Chinese Muslims of the past regarded martial arts as a means of bringing the inner Jihad into a tangible technique for self-development, and in spite of undergoing many transformations, its truest form apparently uses the physical world to unify the mind, spirit and body. Read our guide for more facts and information…

 

China is regarded as the place where the earliest form of martial arts originated about 2500 years ago. Martial art consists of many fighting systems, with a distinct set of techniques for each system. While the external style that is characteristic of Chinese martial arts focuses on muscular power and agility to develop physical prowess, the internal style focuses on the spirit and energy flow to develop the soul. The internal style uses slow movements, with proper coordination of the body parts and controlled breathing, with more emphasis laid on the philosophical aspect of martial arts.

 

The origin of Chinese Muslim martial arts

During the 10th century, many Persians and Arabs developed trade ties with China and settled there, some among the general population and some among the believers’ communities. The Hui people comprise five million Muslims in China, and have contributed much to the art with their tough and courageous spirit. Muslim generals of the 13th century played a vital role in the formation of the Ming dynasty. Consequently, Muslim martial arts contributed to perfect the indigenous arts of the Chinese nation.

Tan Tui

Tan Tui is otherwise called the ‘springing leg’, recognized universally as a Muslim style. It consists of a set of repititive, stretched out moves, performed along a track of several segments called ‘roads.’  Originally it was divided into ten roads, and later tougher roads were split to form twelve roads. Tan Tui, which became the earliest recognized sets in Kung Fu, can even be regarded as a forerunner of the standard forms of today’s Wushu.  It is said that ChaShagmir, who was called Chamir, devised the technique which is known as Cha Chuan or the Cha Fist, named after the first syllable in his name.  Tan Tui originally consisted of 28 routines, corresponding to the letters of the Arabic alphabet.

 

Most of the movements in Tan Tui consist of direct punches and kicks, with a seemingly mechanical posture. Wide punches of the technique, called yoke punches, are based on the Chinese medical practices for stretching and strengthening the prime points of the body.  The focus is to strengthen the abdominal muscles, and it encourages the Kung Fu students to identify the highest range of motion.

The Wushu Muslim styles

The Hui leaders called on the people to practice Wushu, interpreted as a holy practice in the determined effort for survival along with self-improvement.  It is an age-old fluid martial art technique, based on swift kicks and jumps. Muslim styles apply Muslim principles as in Chaquan, Qishiquan and Xinyiliuhequan, focusing on physical skills to render well-being and discipline.

 

Legacy of Muslim Kung Fu

Muslim masters have undergone continual training, strenuously venturing towards perfection in the physical and spiritual aspects of life. Muslim Kung Fu is renowned for its excellence in combat and philosophy. Islam has a 1400-year chrolonogy in China, and masters have emphasized on the saying that a strong man is not the one who throws others in wrestling, but the one who can control himself in anger. This wisdom is referred to as ‘Hikmah’, and Muslim masters have encouraged self-development by cultivating the inner energy called ‘Chi’.

Harmony between the internal and external forms of Kung Fu has enabled masters to hold on to the original faith, with extensive effort or ‘Ijtihad’ in creating martial arts that are based on the indigenous aspects of the Islamic ethics and creed. Hui spiritual leaders call it a holy practice, under the name ‘Jiao-men’, which means sect-fighting.  It was meant to foster tolerance among the youth and taught within the Mosque premises, but later spread out with ‘Muslim Fist’ technique gaining popularity.

Bajiquan

Bajiquan, which means ‘eight extreme fists’ is characterized by explosive actions on a short-range, and is well-known for its style of elbow strikes. It is associated with Taijiquan, rather than Shaolin. This system of martial art consists of dangerous stamping and weight modifications, besides its own unique technique for harnessing power. It is not an exclusive Hui technique, though renowned Hui practioners adhere to the style even today.

Zhaquan

Zhaquan is a martial art form that is predominant in China, especially in Henan and Shandong. It comprises elegant and extended movements, characterized by acrobatic actions and use of several weapons. The training consists of ten lines of Tan Tui, ten forms of Zhaquan and several curriculam forms with various styles. Zhang, Yang and Li are the three divisions of Zhaquan practiced in Shandong. Though the style is prevalent among Chinese Muslims, it is becoming famous among non-Muslim people of China as well.

 

Qishiquan

Qishiquan, meaning ‘the seven warriors’, memorializes Islam’s seven imams namely, Ali ibn Abi Talib, , Hassan Ibn Ali, Husayn Ibn Ali, Ali Zayn al Abidin, Jafar as Sadiq, Muhammed al Baqir and Ismail bin Jafar according to the Shia belief. It was then modified to represent seven forms. Though it was practiced by Henan Muslims initially, it was eventually adopted in Shanxi too. The sets of this martial art technique are built from seven basic postures as indicated by the name, but are becoming a rare art as very few people still adhere to it.

 

Huihui Shiba Zhou

Huihui Shiba Zhou in Chinese refers to ‘Hui elbow eighteen style’. Though this martial art technique was thought to be forgotten, a teacher named Ju Kui, who knew the style was sought by researchers in the year 1970.  Born to a Hui family at Hebei in 1886, he began

learning martial arts from the age of six, and spent 17 years learning 19 types of martial arts.

 

Xinyiliuhequan

Xinyiliuhequan, which means ‘Mind, Intention and Six Harmonies Fist’, was developed in the province of Henan. The Chinese Muslims of Henan had preserved the style, which is said to have originated in the province of Shanxi by Ji Longfeng. The Dai family transmitted the art to Li Luonent, who altered the style to resemble the contemporary Xingyi, which is prevalent in Hebei and Shanxi.  The practice methods are limited, and the style uses close range actions like shoulder-strikes. Of its two branches namely, Lushan and Luoyang, the latter is still popular only in Hui communities.

 

Piguaquan

Piguaquan, meaning ‘chopping and hanging fist’, is said to have its origin in Meng Village of Hebei Province and was founded by a Chinese Muslim named Wu Zhong. He learned the styles from Taoist monks and taught them to his daughter, who is regarded as the second-generation leader of the style. She passed on the teaching to her husband, and both of them used two distinct systems namely, baji and pigua, to teach their styles.  The swinging and chopping methods have been adopted in contemporary Wushu art forms.

 

Sword fighting

Ma Hongkui, the Muslim General used Dadao swords for combat while training with troops, and his soldiers indulged in sword dances during Dadao training. Ma Zhongying, another Muslim General engaged his troops in shadow fencing in their practice session, and in the Battle of Tutung, swords were used to storm Russian machine gun posts.

 

Chinese Muslim martial arts, stimulated much by the Qing Dynasty persecutions, were prevalent in particular areas like the province of Hebei. Epitomized with different Arabic names, the effectiveness of these arts became popular in China, owing to their ubiquitous presence. The Muslim interpretation of Kung Fu prevailed among other styles, and was practiced by Shaolin monks and Quanshu schools.