Piguaquan 劈掛拳

Piguaquan ("劈掛拳" in Traditional Chinese, literally "chop-hanging fist"), also known as Piguazhang ("劈掛掌", "chop-hanging palm") because of its heavy emphases on palm based techniques, is commonly practiced alongside Bajiquan. It is a style of wushu (Chinese martial arts) that focuses on explosive, long-range power. Originating in Cangzhou, a prefecture in the Hebei Province in Northern China, it is now well known among other locales, including Taiwan. The power in Piguaquan comes from the force of the arms acceleration, which move in a rotating motion. Compared to Bajiquan, the hit movement in Piguaquan is more subtle and gentle, as you only need enough to guide large chops, whereas in Bajiquan, the pushes, hammers, elbows and swings rely on quick and powerful rotation of the hips.

## Contemporary History

Piguaquan has a long rich history. During middle Ming dynasty it has already spread amongst the martial arts practitioners amongst the common people. During the middle Qing Dynasty there are two major branches of Piguaquan in Cangzhou[*citation needed*]. One branch led by Guo Dafa of Nanpi village, who had remarkable martial prowess that led to him later becoming an imperial bodyguard[*citation needed*]. The other branch was led by Zhuo Baomei of Yanshan village, who specialized in the Qinglong forms and Pigua slow forms.[*citation needed*]

In 1928, the Nationalist Republic established Central Guoshu Institute where Ma Yingtu (1898-1956) and Guo Changsheng, practitioner of the Yanshan and Nanpi lineages were martial arts coaches. The two soon became friends. After in-depth study and analysis, taking elements from the two lineages and combining them into one new style, while also adding skills from the 24 forms of Tongbeiquan. The two professors also incorporated weaponry into the style, including Feng Mo (Crazy Demon) Staff, Pigua Dao (Pigua broadsword), and Miao Dao forms, filling the void of lacking weaponry in the old lineages.[*citation needed*]

## Relationship with Bajiquan

Piguaquan and Bajiquan are often taught as complementary martial arts, especially in Taiwan. In fact, there is a Chinese martial arts proverb that goes: "When pigua is added to baji, gods and demons will all be terrified. When baji is added to pigua, heroes will sigh knowing they are no match against it." (八極參劈掛，神鬼都害怕。劈掛參八極，英雄嘆莫及)

In Mainland China, Piguaquan is still often practiced as a stand-alone art as well. Among some lineages of the art in Mainland China, there had developed practice forms (taolu) and methods which are called "Baji-Pigua", which combine elements from both arts.

Historically, many famous teachers, such as Liu Yunchiao and Ma Fengtu have practiced and taught both arts. In the present day, this tradition continuous among various teachers, such as Su Yu-chang, Tony Yang, Adam Hsu (United States) and Zhou Jingxuan (Mainland China).

Piguazhang (chop-hanging palm) can also be called piguaquan (chop-hanging fist), but due to its emphasis on the use of the palm techniques it is more commonly called piguazhang. The ancient name of this style was "drape-hanging fist" (also pronounced piguaquan), and was already famous more than six hundred years ago in the middle period of the Ming dynasty. It was generally acknowledged to been spread from the LuoTong area in the southeastern villages of Cang County, in the HeBei Province of China. According to Grandmaster Liu, bajiquan and piguazhang were both taught by Wu Zhong and belonged to one integrated training system. After Wu Rong (daughter of Wu Zhong) was married into LuoTong, LuoTong and the surrounding area began to specialize in the practice of piguazhang. So bajiquan and piguazhang gradually became two separate systems. However, both styles are obviously complimentary to each other. Bajiquan is visibly hard in its appearance, its jings are short and crispy, and its combat strategy primarily employs short-range fighting in body-to-body contact distance. On the other hand, piguazhang is soft in its appearance, its jings are continuous and long, and its combat strategy is that of long-range fighting. Therefore, there have always been these proverbs about the two systems: "When pigua is added to Baji, gods and demons will all be terrified" and "When baji is added to pigua, heros will sigh knowing they are no match against it."

