List of Chinese martial arts
Encyclopedia
The hundreds of different styles and schools of Chinese martial arts
(中國武術) are collectively called Kung Fu
(功夫), Wushu (武術), Kuoshu (國術), or Ch'uan Fa (拳法), depending on the persons or groups doing so. The following list is by no means exhaustive.
(內家, internal family) or wàijiā (外家, external family) styles.
Many styles combine both internal and external techniques; Chow Gar
is a good example of this.
There is an ongoing debate within the martial arts community at both the popular and scholarly level over the distinction between "internal" and "external" arts. Consequently, the list of styles considered internal or external may vary greatly from source to source. There are only three Chinese styles that are universally recognized as internal, and they are sometimes referred to as the "Orthodox internal styles." These three styles are Xingyiquan
, Baguazhang
, and T'ai chi ch'uan (Taijiquan), the three arts counted as internal and set apart by Sun Lutang, who greatly popularized the terms "neijia
" and "wàijiā" as a method of classifying martial arts
.
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
(中國武術) are collectively called Kung Fu
Kung fu (term)
Kung fu or gongfu or gung fu is a Chinese term often used in the West to refer to Chinese martial arts.Its original meaning is somewhat different, referring to one's expertise in any skill achieved through hard work and practice, not necessarily martial...
(功夫), Wushu (武術), Kuoshu (國術), or Ch'uan Fa (拳法), depending on the persons or groups doing so. The following list is by no means exhaustive.
Traditional Styles
Martial Arts systems that are not influenced by other cultures or have a lineage that predates the 1940's.- BafaquanBafaquanBa Fa, or Eight Methods, is a Chinese martial art developed by Li De Mao during the Qing dynasty. He combined the techniques of Fanziquan , Paochui , Tantui , Tongbeiquan and Xingyiquan into a new style based on the theory of eight methods .. The eight methods are: outer trap, inner trap and...
(八法拳) - Eight Methods - BaguazhangBaguazhangBāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
(八卦掌; Bagua Zhang) - Eight Trigrams Palm - BajiquanBajíquánBājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan...
(八極拳) - Eight Extremes Fist - Bak MeiBak MeiBak Mei is said to have been one of the legendary Five Elders — survivors of the destruction of the Shaolin Temple by the Qing Dynasty imperial regime — who, according to some accounts, betrayed Shaolin to the imperial government...
(白眉拳) - White Eyebrow - Black Tiger Kung Fu (黑虎拳)
- ChaquanChaquánChāquán is a Chinese martial art that features graceful movements and some acrobatic aerial maneuvers.Chāquán also includes a large range of weapons....
(查拳) - Cha Fist - ChangquanChangquanChángquán refers to a family of external martial arts styles from northern China.The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be considered a long-range fighting system...
(長拳) - Long Fist - Chuo Jiao (戳腳) - Poking Feet
- Choy GarRat Kung FuChoy Gar/Caijia Quan 蔡家拳, Choy Family Fist is a Chinese martial art that was created by Choy Gau Yee蔡九儀 .Having origins in the Southern Shaolin Temple it would be later combined with a variety of Snake Kung Fu to include lower stances and swifter footwork...
(蔡家) - Choi Family style, - Choy Li Fut (蔡李佛; Càilǐfó)
- Dachengquan (大成拳) - Great Achievement Boxing (YiquanYiquanYi quan, also known as dacheng quan, is a martial art system which was founded by the Chinese xingyiquan master, Wang Xiangzhai .- History :...
) - DitangquanDitangquanDitangquan, is a category of martial art that originated in the Shandong Province of China during the Song Dynasty .-Style:The major characteristic of ditangquan is the ability to perform tumbles, falls, turns, somersaults and aerial acrobatics using those techniques for both offense and...
(地躺拳) - Ground-Prone Fist, Ground Tumbling Boxing - Do PaiDo PaiDo Pai 道派, "style of the way", is a southern style of Kung Fu founded by the late Grandmaster Chan Dau 陳斗 in the Yung Kay district of Canton in the late 1930s. The style is a combination of Hung Ga, Jau Ga, Hap Ga, and Choi Lei Fut.- History :...
