Long Hua Quan (Wudang Dragon Form)
Introduction
Long Hua Quan (龙华拳, Lóng Huá Quán) is a beautiful martial art from the Wudang Mountains in China. The name means “Dragon Transformation Fist” in English. This form copies the movements of the Chinese dragon, showing both smooth flowing motions and powerful strikes. As a northern Wudang style, Long Hua Quan is famous for its footwork and leg techniques.
Background
Wudang martial arts combine northern and southern Chinese kung fu traditions. The southern styles focus more on hand techniques and close combat, while northern styles are known for their impressive leg work. Long Hua Quan comes from the northern tradition and features complex leg movements.
When practicing this form, students try to show the dragon’s main qualities - power, wisdom, and courage. The form has 28 different movements that flow together in a sequence.
Long Hua Quan is a gymnastic and athletic style that moves into the realm of internal martial arts. The specific type of movement developed in this form is meant to resemble a dragon winding through the clouds.
The striking technique developed in Long Hua Quan is called “swinging power” (游劲, Yóu Jìng), which uses raking dragon claw strikes. Before learning this form, practitioners typically spend about two years practicing Dragon Claw Conditioning (龙爪手, Lóng Zhǎo Shǒu), as the style is much less effective without well-developed dragon claws.
Students also learn vital point striking (点穴, Diǎn Xué). The previous grand master Kuang Changxiu (匡常修, Kuāng Chángxiū) taught that this is where practitioners begin to develop “Qi power” (气劲, Qì Jìng).
The 28 Movements
- Qing Long Chu Shui Liang Zhua Shi (青龙出水亮爪式, Qīng Lóng Chū Shuǐ Liàng Zhǎo Shì)
The Auspicious Dragon Comes Out of Water Showing Its Claws
- This opening move shows the dragon emerging from water with its claws extended, setting up a strong starting position.
- Zhuan Shen Tan Zhua Qin Na Shi (转身探爪擒拿式, Zhuǎn Shēn Tàn Zhǎo Qín Ná Shì)
Turn Around the Body with Capturing Gesture
- A turning movement where you reach out to grab an opponent while rotating your body.
- Tui Shou Shan Shen Chuan Hou Zhang (推手闪身贯耳捶, Tuī Shǒu Shǎn Shēn Guàn Ěr Chuí)
Push Hands, Dodge Body and Strike Sideways
- Push with your hands while moving your body to the side, then deliver a strike aimed at the opponent’s ear.
- Qin Shou Pi Mian Po Xi Tong Lei Tui (擒手劈面破膝通肋腿, Qín Shǒu Pī Miàn Pò Xī Tōng Lèi Tuǐ)
Capture Hand, Chop to Face, Break Knee and Kick to Ribs
- Grab the opponent’s hand, strike at their face, then deliver a straight kick to the ribs.
- Tui Shou Shan Shen Chuan Hou Zhang (推手闪身穿喉掌, Tuī Shǒu Shǎn Shēn Chuān Hóu Zhǎng)
Push Hands, Dodge Body and Thrust to Throat
- Similar to movement 3, but ends with a palm strike toward the opponent’s throat.
- Shuang Zhua Long Zhua Cui Lei Zhang (双爪龙抓摧肋掌, Shuāng Zhǎo Lóng Zhuā Cuī Lèi Zhǎng)
Double Dragon Claws Crushing Ribs
- Using both hands like dragon claws to grab and attack the opponent’s ribs.
- Huang Long Yao Shen Bai Wei (黄龙摇身摆尾拳, Huáng Lóng Yáo Shēn Bǎi Wěi Quán)
Yellow Dragon Shakes Its Body and Swings Its Tail
- A flowing movement where your body sways like a dragon, ending with a powerful strike like a tail swing.
- Ya Shou Feng Mian Tong Du Fan Lei Jiao (压手封面通肚反肋脚, Yā Shǒu Fēng Miàn Tōng Dù Fǎn Lèi Jiǎo)
Press Hands Down, Seal the Face, Kick to Stomach
- Lower your hands to block, protect your face, then deliver a kick to the opponent’s midsection.
- Cai Shou Lian Huan Duo Zi (采手连环跺子, Cǎi Shǒu Lián Huán Duò Zǐ)
Plucking Hands with Continuous Stomping
- A series of hand movements combined with stomping footwork to unbalance the opponent.
- Yao Qin Ji Zhua Chong Mian Tong Lei Tui (摇擒击爪冲面通肋腿, Yáo Qín Jī Zhǎo Chōng Miàn Tōng Lèi Tuǐ)
Shake, Capture, Strike, Claw and Kick to Ribs
- A complex movement combining several techniques ending with a kick to the opponent’s ribs.
- Bai Lian Shou Shan Shen Shi (摆莲首闪身式, Bǎi Lián Shǒu Shǎn Shēn Shì)
Swing Lotus Head and Dodge
- A graceful dodging movement resembling a swinging lotus flower.
- Ya Shou Dian Quan Che Lun Fan Shen Tan Zhua (压手点拳车轮反身探爪, Yā Shǒu Diǎn Quán Chē Lún Fǎn Shēn Tàn Zhǎo)
Press Hands, Point Fist, Wheel Turn and Explore with Claws
- Press down, deliver a quick punch, turn in a wheel-like motion, then reach out with claw hands.
