基本拳 Jī Běn Quán
Foundation Fist as taught in the Wudang Sanfengpai lineage [1]
Introduction
Jiben Quan (基本拳), or Foundation Fist, is the fundamental form taught within the Wudang Sanfengpai lineage. As the name suggests, this form embodies the essential movements and principles that serve as the foundation for the entire martial system. In Chinese martial arts tradition, it is common to name forms after the primary body part used in execution—in this case, “quan” (拳) meaning “fist”—indicating that this set focuses on developing core fist techniques (拳法, quanfa).
Historical Context
Wudang Sanfengpai, named after the legendary Zhang Sanfeng, traditionally credited with creating Taijiquan, is one of the respected lineages of Wudang martial arts. The Wudang Mountains have been a center for Daoist practice and internal martial arts for centuries, and this particular form serves as the gateway to a deeper understanding of the style’s principles.
Unlike more complex, advanced forms in the system, Jiben Quan focuses on establishing proper stances, basic striking mechanics, and foundational body coordination. It combines elements that develop both offensive and defensive capabilities while introducing practitioners to the characteristic movements of the Wudang system.
The Structure of Jiben Quan
The form consists of 28 movements that systematically introduce key techniques. Below is the complete sequence with Chinese characters, pinyin pronunciation, and English translations to preserve the authentic terminology while making it accessible to all practitioners.
Complete Movement Sequence
- 預備式 - Yù Bèi Shì - Ready posture
- 起式 - Qǐ Shì - Starting movement
- 馬步沖拳 - Mǎ Bù Chōng Quán - Horse riding stance, thrusting fist
- 左右弓步沖拳 - Zuǒ Yòu Gōng Bù Chōng Quán - Left and right bow stance, thrusting fist
- 提膝盤肘(左) - Tí Xī Pán Zhǒu (Zuǒ) - Raise knee, coil elbow (left)
- 歇步沖拳(右) - Xiē Bù Chōng Quán (Yòu) - Resting step, thrusting fist (right)
- 轉身還原(左) - Zhuǎn Shēn Huán Yuán (Zuǒ) - Turn and restore (left)
- 震步沖拳 - Zhèn Bù Chōng Quán - Stamp foot, thrust fist
- 提膝盤肘(右) - Tí Xī Pán Zhǒu (Yòu) - Raise knee, coil elbow (right)
- 歇步沖拳(左) - Xiē Bù Chōng Quán (Zuǒ) - Resting step, thrusting fist (left)
- 轉身還原(右) - Zhuǎn Shēn Huán Yuán (Yòu) - Turn and restore (right)
- 上步獨立冲拳(右) - Shàng Bù Dú Lì Chōng Quán (Yòu) - Step forward, stand on single leg and thrust fist (right)
- 仆步架掌(左) - Pū Bù Jià Zhǎng (Zuǒ) - Diving step, blocking palm (left)
- 彈踢拍腳 - Tán Tī Pāi Jiǎo - Spring kick, pat foot
- 上步獨立沖拳(左) - Shàng Bù Dú Lì Chōng Quán (Zuǒ) - Step forward, stand on single leg and thrust fist (left)
- 仆步架掌(右) - Pū Bù Jià Zhǎng (Yòu) - Diving step, blocking palm (right)
- 虛步亮掌 - Xū Bù Liàng Zhǎng - Empty step, presenting palm
- 上步二起腳 - Shàng Bù Èr Qǐ Jiǎo - Step forward, double raising kick
- 騎馬沖肋拳(左) - Qí Mǎ Chōng Lē Quán (Zuǒ) - Horse riding stance, thrusting-ribs punch (left)
- 轉身弓步沖拳 - Zhuǎn Shēn Gōng Bù Chōng Quán - Turnaround, bow stance thrusting fist
- 拍腳弓步沖拳 - Pāi Jiǎo Gōng Bù Chōng Quán - Pat foot, bow stance thrusting fist
- 上步跺子腳 - Shàng Bù Duò Zi Jiǎo - Step forward, stomping foot
- 騎馬沖肋拳(右) - Qí Mǎ Chōng Lē Quán (Yòu) - Horse riding stance, thrusting-ribs punch (right)
- 玄功腿(旋風腿) - Xuán Gōng Tuǐ (Xuàn Fēng Tuǐ) - Xuan-power leg (hurricane leg)
- 托手沖拳 - Tuō Shǒu Chōng Quán - Lifting palm, thrusting fist
- 轉身弓步沖拳 - Zhuǎn Shēn Gōng Bù Chōng Quán - Turnaround, bow stance thrusting fist
- 踩腿騎馬沖肋肘 - Cǎi Tuǐ Qí Mǎ Chōng Lē Zhǒu - Treading leg, horse riding stance, thrusting-ribs elbow
- 收勢 - Shōu shì - Finishing move
Key Techniques Analysis
Fundamental Stances
The form incorporates several essential stances that form the basis of Wudang martial arts:
- Ma Bu (馬步) - Horse riding stance: A wide, stable stance that develops leg strength and provides a solid base for power generation.
