The Cotton Needle Connection and Eight Immortals Legacy: The Art of Bending Bows and Pulling Swords

The most difficult and fun martial training I had the opportunity to encounter was the Eight Drunken Immortals. I have always been somewhat of a 'wandering Taoist', quite willing to go anywhere to learn a specific thing from a particular teacher. I broadened my martial vocabulary whenever, and wherever the opportunity arose. One time I met the teacher who taught me Drunken Immortals boxing and he happened to be even more of a wandering Taoist that myself. Not even quite as old a myself, he had trained in China with the best and his knowledge base was impressive. He taught me the Omei White Crane kicking maneuvers as well as the Drunken Boxing. He was going to teach me the very rare "Bright Eyed Monkey Kung Fu" he had learned in China. The empty hand set utilized the "three legged" step, which used one hand to walk. It looked just like a monkey walking. The only weapon was the 12 foot long willow staff that was flexible and used as more of a whip that a staff. It brought to mind the old Kung Fu adage, "Keep the iron whip straight and your staff bent." The Bright Eyed Monkey is a rare Kung Fu system of training and I jumped at the chance to learn it. But as Kung Fu Taoists were wont to do, when I went to the park where we trained one day, he did not show up. When I went to his house, he was not there. In true Taoist fashion he had disappeared. I always have regretted I did not get to learn that Bright Eyed Monkey training. So, as a form of nostalgia to the missed monkey in my life and because Monkey Kung Fu shares so many elements in common with Drunken Immortals, I have included a section based upon my old notes. Enjoy...and don't let the monkey grab your hat!