Bajiquan () is a
Chinese martial art
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common ...
that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its
elbow
The elbow is the region between the arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa (also called the chelidon, or the elbow pit), and the lateral and the media ...
and
shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone) as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder mak ...
strikes. Its full name is kaimen ba ji quan ().
Origins
Baji quan was originally called bazi quan ( or ) or "rake fist" because the fists, held loosely and slightly open, are used to strike downwards in a rake-like fashion. The name was considered to be rather crude in its native tongue, so it was changed to ''baji quan''. The term ''baji'' comes from the Chinese classic, the
Yijing
The ''I Ching'' or ''Yi Jing'' (, ), usually translated ''Book of Changes'' or ''Classic of Changes'', is an ancient Chinese divination text that is among the oldest of the Chinese classics. Originally a divination manual in the Western Zho ...
(I-Ching), and signifies an “extension of all directions”. In this case, it means “including everything” or “the universe”.
Some writers see the first written reference to Baji Quan in a military treaty called "Jixiao Xin Shu" (纪效新书) written by general Qi JiGuang (戚继光, 1528 - 1588). Due to that, certain scholars consider the reference made by Qi JiGuang as an indication that Baji Quan already existed during the 16th Century.
The first recorded baji quan teacher was Wu Zhong () (1712–1802). According to the Wu family manual, Wu Zhong was taught Baji Quan by a Daoist monk whose nickname was Lai (癞).
Other notable teachers included Wu Xiufeng () and
Li Shuwen
Li Shuwen () (1864–1934) was a master practitioner of the Chinese martial art of Bajiquan. He was known as "God Spear Li" (神槍李). His prowess was said to be enough that he boasted that he did not have to strike the same opponent twice. He ...
() (1864–1934). The latter was from Cangzhou (), Hebei, and acquired the nickname "God of Spear Li". A
Beijing opera
Peking opera, or Beijing opera (), is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing in the mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912) and became fully developed and recognize ...
''Wu Shen'' (martial male character) by training, he was also an expert fighter. His most famous quote is, "I do not know what it's like to hit a man twice."
Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge () (bodyguard to
Pu Yi
Aisin-Gioro Puyi (; 7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), courtesy name Yaozhi (曜之), was the last emperor of China as the eleventh and final Qing dynasty monarch. He became emperor at the age of two in 1908, but was forced to abdicate on 1 ...
, the last Emperor of China), Li Chenwu (bodyguard to
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong pronounced ; also romanised traditionally as Mao Tse-tung. (26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976), also known as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who was the founder of the People's Republic of China (PRC) ...
), and
Liu Yunqiao
Liu Yun-qiao (劉雲樵, 1909 - January 24, 1992) was a Chinese Army Colonel and a martial artist from the Republic of China. He was born in Jibeitou Village, Cangzhou, Hebei Province and is most famous for his martial arts prowess. He was a cl ...
() (secret agent for the nationalist
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
and instructor of the
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
's bodyguards). Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style". Ma Feng Tu () and Ma Yin Tu () introduced baji into the
Central Guoshu Institute
The Central Guoshu Institute () was established in Nanjing by the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in March 1928 for the propagation of Chinese martial arts, and was an important center of martial arts during the Nanjing decade. ''Gu ...
(Nanjing Guoshu Guan ) where it is required for all students.
In the tradition of Ma brothers, Bajiquan is believed to share roots with another Hebei martial art,
Piguazhang. It is said that Wu Zhong, the oldest traceable master in the baji lineage, taught both arts together as an integrated fighting system.
[ ] The legend has it that they eventually split apart, only to be recombined by Li Shuwen in the late 18th to early 19th century. As a testament to the complementary nature of these two styles, a proverb states: "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." ()
Branches and lineages
Prominent branches and lineages of the art survived to modern times, including Han family Baji, Huo family, Ji family, Li family, Ma family, Qiang family, Wu family (from Wu Xiefeng), Wutan Baji Quan and Yin Yang Baji Quan. Each has a unique element while sharing core practices. Some lineages are more common or only exist in Mainland
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, while others have spread to Western countries.
Mengcun Baji
Meng Village (
Mengcun
Mengcun (; Xiao'erjing: ) is a Hui autonomous county of southeastern Hebei province, China, under the administration of Cangzhou
Cangzhou () is a prefecture-level city in eastern Hebei province, People's Republic of China. At the 2020 censu ...
