Zhāng Dé Kuí (張德奎)

M ange teacher masters and military people expatriated from all China's provinces to Taiwan, because of the Communist Revolution in China, in 1949. Several people from Shandong Province, the cradle of Tang Lang Chuan style, automatically installed in Tong-Shan (village southwest of Taiwan) , among them a certain Chang Te-Kuei, and eight year old Su Yu-Chang became a student of Mi Men Tanglang (Secret Door Preying Mantis). There, he worked by collecting firewood in the mountains and selling it to the village. This job required him to walk very heavily (around 100 kg) over a long period of time (4-5 hours forward and as many back), through narrow and winding paths.

Su Yu Chang tells ...

   "Zhang Te-Kuei lived in the same village as me; from my house I could out he practicing Kung Fu in the courtyard. Everyday I asked my father if he could go to ask master Chang if he could teach me. After the call, overall my father a group of children and young people, we should be the champion Chang's first students in Taiwan. That's how I started training with master Chang Te-Kuei. I used to change training space after a certain time, because at that time it was common for all the houses to have an open and large courtyard space. So that the training took place at home with the people. It was also a habit that whenever a Kung Fu school opened, they had a small show on the first day, which everyone in the area could come and watch. On that day, Master Chang Te-Kuei performed a Tanglangquan form composed of many deft and very fast movements. When he had finished, he noticed that the people were laughing and were not overwhelmed by what they had seen, for them it had all looked like a compound dance.

   Tanglangquan is a northern style and the people from my village were used to seeing the southern styles, muy easier in movement and more seemingly physically strong. At this, Master Chang Te-Kuei realized a technique that made him suddenly disappear and then reappear, with a big bang, on the roof of the house in front of where he had stood. After a short silence and a few astonished faces, everyone started clapping ... And that ended other questions. "

https://pachitanglangnorway.webs.com/lrermesterne.htm

## Family

Grandson of Zhang De Kui, Brother Cong.

Quite famous in Taiwan's national martial arts mantis boxing circle, He belongs to the number one figure of "Master Patriarch Level! My impression is just an old gentleman who is very personal and full of kindness, I didn’t know my grandfather very well since I was young because he lives in Dongshan Township, Tainan all the year round. My dad and I live in Taipei, Only when I go back to Tainan every Chinese New Year Are the days when we spend more time together.

Until the 60 years of the Republic of China, Dad took grandfather and mother to Taipei so I can have more time with my grandfather. It is a pity that my father failed to pass on martial arts; If there are some, I only learn a few secret tanglang essence boxing techniques and related medical techniques. I remember the Wound medicine formula only.

However, in the end I didn't fully learn my grandfather's boxing skills. What a pity! My Grandparents basically people who lived in the previous generation, Many ways of thinking, ideas, concepts and ways of doing things. It’s quite different from the current social value, You can say that he is an ancient person... and that's right! Because he was originally born in the Qing Dynasty (the end of the Qing Dynasty) This was the time he was most familiar with in his childhood and adolescence. Born seven years before the People's Republic of China, a native of Zhangjiayuan Village, Shenghe Township, Laiyang County, Shandong Province,

The reason that prompted my grandfather to learn boxing is actually very simple-because the great grandfather was bullied. In order to protect myself, I will go to apprenticeship to learn art to protect my family. When my grandfather was apprentice to the master, I heard that many masters of Changquan, Tanglangquan, Qigong, grasping hands, weapons, etc. are all learning items. Of course, it also includes traditional medical techniques such as bone injuries. But the main master is Wang Zhijing. The main martial art inheritance is of course --- Tanglangquan. The most powerful weapon drill is the seven-section whip, In the early years before mainland China was ruled by the CCP, The Zhang family is considered rich in the former residence, A wealthy family. Unfortunately, after the Communist Party rule, family members are reduced to the five black categories --- the object of struggle; Great-grandfather. Great-grandmother was persecuted by the Communist Party. Many of his friends were criticized in the street and beaten to death by everyone. The grandfather’s generation is very lucky in the second fight, As Fleeing to take refuge in the Northeast area with help and then fled all the way to Guangdong with the national army.

