Piguaquan

Pigua Zhang
(劈掛拳)

Zhou Jing Xuan demonstrating Pigua Zhang's Dan Pi Zhang (single splitting palm)
Also known as	Pigua Quan, Pi Kua, Axe-hitch boxing
Focus	Striking with whipping motions and heavy hands. Use of the Dao (Chinese broadsword), Short stick, Medium staff (Feng Mo Gun) and Miao Dao (Chinese longsword)
Hardness	Hard, but has soft elements
Country of origin	China
Creator	Nampi lineage: Guo Dafa Yanshan lineage: Zhuo Baomei
Famous practitioners	Nampi lineage: Guo Changsheng Yanshan lineage: Ma Yingtu
Parenthood	Northern Chinese martial arts, Tongbeiquan
Olympic sport	No

Piguaquan (Traditional Chinese: 劈掛拳, literally "chop-hanging fist"), 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 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 Cangzhou. 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 (1898-1956) 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 and also added skills from the 24 forms of Tongbeiquan. 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.

Piguaquan and Bajiquan often taught as complementary martial 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)