In the practice of Piguazhang, the waist and the kua are employed as the centre of motion, and the torso, arms, and palm become an integrated moving body. Therefore, piguazhang usually appears to contain large opening and closing movements, and the attacks are generally from a longer distance than bajiquan. In piguazhang, striking with the front of the palm is called Pi, or hacking, splitting; striking with the back of the palm is called Gua, or hanging. These two types of palm strikes are used in an alternating and continuous manner like the turning of a wheel. In this motion, the dantien area is used as the "controlling centre" for the store and the release of jings. Thus although the power generated in piguazhang appears to be soft and round, a tremendous explosive force is actually hidden within it.

## Training Methods

The iron sand palm technique is an auxiliary technique of the palm technique. Although it is called "auxiliary", it is the foundation of the palm technique. Because "Iron Sand Palm Skill" can not only significantly enhance the skill of the palm, but also straighten the muscles and veins of the whole body, so that the whole body can be absorbed in the palm. Of course, it is more helpful for boxing to exert its power in actual combat and lay a solid foundation for actual combat technology. basis.

Although there are differences in the training methods of iron sand palms from different schools and schools, they are basically the same, and the principles are the same. The practice form of the iron sand palm exercise mainly consists of three aspects: one is the filling of sand bags, the second is the method of practice, and the third is the prescription for hand washing. Each aspect will directly affect the actual effect of the practice and the speed of the growth of the skill. Practitioners must strictly follow the requirements in order to receive the expected results.

1. Filling of sand bags.

The filling of sandbags seems simple, but there are strict requirements. Doing this step is a necessary material condition for practicing iron sand palms. If the filling of sandbags does not meet the requirements, it will directly affect the practice effect, and even get twice the result. However, it is slow to grow, and if it is not done well, it will hurt her body, and the gain will not be worth the loss. Therefore, to practice well, you must first fill the sand bag.

The choice of iron sand: the iron sand should choose sorghum rice grain size non-thorn iron sand. Now the industrial iron sand can be used, about 50 kg. First sieve to remove debris, clean with rice vinegar to remove rust, then stir-fry in a pot, add a little oil (both cooking oil or machine oil) after heating, as long as you can hang all the iron sand with a thin layer of oil , So as not to rust, stir well and take out of the pot, let cool for later use. Also prepare a small amount of wheat bran and mung beans for filling the bag, and add a little pepper to prevent insects.

Sand bag production: The sand bag can be sewn with canvas, other dense, thick and durable fabrics can be sewn into two pillow-sized pockets (approximately 40cm wide and 60cm long). The size can also be adjusted according to personal habits. Be strong.

Filling the sand bag: mix iron sand, wheat bran, mung beans, etc. together, stir evenly, and put it into the bag, preferably with a slight gap, sew the mouth of the bag firmly, and the sand bag is filled.

Lay the prepared sand bag flat on a firm table. The height of the table is generally about 1 meter. The height should be adjusted according to the height of the practitioner. Too high or low will have an adverse effect on the practice.

Second, the method of practice.

Practice method is the main method to improve skill. Mastering the correct practice method will not only make the increase of skill by leaps and bounds, but also the main way to transition from skill training to actual combat.

1. Preparation activities.

Huo’s iron sand palm exercise requires preparation activities before palm throwing. In addition to general activity methods, it is mainly achieved by "walking the acupoints". This is also a technique that must be trained before practicing Bajiquan.

"Walking acupuncture points" can be divided into left and right styles. Take the left style as an example: stand sideways, face to the left, spread your feet slightly wider than shoulder width, extend your hands and five fingers naturally, draw your left palm through the front of your chest and move upward and forward to the left in a round shape. Forward to the left; straighten the right arm naturally, cleavage from the right back to the left and down, and the right palm falls on the left soft rib; at the same time, the left palm is attached to the right shoulder, the center of gravity moves forward, and the lower limbs form a lunge.