(道派) - Style of the Way - Dragon Kung FuDragon Kung FuThe movements of the Southern Dragon style of Shaolin Boxing are based on the mythical Chinese dragon. The Dragon style is an imitative-style that was developed based on the imagined characteristics of the mythical Chinese dragon....
(Lung Ying) (龍形拳) - Duan QuanDuan QuanDuan Quan, also known as short-style boxing, is a form of kung fu practiced primarily in the Hebei Province of China.A highly-dynamic and combat-oriented martial art, Duan Quan focuses on short and compact routines, low stances, and quick movements. Students are taught to be highly mobile, in order...
(短拳) - Short Range Boxing - EmeiquanEmeiquanEmeiquan is a style of Chinese martial art. Mount Emei, in Sichuan Province is one of the major Martial Mountains. A wide range of Kung Fu styles have originated from this place...
(峨嵋拳, O Mei Ch'uan) - FanziquanFanziquánFānziquán is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes offense and defense with the hands. Its movements have been described as:Fānziquán routines are usually quite short and very fast...
(翻子拳) - Overturning Fist, Tumbling Boxing - Five AncestorsFive AncestorsFive Ancestors Fist is a Southern Chinese martial art that consists of techniques from five different styles:* the breathing methods and iron body of Da mo * the posture and dynamic power of Luohan...
(五祖拳) - Wuzuquan or Ngo Cho Kun - Five Animals (五形)
- Fujian White Crane (福建白鶴拳) - also known as Bai He Quan (白鶴拳)
- Fu Jow PaiFu Jow PaiFu Jow Pai , originally named "Hark Fu Moon" , has its origins in Hoy Hong Temple. The system "was modeled after the demeanor and fighting strategy of an attacking tiger. The striking movements are lightning fast, agile and powerful...
(虎爪派) - Tiger Claw System (also titled Black Tiger Kung Fu or Haak Fu Mun) - Fut GarFut GarFut Ga or Buddhist Style is a relatively modern Southern Shaolin style of Kung Fu devised primarily from the combination of Hung Ga 洪家 and Choi Ga 蔡家 kung fu...
(佛家)- Buddhist Palm - GouquanDog Kung FuDog Kung Fu, i.e. Góuquán , i.e Dishuquan , is a martial arts style from China. This is a southern style of Chinese boxing that specializes in takedowns and ground fighting. This martial art also teaches Iron Shirt and Iron Palm fighting methods as well as specialized leaping techniques...
(狗拳) - Dog Fist - Hakka KuenHakka KuenHakka Kuen is a general term describing a variety of Chinese martial arts originating from the Hakka community of Southern China and is considered to be an important style within Southern Chinese Martial Arts....
(客家拳) - Hap GaLama (martial art)While today the martial arts known as Lama Pai, Tibetan White Crane, and Hop Gar exist as relatively distinct lineages and/or organizations, all originated with a single figure known as Sing Lung who arrived in Guangdong Province during the Qing Dynasty and taught a martial art then known as...
(俠家) - HouquanMonkey Kung FuMonkey Kung Fu, or Monkey Fist , is a Chinese martial art which utilizes ape or monkey-like movements as part of its technique.There are a number of independently developed systems of monkey kung fu...
(猴拳) - Monkey Fist- Drunken MonkeyDrunken MonkeyDrunken Monkey Form or Drunken Monkey Pole Form of Kung Fu is a Korean martial art, and one of the variations of the Monkey Style.This style is different from Zui Quan , as the practitioner is imitating gestures of an intoxicated monkey, rather than a human fighter.Drunken Monkey does not begin...
(醉猴)
- Drunken Monkey
- Heihuquan: see Black Tiger Kung FuBlack Tiger Kung FuShaolin Shandong black tiger fist is a northern Chinese martial art which originated in Shandong Province.-Techniques:...
