Grandmaster Zhang Shaobo: Flower Strikes to Four Gates

Grandmaster Zhang Shaobo: Flower Strikes to Four Gates (huadasimen 花打四门) Flower Strikes to Four Gates comes from the Sanyuan style of the Zhao Gate system, one of the eight special lineages of Emei Mountain. It is named for the first emperor of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin. Master Zhang Tianhu and Zhili province native of the mid-Qing Dynasty taught Zhao Gate boxing. The system split into two, one named for Zhili and another named Sanyuan after Sanyuan County in Shanxi Province. Grandmaster Zhang Shaobo was born Baxian County of Sichuan Province, China. He studied martial arts from childhood and rose to become one of China’s greatest masters. He is an important representative of the Zhao Gate Sanyuan system. The Legendary Grandmasters of China series showcases many of the leading elder grandmasters of China. The footage was collected from 1983 to 1986 during China’s National Martial Arts Survey. When the department in charge of this survey was shut down by the government, much of the data was lost. Fortunately, some footage was recovered and has been re-mastered to include new lesson material. Each form demonstrated by the Grandmasters is broken down for instructional purposes by leading contemporary practitioners of these styles. TC Media is proud to present these historic videos in order to preserve the legacy of these extraordinary Grandmasters.