Martial arts level of Yeun Fu (Kiu Fung's Shaolin teacher)

[Ken Cheng]

Shaolin monk Yeun Fu was of the Yeun-generation monks of DGSD, which meant that his martial arts had to have been among Shaolin's best. How good was he really? Was he at or above the level of the Chief Abbot, Yeun Chi? Did Siu Yeun San have any difficulty killing him? I figure that anybody who was Kiu Fung's teacher couldn't have been too shabby a fighter himself.

[PJ]

I reckon that all of the Xuan generation monks are more or less on par with each other (with a margin of roughly 10%), and Xuanku was no exception.

[CC]

Xuan Ku was the only one in Shaolin who had mastered the Burning Wood Knife/Palm (can't remember), one of the 72 arts. He should also know Demon Subduing Palm since he taught XF.

So he mastered 2 of the 72 arts at least. He should be at least equal to Xuan Nan and Xuan Ju if not better. The intention was to nurture XF into a top hero, they wouldn't assign any old goon to coach him.

[Ken Cheng]

So he mastered 2 of the 72 arts at least. He should be at least equal to Xuan Nan and Xuan Ju if not better. The intention was to nurture XF into a top hero, they wouldn't assign any old goon to coach him.

He did seem more enlightened than the other monks of his generation. I don't know if that automatically translates into better martial arts, however.

[PJ]

He did seem more enlightened than the other monks of his generation.

May I ask how you arrived at this conclusion? Considering that he only appeared for a few seconds of total time.

[Ken Cheng]

May I ask how you arrived at this conclusion? Considering that he only appeared for a few seconds of total time.

In DGSD '81, he gave a little pre-death speech to his comrades. The way he calmly accepted death and urged his colleagues against seeking revenge for him (which they were pretty gung ho about) seemed to suggest that he was a more enlightened Buddhist than they were. The other Shaolin monks seemed very angry at Kiu Fung for invading the temple and wrecking the Bronze Mirror. Only Yeun Fu seemed to be more concerned about Kiu Fung's welfare.

Also, Yeun Fu seemed to treat young Kiu Fung with greater kindness than any other Shaolin monk (Hui Juk excepted) ever would, teacher or no teacher. The other Shaolin monks always seemed to be against Kiu Fung.

[PJ]

You are right, Xuanku does seem more enlightened. But yeah, dunno if that has any implication about his martial arts.

[sarakoth]

I would say like any other xuan generatio monk

1/3 of xiao feng

[Ian Liew]

It's hard to gauge the power of a Xuan monk as I can't recall any of them ever winning a fight against a quality opponent. Xuan Nan was beaten by Ding Chunqiu, Xuan Ku by Xiao Yuanshan, Xuan Tong and Xuan Bei (I'm assuming it was a fair fight) by Jiu Mozhi and Xuan Ci by You Tanzi. Even if you could gauge the quality of the opponents you can't use it to benchmark the Xuans. The only one who seems to look better is the Abbot himself, as he wasn't really comprehensively beaten (at least if the TV adaptations are anything to go by).

[sarakoth]

You Tan Zhi and Xuan Ci only fought for one stance and neither of them lost

at that time You Tan Zhi was a first rate fighter

all of the Xuan monks were second rate

[PJ]

You Tan Zhi was a first rate fighter... all of the Xuan monks were second rate

The Xuan generation monks are at the very least First Class Experts.

Xuan Nan was beaten by Ding Chunqiu

Yes, but Quite unfairly so. In a contest of martial arts, Ding Chunqiu would probably lose.

[CC]

Another point to note is that Xuan Ci's one and only exchange with YTZ allowed YTZ to use his most powerful method - a straight up energy clash.

That single exchange also hinted that Xuan Ci's technique may be more refined as it stated that Xuan Ci's palm blast was more concentrated in area compared to YTZ's wide area effect (which can be a good thing in a mob clearing operation but not in a one on one direct clash).

[PJ]

allowed YTZ to use his most powerful method - a straight up energy clash

I think a shorter distance palm clash with physical contact would have maximized You Tanzhi's strong point. He's not that great at channeling his mighty internal energy through LDAs.

As proven before, You Tanzhi knocked out a Xuan generation monk in one stance with a direct fist clash. He is most deadly with direct physical contact.

[Ian Liew]

As a matter of interest, how many Xuan monks were named, and which of the 72 arts did they use?

Xuan Ci - Abbot, committed suicide, used Jiashafumogong
Xuan Bei - killed by Jiu Mozhi in Dali, used Wushangjiezi
Xuan Nan - killed by Dingchunqiu, not sure what he used
Xuan Ku - killed by Xiao Yuanshan, used Yaomudaofa
Xuan Tong - only survivor I know of, used Yanhuazi

It's hard to imagine Shaolin surviving with so many of them dead unless there were a lot more around, but if they did have them around Shaolin must have been really powerful.

[PJ]

Information courtesy of Laviathan:

Great Vajra Palm, used by Abbot Xuanci against Xiao Feng, unintentionally wounding Ah Zhu. (DGSD)

Great Vajra Fist, performed by Xuansheng. (DGSD)

Veda Scepter, used by Murong Bo against Xuanbei in Xinjie Temple, Dali. (DGSD) -- presumably

Heaven & Earth in Sleaves, used by Xuannan against Xiao Feng at Juxian Mansion. (DGSD)

Burning Wood Saber, specialty of Xuanku, teacher of Xiao Feng. (DGSD)

Flower Massaging Finger - performed by Xuandu