) is said to be the original birthplace of Baji Quan, or at least the modern versions of the art.
Baji is still widely practiced there.
Nanjing Baji
Baji of Nanjing was introduced to the Guoshu Institute by students of Zhang Jingxing, Han Huiqing, and Ma Yingtu. Han had a great influence on the spread of Baji in southern China, to the point that there was a saying ‘bei li nan han’ meaning ‘Li
huwenin the north and Han
uachenin the south’.
Wu Xiufeng
Wu Xiufeng (1908–1976) is the "grandfather" of many modern Baji lineages. The following lineages descend from him.
Tian-style
Tian-style is a branch which has mutual influences from Jingang Bashi—the second art practiced by Tian Jinzhong. Practitioners include Wu Xiufeng, Tian Jinzhong, and Shen Jiarui >> Zhou Jingxuan Tian-style is practiced in China and abroad.
Yin-Yang
Yin-Yang was created by Zhao Fujiang, who combined his knowledge of Baji,
Xingyiquan
Xing Yi Quan is classified as one of the internal styles of Chinese martial arts. The name of the art translates approximately to "Form-Intention Fist", or "Shape-Will Fist".
Xing Yi is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements ...
and
Yiquan
Yìquán, also known as Dàchéngquán, is a Chinese martial art founded by the Xìngyìquán master Wáng Xiāngzhāi (王薌齋). "Yì" (意) means Intent (but not intention), "quán" (拳) means boxing.
History
Having studied Xing Yi ...
to create a new art form. Yin-Yang is primarily practiced in China.
Wutan Baji
Wutan Baji is the most common lineage in the West today. Originally from Taiwan, where its founder
Liu Yunqiao lived. This lineage includes additional arts that are taught alongside Baji, such as
Piguaquan
Piguaquan (), also known as Piguazhang () due to its emphasis on palm techniques, is often practiced along with Bajiquan () and is a style of wushu (Chinese martial arts) that features explosive, long-range power. It originated in Cangzhou, ...
and
Baguazhang
Baguazhang or Pakua chang () is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being T'ai chi and Xing Yi Quan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or neijia quan). ''Bāguà zhǎng'' literally m ...
.
Jian Diansheng >> Li Shuwen
>>
Liu Yunqiao
Liu Yun-qiao (劉雲樵, 1909 - January 24, 1992) was a Chinese Army Colonel and a martial artist from the Republic of China. He was born in Jibeitou Village, Cangzhou, Hebei Province and is most famous for his martial arts prowess. He was a cl ...
>>
Adam Hsu
Hsu, Chi ( born December 14, 1941), commonly known as Adam Hsu is a martial artist and essayist known for his expertise in various forms of Chinese martial arts.The article notes: "這些武館大都是名師執教授藝,如止戈武塾的 ...
,
Su Yuchang
Su Yu-chang (; – ),
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
and abroad (taught by one or more of them).
Features
Tactics and strategy
Baji quan opens the opponent's arms forcibly (''qiang kai men'' ) and mount attacks at high, mid, and low levels of the body (''san pan lian ji'' ). It is most useful in close combat, as it focuses on elbow, knee, shoulder and hip strikes. When blocking an attack or nearing an opponent, baji quan techniques emphasize striking major points of vulnerability, namely the thorax (trunk of the body), legs and neck.
![Master zhou baji quan posture](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Master_zhou_baji_quan_posture.jpg)
The "six big ways of opening" (''liu da kai'' ) are:
* ''Ding'' : using the fist, elbow or shoulder to push forward and upward.
* ''Bao'' : putting arms together as if hugging someone. It is usually followed by ''Pi'' (splitting).
* ''Ti'' : elevating the knee to hit the thigh of the opponent, or elevating the foot to hit the shin of the opponent, etc.
* ''Dan'' : using a single move.
* ''Kua'' : using the hip.
* ''Chan'' : entanglement with rotation around the wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Stepping and body methods
Footwork in baji quan has three special features:
* Zhen Jiao
* Nian Bu
* Chuang Bu
These striking techniques are related to
traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of action ...
, which states that all parts of the body are connected, either physically or spiritually.
