Gu Ruzhang

{{short description|Chinese martial artist}}

{{family name hatnote|Gu|lang=Chinese}}

File:Profile Portrait of Ky Yu Cheung.jpg

Gu Ruzhang ({{zh|s=顾汝章|p=Gù Rǔzhāng|cy=Gu Yu-jeung}}; 1894–1952) was a Chinese martial artist who disseminated the Bak Siu Lum (Northern Shaolin) martial arts system across southern China in the early 20th century. Gu was known for his expertise in Iron Palm hand conditioning among other Chinese martial art training exercises. He became a legendary heroic figure in some Chinese martial arts communities.{{cite web|url=http://www.harmoniousfist.com/kuyucheung.html|title=A Legendary History of the northern Shaolim Style|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723143018/http://www.harmoniousfist.com/kuyucheung.html|archive-date=July 23, 2008|accessdate=2008-04-26}}{{cite web|url=http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=157|title=Bak Sil Lum vs. Shaolin Temple #2|last=Ching|first=Gene|date=|website=|publisher=Kung Fu Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030102225800/http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=157|archive-date=2003-01-02|accessdate=2008-04-26|url-status=dead}}

Gu was a son of Gu Lizhi ({{lang|zh|顾利之}}), an adept of Tantui and Zhaquan and security and escort businessman (at the time, a common business for martial artists in China). Gu Ruzhang's father was friends with Yán Jīwēn ({{lang|zh|嚴機溫}}), and Gu inherited his Bei Shaolin style which included 10 empty-hand forms, several weapon forms, and martial qigong techniques such as Iron Palm, Iron Body, and Golden Bell. He was selected by the Central Guoshu Institute to teach Northern martial arts to the South as one of the "Five Southern Tigers". File:Gu photographed demonstrating his famous iron palm.jpgFile:Gu demonstrating his famous Iron Shirt Technique.jpg

Gu also learned Chaquan from Yú Zhènshēng ({{lang|zh|于振聲}}); Yang Taijiquan and Bajiquan from Li Jinglin ({{lang|zh|李景林}}); and Baguazhang, Xingyiquan from Sūn Lùtáng ({{lang|zh-Hant|孫祿堂}}).

He participated in the Nanjing 1928 First National Exam under the Central Guoshu Institute intended to seek out the greatest martial artists in China to promote national martial arts in China and placed in the top 15. There was no single winner as to prevent injury to the participants given the high skill level of the participants and the competition ended with 15 champions, where a few would become instructors at the Central Guoshu Institute.https://www.shaolinmantis.com/articles-2

File:11 of the top 15 winners of the 1928 Kuoshu Tournament.jpg

File:Ku Yu Cheung Seated in front, with his students.jpg