- Shan Shen Guan Er Chui (闪身贯耳捶, Shǎn Shēn Guàn Ěr Chuí)
Dodge Body and Strike to Ear
- Move your body to avoid attack while delivering a strike toward the opponent’s ear.
- Feng Mian Po Xi Lian Huan Hou Tong Tui (封面破膝连环后通腿, Fēng Miàn Pò Xī Lián Huán Hòu Tōng Tuǐ)
Seal the Face, Break Knee with Continuous Back Straight Leg
- Protect your face, attack the opponent’s knee, then follow with a back straight leg kick.
- Bai Lian Tong Du Zhong Feng Shi (摆莲通肚中风势, Bǎi Lián Tōng Dù Zhōng Fēng Shì)
Swing Lotus, Kick to Abdomen with Middle Wind Posture
- A lotus-like swinging movement followed by a kick to the opponent’s midsection.
- Fan Shen Ti Shuai Dao Shi (返身提摔倒式, Fǎn Shēn Tí Shuāi Dǎo Shì)
Return Body with Lifting Throw
- Turn your body while executing a lifting throw technique.
- Qian Hou Lian Huan Chong Lei Quan (前后连环冲肋拳, Qián Hòu Lián Huán Chōng Lèi Quán)
Front and Back Continuous Rib Strikes
- A series of punches targeting the opponent’s ribs from different angles.
- Pi Mian Shan Shen Han Xiong Chong Lei Quan (劈面闪身含胸冲肋拳, Pī Miàn Shǎn Shēn Hán Xiōng Chōng Lèi Quán)
Chop to Face, Dodge Body, Hollow Chest and Strike Ribs
- Strike toward the face, move your body, pull in your chest, then punch toward the ribs.
- Feng Shou Wo Du Tong Lei Quan (封手窝肚通肋腿, Fēng Shǒu Wō Dù Tōng Lèi Tuǐ)
Seal Hands and Heel Kick Forward
- Block with your hands while delivering a forward heel kick.
- Qing Long Fan Shen Liang Zhua Shi (青龙返身亮爪式, Qīng Lóng Fǎn Shēn Liàng Zhǎo Shì)
Auspicious Dragon Turns Back Showing Claws
- Turn your body while extending your hands like dragon claws.
- Qin Shou Beng Chui Tong Lei Lian Huan Sao Lei Tui (擒手崩捶通肋连环扫肋脚, Qín Shǒu Bēng Chuí Tōng Lèi Lián Huán Sǎo Lèi Tuǐ)
Capture Hands, Strike Ribs and Continuous Sweeping Kick
- Grab the opponent’s hands, strike the ribs, then follow with a sweeping kick.
- Long Xing Yao Shou Lian Huan Tao Zhang (龙行摇手连环套掌, Lóng Xíng Yáo Shǒu Lián Huán Tào Zhǎng)
Dragon Walk, Swinging Hands with Continuous Palm Strikes
- Move like a dragon while delivering a series of palm strikes.
- Zuo You Shan Bu Chong Lei Quan (左右闪步冲肋拳, Zuǒ Yòu Shǎn Bù Chōng Lèi Quán)
Left and Right Dodging Steps with Rib Strikes
- Step to both sides while delivering punches to the opponent’s ribs.
- Mo Yun Dian Lei Quan (摸云点肋拳, Mō Yún Diǎn Lèi Quán)
Touch the Cloud and Point to Ribs
- Reach up as if touching clouds, then strike downward toward the ribs.
- Qiao Bu Lian Huan Zhang Cheng Bu (跷步连环掌蹭步, Qiáo Bù Lián Huán Zhǎng Cèng Bù)
Lifting Steps with Continuous Palm and Shuffling Steps
- A series of steps with palm strikes, including moments where you lift your feet in a special way.
- Wo Du Tong Lei Fan Shen Bai Lian Jiao (窝肚通肋返身摆莲脚, Wō Dù Tōng Lèi Fǎn Shēn Bǎi Lián Jiǎo)
Heel Kick Forward, Turn Body and Swing Lotus Kick
- Deliver a forward kick, turn your body, then execute a swinging kick resembling a lotus.
- Jin Long Yao Shen Qian Shui Shi (金龙摇身潜水式, Jīn Lóng Yáo Shēn Qián Shuǐ Shì)
Golden Dragon Swings Body with Diving Gesture
- A movement showing the dragon diving into water, with flowing body movements.
- Shou Shi (收势, Shōu Shì)
Closing Movement
- The final move that brings the form to a close, returning to a centered, balanced position.
Practice Benefits
Practicing Long Hua Quan helps with:
- Better balance and flexibility
- Stronger legs
- Smoother movement
- Better focus
- Understanding Chinese culture
- Self-defense skills
The form teaches both the physical moves and the spirit of the dragon - powerful yet graceful, strong yet flexible. Students learn to blend hard and soft techniques, using both straight and circular movements.
Learning Method
Most teachers break down the learning process into steps:
- Learn the basic movements and their order
- Work on getting the moves right
- Understand how each move could be used in a fight
- Add speed, power, and flow to make the form come alive
- Practice until the movements become natural
Long Hua Quan remains an important part of Wudang martial arts, keeping alive traditional knowledge while offering modern students a way to develop both body and mind.