Grandmaster Li Jing Lin (李景林)
Li Jinglin (also known as Li Fangchen - 李景林) Born in 1885, in the county of Zaoqiang in the Hebei province, Li Jinglin always demonstrated a great interest in martial arts. Also known as Li Fangchen, he graduated as an officer at the Officers Military Academy at Baoding and served as commander of the First Army. He was later nominated for the position of military governor of the Hebei province.
Li Jinglin had the opportunity to learn Taijiquan with Yang Banhou and Bajiquan with Li Shuwen; both known as extremely severe men and masters, to the point of being hated for their rigid teaching methods. Yang Banhou, son of the founder, Yang Luchan, was a man who liked combat. He always preferred fighting to teaching the style created by his father. Yang Banhou ran away from his father several times, just like his brother, Yang Jianhou, who had tried to hang himself various times because of the harsh treatment applied by the father.
Li Shuwen had great mastery of the Bajiquan and spear techniques, but he had a sick personality and was often considered insane. The harshness of his upbringing determined his personality -- he had been sold by his family to an opera school and had been continuously humiliated when young.
Li Shuwen was invited to teach in Li Jinglin's residence along with two other masters, but Li Jinglin was not sure of the potential of the other two masters and wanted to test their skills. When he had a chance, Li Jinglin allowed the three to fight each other and Li Shuwen killed the first opponent and crippled the second. From this incident onwards Li Jinglin severed relations with Li Shuwen because of his aggressive and measureless nature. Unfortunately, Li Shuwen was poisoned by one of his students in 1934.
In 1922, he had the opportunity of meeting a Taoist named Song Weiyi, very famous for his sword techniques. Li Jinglin was impressed by him and invited Song Weiyi to live in his own home. In this way, Li Jinglin and his subordinate officers: Jan Xingshan, Guo Qifenf, Ding Qirui and Zhang Xian began to study the Wudan sword techniques. Learning to manage the Wudang sword was personal because there were no pre-fixed forms. Li Jinglin created several forms based on techniques used to propagate the style, mixing Baguazhan principles with Taijiquan elements, and in this way, he became one of the most famous swordsmen in the history of China and even received the title of Shenjian (divine sword).
Because of his influence as a master and military officer, in 1928 Li Jinglin was responsible for the coordination and creation of the Nanjing Central Martial Arts Academy, a center for teaching the trational North Chinese martial arts. There, Li Jinglin strengthened his friendship ties with great masters such as Liu Baichuan (Luohanquan), Yang Chengfu (Taijiquan Yangshi), Sun Lutang (Baguazhang e Xingyiquan), Wang Ziping (Chaquan) and many others whom he invited to teach at the Central Academy. Some of his students were: Pei Xirong (Baguazhang), Gu Ruzhang (North Shaolin), Fu Zhensong (Baguazhang), Sun Jianyun (daughter of Sun Lutang) and many others.
In 1931, at the age of 47, Li Jinglin became ill and died in his hometown.
