Chuo Jiao (literally meaning poking the feet) is a fist fight technique that emphasizes kicks and footwork and is reputed as The Best of Bei Tui. In ancient Chinese Martial Arts, masters were very discreet in using their legs as it might reduce the chance of winning because legs should support the whole body and fulfill jumping and moving tasks as required in a fight, hence the saying that “A move in the leg produces deficiency to some extent”. However, Chuo Jiao is unconventional in that it wins fights by capitalizing the force of feet and legs. Legs are longer and more powerful than arms, and people in fighting usually pay too much attention to their upper limbs to neglect the lower limbs so that fighting with legs can take the opponent by surprise. That is exactly what Chuo Jiao is about.

Chuo Jiao originated in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and acquired ascendancy during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). An example of Chuo Jiao can be found in Outlaws of the Marsh, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literatures, in its vivid description of how drunken Wu Song beat Jiang the Gate Guard:

Wu Song flourished his two fists at Jiang’s face, then suddenly turned and started away. Enraged, Jiang raced after him. Wu Song lashed out backwards with his left foot and kicked him in the groin. As Jiang clasped his injured section and doubled over in pain, Wu Song whirled around and swung his right foot in a flying kick to the forehead that slammed the big man over on his back. Wu Song planted one foot on his chest and …(An excerpt from Outlaws of the March written by Shi Nai’An and translated by Sidney Shapiro).

The fighting techniques Wu Song used belong to Chuo Jiao, namely Yu Huan Bu and Yuan Yang Jiao (step of a nephrite ring and leg of a mandarin duck). Chuo Jiao was mainly practiced in modern northern China, and Zhao Canyi, a general in the Taiping Army who was said to be a Chuo Jiao master, taught Chuo Jiao in Heibei Province incognito after the defeat of the northern expedition of the Taiping Army. Thus, Chuo Jiao was spread to the rest of China.

Chuo Jiao outstands in its kicks and has developed 81 kick techniques based on the eight fundamental kicks of Ti (kick), Deng (tread), Ti (lift), Quan (circle), Xian (lift up), Dian (point), Cha (pierce) and Bai (swing). Chuo Jiao emphasizes the collaborative use of fists and feet with different focuses: First, confuse the opponent with hand movements and then attack the opponent with legs. People describe this unique fighting method as “fist deceives and foot attacks” or “victory equals 30% of hand techniques and 70% of leg movements.” Chuo Jiao is classified into Wen Tangzi and Wu Tangzi, the latter constituting the root of Chuo Jiao. Wu Tangzi focuses on training of leg and foot techniques characterized by extended and powerful movements, long-range-fighting oriented, and softness and toughness with toughness as the major player. Wu Tangzi routines are named Jiu Zhuan Lian Huan Yuan Yang Jiao (mandarin duck leg with nine chained turns): Jiu Zhuan in that it has nine interchangeable kick techniques; Lian Huan in that each kick technique is delivered in one step in succession and inter-connected; and Yuan Yang Jiao in that each move of the left leg and foot is accompanied by that of the right leg and foot, and vice versa.

Wen Tangzi is evolved from Wu Tangzi and is flexible and changing with compact and swift movements, tight rhythm, softness embodied in toughness and a firm character behind a gentle appearance. The secret in practicing Wen Tangzi is for the hands and feet to follow the mind. Wen Tangzi routines are called Ba Gen (eight steps), including Zhuan Jiao (turning of feet), Zou Wai (walking outward), Yu Huan Bu (steps in resemblance of jade rings), Juezi Tui (backward kick), Kai Bu Lei (starting steps like a thunder), Si Jian Shou (arrow-like hands), Wu Hua Pao (five-flower cannon fist) and Shi Zi Chui (cross-shaped hammer), all requiring recovering legs and lowering kicks with the combined use of hands and feet.