Arhats Boxing

Luohan Quan / Lohan Chuan / Lau Han Pai / Lahan Qyuen

            Many styles and forms are called like this. Most of them coming from (or claiming to come from) Shaolin temple on Songshan and have as origin the imitation of Buddhist iconography.

There is a Luohan quan coming from Monk Miaoxing (1881 - 1939) and composed of 18 methods (shiba fa): 6 of fist, 2 of palm, 1 of elbow, 4 of leg, 5 of grappling / qinna. It is probable that this style is a "new frame" of an older Luohan quan.

There is a Luohan quan coming from Monk Yuantong and which has been taught in Jingwu Tiyu Hui by Sun Yufeng. This style have 18 forms, 6 soft, six intermediate and 6 hard.

There is a Luohan Quan coming from Monk Yang Ji'e (Late 1800's - 1972) who escaped the destruction of 1928 and taught his art in Shanghai. He had Sun Tongwei (also expert in Baguazhang) for student and this master taught it to Zhu Jiemin (1954 -). This style is composed of 12 tantui and 3 forms (one for "beginner": Wuhuquan, one intermediate: "Liuhequan" and one "advanced": Gongliquan). It also features many qinna, tuishou and the use of jing. This style is often considered as an "internal - external" style.

Finally there is a Luohan Quan from Fujian province, mainly using southern shaolin techniques and features. The forms are: 68 techniques of Luohan, 88 techniques of Luohan, 108 techniques of Luohan. It features "hard" qigong and conditioning such as the "black luohan hand" (luohan heishou). This style spread to Guangdong and southeastern Asia countries, then worldwide.