Forms
The forms of baji are divided into armed and unarmed routines. There are twenty fist forms, which include twelve Baji Small Structure Fists, Baji Black Tiger Fist, Baji Dan Zhai, Baji Dan Da/Dui Da, Baji Luohan Gong, and Baji Si Lang Kuan. There are eight weapons forms, including Liu He Da
Qiang (spear), Chun Yang
Jian
The ''jian'' (pronunciation (劍), English approximation: ) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the ''jian'' date to the 7th century BCE, during the Spring and ...
(sword), San Yin
Dao
Dao, Dão or DAO may refer to:
* Tao (Chinese: "The Way" 道), a philosophical concept
* Dao (Chinese sword) (刀), a type of Chinese sword
* Dao (Naga sword), a weapon and a tool of Naga people
People and language
* Yao people, a minority ethni ...
(sabre), Xing Zhe Bang (staff),
Pudao
Podao or pudao () is a Chinese single-edged infantry weapon that is still used primarily for training in various Chinese martial arts. The blade of the weapon is shaped like a Chinese broadsword, but the weapon has a longer handle, usually aroun ...
, and Chun Qiu
Da Dao (a long two-handed heavy blade, used by Generals sitting on their horses).
Most schools focus on a much smaller curriculum. Standard across almost all groups are Xiaobaji and Dabaji; two weapons forms, the sabre and the spear; a two-man training routine called Baji Duijie or Baji Duida and a series of 8 short attacking methods called the "Ba Shi" (Eight Postures), which are derived from the art of Shaolin Jingang Bashi.
Power generation and expression
The major features of baji include elbow strikes, arm/fist punches, hip checks and strikes with the shoulder. All techniques are executed with a short power, developed through training; among Chinese martial artists, baji is known for its fast movements. Baji focuses on infighting, entering from a longer range with a distinctive charging step (''zhen jiao'').
The essence of baji quan lies in
jin, or power-issuing methods, particularly
fa jin
Fa jin, or fa chin (, ), sometimes misspelled as fajing, is a term used in some Chinese martial arts, particularly the neijia (internal) martial arts, such as xingyiquan, t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan), baguazhang, bak mei, and bajiquan.
It means ...
(explosive power). The style contains six types of ''jin'', eight different ways to hit and several principles of power usage. Most of baji quan's moves utilize a one-hit push-strike method from very close range. The bulk of the damage is dealt through the momentary acceleration that travels up from the waist to the limb and further magnified by the charging step known as ''zhen jiao''.
The mechanics of ''jin'' are developed through many years of practice and baji quan is known for its strenuous lower-body training and its emphasis on the
horse stance
The horse stance (sometimes called horse riding stance) is a common posture in Asian martial arts and takes its name from the position assumed when riding a horse. It is called ''mǎbù'' (馬步) in Chinese, in Japanese, and ''juchum seogi'' ( ...
.
Its horse stance is higher than that of typical
Long Fist
Chángquán () refers to a family of external (as opposed to internal) martial arts (kung fu) styles from northern China.
The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be cons ...
styles. Like other styles, there is also "the arrow-bow stance", "the one-leg stance", "the empty stance" (), "the drop stance" (), etc. There are eight different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and ''zhen jiao''.
Influences
Baji focuses on being more direct, culminating in powerful, fast strikes that will render an opponent unable to continue. Even so, there are some styles that are derived from Baji's main principles or concepts on how to hit the opponent:
* Eight postures (''Ba shi'')
* Eight movements method (''Ba shi gong'')
* Eight movements method (''Ba shi chui'')
* Double Eight Postures (''Shuang ba shi'')
* Eight postures of the dragon style (''Longxing ba shi'')
Many of these forms are also based or mixed with
Luohan fist, a
Shaolin style. The term ''ba shi'' may also refer to baji. The term is also used in
xingyi quan
Xing Yi Quan is classified as one of the internal styles of Chinese martial arts. The name of the art translates approximately to "Form-Intention Fist", or "Shape-Will Fist".
Xing Yi is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements ...
.
Notable people
*
Li Shuwen
Li Shuwen () (1864–1934) was a master practitioner of the Chinese martial art of Bajiquan. He was known as "God Spear Li" (神槍李). His prowess was said to be enough that he boasted that he did not have to strike the same opponent twice. He ...
*
Liu Yun Qiao
Liu Yun-qiao (劉雲樵, 1909 - January 24, 1992) was a Chinese Army Colonel and a martial artist from the Republic of China. He was born in Jibeitou Village, Cangzhou, Hebei Province and is most famous for his martial arts prowess. He was a ...
