Drunken Fist (Zui Quan), also known as the Zui Jiu Quan (Wine-drunk Fist) or Zui Ba Xian Quan (the Drunken Fist of the Eight Immortals), is a martial arts technique that mimics the movements of a drunk. It also borrowed some of its moves from the ancient Zui Wu (Drunken Dance). The Drunken Fist was already widely circulated in the late Ming Dynasty. The way it delivers its techniques and the manner it executes its footwork are like a drunken person, tumbling forward and waggling around. While the body is moving half-leaning, tilting or near-falling in emulation of the drunken state, skills are also performed and completed all along. People described its form as “The head moves like waves, hands like meteors, body like a willow twig, and feet like those of a drunk.”

The Drunken Fist achieves its uniqueness through its fusion of martial arts techniques with drunken forms and wrestling techniques. The characteristics of the Drunken Fist can be summarized under just one word, “drunkenness”. It utilizes the drunkenness as a potentiality to confuse the opponent, and to usher in the attacks. The appearance (Xing) is drunk, but the intent (Yi) is sober. The footwork follows that of a drunk, but not the heart. In actual combat, its drunken movements serve to paralyze opponents by loosening their alertness so that an unexpected attack can be delivered suddenly.

The technique of Drunk Fist demands coordination among the eyes, hands, body, legs and footwork. The eye techniques are Shi (gaze), Qiao (glance), Miao (belittling watch) and Piao (sidelong glance). The hand techniques include Dian (point), Gai (cover), Pi (chop), Cha (insert), Diao (trick), Na (hold), Cai (pick), and Kou (lock). The body moves are Ai (incline), Zhuang (collide), Ji (elbow) and Kao (lean). Leg techniques include Gou (hook), Gua (hang), Pan (coil), Jian (scissor), Ti (raise), Deng (tread), Tan (spring), and Chan (entangle). The footwork includes Ti (raise), Luo (drop), Jin (advance), Che (retreat), Sui (smash), Ji (strike), Nian (grind) and Gai (cover). The principles of Drunken Fist are the practice of a drunken form but a sober mind, fast hand-eye coordination, crisp footwork with an active center of gravity, looking in one direction while attacking another, and avoiding the strength while attacking the weak point.

Popular Drunken Fist drill work includes Zui Ba Xian (the drunken Eight Immortals), Taibai Zui Jiu (Drunken Poet Taibai),  Wu Song Zui Jiu (Drunken Tiger-fighter Wu Song), Yan Qing Zui Jiu (Drunken Wanderer Yan Qing), and Lu Zhishen Zui Da Shan Men (Drunken Monk Lu Zhishen Knocking the Mountain Gate). In modern times, Drunken Sword, Drunken Staff and Drunken Spear have also been developed on the basis on the Drunken Fist. Drill forms such as Drunk Sparring and Drunk’s Monkey Play were also developed. Compared to the old Drunken Fist oriented toward practical application, the modern forms of Drunken Fist are highlighted in its expressiveness of drunkenness.

Most moves of Drunken Fist are very difficult to perform and demand high flexibility, coordination, agility and responsiveness from the practitioner. These movements also comply strictly with the fighting principles of the Drunken Fist. Its carefree and eased forms are but results from long-term and high-demanding training.