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 movement’s 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 practitioner’s 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, boxer’s 
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 rice-wine cup or a jug. Even while 

falling the exponent will strike quickly, feint then 
counter-attack, or side-roll to safety.