Drunken boxing: Ancient Chinese martial art still alive in China

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Drunken boxing: Ancient Chinese martial art still alive in China

'Drunken Master' Jackie Chan films from screened from 1978 and 1994

Published: August 28, 2020 12:05 AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

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Copy of 535330-01-02-1598600696960 — Liu Xuliang lunges menacingly as if spoiling for a fight after too many drinks. But he is in fact stone-cold sober and an expert in an ancient Chinese martial art known as drunken boxing. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535359-01-02-1598600699589 — There are no precise figures but Liu estimates that excluding those in martial-arts schools, about 1,000 people in China practise "zui quan", better known as drunken or drunkard's boxing. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535332-01-02-1598600694609 — The 24-year-old, a full-time martial artist, crouches down, pauses, then springs up, twisting and twirling in the air. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535336-01-02-1598600691910 — In motions which appear haphazard but are actually perfectly controlled, Liu then staggers backwards and leans all the way back before collapsing, motionless and with his arms splayed. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535354-01-02-1598600707580 — "A drunken boxing practitioner is like a drunkard but actually he's very sober," said Liu. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535345-01-02-1598600683632 — "The drunken boxing practitioner seems to be drunk, very funny, stumbling and swaying, and even barely standing still. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535358-01-02-1598600702958 — "But actually he still has a strong sense of attacking and his boxing movements are very clear." Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535357-01-02-1598600705604 — The martial art's origins are unclear, but it is often thought to have sprung up as result of the tale of the drunken Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535349-01-02-1598600714013 — Liu, an expert in several different martial arts, became interested when he watched the "Drunken Master" Jackie Chan films from 1978 and 1994. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535342-01-02-1598600686781 — Liu said there has been a fall in the number of people doing drunken boxing from the 1980s. But he has seen a recent uptick and the Chinese government appears determined to keep it alive. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 535353-01-02-1598600710642 — These days there is no fighting involved. Rather, Liu and other members of China's national martial arts team stage performances to raise interest. Image Credit: AFP

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