(黑虎拳) - Hsing-i Ch'uan: see XingyiquanXingyiquanXingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
(形意拳) - HuaquanHuaquanHuaquan is a style of Long Fist Kung Fu which is believed to have originated in the Former Song Dynasty around the Hua Shan area of Shanxi Province...
(華拳) - China Fist - Hung FutHung FutHung Fut is a southern style of Chinese martial art, first developed in the early 1800's by Lei Jou Fun 李祖寬 and widely practiced today.- System :Hung Fut is considered to be a hybrid system...
(洪佛) - Hung and Buddha style kung fu - Hung GarHung GarHung Ga 洪家, Hung Kuen 洪拳, or Hung Ga Kuen 洪家拳 is a southern Chinese martial art associated with the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung, who was a master of Hung Ga....
(洪家拳; also known as Hung Ga or Hung Kuen) - Jing Wu MenChin Woo Athletic AssociationChin Woo Athletic Association is a Chinese martial arts association founded in Shanghai on July 7, 1910, but other sources also cite dates in 1909. It can be found spelled in many ways - Jing Mo, Ching Wu, Jing Wo, Jing Wu etc....
(精武門) - Jing Wu, a famous school founded in ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
that teaches several different styles. - Jow-Ga Kung FuJow-Ga Kung FuJow-Ga Kung Fu is a form of Kung Fu. It was founded by Jow Lung who was born in 1891, on the eleventh day of the third lunar month in Sa Fu Village of the Canton Province, and died in 1919. His father was Jow Fong Hoy and his mother’s maiden name was Li...
(周家) - Jow family style - Lai Tung PaiLai Tung PaiLai Tung Pai is a martial art of Chinese origin, coming from the Sil Lum tradition in the Guangdong providence of China. The art was developed at the Kwangtung Temple and then was moved to the Hoi Tung Temple when the former was burned down during the Ching Dynasty...
- Shaolin Style that mixes long and short fist - Lama Pai (喇嘛派)
- Leopard Kung FuLeopard Kung FuLeopard Kung fu is style of Kung fu and is one of the Five Animal styles.It was supposedly created by Jue Yuan with help from Bai Yufeng and Li Sou. The emphasis of leopard is speed and angular attack. The leopard does not overwhelm or rely on strength, as does the tiger, but instead relies on...
(豹拳) - Li GarLi (Lee) FamilyThe Li or Lee family Kung Fu 李家功夫 is commonly known as one of the five famous family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts.- Li Sou :The Li family is originally from Lanzhou in the Gansu province of China....
(李家) - Li Family or Lee Family style - Liuhebafa Chuan (六合八法; Liu He Ba Fa) - Six Harmonies, Eight Methods or Water Boxing
- Luohan QuanLuohan (martial arts)Luohan quan , also known as in Japanese, literally means "Arhat boxing". The traditional story of its creation states that it was created by monks in the Shaolin Temple, by observing and imitating the forms and expressions of each Arhat Statue in the temple...
(羅漢拳) Arhat Boxing, Loh Han Kuen - Mei Hua Quan (梅花拳 Plum Blossom Fist)
- Mian QuanMian QuanMian Quan is a northern Chinese martial arts style which most likely originated in the province of Hebei. There is no definite given record of the creator or origin of the style...
(棉花拳擊 Cotton Boxing) - MizongyiMizongyiMízōngyì , or simply Mízōng, is a style of Chinese martial art based on deception and mobility. Mizong is also known as Mízōngquán and Yanqingquan and there are many sub-branches of this style....
(迷蹤拳; Mízōngquán) - Lost Track Fist (also known as My Jong Law Horn; 迷蹤羅漢拳) - Mok GarMok GarMok Gar is one of the five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts. It was developed by a Shaolin monk named Monk Mo Ta Shi as an inheritance of the Southern Shaolin Fist in Guangdong province in China....