*
Adam Hsu
Hsu, Chi ( born December 14, 1941), commonly known as Adam Hsu is a martial artist and essayist known for his expertise in various forms of Chinese martial arts.The article notes: "這些武館大都是名師執教授藝,如止戈武塾的 ...
- Taiwanese Bajiquan master
*
Su Yu-chang
*
Li Jianwu
*
Wu Lianzhi
*
Wu Yue (actor)
Wu Yue (born 25 April 1976) is a Chinese film and television series actor. Some of his more notable roles include Chen Zhen in ''Huo Yuanjia'' and '' Jingwu Yingxiong Chen Zhen'' (2001); Di Yun in '' Lian Cheng Jue'' (2004); Sun Wukong in ''J ...
*
Ryuchi Matsuda
- born Masashi Matsuda (松田 鉦, Matsuda Masashi) - was a Japanese scholar of Chinese martial arts from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. "Ryuchi" was his Dharma name when he was a Shingon priest of Toji Temple.
Per Dr. Kenji Tokitsu, author ...
- Japanese author behind "A Historical Outline of Chinese Martial Arts" and a manga called
Kenji Kenji may refer to:
*Kenji (given name), a masculine Japanese given name, and list of people & characters with this name
*Kenji (era), a Japanese era spanned from 1275 to 1278
* ''Kenji'' (manga) (拳児), a 1980s manga by Matsuda Ryuchi
* "Kenji" ...
. Matsuda is known for introducing and publicising various Chinese martial arts in Japan, such as Bajiquan.
In popular culture
Bajiquan is a staple in
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...
media, appearing in various
movies
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
and
video games
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...
.
It is featured in the Chinese movie ''
The Grandmaster'' (2013), performed by character Yixiantian (played by
Chang Chen
Chang Chen (born 14 October 1976) is a Taiwanese actor. He was born in Taipei, Taiwan. His father Chang Kuo-chu and his brother Hans Chang are also actors.
Career
Chang started his film career at a very young age. He was then selected by a ...
), and Hong Kong drama ''
A Fist Within Four Walls'' (2016), performed by character Chou Au-kuen (played by
Ruco Chan
Ruco Chan Chin-pang (; born 14 January 1977) is a Hong Kong actor and singer.
Chan is the first TVB actor to win My Favourite TVB Actor at the StarHub TVB Awards for three consecutive years (2014, 2015, 2016), and is also the first actor to make ...
), character Fa Man (played by
Grace Wong
Grace Wong Kwan-hing (born 5 May 1986) is a Hong Kong television actress and singer formerly contracted to TVB. She is best known for her role as Fa Man in the martial arts television drama ''A Fist Within Four Walls''.
Early life
Grace Wong ...
) and character Duen Ying-fung (played by
Benjamin Yuen
Benjamin Yuen Wai-ho (Simplified Chinese: 袁伟豪; Traditional Chinese: 袁偉豪, born May 11, 1981) is a Hong Kong actor and singer contracted to TVB and Shaw Brothers Pictures.
Yuen’s career started when he became the winner of Hong ...
).
A Taiwanese idol drama ''Baji Teenagers'' (一代新兵之八極少年, ''Yīdài xīnbīng zhī bā jí shàonián'') showcases actor Chiu Pin Cheng (alias Leo Chiu).
It is featured in ''
The Matrix
''The Matrix'' is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in ''The Matrix'' film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantolia ...
'' film franchise. Smith, played by
Hugo Weaving
Hugo Wallace Weaving (born 4 April 1960) is an English actor. Born in Colonial Nigeria to English parents, he has resided in Australia for the entirety of his career. He is the recipient of six AACTA Awards, Australian Academy of Cinema and Tel ...
, exhibits basic Bajiquan techniques in the film. Li Mei from ''
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance'' uses Bajiquan as one of her fighting styles.
It inspired lightningbending used by some firebenders including
Zuko
Prince (later Fire Lord) Zuko (), also known as the Blue Spirit, is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series ''Avatar: The Last Airbender''. Created by Eric Coleman and designed by series creators Michael Dante DiMartino ...
,
Azula
Princess Azula () is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, and voiced by Grey DeLisle.
In the show, Azula is the crown princes ...
