The Chinese Hui Wushu Legacy

Extracted from The TV Documentary, The Great Hui Wushu Legacy

PRODUCED BY KUNG-FU MASTER M.J.Li(Ma Li Jien), 2012 LEGENDS OF KUNGFU WORLD CHAMPION
www.mjlikungfu.com
MUHAMMAD JUNAID CHAFEKER
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In our Modern Era, Kung-Fu Icons in the form of Bruce Li, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, have catapulted Wushu onto the
silver-screen, thus continuously keeping the masses from across the Globe in touch with the age-old tradition of
Kung-Fu, widely classified as The Mother of all Martial Arts Kung-Fu is translated as energy and Wushu translated
as military arts, the latter of course crystallized as a concept and way of life during the various rebellions and
revolts initiated by Wushu Warriors rising up against Tyranny. These warriors were then said to use their wushu in
order to defeat the opposition in actual warfare.
It is a known fact that The Han Chinese have contributed significantly to the framework of Kung-Fu over the
centuries, however it must be borne in mind that the minority classes in China have also played their part. Of the
55 minority groups that reside in China, The Hui rank as the largest and probably the most prominent of them all.
The Hui are classified as Chinese Muslims who reside mostly in the North with pockets of Hui also found scattered
across the country. Estimations have varied over the years, some commentators saying this minority class musters
30 million. However on a recent trip to Shanghai in November 2010 to compete at The World Chin-Woo Kung-Fu
Championships, led me to experience my first ever Eid in Shanghai where well over 7 000 congregants attended
Eid Proceedings at The Mosque.
On the occasion too an opportunity was afforded to me to interview The Imam of The West Huxi Mosque in
Shanghai. The Imam elaborated on the rich Islamic History that has been preserved over the centuries. He further
stipulated that according to their estimates, The Chinese Muslim Population could well be in excess of 150 million.
Whether 30 million or 150 million, one things for sure, The Hui Minority have ensured that their names, efforts
and contributions be etched in The Chinese Annals of History. Kung-Fu is probably the most diverse martial arts
framework in existence that calls upon a vast array of forms, techniques, skills, weapon sets, full contact on
the lei-tei[PLATFORM] and scores of aerial kicks and maneuvers always guaranteed to appease the onlooker.
Expressive and creative at the very core, Kung-Fu is best executed and displayed through forms like Shaolin,
Taiji[TAI-CHI], Praying Mantis, Tigers Claw, Eagles Claw, Drunken Fist, etc. Also the weapon sets, Broad Sword,
Straight Sword, King-Spear, Wushu Whip/Chain, Tri-Sectional Staff and Chakkas, etc. Kung-Fu and full contact
offers Sanda, Sanshao and the freestyle wrestling and grappling system of Chiao-Siao. A brief account of the Hui
Muslims in China date back to the 6th Century. Under the guidance and leadership of The Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), Wahab(RA) was sent with an epistle to China , inviting the Emperor and Common-folk to the unity and
brotherhood of Islam, who was received well by the Imperial Court and the Masses, the masses later referring to
him as Sorata.
This contributed towards the first seed of Islam being planted in China. With the demise of The Prophet
Muhammad(PBUH), under the Khilafah(rulership) of Uthman(RA) and approximately three decades later he sent
an epistle to China under General Saad Bin Abi Waqqas(RA). When he arrived there, he had already found an
entity of Islam existing. However the floodgates opened in 751 when The Muslim Empire under The Abbassid

Family was expanding its territory eastwards and The Tang Empire of China was expanding its territory westwards.
During the course of that year the two armies locked horns on the border of Kazakstaan. The Chinese boasting of
three superior generals and renowned martial artists and The Muslims led by a young man, Ziyad Ibn Salih who
incidently was a brilliant strategist and military general. Ziyad was able to conjure up such a plan that within a
period of three months the Muslim Army was able to defeat The Tang Army.
Barely two thousand men remained on the side of The Tang Army who vacated the battlefield and returned to
the Imperial Court and recounted their defeat to the Emperor. Shortly thereafter the Muslims travelled to China
regularly and conducted trade with the locals. This regular journey had become too cumbersome and the Muslim
Traders decided to settle in the North of China. These traders were from Arab, Persian and Turkish descent. By
settling in the North of China, they married the local Chinese women. Thus an entity was formed where there
was an amalgamation and fusion of cultures between Arab, Persian and Turkish Muslims and Han Chinese. This
gave rise to Chinas most prominent minority group, The Hui, who to this day are Muslims. The Muslims took an
instant liking to a number of aspects part of the Chinese Culture. Amongst this included the practice of kung-fu as
The Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)encouraged Muslims to keep fit as he during his lifetime engaged in swimming,
archery, wrestling, spear-play, sword-play and running.
By adapting to the practice of wushu, The Hui Muslims were able to, in a short space of under 80 years establish
their own independent schools of wushu including the evolution of their own forms and techniques. It must be
borne in mind that these very forms, ways and techniques are still in vogue today. Probably the most pronounced
wushu form introduced and evolved by the Hui Muslims is The Tantui which is literally translated as spring leg
exercises. This framework was introduced by The Hui Muslim General Cha Shan Mir, known in the Muslim world as
Zamir. The practice and flow of the form sees the practitioner form all the letters of the Arabic alphabet with the
use of bodily movements or the inclusion of the use of weapon sets.
The Hui Muslims across China used this form to teach their children the introduction to wushu and importantly
coupled with this physical activity, it was an inventive way of teaching the younger generation the nuances of
the Arabic Language too. To this day it still is a common practice amongst the Hui. This instruction of Tantui took
place in the courtyards of the mosques in China and is still very much the practice today. Perhaps this imitation
in China is a microcosm of what was prevalent in The Prophet Muhammads Mosque in Madina, as the courtyard
there was regularly used for sword and spear play contests, wrestling and archery activities. Kung-Fu and Wushu
Competitions and Demonstrations are also regularly arranged for amongst The Hui Muslims in China during
Ramadaan, on Eid, Celebration of The Prophet Muhammads Birth, Celebration of The Islamic New Year, etc.
Tantui aside, The Hui Muslims in China have also been instrumental in introducing other kungfu/wushu
frameworks, ie, Zha-Chuan, Baji-Chuan, Tongbei, etc. Many of these Hui Led Frameworks have largely contributed
towards the development of Modern Kungfu at it is today. Likewise, The Chinese Hui Muslims have also produced
a Galaxy of Wushu/Kungfu Masters renowned for their amazing skills and prowess, immediate names come
to mind, ie, Li Zicheng, Mao Fu Long, Zheng Shao Fu, Cha Shan Mir, Wenzhuang, Wang Zi Ping known for his
matchless bravery and courage who was a major component of The Boxers Rebellion. Most recently, The Chinese
Hui Muslim Kungfu Grandmaster, Ma Xianda, a 9th level grandmaster of renown has taught over 10 000 kungfu
students, athletes and champions including teaching International Kungfu Superstar, Jet Li, Ma Xianda also taught
the entire supporting cast of the movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Wudang Kungfu which they used onset.
Hui Muslims who practiced kungfu believed and still do, That God is Beautiful, and loves beauty thus the belief is
that kungfu/wushu should be taught, practiced, demonstrated and explained with beauty and expression.

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