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Note: The text of this article was taken from the Chi Lin website (http://www.chi-lin.net), and as a result the content may be biased.
Overview
Chi Lin is a martial art from Southeast Asia that was taught in America by Grandmaster Dennis Decker. Decker died in 1997. His students are continuing the practice and teachings of his art throughout the United States. Chi Lin schools are usually private where the art is taught by teachers to a select few students. This is not always the case but for the most part it is the rule rather than the exception.
Styles
Chi Lin has a few styles within the art that Decker taught. The Chi Lin Family, as Decker liked to call his students, encompasses three different styles of fighting within the one art. Chi Lin Chuan Fa was taught during the 1970s when Decker was teaching in Morgantown West Virginia. He also taught what he called Chi Lin Kempo, (Chi Lung Tao) during 1966-1984. Later, in 1980 he taught what he called Chi Ling Pai Gung Fu until his death in 1997. Chi Lin also has its own form of knife fighting called Bat Sou Gung, where selected students are taught to knife fight using chalk or magic markers to illustrate hits by the knife. All these styles make up Chi Lin.
What are the differences between these three? Master Decker would teach his art to very different people around the country. Most of the people he would instruct were experienced in other arts. He would tailor his art to fit the student. If a student studied Shotokan Karate, for example, he would teach them his art by relating it to the student's Karate. He would show the student techniques in such a way that they could use them within their own style. For people who studied Karate, he would often teach Chi Lin Kempo.
Chi Lin Chuan Fa was what he taught in Morgantown, West Virginia during the mid to late 1970s. The animal styles of Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Monkey, Butterfly, Dragon and Snake, just to name a few, make up this style. The art was changing as he grew older, and his perceptions about his movement, body alignment and power changed. In 1978 he began calling his art, Chi Ling Pai Gung Fu. The art included much of the same basics as Chi Lin Chaun Fa. Some of the forms were the same but some new ones were introduced as well.
The forms, over time, were influenced by the 8 Circles, (Circular Forms from Pa kua), and what Decker called the 8 Rails, (8 forms that included the Pa Kua footwork with ascending and descending explosive energy and power). This is the essence of Chi Lin. The coiling and twisting of mass within these circles are another form of Snake or Dragon, and really is the central element to all Chi Lin. Furthermore, the animal styles of Tiger, Leopard, Dragon, Monkey, Eagle, Crane, Bear, Butterfly, Lion, Phoenix and Falcon are used within the circular footwork.
Philosophy
Decker taught that Chi Lin is more than just punching, kicking and blocking, however. Chi Lin is also about control, respect, loyalty, compassion, caring, and honesty. He emphasized respect for the teachers, the knowledge, the art and the other practitioners; as well as for yourself.
Meditation
Meditation is taught to selected students to help them understand life through watching their own mind. Concentration mind exercises and awareness exercises make up what is called The Pre Meditation Exercises. Once sufficient abilities to concentrate are developed, the student may be able to develop awareness and then may be able to meditate. These exercises are used to sharpen the five senses. To see more of what there is to see. To hear more of what there is to hear. To be able to sense more of what is going on in the environment and therefore to learn more about what is going on within and around you.
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