(莫家拳) Mok family style - Monkey Kung FuMonkey Kung FuMonkey Kung Fu, or Monkey Fist , is a Chinese martial art which utilizes ape or monkey-like movements as part of its technique.There are a number of independently developed systems of monkey kung fu...
see HouquanMonkey Kung FuMonkey Kung Fu, or Monkey Fist , is a Chinese martial art which utilizes ape or monkey-like movements as part of its technique.There are a number of independently developed systems of monkey kung fu...
(猴拳） - Nam Pai ChuanNam Pai ChuanNam Pai Chuan is a Shaolin kung fu style with centres in the UK, Belgium, France, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. The name means "North-South Fist" and indicates its origin in the central Chinese style called "Fat Gar Kuen"...
(南北拳) - North South Fist - Nan QuanNan QuanNanquan refers to those Chinese martial arts that originated south of the Yangtze River of China, including Hung Kuen, Choi Lei Fut, Choy Ga, Lee Ga, Lau Ga, Mok Ga, Hak Fu Mun, Wuzuquan, Wing Chun, Etc.-Contemporary Wushu Nanquan:...
(南拳) - Southern Fist - Ng Ga KuenNg Ga Kuen/Ng Gar KingNg Ga Kuen, also known as Five Families/Five Animals Kung Fu or Five Family Fist is a major traditional Southern Chinese Martial Art that traces its origins to the Shaolin Temples of China.Ng Ga Kuen roughly translates to “Five Family Boxing/Fist”...
- Five Family/Five Animal style (Hung, Mok, Li, Choy, Fut) - Wushu (sport)Wushu (sport)The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
(武 - Defensive use of combat) - Northern Praying Mantis (北派螳螂拳)
- Northern Shaolin (北少林) - Bei Shaolin
- Paochui (炮捶) - Cannon Fist, Sanhaung Paochui
- PiguaquanPiguaquanPiguaquan , also known as Piguazhang due to its emphasis on palm techniques, is often practiced along with Bajiquan and is a style of wushu that features explosive, long-range power...
(劈掛拳) - Chop-Hitch Fist, Axe-hitch boxing - Praying Mantis: see either Northern or Southern Praying Mantis
- Shaolin Quan (少林拳)
- Shequan (蛇拳) - Snake Fist
- Shuai jiaoShuai jiaoShuai jiao is the general Mandarin Chinese term for wrestling. As a generic name, it may be used to cover various styles of wrestling practised in China in the form of a martial arts system or a sport. The narrower term pertains to wrestling styles of the North China Plain...
(摔跤; Shuaijiao) - Chinese and Mongolian styles of wrestling - Southern Praying Mantis (南派螳螂拳)
- Chow GarChow GarChow Gar Tong long is a southern Chinese martial art and is one of the four major schools in Southern Praying Mantis. It is an aggressive style with emphasis on close range fighting...
(周家)- Chow Style Southern Praying Mantis
- Chow Gar
- T'ai chi ch'uan (太極拳 Taijiquan) - Supreme Ultimate fist
- Chen-style t'ai chi ch'uan
- Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan
- Wu (Hao)-style tai chi chuan
- Wu style tai chi chuanWu style tai chi chuanThe Wu family-style t'ai chi ch'uan of Wu Ch'uan-yu and Wu Chien-ch'uan is the second most popular form of t'ai chi ch'uan in the world today, after the Yang style, and fourth in terms of family seniority. This style is different from the Wu style of t'ai chi ch'uan founded by Wu Yu-hsiang...
- Sun-style tai chi chuan
- Tantui (彈腿/譚腿) - Springing legs style
- Tibetan White Crane (白鶴派)
- Tien Shan PaiTien Shan PaiTien Shan Pai is a northern style of Kung-fu which stresses rhythm, the demonstration of power accentuated by solid thuds made by the hands, the emitting of power from the entire body, the coordination of the hands and feet as well as blocks and strikes, high kicks and low sweeps, as well as...
(天山派) - TongbeiquanTongbeiquanTongbeiquan is a school of martial arts popular in northern China. Tongbeiquan's basic precepts are Taoist in nature and many of the training methods in Tongbeiquan are similar to those of the internal styles...
