Little Nine Heaven - Internal Kung-fu

Master James W. McNeil has for over forty years been learning, living and teaching the inner mysteries and secrets of the traditional, internal kung-fu arts. In the course of history such knowledge was normally reserved for the elite few within the closed circles of the oriental Taoist societies. Until McNeil came on the scene it was unheard of for any outsider, let alone a white American, to be accepted as a student by the great martial art Masters of China and Taiwan.

Little Nine Heaven is the oldest Taoist system known today dating back to 2698BC. It consists of three skills: ju kung (boxing), chian-kuan jen (swordsmanship) and shi shui (bone marrow washing). It consists of five forms, twelve animals, three rushes, five harmonies and the nine essentials. It is also the highest level of the I-Ching (Book of Changes). Master McNeil is one of only two teachers in the United States to teach this system. It is only taught to personally picked students, who have progressed in their study of the styles outlined below.

Hsing-I is an ancient art of fighting and healing that tunes the mind and body to a finely honed degree. It is said to have developed during the period of the Northern Sung dynasty (1127-1276 AD). The system consists of the five elements, twelve animals, tien-gunn, six harmonies, nine essences, and the theory of touch, go, kiss using the seven stars. Hsing-I is the easiest style to learn, but the hardest to master, because it is so easy.

Chen Tai-Chi The old form taught at the school is called 13 postures. It consists of 13 sections and has 64 moves. The second form is called Pao Twi (cannon fist). The learning of chen sa chin (silk reeling energy), circles around the body's meridians like latitudes around the globe. The precise movements will give extraordinary power. This also provides a form of moving meditation in time.

Splashing Hands is a fighting style which is an extremely practical, no-nonsense art. It features quick shuffling footwork and low-focused straight leg kicks. It is combined with jabs, punches, elbows and singular and two man fighting forms. Splashing Hands is geared for the street and dates back to early 1700.

Iron Hand the term, refers to the properly developed human hands which can become hard like iron and generate trememdous power, but still maintain the look of a normal hand. It dates back to the early days of the Shaolin Temples. There are several methods of training in iron hand including 'slapping', 'thrusting' and 'cooking'. It is very important to know you have a qualified teacher or your hands could be damaged. Ther is no other comparable Iron Hand training being offered anywhere in the world.

In combination with the styles taught above, Master McNeil also incorporates the following into each training
program:

Chinese Healing Arts of chi kung and nei kung along with tui na, acupressure and moxibustion are also taught at the school. Chi kung and nei kung are meditative exercises which help to increase the circulation of chi, strengthen the internal organs and improve the balance of yin and yang. Acupressure and tui na are ancient chinese techniques which promote the natural healing capacity of the body using finger pressure and manipulative
tecniques. Moxibustion involes burning moxa, an herbal preparation, to heat an injured spot. The heat and herbal smoke soak into the skin along the meridians to facilitate the healing process.

Taoist Meditation leads to a trememdous sense of inner peace and a structure to achieve higher levels of chi meditation. It encompasses both forms of meditation: sitting and standing.

In addition to the main styles taught, Master McNeil also teaches the following disciplines to selected
students who have excelled in other areas of study:

Ba Kua or eight diagrams forms the basis of the I-Ching. The foundation of Ba Kua is in the circling movements and it's constant changes. The ultimate goal is to allow the body to move, act and react naturally. It is believed that Tung Hai-Ch'uan learned it from a Taoist master in the mountains of Kianasu Province. Tung started teaching it to the public in the late 1700s. There are three sections to the exercise: 1. slow motion, 2. continuous motion, 3. continuous motion with different kua's (hands). There are eight animals, ten exercises and three styles of walking: natural, medium and low. Anyone can walk a circle, but not everyone can walk a Ba kua circle.

Tsu Men-Chuan is a soft style of shaolin kung-fu that was developed in the Shaolin Temples. The earliest recorded history of Tzu Men-Chuan is in the Ching dynasty (1736-1796). There are three forms and eighteen characters each representing one set of postures. In fighting, each posture has it's own special spirit and method.