Duan Quan, also known as short-range boxing, is a form of
kung fu
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 ...
practiced primarily in the
Hebei Province
Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, an ...
of
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 ...
. It is a short-range style created specifically for combat. The founder of this art is unknown except that it evolved more than four hundred years ago.
A highly-dynamic and combat-oriented
martial art
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preserv ...
, Duan Quan focuses on short and compact routines, low stances, and quick movements.
Students are taught to be highly mobile, in order to keep the opponent disoriented and unable to attack. Low stances and small but quick movements are major features of this style.
The arms and legs are bent slightly. They also use simple and sudden moves and the techniques are executed smartly, wasting no energy. By practicing Duan Quan, students improve their physique as well as sharpen their instincts and skills in close-range combat.
Movements are well connected and fist techniques follow in quick succession often with sudden changes. Practitioners of Duan Quan rarely jump or leap. The Duan Quan fighter moves around to avoid the opponent's attack and then moves in close to deliver multiple counter-attacks.
References
Chinese martial arts
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