Chang Quan is one of the major fist techniques of Chinese Martial Arts. The phrase Chang Quan first appeared in New Book Recording Effective Techniques, a book written by the Chinese general Qi Jiguang in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), in the statement that “Among pratitioners in the past and present, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty excells with his 32 Chang Quan techniques.” Modern Chang Quan came into being after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is created in accordance with the exercise modes of Chang Quan by drawing upon the merits of various fist techniques and standardizing some basic movements such as hand forms, hand techniques, steps, footwork, kicks, balances and jumps. Now, Chang Quan is included in the basic martial arts training and an event in the national martial arts performance and contests.

Chang Quan is featured by its stretched and natural postures, and agile and quick movements. It focuses on long-range hand or leg attackes. Sometimes, it lengthens the attack distance by twisting the waist and inclining the shoulders in coordination to leverage the advantage that “lengthened distance means fortified strength.”

Despite its many routines and combinations with short range puches in some cases, Chang Quan mainly focuses on long range fighting with soft and tough actions, and rhythmed slow and quick movements. Basic laws in practicing Chang Quan include: Hold your head high and staighten your back, relax your limbs and tighten your fingers (toes); coordinate your forms and generate power smoothly, move quickly and hold still; use eyes to convey spirits, use breath to add to strength; and Yin and Yang are interdependent and complementary.

Hand techniques of Chang Quan are mainly punches like Chong (thrust fist), Pi (chop fist), Beng (crushing/smashing punch), Guan (sweeping side punch) and Za (hammer fist); palm techniques like Tui (push), Tiao (upward push), Liao (upward cut), Pi (splitting palm) and Kan (horizontal chop); elbow techniques like Ding (elbow thrust), Pan (hook) and Ge (parry). Its major kicks include Tan (thrust kick), Deng (heel kick), Chuai (sole kick), Dian (point kick), Chan (edge kick), Ti (toe kick), Li He (inside crescent), Wai Bai (outside crescent), Pai (pat kick) and Sao (sweep kick). There are also various wrestling, catching, jumping and balancing moves.