Chanquanshu (CQS) is a school that teaches techniques based upon Daoist principles of ‘Internal Energy’.

The name Chanquanshu is composed of three elements.

禪  Chan meditation
拳  Quan boxing or fist
術  Shu art

Therefore Chanquanshu can be translated as:

THE ART OF THE MEDITATIVE FIST

 

Branches of Chanquanshu

The CQS School of Daoist Arts covers three broad categories:

  • Martial Art Practices
  • Health Preservation Practices
  • Meditation Practices

As you can see from the diagram there is a great deal of overlap between the three different branches of the school.

The purpose of the system is to train the whole person, both physically and psychologically (psychophysical training) to arrive at a central equilibrium - a state of total harmony and balance within oneself and with the world at large. This understanding is achieved through a combination of the above subjects.

Martial Arts

The Martial Arts in China have many designations:

  • Wushu — military arts (main name used in modern China)
  • Quanshu — boxing arts
  • Quanfa — boxing techniques
  • Gongfu (kungfu) — mis-interpretation for the word for skill

We generally use the term quanshu.

Health Arts

Chanquanshu's health branch includes:

  • Daoyin Yangsheng Gong
  • Therapeutic Massage
  • Stress Management

And a great overlap with the meditation branch below and the martial branch above.

Daoist Meditation

Daoists use meditation to cultivate health and longevity and attain the highest level of spiritual development, the union with the Dao. In the early stages of spiritual development, meditation is used to clear the mind, minimise desire, balance the emotions, and circulate internal energy. In the later stages, it is used to help the practitioner to be united with the Dao, the undifferentiated origin of all things.

Chanquanshu uses a range of traditional Daoist meditation routines that allow the student to progress slowly using beginner to intermediate to advanced techniques.

  • Beginner techniques are for improving the Body.
  • Intermediate techniques are for improving the Mind.
  • Advanced techniques are for improving the Spirit.