Bajiquan
Bajiquan (Eight Extremities Fist) is a powerful Northern Chinese martial art known for its explosive close-range strikes, elbow attacks, and body-checking techniques. Rooted in battlefield tactics and royal bodyguard traditions, Bajiquan emphasizes directness, speed, and whole-body power generation. The art’s signature techniques involve short bursts of force (fa jin), explosive stepping, and fierce forward pressure. Bajiquan is often paired with complementary arts like Pigua Zhang to enhance its effectiveness. Respected for its practicality, it remains a favorite among military, law enforcement, and traditionalists seeking high-impact combat skills.
Bajiquan Essentials
About Bajiquan
Discover Bajiquan – a no-nonsense martial art built for close-quarters combat. This section introduces its core philosophy, explosive movements, and militaristic roots.
Bajiquan History
Explore Bajiquan’s origins in Hebei Province, its rise through imperial bodyguard service, and its spread via famous masters such as Li Shuwen and Wu Zhong.
Philosophy & Approach
Understand Bajiquan’s direct combat philosophy—emphasizing aggression, structural integrity, and full-body power through minimal motion and maximum impact.
Techniques & Style
Study Bajiquan’s signature techniques: elbow strikes, shoulder bumps, stomping power, and fast entry tactics designed to overwhelm opponents in a single burst.
Traditions & Etiquette
Learn about the traditional disciple-teacher relationship, ceremonial customs, and moral values that preserve the warrior ethos of Bajiquan schools.
Uniform & Symbols
Explore how different lineages represent themselves through uniform styles, school crests, and symbols often tied to protection, energy, and the “eight extremes.”
Weapons
Examine the traditional weapons used in Bajiquan training—including spear, staff, and broadsword—each enhancing timing, structure, and battlefield practicality.
Ranking System
While some modern schools use ranking, traditional Bajiquan emphasizes transmission of knowledge through lineage, skill demonstration, and personal merit.
Bajiquan Glossary
Familiarize yourself with key terms like “fa jin,” “ding zhou,” and “tie shan kao” that define the technical language and core concepts of Bajiquan combat.
Notable Figures
Meet the legendary figures behind Bajiquan’s legacy, including “God Spear” Li Shuwen and later masters who helped formalize and spread the system globally.
Branches & Organizations
Explore the major branches of Bajiquan—such as Mengcun, Wu family, and modern military adaptations—and the organizations preserving their unique interpretations.
Competitive Format
Though primarily a combat system, Bajiquan appears in modern wushu and sanda events. Learn how forms and free-fighting formats reflect its explosive roots.
