^{QIXING TANGLANG QUAN GRANDMASTER} 

  ZHONG LIANBAO

Zhong Lianbao shifu of Yantai, Shandong was very fond of Wushu in his youth, in 1953 he began to trained under grandmaster Lin Jing Shan in the art of Qixing Tanglang Quan. Under the strict tutelage of grandmaster Lin, and hard and rigorous training, Zhong shifu was able to learn the comprehensive knowledge and techniques of Qixing Tanglang Quan. Zhong shifu has joined several national and provincial Wushu competitions, where he garnered several Exemplary awards for his skills. He also was invited to judge in several prestigious competitions, and have also been appointed as head judge in some of the competition. At present Zhong shifu continued to propagate the art of Qixing Tanglang Quan and carry on the task in preserving this priceless traditional art as passed on to him by grandmaster Lin Jing Shan.  

COMPETITIVE YEARS

In 1959 Zhong Lianboa shifu joined the Shandong Wushu Competition, during this time Traditional Tanglang Quan were not included, only contemporary Chang Quan (Long Fist) was part of the competition. From 1959 up to 1972 Zhong shifu represented Yantai in the many Shandong Wushu Competition. It was during those period that Zhong shifu began to discuss with Wushu friends the art of Wushu, in furthering understanding the essence and truth behind Wushu. In the 10th Shandong Athletic Meet Wushu Competition, Zhong shifu was appointed as assistant chief judge.

 In 1977 the National Athletic Commission began to promote Traditional Wushu. Zhong shifu represented the Shandong Tanglang in joining the 1979 Guangxi First National Traditional Wushu Competition. He was later commisioned by Beijing Central to represent them in another performance. In 1979 Zhong shifu was again invited to perform in the Fourth National Athletic Meet Wushu Competition. In 1980 Zhong shifu joined the 2nd National Traditional Wushu Competition held in Shanxi, where he was awarded an excellent award for his outstanding performance. In 1984 he was appointed as judge in the National Wushu Competition in Yantai and as head judge during the 1992 Yantai National Wushu Competition.  

PROPAGATION OF QIXING TANGLANG

Zhong Lianbao shifu being a legitimate Qixing Tanglang master, he took up the cudgel of promoting the art. As early as 1980 during the 2nd National Traditional Wushu Competition he was able to meet with Qixing Tanglang counterpart from Hong Kong, which lead to the understanding of Qixing Tanglang development outside China. That same year he was in Guangzhou where he took the opportunity to established contact with local Wushu Association assistant chairman Guo Zishi, who was a former student of Luo Guangyu. Assistant chairman Guo asked Zhong shifu to teach his student some of Qixing Tanglang Quan form, which Zhong shifu obliged. In 1982 assistant chairman Guo sent 3 of his students to Yantai to further study with Zhong shifu. On that same year Jinan Qixing Tanglang enthusiast came to Yantai to be instructed by Zhong shifu. In 1984 Zhong shifu sent his two nephew Zhong Qiyong and Zhong Zhiping to compete in the Qingdao Traditional Wushu Competition where they garnered Excellent Awards for their outstanding performances. In 1954 two of Chen Zhenyi's disciple came to Yantai and study Qixing Tanglang with Zhong shifu. Even Shenyang Qixing Tanglang Organization have benefited by Zhong shifu selfless teaching.  

PROMOTING THE ART ABROAD

In 1993 the Philippine Ling Nam Athletic Association sent a Wushu team to compete in the International Tanglang Quan Exhibition Competition, during the said competition Ling Nam members met with Zhong shifu students, and eventually meeting Zhong shifu. Ling Nam members asked Zhong shifu to accept them as his disciples, with their insistence and sincerity, they later  became Zhong shifu first batch of overseas disciples. Zhong shifu was invited several times to visit the Philippines. During each visit he continued to teach Qixing Tanglang.

  In 1996 he accepted an invitation to attend the Asian Wushu Championship held in the Philippines, during that period he taught Qixing Tanglang Quan in Manila and Baguio City.

Upon the invitation of Italian Olympic Committee, Zhong Lianbao shifu traveled twice to Italy to teach Tanglang Quan, at the same established the Intwernational Qixing Tang Quan Association. That same year, Zhong shifu performed at the Singapore Second National Wushu Exhibition upon the invitation of the Singapore National Wushu Association.

 In 1998 Zhong shifu was invited to perform at the “World of Wushu” show organized by Ling Nam Athletic Association in celebration of its 40^th founding anniversary. He received high praise for his superb performance, during that period he accepted a Taiwanese disciple. Later that year he was invited to Germany, Belgium and Italy to conduct Qixing Tanglang seminar, this lead to the propagation of Qixing Tanglang in Europe.

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