Have you ever watched water flow? It moves easily around things, powerful yet yielding, constantly adapting. Liuhebafa Quan, often simply called Liuhebafa, is a Chinese martial art deeply inspired by this very principle. It’s known as “Water Boxing” or “The Art of Strategic Boxing,” combining soft, flowing movements with explosive power and deep strategic thinking. If you seek a martial art that challenges both body and mind, Liuhebafa offers you a path.

Where Did Liuhebafa Come From?

While its exact origins are debated, Liuhebafa traces its lineage back centuries, with strong connections to the legendary Daoist person Chen Tuan during the Song Dynasty. For generations, it was a closely guarded secret, passed down within select families and Daoist teams. It is from the wider martial arts world until the early 20th century.

Key figures like Wu Yihui played a crucial role in bringing Liuhebafa into public view. Later, including the highly influential Liang Zipeng, further systematized and spread the art globally. The transmission of Liuhebafa Chuan thus evolved from deep secrecy to broader accessibility.

Shen Jiangfei is the successor of Liuhequan with 20 years of experience. Welcome to learn the authentic Chinese Liuhe Bafaquan.

What Is Liu He Ba Fa?

Liuhebafa is defined by its fluidity, strategy, and internal principles:

“Liu He” refers to the three internal pairs (mind, intent, strength) and three external pairs (shoulders/hips, elbows/knees, hands/feet). The Liuhebafa quan flows from this unified core.

“Ba Fa” are the core strategic principles and application:

• Qi: Cultivating and directing vital energy.
• Gu: Structure and alignment for power and stability.
• Xing: Postures and external techniques.
• Sui: Yielding, sticking, and flowing with an opponent.
• Ti: Upward energies make the opponent lose balance
• Huan: Attacks and circular redirection.
• Le: Trapping, locking, and controlling limbs.
• Fu: Finishing techniques, decisive application.

Liuhebafa are continuous, circular, and smooth, like water’s ability to yield, penetrate, and generate huge force. While possessing effective external techniques, Liuhebafa deeply focuses on internal development—breath control, qi cultivation, and mindful intention—working in harmony with physical movement.

Liuhebafa isn’t brute force. Liu He Ba Fa quan teaches tactical positioning, timing, leveraging angles, and using an opponent’s energy against them.

Liuhebafa Five Character Secrets

Liuhebafa Five Character Secrets are Gong, Jian, Cun, Guan, and Jie. These aren’t just techniques; they are strategic concepts controlling movement and interaction:

Gong: Maintain balance and centeredness. Be upright, stable, and ready to move in any direction without exposing your intent.

Jian: Generate focused, penetrating power. Energy and intent shoot forward like an arrow, decisive and direct when attacked.

Cun: Master close-range power. Explosive force generated from minimal movement, crucial for effective Liuhebafa applications in small spaces.

Guan: Connect movements and power seamlessly. Energy flows continuously from the core through the limbs, linking defense and offense continuously.

Jie: Dissolve incoming force. Use yielding, redirection, and precise angles to resolve an attack effortlessly.

Shen Jiangfei is the successor of Liuhequan with 20 years of experience. Welcome to learn the authentic Chinese Liuhe Bafaquan.

Liuhebafa 12 Animal Form

Liuhebafa 12 Animal Form isn’t imitating the animals movements but showing their essence, energy, and fighting strategies within the frame of Liuhebafa Quan:

Practicing the 12 Animal Form helps for you energies, tactics, and body mechanics essential for advanced Liuhebafa quan.

What Are Liuhebafa Applications?

Liuhebafa is a highly effective combat system. Its flowing movements hide your powerful strikes, sophisticated Qin Na, Shuai Jiao, and Dian Xue. The emphasis on strategy and using the opponent’s force makes for various situations.

Like Tai Chi or Qigong, Liuhebafa is excellent for health. Its gentle, flowing movements improve flexibility, balance, and circulation. Deep, coordinated breathing calms the nervous system and reduces stress. Practicing the forms becomes a moving meditation, promoting overall health and vitality.

Learning Liuhebafa needs focus, patience, and awareness. It cultivates calmness under pressure, strategic thinking, discipline, and a deeper connection between mind and body.

Modern Liuhe Bafa Learning

Modern Liuhebafa training typically includes:

Basic Exercises: Zhanzhuang, stepping drills, movements, and physical training to build basic strength, flexibility, and body awareness.

Forms: Learning fixed forms includes principles, strategies, and animal energies of the art. These forms are the heart of practice, storing the martial knowledge.

Partner Learning: Practicing the form movements with a partner, developing sensitivity, timing, and practical understanding.

Qigong and Neigong: Specific exercises focused on breath, energy cultivation, and internal strength development.

Shen Jiangfei is the successor of Liuhequan with 20 years of experience. Welcome to learn the authentic Chinese Liuhe Bafaquan.

Conclusion

Liuhebafa Quan is more than just punches and kicks; it’s an art of movement, strategy, and self-cultivation.

Whether you’re interested in practical self-defense, improving health, reducing stress, or exploring martial tradition, Liuhe Bafa can satisfy you. Its nickname, “Water Boxing,” perfectly explains its essence—adaptable, powerful, and constantly flowing towards greater understanding.

Shen Jiangfei is the authentic successor of Liuhequan and has 20 years of experience. Explore and learn Liuhe Bafa martial arts. Please contact us for more information.