Bajiquan

Bajiquan (Chinese: 八極拳; pinyin: Bājíquán) is a traditional Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power in close combat and is well-known for its rapid elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kaimen bajiquan (Chinese: 開門八極拳; pinyin: Kāimén bājíquán; lit. 'open-gate eight-extremities boxing'). The eight extremities in Bajiquan are the eight distalmost parts of the body used to strike the opponent. This includes the fist, forearm, elbow, shoulder, hip, thigh, knee, and foot to deliver a powerful blow in close range. Bajiquan is also known as the "bodyguard style", as this was the pugilism style taught and used by personal bodyguards for Mao Zedong, Chiang Kai-shek, and Puyi (the last Qing dynasty emperor). Bajiquan is now popular in northern China and Taiwan. Later, it was introduced to Japan, South Korea, and other countries such as the United States, Canada, Britain, France and Italy, among others.