,
Iroh
Uncle Iroh (), also referred to as General Iroh and credited simply as Uncle, is a fictional character in Nickelodeon's animated television series ''Avatar: The Last Airbender''. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the charac ...
, and
Mako
, better known by the mononym name Mako (sometimes stylised MAKO), is a Japanese voice actress, singer and a member of the band Bon-Bon Blanco, in which her prominent role is as the maraca player. She has also performed in a Japanese television ...
on
Avatar: The Last Airbender
''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' (abbreviated as ''ATLA''), also known as ''Avatar: The Legend of Aang'' in some regions or simply ''Avatar'', is an American anime-influenced animated television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and ...
and
The Legend of Korra
''The Legend of Korra'' (abbreviated as TLOK), also known as ''Avatar: The Legend of Korra'' or simply ''Korra'', is an American anime-influenced animated television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko for Nickelode ...
.
It is featured in the ''
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by ...
''. Bajiquan is first used in ''
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'' as one of the fighting styles of
Shang Chi
Zheng Shang-Chi ( ), also known as the Master of Kung Fu and Brother Hand, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin, debuting in '' ...
. It is later used in ''
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'' by ''
Namor
Namor (), also known as the Sub-Mariner, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in early 1939, the character was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for comic book packager Funnies Inc. ...
''.
Japan
Bajiquan has hugely impacted the Japanese pop culture. In Japanese, it is known as Hakkyokuken, a Japanese reading of the
Chinese characters
Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanji' ...
used to write Bajiquan. Bajiquan's impact would begin with
Kenji (manga)
is a manga series written by Ryuchi Matsuda and illustrated by Yoshihide Fujiwara. The series follows Kenji Goh, a practitioner of the Chinese martial art '' Bajiquan''.
Matsuda drew from his own knowledge of the martial arts when writing ...
, a manga series written by
Ryuchi Matsuda
- born Masashi Matsuda (松田 鉦, Matsuda Masashi) - was a Japanese scholar of Chinese martial arts from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. "Ryuchi" was his Dharma name when he was a Shingon priest of Toji Temple.
Per Dr. Kenji Tokitsu, author ...
and illustrated by
Yoshihide Fujiwara
is a Japanese manga artist. Fujiwara first came to attention by winning the 1984 Shogakukan New Artist Award for '' Maris''. He worked as Ryoichi Ikegami
is a Japanese manga artist that usually works as the illustrator in collaboration wit ...
. It follows a teenage practitioner of Bajiquan and is supposedly based on Ryuichi Matsuda's own journey in
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. Th ...
.
In 1993,
Yu Suzuki
is a Japanese game designer, producer, programmer, and engineer, who headed Sega's AM2 team for 18 years. Considered one of the first auteurs of video games, he has been responsible for a number of Sega's arcade hits, including three-dimen ...
- who got interested in martial arts because of the manga, Kenji - would direct
Virtua Fighter
is a series of fighting games created by Sega-AM2 and designer Yu Suzuki. The original '' Virtua Fighter'' was released in October 1993 and has received four main sequels and several spin-offs. The highly influential first ''Virtua Fighter'' ga ...
, a groundbreaking
3D fighting game
A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a video game genre, genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappli ...
. The game was hugely successful in Japan and amongst the roster was a Bajiquan practitioner
Akira Yuki
Akira Yuki is a fictional character in the ''Virtua Fighter'' fighting game franchise by Sega. As the series' main protagonist and mascot, Akira appears in every ''Virtua Fighter'' game as a playable character, and is usually shown on the games ...
, solidifying Bajiquan's stay in Japanese pop-culture. Bajiquan is also central to Yu Suzuki's
Shenmue
is an action-adventure game series created, produced and directed by Yu Suzuki. '' Shenmue'' (1999) and ''Shenmue II'' (2001) were developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega for Dreamcast. '' Shenmue III,'' developed by Suzuki's company Y ...
, a "sister" game to Virtua Fighter series.
Bajiquan is featured in many manga/anime series, including ''
Air Master'', ''
Gantz
''Gantz'' (stylized as ''GANTZ'') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Young Jump'' from June 2000 to June 2013, with its chapters collected i ...
'', ''
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple'', ''
Fist of the Blue Sky
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, with plot supervision by Buronson. It was serialized in '' Weekly Comic Bunch'' from 2001 to 2010, with the chapters collected into 22 ''tankōbon'' volumes by Shinchosha ...
