Kung Fu collection
Baji Quan
八极拳 • Eight Extremes Fist
A short-range boxing style based on total commitment and famous for its penetrating power.
Baji Quan (八極拳), the boxing of the eight extremities or eight directions, refers to the way force is distributed through the body. It originated in Cang County, Hebei, a region known throughout China for martial arts.
The first documented practitioner was Wu Zhong, to whom a Taoist monk and his disciple are said to have taught Baji Quan, Pigua Zhang and the use of the great spear. The art was then transmitted through the Wu family and the practitioners of Mengcun.
During the 1950s, several Baji masters settled in Taiwan, which became an important centre for the style. Baji uses whole-body power, direct entry and strong short-range impact. Its transmission produced several family branches, including Wu, Imperial Palace, Qiang, Ji, Li, Huo and Nanjing traditions.