left them overnight shelling is empty trenches and fortifications. "

Japanese found that after the withdrawal of Chinese troops across the board, on March 2 Zhabei occupied large field gone, as, 3, arrived into the Nanxiang. March 3, the League decided at a meeting, asked the two sides to stop the war. Thus, the Songhu war is ended.

Cultural Connotations of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts

Kean Chong

Martial Arts Martial advantages have been known to most people, but when it forms the traditional Martial Arts and how it is reflected in the expert eyes of the aesthetic appreciation of it?

In fact, the traditional martial arts with traditional Wushu deduced that America should be clear resembling ancient Chinese hermit odd character - indifferent, elegant, no grandstanding, no drift.

In a sense, it can best embody the profound Chinese martial arts, noble and rich cultural connotations, is the most authentic and most authentic Chinese martial arts. How to know how to enjoy the aesthetic value of traditional Martial Arts, mainly from the interpretation of the traditional Wushu show the smooth writing skill when Road, rigid way of expression, and the line boxing fist fight stances when the layout of strict symmetry, and so simple to understand it .

1) First, the traditional interpretation of the actual function of Wushu embodies a strong aesthetic sense of reality.
Traditional Martial Arts from the drop-frame start, the details of everywhere intentionally self-protection, a one and all try not to attack the enemy to leave the gap. From the step-type of view, it requires deducted knees, two feet "not small not eight," the potential of the joint, front legs slightly to the medial tibial torsion and fully reflects all of the lower body vital, fragile parts careful defense. View from the figure, it requires Han Xiong, abdomen, Chen Jian, drop elbow, his mouth everywhere Apartments on the lower abdomen, Liang Lei, chest, sides, underarms and other important parts of the carefully guarded.

Even a slight movement to the wrist below, also are all walking on thin ice, carefully, if required to head and finger when the thumb Shoulong, prevent accidentally hurt the thumb when playing split joints. From a combination of movement, the traditional Wushu tactical objective is clear, punch, Zhang Pi, refer to stamp, kick, hit the shoulder, elbow and so targeted, continuous onslaught of action in more than clearly demonstrated to the enemy side may occur dodge, Dangge such action response and poor grasp of time, giving the appearance of a "real war" feeling.

2) Second, the traditional Martial Art reflects the distinctive combination of rigid-flexible U.S.
Routine hardness and softness in the traditional martial arts, Xu diseases combined. Just be extremely strong, or if Lohan ringing bells, or, if marked by a forest, or as a pressurizing; the foam is very soft, such as rattan swing factors, such as the slight thread, such as by smoke; illness is such as hurricane, if the man is dragged Xu rod. Two different styles of action and reasonable interlude, patchwork, people appreciate in contrast to a content-rich United States.

3) Again, detailed layout of traditional martial arts routines, Zhou induced, reflecting a high degree of strict U.S..
Traditional Wushu between every two onslaught of action has a certain convergence, transition, or care, or shovel, or rejection, or transfer, or around, or volume, thoughtful, with great accuracy, fully embodied the "living enemy" ideology, their martial very careful thought.

In the routine of every offensive moves in, without exception, both self-protection, but the degree is not from the loss, the primary main attack when the other hand will be his assistant, take care, in the routine design of power to avoid "killing disregard had" sort of flaw, it is extremely thorough, caution.

Traditional Martial Arts there are still many fine to the delicate wrist the following actions, such as pressure, "Harbour" (inside wrist), collapse means that the top back of the hand, turn the wrist, palm fist each other and so on. Used distal details are all, all can be measured PCT cents hurt that people feel very precise.

4) Fourth, the traditional Martial Arts with the obvious symmetry characteristics.
Traditional Wushu often about balance, both sides take care of the symmetry of action (is for the coordination of posture, the minor in a two-way and set), gives a focused, well-balanced beauty. Center and is surrounded by both, honesty and integrity and have it both ways. This symmetry is consistent with the requirements of actual combat.

5) Fifth, the traditional Wushu embodies a unique rustic America.
Traditional martial arts routines and simple, basically do not add those not related to modification of martial action, every move of each type can be used for offensive and defensive applications, and the attack in the offensive zone to continue to do infinite infinite hidden fighters and defensive counter function, people taste the Watch traditional Wushu actually "not for looking, is to create an unlimited fighters" in simple and practical beauty.

We appreciate the traditional martial arts there are writers who enjoy the respect of the contents of pre-Qin classics plain, simple and deep rich lose.

Traditional martial arts because of its unique inner beauty comes from a long-term survival of our ancestors struggle wisdom, rooted in the ancient tradition of the Chinese culture, in fact, the garden of the Chinese culture in the wonderful work. Therefore, if we do not practice the attitude and actions of practice to learn it; so that the Chinese nation in the indomitable spirit and the mandate of heaven family of bone can be affected by workers in the fold, tendons can be affected by the grinding labor of man was the little little ah!

The Society in the Sixties

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Teaching A New Generation

Yap Boh Heong

Generally, my impression of the new batch was pretty good. From their grading, about 9 out of 20 got reasonably good scores, meaning they understood basic concepts and could do it. Also this batch appeared more enthusiastic, and altho reluctant at first, did volunteer to try things out.

After that we had more demontsration of basic self defence techniques,especially against grabbing, which is more releveant to the younger,smaller students. There was insufficent time to realy conduct practicals, and I suggested to Ken Chong to include some basic SD activity in the junior class, at least for those that have passed boot-camp.

We broke for dinner at about 1930 hrs, then resumed with a workshop for the more senior members. This turned out to be a workshop on San Chan, the form. I explained briefly how you are suppose to practise it, hard, soft or with explosive White Crane style force. And with some explanation of proper breathing, how to expel breath and 'sound' from the abdomen instead of just the throat.

After that we moved on to proper techniques, and applications for self defence. Again we did not have much time to practice, but we emphasized the principles and got the participants to undertand them so that they can train at it at their own leisure.

After that the participants asked questions on specific parts and strokes where they had problem with San Chan in 'catching'. Working with the participants, we demonstrated how to solve the problems, and this was more hands-on. The instructors asked soem questions as well, and were able to perform the techniques shown, now its a matter of practice to achieve mastery.

We (Ken & I) adjourned at almost 2300hrs. to drive back to PJ. Then went to look for some food, I wanted to locate the famous Kelang 'Oh Chien' (Fired Oysters). Luckilly Ken is familiar with Kelang, becuase the town has changed so much. The shops and eating places around the town centre are no longer there, and instead has shifted to Bukit Tinggi, on the road to Banting. Among the new shop-houses there was an abundance of coffee shops, cafes, numerous KopiTiam type shops etc. There were lots of people hanging out, sorta like a slightly lower end version of Mont Kiara in KL. We found our Oh Chien, had supper and drove back to PJ. End of a good day.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Welcome

Welcome to the weblog dedicated to the arts of Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong.