the Stone Lock Arts of Kaifeng’s Eastern Grand Mosque

Short documentary on the Shí Suǒ (Stone Lock) skills preserved by a group of Hui men at Kaifeng’s Eastern Grand Mosque. The stone lock is a traditional strength building tool in the Chinese martial arts, however the use of the stone lock could be considered an art in it’s self. This tool once considered indispensable by Chinese boxers and wrestlers is now being forgotten and many of the techniques of the stone lock are being lost. However there are still a few small dedicated groups of people who preserve this art. One of the main places this art is still found is among the Hui (Chinese Muslim) People. Despite (or because of) the oppression the Hui have experienced through their history they have become known for their skill in grappling, martial arts, and the strength of their men. There has also been a long history of military service among the Hui and for a Hui man with no high ranking social contacts the only way to progress through the ranks was through the Imperial Military Exams. These exams required a high level of martial skill, as well as great strength and the ability to lift massive stone weights and heavy weapons. The group of Hui men featured here meet at Kaifeng’s Dong Da Qing Zhen Shi (Eastern Grand Mosque).