Bajiquan
Officially Bajiquan (八極拳)
Northern Chinese short-range explosive martial art from HEBEI province — 'Eight Extremes Fist'. Known for close-range EXPLOSIVE POWER (fajin) using elbows, shoulders, hips + short strikes. Traditionally the 'BODYGUARD STYLE' — official bodyguards of the last Qing emperor PUYI, Chiang Kai-shek, Chairman Mao all trained in bajiquan. Featured in 'Tekken' (Xiaoyu, Ling), 'Virtua Fighter', and other fighting games.
Quick facts
Category
Combat Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1–2
Duration
~60 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇨🇳 China
Estimated origin
Systematised early Qing dynasty (17th-18th century); traditionally attributed to Wu Zhong (1712-1802) or earlier Wu Yuzhen; developed in Meng Village, Hebei.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Deliver devastating close-range strikes using whole-body 'fajin' (issued power) — bodyguard tradition prioritises finishing threats fast.
Rules
Basic rules
SHORT-RANGE — most techniques within 1 arm's length; elbows + shoulders + hips + head are primary weapons
Signature short-range close combat.
FAJIN (issued power) — whole-body shockwave power generation from ground through hips
Signature power generation.
8 EXTREMES — 8 methods: bumping / pressing / striking / lifting / hooking / grabbing / stepping / connecting
Signature 8 methods.
STAMPING FOOTWORK (zhen jiao) — heavy stamping creates ground shock for fajin
Signature stamping.
SIGNATURE FORMS: Xiao Baji, Da Baji, Baji Duijie (partner form), Liuda Kaimen
Standard forms curriculum.
WEAPON: Liu He Da Qiang (6-harmony spear) — the classical bajiquan spear form
Signature spear tradition.
Scoring
Traditional art (not scoring-based); modern wushu taolu competitions score forms.
Win condition · Judges' technique scoring; sanda tournaments if applied combatively.
Equipment
Loose training clothing
Standard kung fu clothing.
Weapons: LIU HE DA QIANG (6-harmony spear — signature bajiquan weapon), broadsword, straight sword
Weapons curriculum.
Terminology
- Fajin
- Issued/explosive power — whole-body shockwave.
- Zhen jiao
- Stamping footwork creating power shockwave.
- Liu He Da Qiang
- Six-harmony great spear — signature bajiquan weapon.
- Ding zhou
- Elbow strike — a signature bajiquan technique.
Major competitions
World Traditional Wushu Championships (bajiquan events)
biennial · Global · since 2004
Where it is played
Governing bodies
International Wushu Federation (IWUF)
Founded 1990 · Lausanne, Switzerland
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Wu Zhong (CN, traditional founder)
- Li Shuwen (CN, 'God Spear Li', 1864-1934, bodyguard tradition)
- Liu Yun Qiao (TW, taught Chiang Kai-shek's bodyguards)
- Adam Hsu (US/TW, prominent international teacher)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Bajiquan— Wikipedia