(通背拳) - Through-the-Back Fist - White Crane: see either Fujian White Crane or Tibetan White Crane
- White Tiger gung fu ((Bak Fu Pai))
- Wing ChunWing ChunWing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
(詠春 or 永春) - Style based on movements of a snake and a crane. See also Wing TsunWing TsunWing Tsun is a branch of Wing Chun, led by Leung Ting.The particular phonetic spelling of 詠春 as Wing Tsun was picked by the branch founder Leung Ting to differentiate his branch from the others... - Wudangquan (武當拳)
- XingyiquanXingyiquanXingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
(形意拳; Hsing-i Chuan) - Form-Intent Fist - Yau Kung Mun (软功門) - Flexible-Power Style
- Yingzhaoquan (鷹爪拳) - Eagle Claw Fist
- YuejiaquanYuejiaquanYuejiaquan is a style of Chinese martial arts attributed to Yue Fei, a noted General and patriot from the Song Dynasty.-History and philosophy:...
(岳家拳) - Yue family Fist/Boxing - YiquanYiquanYi quan, also known as dacheng quan, is a martial art system which was founded by the Chinese xingyiquan master, Wang Xiangzhai .- History :...
(意拳; I Ch'uan) - Mind Boxing - Zi Ran MenZi Ran MenZiranmen or Zi Ran Men , also known as Natural Boxing,is a Northern internal style of kung fu that is taught in conjunction with Qigong breathing techniques. The style traces its lineage to Dwarf Xu, who based it on ancient Taoist philosophy...
(自然门) - Natural Boxing or "fist of nature"
Modern Hybrids
Martial Arts systems that are influenced by other cultures or have a lineage that started after the 1940's.- Hong ChaHong chaHong Cha Kung Fu is a southern Chinese martial arts style that incorporates training and techniques that are characteristic of that region. Some of these characteristics are short-range kicks and punches, low stances, and ground fighting. Few kicks are utilized with greater emphasis on hand...
- I Liq ChuanI Liq ChuanI Liq Chuan : I Liq Chuan is a relatively new Chinese Martial Art founded by Grand Master, Chin Lik Keong of Malaysia. As a system of Neijia Gung Fu, I Liq Chuan emphasizes the development of internal power through mental attitude and awareness. His son Master Sam F.S...
(意力拳) - Mind-Body Art - Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do (振藩截拳道) - Bruce Lee's Way of the Intercepting Fist
- Jing Quan DoJing Quan DoJing Quan Dao is a modern synthetic martial arts style created by Alex Tao of Shandong province. It is a combination of different Chinese martial art styles designed for practical applications....
(精拳道) - a modern synthetic style - KenpoKenpois the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
- Japanese description of various Chinese arts - Liu Seong KuntaoLiu Seong KuntaoThe Liu Seong System is one of the many styles of Kuntao Silat, which are hybrid martial arts systems derived from the cultures of China and Indonesia. The Liu Seong system was brought to America, from Indonesia, by Willem A. Reeders ....
(also Liu Seong Gung Fu, Liu Seong Chuan Fa) - A Chinese art with IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n influence, practiced primarily in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - KuntaoKuntaoKuntao or kuntaw is a Hokkien term for martial arts created by the Chinese community of Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay Archipelago. Literally meaning "way of the fist", the word kuntao more accurately translates as fighting art...
(拳道 or 拳頭) - Way of the Fist, a Hokkien term referring to Chinese martial arts practiced in Southeast Asia and in Indonesia in particular - Sanshou (散手) or Sanda (散打) - Free Fighting
General terms
- Chi Gerk (黐腳) - Term used for sticky legs sensitivity training most notably used in Wing ChunWing ChunWing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
. Similar concepts are also practiced in Hung GarHung GarHung Ga 洪家, Hung Kuen 洪拳, or Hung Ga Kuen 洪家拳 is a southern Chinese martial art associated with the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung, who was a master of Hung Ga....
and other Chinese martial arts. - Chi Sao (黐手) - Term used for sticky arm sensitivity training most notably used in Wing ChunWing ChunWing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
. Similar concepts are also practiced in Hung GarHung GarHung Ga 洪家, Hung Kuen 洪拳, or Hung Ga Kuen 洪家拳 is a southern Chinese martial art associated with the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung, who was a master of Hung Ga....
and other Chinese martial arts. - Zui QuanZui QuanZui Quan is literally Drunken Fist, also known as Drunken Boxing or Drunkard's Boxing) is a concept in traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as a classification of modern Wushu forms...