'', ''
Love Hina
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Akamatsu. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from October 1998 to October 2001, with the chapters collected into 14 ''tankōbon'' volumes by Kodansha. The ...
'', ''
Negima! Magister Negi Magi
''Negima! Magister Negi Magi'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Akamatsu. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from February 2003 to March 2012, with its chapters co ...
'' and ''
Beelzebub
Beelzebub ( ; he, ''Baʿal-zəḇūḇ'') or Beelzebul is a name derived from a Philistine god, formerly worshipped in Ekron, and later adopted by some Abrahamic religions as a major demon. The name ''Beelzebub'' is associated with the Cana ...
''.
In Japanese video games, it is featured in:
* ''
Virtua Fighter
is a series of fighting games created by Sega-AM2 and designer Yu Suzuki. The original '' Virtua Fighter'' was released in October 1993 and has received four main sequels and several spin-offs. The highly influential first ''Virtua Fighter'' ga ...
'' series by
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
, used by
Akira Yuki
Akira Yuki is a fictional character in the ''Virtua Fighter'' fighting game franchise by Sega. As the series' main protagonist and mascot, Akira appears in every ''Virtua Fighter'' game as a playable character, and is usually shown on the games ...
* ''
Tekken
is a Japanese Media mix, media franchise centered on a series of fighting game, fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment (formerly Namco). The franchise also includes film and print adaptations.
The ...
'' by
Namco
was a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Na ...
, mainly used by
Leo Kliesen
The following is a list of characters from the fighting game series ''Tekken''. Characters are listed in alphabetical order.
Characters Main series
Players can choose from a diverse cast that hails from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and f ...
and secondarily by
Michelle Chang and
Julia Chang
is a fictional character in the ''Tekken'' series of fighting games by Namco, where she was introduced in '' Tekken 3'' in 1997. She is the adopted daughter of part- Native American and part-Chinese fighter Michelle Chang, and her storyline typ ...
* ''
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as ''SF'' or スト (''Suto''), is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Capcom. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by six ...
by
Capcom
is a Japanese video game developer and video game publisher, publisher. It has created a number of List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises, with its most commercially successful being ''Resident Evil' ...
, twins
Yun and Yang
and are a pair of fictional characters appearing in the ''Street Fighter'' fighting game series. The characters are twin brothers known collectively as the that made their debut in the original '' Street Fighter III''.
Appearances
In their bac ...
as well as by
Karin Kanzuki
is a fictional character in the Capcom's ''Street Fighter'' series. She made her first appearance in the manga '' Sakura Ganbaru!'', and makes her first appearance as a playable video game character in the 1998 video game ''Street Fighter Alpha ...
* ''
Rival Schools
''Rival Schools: United by Fate'', known in Japan as is a fighting game produced by Capcom originally released as an arcade game in 1997 and ported to the PlayStation (console), PlayStation in 1998. On February 23, 2012, Capcom released ''Unit ...
'' also by Capcom, used by
Akira Kazama
This is a list of characters from the ''Rival Schools'' series of video games and comic books.
Introduced in ''Rival Schools: United By Fate'' Batsu Ichimonji
:
is the main protagonist in both ''Rival Schools'' games. In ''Rival Schools: United ...
who also guest stars in
Street Fighter V
''Street Fighter V'' is a fighting game developed by Capcom and Dimps and published by Capcom for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows, Windows in 2016. An Arcade game, arcade version exclusive to Japan was released by Taito in 2019.
Similar to th ...
as a DLC character
* ''
Dead or Alive'' series by
Tecmo
, was a Japanese video game corporation founded in 1967. It had its headquarters in Kudankita, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Its subsidiary, Tecmo Inc, was located in Torrance, California. Tecmo was formerly known as Tehkan.
Tecmo is known for ...
, used by
Kokoro
is a novel by the Japanese author Natsume Sōseki. It was first published in 1914 in serial form in the Japanese newspaper ''Asahi Shimbun''. The title translated literally means "heart". The word contains shades of meaning—notions of the he ...
* ''
Fatal Fury
''Fatal Fury'', known as in Japan, is a fighting game series developed by SNK for the Neo Geo system.
Games
Canon
* ''Fatal Fury'' – The first game of the ''Fatal Fury'' series allowed players to select one of three characters, Terry B ...
