HONG KONG—The Dasheng Pigua School is famous in the northern martial arts style. Its Monkey Fist and Pigua Fist techniques are known throughout the world.
After Mr. Geng Dehai, founder of the school, started recruiting students in Hong Kong last century, numerous disciples joined the school and quite a few have excelled in martial arts, including Mr. Geng’s second-generation student Master Zhou Qiang and martial arts star Mr. Chen Guantai. Master Zhou and Mr. Chen place emphasis on both virtue and the martial arts skills.
Upon learning that NTDTV will hold the first International Chinese Traditional Martial Arts Competition in September, they presented a calligraphy artwork to an NTDTV representative, which they personally wrote, to express their wish for the competition to be successful.
Mr. Geng Dehai, founder of the Dasheng Pigua School, started to learn the unique skills passed down from his family as a child. He then learned “Five Sets of Monkey Fist” from Kou Si, founder of the Monkey Fist style of martial arts. Besides fist-style martial arts, Mr. Geng is also adept at using various martial arts weapons, such as the Ax-toothed Shovel (Yueya) and Ground-mantis horse-chopping Knife (Ditang Zhanma).
He taught martial arts skills to Dadao Hui (an association known for its use of large-sized knives) during the war with Japan. Later, he started recruiting civilian disciples in Hong Kong. A former disciple, Mr. Chen Xiuzhong, succeeded Mr. Geng and has further expanded the school. Mr. Chen’s disciples have won awards in numerous martial arts and fist-style competitions. His disciple Zhou Qiang and martial arts star Chen Guantai are highly skilled in the martial arts of this school.
When Master Zhou Qiang heard that NTDTV was hosting an international Chinese Traditional Martial Arts competition, he sent his best wishes. He said, “We hope that this international competition succeeds perfectly. We also hope that you will continue to promote traditional martial arts through media channels, as we don’t want thousands of years of martial arts lineage to end with our generation. We hope you will promote it and give it a push.”
Mr. Chen Guantai entered the film industry after winning the First South-East Asia Martial Arts Challenge held in Singapore in 1969. He has since become a famous martial arts actor. Chen says, “I also hope that [the contestants will demonstrate] great skill in this competition, and more young people will earn honor by winning the championships. I hope that they will make good use of the honor and their martial arts skills.”
“Many people think that martial arts practitioners lack a cultural background or education. This is a misperception.” He told us that when he started learning martial arts at the age of seven, his master immediately asked him to study Buddhist scriptures and practice calligraphy, and emphasized the value of virtue.
Master Zhou Qiang also emphasized that he followed his Master’s teachings when training disciples. He said, “We don’t teach you street fighting. We teach you fitness and self-defense. If one wants to use martial arts to attack others, I feel such a person is not a suitable martial arts candidate. So I teach fitness, which can also be used for self-defense. And after they become accomplished, they can pass the skills to the next generation.”
Master Zhou and Mr. Chen personally drew the calligraphy on the banners congratulating the International Chinese Traditional Martial Arts Competition for its support of martial arts.
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