Drunken

Style
Kung Fu
Drunken Kung Fu is not a system in Chinese
Martial Arts, but a fighting form of Chinese Kung
Fu. There are many various Northern and
Southern Drunken Kung Fu forms. The
description and movements of this style
symbolize a person who is under the influence,
and the movements as well as the practitioner
look clumsy and relaxed.
Legend has it that once a practitioner was
involved in combat, he would perform far better
if he had a drink between his countering and
attacking. During the form there is a lot of
'preparing for a toast' postures asking for a refill.
The hand and finger positioning demonstrate as
if the practitioner is holding a cup.
It is a very effective system when used as the
Drunken practitioners movements of attack and
defense constantly surprise your opponent. Our

form offers counter and attacking movements

from all ranges, from groundwork to head level
strikes and above. 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.
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 defense while
trying to attack and aiming in one direction but
attacking in another. Different ranges of
movements and expressions in the eye
demonstrate various degrees of drunkenness.

Drunken Style is a general term. There are many

forms of Drunken Kung Fu, such as Drunken
Monkey of Monkey form and Eight Immortals.
The principle concept behind Drunken Kung Fu is
to move as if one were half drunk.
Probably the most famous style is named as
Eight Immortals. The style refers to the ancient
Chinese concept of eight immortals. Legends tell
of how they were invited to an undersea
kingdom to a banquet, but all of them became
drunk and rowdy. All the kingdoms guards
attacked, their opponents seemingly drunk, but
the immortals created an impromptu style on
the spot and defeated the guardsmen. It is
supposedly this style, which is taught to people
now.
Although there are numerous variations on
Drunken Techniques, some of the more famous
ones are fusions such as Five Drunken Animals
based upon the Five Animals techniques, and
some of the drunken weapon techniques, such
as Drunken Staff Techniques. The secret behind
Drunken style kung fu is the sudden release of
power from awkward positions. The footwork
enables the exponent to totter, sway and fall
without harm, confusing his opponent, rising up
on the soles of his toes then dropping down to
crouched positions.
A common hand-form is the Cup-Form hand. I
am not sure if this translation is strictly correct,

although it is used as a hand-form, which

represents the holding of a small Chinese ricewine cup or a jug. Even while falling the
exponent will strike quickly, feint then counterattack, or side-roll to safety.