Piguaquan
Encyclopedia
Piguaquan also known as Piguazhang (劈掛掌, "chop-hanging palm") due to its emphasis on palm techniques, is often practiced along with Bajiquan
(八極拳, literally "eight extremes fist") and is a style of wushu (Chinese martial arts
) that features explosive, long-range power. It originated in Cangzhou
, a prefecture in Hebei
Province of North China
, but today is also well-known in other locales, including Taiwan
. Piguaquan's power is from the accelerational force of the arms which are often in rotation. The hip movement in Piguaquan is more subtle and gentle compared to Bajiquan, because you only need enough to guide the big chops whereas in Bajiquan
, the hammers, punches, elbows and swings rely completely on the quick and powerful rotation of the hips, and sink to bring its power out.
Piguaquan and Bajiquan
often taught as complementary arts, especially in Taiwan. In fact, there is a Chinese martial arts proverb that goes: "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." (八極參劈掛，神鬼都害怕。劈掛參八極，英雄嘆莫及)
In Mainland China, Piguaquan is still often practiced as a stand-alone art as well.
. One branch led by Guo Dafa of Nanpi village, who has remarkable martial prowess that later became an imperial bodyguard. The other branch was led by Zhuo Baomei of Yanshan village, who specialize in the Qinglong forms and Pigua slow forms.
In 1928, the Nationalist Republic established Central Guoshu Institute
where Ma Yingtu and Guo Changsheng, practitioner of the Yanshan and Nanpi lineages were martial arts coaches. The two soon became friends. After in depth studying and analysis, taking the elements from the two lineages combining into one new style. The two professors also incorporated weaponry into the style, including Feng Mo (Crazy Demon) Staff, Pigua Dao (Pigua broadsword), and Miao Dao forms, filling the void of lacking weaponry in the old lineages.
Bajíquán
Bājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan...
(八極拳, literally "eight extremes fist") and is a style of wushu (Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
) that features explosive, long-range power. It originated in Cangzhou
Cangzhou
Cangzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. Cangzhou's urban center has a population of approximately 514,074 at the 2010 census which correspond to the built up area), while the prefecture-level administrative region in total has a population of 7,134,053...
, a prefecture in Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
Province of North China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
, but today is also well-known in other locales, including Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Piguaquan's power is from the accelerational force of the arms which are often in rotation. The hip movement in Piguaquan is more subtle and gentle compared to Bajiquan, because you only need enough to guide the big chops whereas in Bajiquan
Bajíquán
Bājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan...
, the hammers, punches, elbows and swings rely completely on the quick and powerful rotation of the hips, and sink to bring its power out.
Piguaquan and Bajiquan
Bajíquán
Bājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan...
often taught as complementary arts, especially in Taiwan. In fact, there is a Chinese martial arts proverb that goes: "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." (八極參劈掛，神鬼都害怕。劈掛參八極，英雄嘆莫及)
In Mainland China, Piguaquan is still often practiced as a stand-alone art as well.
Contemporary History
Piguaquan has a long rich history. During middle Ming dynasty it has already spread amongst the martial arts practitioners amongst the common people. During the middle Qing Dynasty there are two major branches of Piguaquan in CangzhouCangzhou
Cangzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. Cangzhou's urban center has a population of approximately 514,074 at the 2010 census which correspond to the built up area), while the prefecture-level administrative region in total has a population of 7,134,053...
. One branch led by Guo Dafa of Nanpi village, who has remarkable martial prowess that later became an imperial bodyguard. The other branch was led by Zhuo Baomei of Yanshan village, who specialize in the Qinglong forms and Pigua slow forms.
In 1928, the Nationalist Republic established Central Guoshu Institute
Central Guoshu Institute
The Central Guoshu Institute was established in Nanjing by the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in 1928 for the propagation of Chinese martial arts, and was an important center of martial arts during the Nanjing decade.Guoshu "national art" was...
where Ma Yingtu and Guo Changsheng, practitioner of the Yanshan and Nanpi lineages were martial arts coaches. The two soon became friends. After in depth studying and analysis, taking the elements from the two lineages combining into one new style. The two professors also incorporated weaponry into the style, including Feng Mo (Crazy Demon) Staff, Pigua Dao (Pigua broadsword), and Miao Dao forms, filling the void of lacking weaponry in the old lineages.