Zui Quan- Drunken Fist

Hi, everyone!

My standard approach in considering taolu or forms from various martial arts is seeing how many possible ways exist in which one could apply the techniques performed in these forms.

Forms usually seem to be designed mainly for visual appeal than for actual fighting practice and when one does use one of the movements from a kata or taolu in a fight it is not uncommon to see the move looking different from how it does in the form.






The styles of both Shaolin and Wudang each have a Drunken Style. Where exactly these styles came from is uncertain, but that they are rather well known and practiced is certain.

I have found a couple of videos on Youtube- some choreographed, others not- in which drunken boxing features.

https://youtu.be/m8XC4sCNr0A

https://youtu.be/PykL2ttj22w

https://youtu.be/zT4nB3NJrUs

https://youtu.be/p5loQCc8ALA

https://youtu.be/W8jOGceedfw

https://youtu.be/NuV3cJCXTeM

https://youtu.be/xkqcikEqkrU

Apart from the mixed success (which is a trait of just about any martial art under the sun) I am amazed to see the exponents of these arts are actually willing to put their art to the test in actual matches.

One of the main differences in the fighting techniques of Kung Fu and those of Karate and fighting arts related thereto is that Kung Fu exponents easily involve upper bodies when fighting. In Karate, Taekwondo and Kenpo people are trained to move from their hips and one won't easily see the slipping and ducking movements of boxers coming from these fighters.

Kung Fu styles have varying degrees of upper body movement. While some forms resemble those of Karate (like those of the Fujian White Crane style and the basic Shaolin forms) some actually do feature a lot of slanting, leaning, bending and swaying movements with the upper body that are meant to help with either evading attacks or to add power to an attack.

I have not learnt any drunken style. It looks really interesting and I think I would enjoy learning it when given the opportunity.

What I do see to be useful in these styles are:

- Leaning and ducking movements that always make a good defense against attacks to the face and head;

- Fluidity of movement that is always useful for combination attacks or defending while attacking;

- Falling techniques- While I am not so sure about whether I will get the chance to fall onto my opponent in any fight I do think that repeatedly practicing these falling techniques serve a twofold purpose. The most obvious purpose is to get the body accustomed to falling down and the other would be overall strengthening of the body to make it more resistant to blows.

- Unpredictability- Kung Fu teachers usually cite this as the main factor in explaining why Kung Fu is superior to other martial arts. This explains why styles like the Mantis, Snake and Drunken Boxing got developed and became popular. In the Karate Kid Daniel had a ridiculously easy win when he went into that Crane Stance. The main reason for that was that Johnny has never seen the technique used in a fight before. I think by now, however, that move has become so much of a cliché that the only reason we don't see it in any Karate matches nowadays is because we all know how it goes and we all know it will get countered.



Yes- exactly...

- Use of body weight and momentum. All that staggering may look like it was just invented independently from existing styles, but styles like Xigyiquan and Taijiquan actually contain techniques that use one's momentum and weight in similar ways. Knowing how to harness and direct that kind of force makes a huge difference to one's striking power. 


 Well...

Would you like to learn this style? :)