Shun Shou Quan Shu(natural movement martial art)
Shun Shou Quan Shu is a practical Chinese martial art that emphasizes harnessing the body's natural reflexes and optimal power-generating mechanics. The term "Shun Shou" (顺⼿) does not mean random or careless movement. Instead, it refers to following the most efficient angles and directions for your joints and muscles to move during combat, allowing for the most direct and economical transition between attack and defense. This style consciously moves away from complex, pre-arranged forms, focusing instead on achieving a highly efficient, unified response of mind, body, and step during dynamic confrontation. It is a实战 (combat-ready) skill that simplifies and returns to core principles.
The art's philosophy is influenced by the Daoist idea of "following the natural way." It posits that the most effective combat techniques are rooted in the human body's inherent structural advantages and innate movement instincts, not in artificially complex motions that work against physiology. Therefore, training focuses on awakening and refining the body's natural defensive and offensive instincts, transforming them into precise, controlled skills through structured practice.
Key Technical Characteristics
1. Natural Power Structure: All techniques are built upon the body's optimal skeletal leverage and the primary directions of major muscle group engagement, seeking smooth and undiminished power transfer.
2. Integration of Straight and Circular Lines: Attacks prioritize the most direct path ("the shortest distance between two points"), while defensive and counter movements incorporate arcs that align with natural joint rotation.
3. Primacy of Instinctive Response: Training heavily emphasizes immediate physical reaction to threats or openings without overthinking, drastically reducing the time between decision and action.
4. Unified Attack and Defense: There are scarcely any purely defensive or offensive moves. Each movement inherently contains the dual purpose of redirecting incoming force (顺) and applying counter-force (⼿).
Training System & Methodology
The training system is distinctive, typically progressing through phases:
1. Relaxation & Sensitivity Development: Involves loosening exercises and partnered sensitivity drills (similar to "listening to energy" or Ting Jin), eliminating stiffness and heightening the body's awareness of force and direction.
2. Instinctive Reflex Conditioning: Through repeated scenario training and conditional sparring, the most effective natural response patterns are ingrained into muscle memory.
3. Dynamic Application & Sparring: Techniques are applied while moving and under pressure, emphasizing how footwork and body mechanics maintain the "Shun Shou" state, culminating in full-contact sparring to validate skills.
In the modern context, Shun Shou Quan Shu is valued for being highly efficient, direct, and relatively accessible. It finds relevance in civilian self-defense, close-quarters control for security personnel, and as a conceptual influence in the stand-up aspects of mixed martial arts. It is particularly suitable for individuals seeking to develop effective personal protection skills without dedicating extensive time to learning elaborate forms.
In summary, Shun Shou Quan Shu represents a martial philosophy that returns to the essence of human movement. It prioritizes how the body can maintain natural, coordinated, and efficient motion under the stress of confrontation over the aesthetic appeal of techniques. It is a study of "efficiency" and "instinct," offering a highly insightful approach to modern practical martial arts training.
