The Shuai Chiao Kungfu club is not like other sports clubs at Ohio State. Not only is Shuai Chiao considered one of the oldest forms of Chinese Kung Fu, the Shuai Chiao Kungfu club represents a history.
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Daniel Weng founded the club more than 25 years ago while he was attending OSU. He is also responsible for introducing the first college-level Shuai Chiao physical education course in the nation. While he was teaching at OSU in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Weng established four physical education classes in both Shuai Chiao and T’ai Chi Ch’uan.
In 1986, he founded the United States Shuai Chiao Association, which is still active and is recognized around the world.
“This club definitely has a history at OSU,” said Drew Malonis, president of the club.
The current head instructor for the club is Mike Grigsby, who was one of Weng’s early students. Grigsby has been teaching Shuai Chiao Kung Fu for more than 20 years and holds a fourth-degree black-belt rank.
“[Shuai Chiao] really was designed as a combat skill,” Grigsby said. It has an emphasis on throws that kill, he said, but, “In modern Shuai Chiao, it’s a softer style. Most of our movements are related to T’ai Chi Ch’uan.”
Grigsby also said many of the techniques that are learned can be practiced at home so a person is not restricted to using OSU facilities when practicing.
If students are interested in joining the club, there is no need to worry about having previous experience.
“The club has people of all levels,” Grigsby said. “We work with people on the level they are at.” The club doesn’t require that anyone buy the official Shuai Chiao attire either, Malonis said. A T-shirt and sweat pants will do the job. Later on, a student can obtain the specially designed short-sleeve jacket.
Each club meeting usually begins with about 30 minutes of stretching, Grigsby said. The stretching is a combination of different postures and forms.
“Your whole body has to be loose,” Malonis said. If a person were to walk in on a warm-up, they would see that many of the smooth movements have been influenced by T’ai Chi Ch’uan.
To progress in belt rank, a person needs to master a certain set of forms, throws, traditional postures and self-defense combinations. Usually progression is slow, Grigsby said, but it is dependant on each individual and the time they put into it.
Points are eventually needed in order to obtain a higher ranking. These points are gained by getting involved with activities outside of the club so that a member can
become more well-rounded.
“Shuai Chiao is about controlling,” he said. “It’s all very soft and quick.” In Shuai Chiao, when someone attacks, you start by absorbing it, then turn it against the opponent, Grisby said.
He said there are three keys to a good throw: opportunity, angle and timing. Power is not emphasized as much as it is in other martial arts. Weng suggests never using more
than 30 percent of your power, Grigsby said.
Students interested in learning more about the Shuai Chiao Kungfu Club at OSU can go to osukungfu.com. The club meets from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center in multipurpose room No. 1.
Jonathan Marsh can be reached at [email protected].