'' by
SNK
is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. It is the successor to the company Shin Nihon Kikaku and presently owns the SNK video game brand and the Neo Geo video game platform. SNK's predecessor Shin Nihon Kikaku was founded in 1978 ...
, used by
Tung Fu Rue
The following is a list of video game characters featured in the ''Fatal Fury'' fighting game series developed by SNK. The series consists of the original ''Fatal Fury'', ''Fatal Fury 2'', ''Fatal Fury Special'', '' Fatal Fury 3'', ''Real Bout F ...
* ''
The King of Fighters
''The King of Fighters'' (''KOF'') is a series of fighting games by SNK that began with the release of ''The King of Fighters '94'' in 1994. The series was developed originally for SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade hardware. This served as the main plat ...
'' also by SNK, used by
Sie Kensou
* ''
Fighter's History
is a series of fighting games that were produced by Data East during the 1990s. The original ''Fighter's History'' was first released for the arcades in 1993 and ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994. Two different seque ...
'' by
Data East
, also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game, pinball and electronic engineering company. The company was in operation from 1976 to 2003, and released 150 video game titles. Its main headquarters were located in Suginami, Tokyo. The Am ...
, used by Lee Diendou
* ''
Tobal 2
is a 3D fighting video game developed by DreamFactory and released by Square in Japan in 1997. It is the sequel to ''Tobal No. 1''. The game was re-released in 2007 under Square Enix's "Legendary Hits" label.
As of 2010, the game held the recor ...
'' by Square, used by Chaco Utani
* ''
Melty Blood
, sometimes shortened as , is a series of 2D visual novel fighting games, co-developed by dōjin circles Type-Moon and French-Bread as the meta-sequel of the Type-Moon's first visual novel ''Tsukihime''. The first game was originall ...
'' and
''Fate'' franchise by
Type-Moon, used by Miyako Arima in the former, and Kirei Kotomine,
Rin Tohsaka, and Li Shuwen in the latter
* ''
Guilty Gear
is a series of fighting games by Arc System Works, created and designed by artist Daisuke Ishiwatari. The first game was published in 1998, and has spawned several sequels. It has also adapted to other media such as manga and drama CD. ''Gu ...
'' by
Arc System Works
, commonly referred to as ArcSys, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher located in Yokohama. Founded by Minoru Kidooka in 1988, the company is known for arcade 2D fighting game franchises, including ''Guilty Gear'' and ''BlazBlue'', a ...
, used by
Jam Kuradoberi
This is a list of characters from the ''Guilty Gear'' fighting game series.
Creation and influences
Daisuke Ishiwatari has cited Kazushi Hagiwara's manga ''Bastard!!'', and the fighting game ''Street Fighter II'' as influence to the ''Guilty G ...
* ''
Judgement
Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as ''adjudication'', which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses. Aristotle s ...
'' and ''
Lost Judgment
''Lost Judgment'' is an action-adventure video game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on September 24, 2021, for Amazon Luna on March 31, 2022, ...
'' by
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
, used by
Takayuki Yagami
, for short, is a fictional character in Sega's 2018 action-adventure video game ''Judgment'', which is a spin-off from the ''Yakuza'' game series. Yagami is a former defense attorney who resigns after a client he successfully defended kill ...
in his Tiger-fighting style.
See also
*
Piguaquan
Piguaquan (), also known as Piguazhang () due to its emphasis on palm techniques, is often practiced along with Bajiquan () and is a style of wushu (Chinese martial arts) that features explosive, long-range power. It originated in Cangzhou, ...
*
Xingyiquan
Xing Yi Quan is classified as one of the internal styles of Chinese martial arts. The name of the art translates approximately to "Form-Intention Fist", or "Shape-Will Fist".
Xing Yi is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements ...
*
Sanda (sport)
Sanda (), formerly Sanshou (), also known as Chinese boxing or Chinese kickboxing, is the official Chinese kickboxing full-contact combat sport. Sanda is a fighting system which was originally developed by the Chinese military based upon the ...
References
External links
Official website of the Wu family BajiQuanBajimen.com - Grandmaster Liu Yun Qiao(archived)
Website of Master Zhou Jingxuan
Hollowfist.com - Essays about Bajiquan's internal theoryPachitanglang International- Grandmaster Su Yuchang, disciple of Liu Yunqiao
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajiquan
Chinese martial arts