- Gong Bu (弓步) - Bow stance: Similar to a lunge position, this stance enables effective weight transfer and directional force.
- Xie Bu (歇步) - Resting step: A transitional stance that facilitates quick directional changes.
- Pu Bu (仆步) - Diving step: A low stance that trains flexibility and enables low attacks and evasions.
- Xu Bu (虛步) - Empty step: A stance where most weight rests on the back leg, preparing for kicks or quick advances.
Strike Variations
The form emphasizes several key striking methods:
- Chong Quan (沖拳) - Thrusting fist: A direct, linear punch that forms the foundation of Wudang striking techniques.
- Le Quan (肋拳) - Rib punch: A specialized strike aimed at the opponent’s ribs or side areas.
- Jia Zhang (架掌) - Blocking palm: A defensive technique using the open palm to deflect incoming attacks.
- Liang Zhang (亮掌) - Presenting palm: An open palm technique that can be used for striking or controlling.
Kicks and Leg Techniques
Jiben Quan also introduces essential kicking methods:
- Tan Ti (彈踢) - Spring kick: A snapping kick that emphasizes speed and precision over power.
- Er Qi Jiao (二起腳) - Double raising kick: A combination of two consecutive kicks that develops balance and coordination.
- Xuan Feng Tui (旋風腿) - Hurricane leg: A spinning kick that introduces rotational principles important in advanced techniques.
Training Principles in Jiben Quan
Sequential Learning
The form is structured to build skills progressively, beginning with stable stances and basic strikes before introducing more complex movements like kicks and combination techniques. This sequencing reflects the pedagogical approach of traditional Chinese martial arts, where fundamentals must be mastered before advancing to more sophisticated methods.
Bilateral Development
Movements are practiced on both left and right sides to ensure balanced development. This bilateral training prevents muscular imbalances and prepares practitioners for real-world applications where techniques may need to be executed from either side.
Integration of Offense and Defense
Throughout the form, offensive techniques (strikes and kicks) are interwoven with defensive movements (blocks, evasions), teaching practitioners the essential concept that attack and defense are complementary aspects of a unified whole—a principle deeply rooted in Daoist philosophy.
Cultural Context of Naming Conventions
In Chinese martial arts, it is common practice to name movements or forms using body parts that perform the primary action. The title “Jiben Quan” (Foundation Fist) indicates that this set focuses on fist techniques, even though it also incorporates palm strikes, elbow techniques, and kicks.
This naming convention extends across Chinese martial arts:
- Forms focusing on palm techniques are often labeled with “Zhang” (掌) meaning “palm.”
- Sets emphasizing leg techniques may include “Tui” (腿) meaning “leg.”
- Weapon forms are typically named after the respective weapon.
Importance in the Wudang Sanfengpai System
As the introductory form of Wudang Sanfengpai, Jiben Quan serves multiple essential functions:
- Technical Foundation: It establishes the core techniques upon which more advanced methods are built.
- Physical Conditioning: The stances and movements develop the specific strength and flexibility needed for more advanced training.
- Conceptual Introduction: It begins the process of internalizing the philosophical principles that characterize Wudang martial arts.
- Assessment Tool: Masters can evaluate a student’s aptitude and readiness for more advanced training by observing their execution of this form.
Jiben Quan represents the gateway to Wudang Sanfengpai martial arts. Through its systematic presentation of fundamental techniques, it lays the groundwork for deeper exploration of this traditional Chinese martial art. The form’s structure reflects both practical fighting applications and the philosophical principles that underpin Wudang martial arts, making it not merely a physical exercise but an introduction to a comprehensive system of self-cultivation.
For serious practitioners, mastering this form is essential before progressing to more advanced techniques in the Wudang Sanfengpai lineage. The principles embedded within these 28 movements contain the seeds of all subsequent development in the system.
Example trailer showing the full Jiben Quan routine:
Foundation Fist, or Jī Běn Quán (基本拳) in Mandarin, is the foundational form in the Wudang Sanfengpai lineage of martial arts. It’s designed to teach the core stances, strikes (primarily fist techniques, hence the name), and body coordination necessary for all subsequent learning in the system. Think of it as the alphabet of Wudang Sanfengpai martial arts: mastering it is the first step towards learning the language of the style. It incorporates 28 movements that build progressively in complexity, introducing both offensive and defensive techniques, and training both sides of the body equally. (Explanation by AI) ↩︎