When practicing, you should relax your arms naturally, slip your shoulders and close your wrists, and use the strength of the whip. Don't use force deliberately. You should blow moderately when the chopping is in place. Repeat this practice twenty to thirty times. The right and the left have the same action, but in the opposite direction, then do the same amount. After practicing proficiency, do three to five energizing movements on the left and right sides, and then hug your arms back in front of your chest five to seven times, and you should also be equipped with appropriate blows.

Through the practice of "walking the acupoints", the whole body can penetrate the blood, the muscles and bones are smooth, and the strength is unified, preparing for the smooth progress of palm wrestling, and at the same time can promote the rapid growth of skill.

2. Palm wrestling practice.

Palm wrestling is the main content of iron sand palm practice. There are three methods. The first is fixed-step practice, the second is live-step practice, and the third is combined palm exercise.

In the specific practice process, although the three are different, they should not be completely separated, they should be practiced alternately. Beginners mainly focus on fixed steps. After the movements are smoothed out and proficient, they can perform live steps or other forms of practice. When throwing a palm, you should hit the four sides of the palm and forearm, namely the palm, the back of the palm, the side of the thumb, and the side of the little finger, alternately with each palm.

The fixed step is to stand facing the sandbag, spread your feet left and right, slightly wider than shoulder width, bent your legs, and squat into a horse stride, but the steps should not be too low, so as not to overload the lower limbs and affect the palms. , Flap two sides at a time with each palm, alternately.

The living step practice involves facing the sandbag with the side of the body, first stroking with the front hand, and then stepping up with the palm of the other side, then withdrawing after the fall, using the palm of the finished step, and then stepping with the other palm. The palm fell twice, so alternately. When practicing the Bajimen combined with palms, the main methods are "slap anyway," "slap the palm", and "hang the palm".

3. Practice requirements.

Concentrate when throwing palms, get rid of distractions, and not be distracted. You can count the number of palms throws to focus your attention. The whole body should be relaxed, the qi should be sinking, the palms should be coordinated and natural, and the strength should be steadily penetrated, and focus on the palms of the hands to produce the force of whipping. At the same time of falling and hitting, it is necessary to match the degree of force release with the corresponding blow, but it is necessary to go with the flow and not deliberately ask for it. The level of daily training should be such that it can recover as soon as possible after training without affecting the next day's practice. After training, it is necessary to use hand-washing medicinal liquor to smear the hit parts to eliminate palm poison, treat palm injuries, and restore normal state as soon as possible. Practice needs to be persistent. Kungfu is the accumulation of time and quantity before the essential changes can occur. It cannot be done overnight. The daily practice time should not be too long. It is only necessary to master it in 10 to 20 minutes. There is a small amount of growth every day, the so-called collection becomes a fur, and the accumulation of small flows becomes a river. If you accumulate so much over time, you will get a small success in a hundred days and a big success in three years.

3. Matters needing attention.

1. Don't use too much force during the initial training, and be eager for success;

2. Stiff force should not be used for falls;

3. Do not practice within three days after sex;

4. The daily practice time cannot be too long;

5. Hand-washing medicated wine is a medicine for external use, and it is toxic. It must not be mixed in the mouth to avoid poisoning. If the skin of the injured part is damaged or bleeding, it should not be used, so as to prevent the toxicity from entering the blood.

The above points should be kept in mind, otherwise the palms and forearms may be injured at the slightest level, and the internal organs and muscles may be injured at the severe level.