They Finally moved to Taiwan, Fortunately, This time, including the grandfather, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and the father’s family has not been separated. All escaped to Taiwan. Then he settled in Dongshan Township, Tainan County.

https://thomas007.nidbox.com/diary/read/8067204

## Su Yu-Chang on Secret Door Preying Mantis [Mì Mén Tánglángquán] (秘門螳螂拳)

Reprinted by Grandfather Zhang Dekui's apprentice--Mr. Su Yuchang's article on introduction

The only person who preached from the mainland of Taiwan's secret mantis boxing was the first teacher Zhang Dekui in Laiyang, Shandong. When he arrived in Taiwan, he lived in Dongshan, Tainan County. He first lived next to my house and moved to the opposite Bixuan Temple in two years. Because he didn't have to pay rent. For more than ten years, the entire ancient temple collapsed during the Great Jianan Earthquake. It happened that he went abroad to teach boxing, and his family was safe. Then he also lived nearby. He has been teaching in Dongshan Township and neighboring towns for many years. He made a living in the Department of Boxing and Traumatology, and moved to Taipei in his old age. His son Zhang Fukuan was raised by his brother. He died in Taipei in his 90s. He has a good skill, can lightly lift the vertical technique, finely capture the tendons and cut the veins, the hidden weapon poisoning medicine is also good, the teaching method is very slow. He teaches a trick that requires students to use this trick. The students can’t understand it. He personally shows them to the students. He often beats the students away from the distance. The head is bleeding and the bones are painful and the flesh is swollen for a few days. He bought injury medicine powder and healed it as soon as he took it. His medicine is very effective. He is not afraid of hurting students and students know that they can’t die. Therefore, our early brothers and sisters were able to fight and fight, and then there were people from all walks of life. , Has a lot of influence in society.

　　He taught Tanglangquan not to mention the branch system. Later, when I learned the eight-step Tanglangquan with the first teacher Wei Xiaotang and the seven-star plum blossom Tanglangquan with the first teacher Li Kunshan, the two of them looked at my Tanglangquan and told me that this is a secret. Men Tanglang Boxing is a technique taught as a secret selection of people in the Shandong Mantis Boxing system. There are not many people and it is impossible to misinform chaotic teachings. The reason is that this secret door Mantis boxing is specially designed for the Tanglang boxing, and the mantis punches quickly. The secret door is faster, and the mantis hand poison secret door is more cruel. Later, I returned to my hometown to ask Master Zhang Dekui to verify. He told me it was the secret door mantis boxing. He didn't say why he was afraid that people from the same door would bother him, and he was afraid that the same door would criticize him. Right or wrong, he came to Taiwan empty-handed and has a family to support. Therefore, it is impossible to obey the rules and choose the kind people to teach. It is better to keep his mouth in order to survive. It is also a last resort to change the times and mankind. The secret is proved by keeping his mouth in his mouth but teaching boxing scores throughout his life. Up.

Master Zhang Dekui’s life teaching boxing can be divided into three periods. The teaching method of the early fifteen years is the most conscientious to teach, and the teaching method is not kept secret for fear that the students will not learn. The teaching materials are rich and the teaching method is strict. The teaching method of the middle fifteen years is relatively reserved. It’s too easy to pass on the secret. He said that the times are accustomed to the deterioration of human nature, and it is necessary to keep a hand. In the later fifteen years, his life and economy have improved considerably. He teaches less boxing and is more admired. He said that it is only important to deal with it. He has a forgetful memory in his old age. It was caused by political persecution of his young family. He was born out of medical skills and didn't pay much attention to martial arts.

　　He didn’t teach me many routines, but Sanshou had a lot of skills in grinding hands, the most important being the mantis’s ancient 90-hand secret hand essence movement skills, so after years of my research, the mantis secret hand and Ba shortquan are the secret gates. The essence of Mantis Fist is also a representative skill.

## Chang Vs Zhāng

When Su Yu Chang's teacher is introduced in text, It is often under the name "Chang" De-Kui rather then by his *Pīnyīn* name. "Chang" is also the Wade-Giles romanization of two Chinese surnames written **Zhang** in pinyin: one extremely common and written 張 in Traditional Chinese and 张 in Simplified Chinese, and another quite rare and written as 章 in both systems. Changing identities was also not uncommon for CCP refuges.

## References

https://thomas007.nidbox.com/diary/read/8067204