(醉拳) "Drunken Fist" - Term used for "drunken" techniques in many styles of Chinese Martial Arts. - Dim Mak (點脈) - General term for point striking.
- Iron PalmIron PalmIron Palm or Iron Hand is a body of training techniques in various Chinese martial arts. These conditioning techniques are typically meant to condition the hands to allow a practitioner to deliver very powerful blows without injury to his or her hands.-Overview:Iron Palm is a broad term covering...
(Chinese: 铁掌功; Cantonese: tit1 zoeng2 gung1) is a body of training techniques in various Chinese martial artsChinese martial artsChinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
. - Iron ShirtIron ShirtIron Shirt is a form of hard style martial art exercise for protecting the human body from impacts in a fight. This is one of the 72 arts of the Shaolin Temple. Some martial arts are based on the idea that a correctly trained body can withstand more damage than one that is untrained...
(Traditional Chinese: 鐵衫; Simplified Chinese: 铁衫; Pinyin: tiě shān; Cantonese: tit1 saam1) is a form of hardHard and soft (martial arts)In martial arts, the terms hard and soft technique denote how forcefully a defender martial artist counters the force of an attack in armed and unarmed combat...
style martial art exercise for protecting the human bodyHuman bodyThe human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
from impacts in a fight. - Lei tai (擂台; Lèi tái) - Full Contact competition platform used in Chinese Martial Arts.
- Chin naChin NaChin Na or Qinna is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability...
(擒拿; Chin Na) - General term for joint locks. - Sanshou (散手) - General term for sparring methods, but also another name for the sport, an da].] (散打)
- Tuishou (推手) - Term used for the "push hands" partner exercises used in the neijiaNeijiaNèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
arts.
Internal and external styles
Chinese martial arts may be divided into neijiaNeijia
Nèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
(內家, internal family) or wàijiā (外家, external family) styles.
Many styles combine both internal and external techniques; Chow Gar
Chow Gar
Chow Gar Tong long is a southern Chinese martial art and is one of the four major schools in Southern Praying Mantis. It is an aggressive style with emphasis on close range fighting...
is a good example of this.
There is an ongoing debate within the martial arts community at both the popular and scholarly level over the distinction between "internal" and "external" arts. Consequently, the list of styles considered internal or external may vary greatly from source to source. There are only three Chinese styles that are universally recognized as internal, and they are sometimes referred to as the "Orthodox internal styles." These three styles are Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
, Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
, and T'ai chi ch'uan (Taijiquan), the three arts counted as internal and set apart by Sun Lutang, who greatly popularized the terms "neijia
Neijia
Nèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
" and "wàijiā" as a method of classifying martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
.
Styles often considered internal styles
- BaguazhangBaguazhangBāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
(八卦掌 Pa Kua Chang) - Eight Trigrams Palm - Liuhebafa Chuan (六合八法 Liu He Pa Fa, Lok Hup Ba Fa) - Water Boxing
- T'ai chi ch'uan (太極拳 Taijiquan) - Ultimate Supreme Fist
- XingyiquanXingyiquanXingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
(形意拳 Hsing-i Chuan) - Shape-Intent Fist - YiquanYiquanYi quan, also known as dacheng quan, is a martial art system which was founded by the Chinese xingyiquan master, Wang Xiangzhai .- History :...
(意拳 I Chuan) - Mind Boxing
See also
- List of martial arts (for martial artsMartial artsMartial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
from other countries)