What is Taolu (套路)?

Taolu literally translates as "pattern roads", it is the Mandarin word we use to refer to prearranged routines or forms. It is often seen as beautiful and graceful to the beholder when performed by an experienced practitioner. Each form teaches the student the applications of the stances, techniques, and the understanding of the powers provided through each movement.

Competition Team:

Each year a team of students represents our school in state, regional, national and international competitions. Most team members devote their time to an empty hand set and also a variety of weapon and two-person sets.

Some of the accomplishments of the ZYKFA Taolu team have been:

• 3rd Place at the 1999 USCKF International Championships
• 1st Place at the 2000 USCKF International Championships
• 10 ZYKFA members represented the US at the Pan-American Kuoshu Championships 2001 - Brazil
• 3rd Place at the 2002 USCKF International Championships
• 2 ZYKFA members represented the US at the World Kuoshu Championships 2003 - Brazil
• 2nd Place at the 2004 USCKF International Championships
• 2 ZYKFA members represented the US at the World Kuoshu Championships 2006 - Singapore
• 2 ZYKFA members represented the US at the World Kuoshu Championships 2009 - Germany

Here are some of the tournaments ZYKFA Taolu Team has participated in the past:

• USKSF National and International Kuoshu Championships - Baltimore, MD
• PACKF Pan-American Kuoshu Championship- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• TWKSF World Kuoshu Championships - Sao Paulo, Brazil
• TWKSF World Kuoshu Championships - Singapore
• TWKSF World Kuoshu Championships - Germany
• Brazil International Kung Fu Tournament Championships - Brazil
• USKSF North Region Tournament - Madison, WI
• Great Lakes Kung Fu Championships - Cleveland, OH
• Badger State Games - Madison and Appleton, WI
• BELT Open Karate Championships - Middleton, WI
• Southern Wisconsin Open - Verona, WI
• F.L.A.M.A. & Wulin Tournament - Chicago, IL
• ICMAC Championships - Orlando, FL
• AAU Chinese Martial Arts Tournament - Kansas City, MO
• UMAI Kung Fu Championship - Palatine, IL
• Mad City Challenge - Madison, WI

The style taught at the Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association is Bei Shaolinquan (Master Gu Ruzhang line). These are some of the taolu (other sets are taught as complimentary training) taught in their respective order:

- Shi Er Lu Tan Tui (十二路彈腿)

- Lian Bu Quan (練步拳)

- Duan Da (短打)

- Mei Hua (梅花)

- Ba Bu (拔步)

- Chuan Xin (穿心)

- Wu Yi (武藝)

- Kai Men (開門)

- Ling Lu (領路)

- Zuo Ma (坐馬)

- Lian Huan (連環)

- Shi Fa (式法)

- Shaolin Shi Ba Shou Fa (少林十八手法)

Here is a sample of weapons taught at ZYKFA:

- Broadsword (Chu Ji Dan Dao - 初级單刀, Pi Gua Dan Dao - 劈掛單刀 and Liu He Dan Dao - 六合單刀)

- Staff (Xiao Hua Gun - 小花棍, Jiu Zhou Guo Wang Gun - 九州國王棍 and Wu Hu Qin Yang Gun - 五虎擒羊棍)

- Straightsword (Long Jian - 龍劍, Long Xing Jian - 龍形劍 and Tai Yu Jian - 太矞剑)

- Spear (Chu Ji Qiang - 初级槍, Ba Kuai Qiang - 拔塊槍 and Liu He Qiang - 六合槍)

- Double Daggers (Shuang Bi Shou - 雙匕首)

- Cane (Long Tou Zhang - 龍頭杖)

- Double Straighswords (Shuang Fei Long Jian - 雙飛龍劍)

- Double Broadswords (Shaolin Shuang Dao - 少林雙刀)

- Double Hook Swords (Hu Tou Shuang Gou - 虎頭雙鉤)

- Thresher Staff (Shao Zi Gun - 梢子棍)

- Three Section Staff (San Jie Gun - 三節棍)

- Nine Section Whip Chain (Jiu Jie Bian - 九節鞭)

- Sun & Moon Spade (Ri Yue Chan - 日月鏟)

- Simple Long Sabre (Pu Dao - 朴刀)

- Halberd (Ji - 戟)

- Reclining Moon Blade (Yan Yue Dao - 偃月刀 aka Guan Dao)

A list of two person sets:

- Two person set (Shaolin Tui Shou - 少林對手)

- Empty hand versus Double Daggers (Shou Tuizi Shuang Bi Shou - 手對峙雙匕首)

- Staff versus Staff (Gun Tuizi Gun - 棍對峙棍)

- Broadsword versus Spear (Dan Dao Tuizi Qiang - 單刀對峙槍)

- Three Section Staff versus Spear (San Jie Gun Tuizi Qiang - 三節棍對峙槍)

- Double Hook Swords versus Spear (Hu Tou Shuang Gou Tuizi Qiang - 虎頭雙鉤對峙槍)

- Straightsword versus Straightsword (Jian Tuizi Jian - 劍對峙劍)

- Reclining Moon Blade versus Spear (Yan Yue Dao Tuizi Qiang - 偃月刀對峙槍)