4. Principle and effect.

The practice of iron palm is to increase the internal functions of the palm, forearm muscles and bone tissues, mobilize the human body's internal potential, and increase power. Promote the coordination and smoothness of all parts of the body through exercises, and make the blood flow smoothly, and the muscles and bones are smooth. The strength of the whole body is released to the maximum in the palm of the hand, which greatly enhances the hitting ability of the palm. You only need a light blow, and the opponent is difficult to resist. However, after training, the sensitivity of the palms has been significantly increased, and the skin is smoother and smoother than before. It is not the same as the method of training hands full of calluses and killing the nerves without pain. After a hundred days of small success, you can see miraculous effects in actual combat. After three years of training, even if you accidentally make a shot, you should use it with caution. However, if you do not advance, the so-called art is endless. , It’s the right way to learn from the old.

5. Handwashing medicinal liquor.

When practicing iron sand palm, all schools use hand-washing medicinal wine as a guarantee. Otherwise, not only will the effect be difficult, but the palm poison will invade and hurt itself, which will cause lifelong regret. The hand-washing medicinal wine is prepared by secret prescription, a collection of more than a dozen Chinese medicines, and refined by secret method. This medicine not only treats palm injuries but also increases power. The power of the medicine penetrates the skin and gradually penetrates into the body to continue its effect. After the palm is thrown, smear the beating area and rub your hands together to promote blood circulation and make the medicine work as soon as possible. In this way, the palm poison can be relieved at any time, and the injured part can be healed as soon as possible. The next day practice exercises as usual, speeding up the growth of skill.

Function: clearing away heat and detoxification, reducing inflammation and pain, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, removing decay and promoting new growth, relaxing muscles and strengthening bones, softening and emollient.

Application: Applying after practicing iron sand palm can detoxify and heal injuries, and can also be used for various other traumas such as knocks, sprains, and contusions, and can also be used to assist in promoting fracture healing as soon as possible.

How to use: Apply a little medicinal wine to the affected area, or massage it appropriately to speed up blood circulation and promote the effect of the medicine.

Contraindications: This medicine is for external use. It is strictly forbidden to take it internally, and it is strictly forbidden to apply it to the bleeding area to avoid poisoning.

Although the prescriptions passed by different schools are different, their effects are roughly the same, and their effects are naturally different. There are two main ways to use it. One is to add water and heat to soak your hands with traditional Chinese medicine. However, due to limited conditions, it is inconvenient to use, and the dosage is large and repeated use, which is wasteful and unhygienic, and has long been used by experts. The second is hand-washing medicinal wine, which is convenient and practical and can be used to treat injuries in other parts, so it is mostly used by martial arts experts.

## Piguaquan without Bajiquan

In Pigua, the difference is that as a matte of fighting strategy, the movements in this mechanism of action are much more overt. They can be shrunk over time, but in application and practice they are commonly large in size compared to what's seen in IMA. I can see a marked difference between my shenfa when performing Pigua, which is heavily influenced by my XYQ, to that of people who've only practiced Pigua.

## In popular culture

Pigua Zhang is one of the styles used by the female character Ling Xiaoyu in the *Tekken* video game franchise, Helena Douglas in the *Dead or Alive* series, Scorpion in *Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance*, and Hotaru in *Mortal Kombat: Deception* and *Mortal Kombat: Armageddon*. Also is shown by Xiuying Hong from Shenmue, sometimes along with some moves from Bajiquan.

Pigua Zhang is one of the fighting styles of the character Hermit (Tanimoto Natsu) in the Japanese manga and anime series *History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi* along with Bajiquan.

The art has also been featured in the Japanese manga series *Kenji*.

## External links

* "The Versatile Whip of Pigua Zhang" - an article about the art of Piguaquan, **Highly recommended read.**
* http://cookdingskitchen.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-versatile-whip.html
* https://sites.google.com/site/hakkyokuhakke2016/home/ba-ji-quan/ba-gua/tai-ji-quan/dang-lang-quan/xing-yi-quan/pi-gua-zhang

## References

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110722062418/http://www.bajimen.com/index.php?page=pigua
https://bugaku.at.webry.info/

https://sites.google.com/site/hakkyokuhakke2016/