::::Drunken Boxing::::



"Lying stance of the drunkard"

Eight Drunken Immortals

Drunken Kung-fu has many different origins. It appears as a subsystem in many other styles such as in Choy-lay-fut, Southern Shaolin kung-fu and even in Tai ch'i chuan. It does, however, have its own system know as Zuijuquan (Shu-ju-chuan). The rolling, unpredictable motion of a drunken man is used to deceive his opponent into thinking he is incapacitated by a drunken stupor. It has many different origins dating back to the Sung Dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) from eight drunken immortals to a drunken monk who defeats over thirty of his peers, then proceeded to rip off the monastery doors. Whichever of the many theories may be true, it can said that the drunken style was inspired by the weaving and bobbing motions of an intoxicated kung-fu practitioner. Drunken kung-fu happens to be this authors style of kung-fu.


"Taking an intemperate drink"

In Zui Quan or the drunkard boxing, boxers falter, waddle, fall and sway just like drunkards. Zui Quan can be used for both fighting and maintaining health. However, the drunkard boxers go out of their way to stress the combative side of their style. They blend a series of movements, actions and skills of the martial arts and try to confuse their opponents with special skills which often lead them to surprise triumphs.


"Pouring wine stance"

Execution of the drunkard boxing demands extreme flexibility of the joints as well as suppleness, dexterity, power and coordination all of which can be developed in the course of practice.

The main feature of the drunkard boxing is to hide combative hits in drunkard-like, unsteady movements and actions so s to confuse the opponent. The secret of this style of boxing is maintaining a clear mind while giving a drunken appearance.

Drunkard boxers are required to be responsive with good eyesight and fist plays. They move in unconnected steps but with a flexible body combining hardness and suppleness. They have to be fast to get the better of their opponents but their main tactic is to feign defence while trying to attack and aiming in one direction but attacking in another. Various degrees of drunkenness are demonstrated by different ranges of movements and expressions in the eye.



copyright 1999 drunkmonk ent.