Core Principles
All things in the world exist in a form that is both contradictory and unified. Dialectical materialism holds that “the development of any thing is rooted in the unity and struggle of its own opposites. All contradictory opposites are interdependent and mutually exclusive, both unified and in conflict. This causes the strength of both sides to fluctuate in a constant state of change. Once the balance of power between the two sides undergoes a fundamental shift, their positions transform, and the new replaces the old.” Chuojiao, one of China’s traditional martial arts schools, unconsciously embodies and applies this philosophical thought. Every move in Chuojiao reflects the concept of unity of opposites, allowing two opposing elements to coexist and transform into each other. It skillfully combines contradictory elements such as attack and defense, advance and retreat, emptiness and solidity, upper and lower, hardness and softness, extension and contraction, movement and stillness, and applies them flexibly and masterfully, elevating one’s combat skills to a new level. At the same time, Chuojiao does not treat the two opposing elements equally but selects the most crucial and advantageous one to overcome the enemy, allowing one’s potential to be fully realized and achieving the best combat results. It is evident that Chuojiao not only consciously applies the “two-point theory” but also adheres to the “key point theory,” with its most prominent core principle being “hands as the vanguard, feet as the commander.”
We know that martial arts cannot be separated from the use of hands and feet. The arms are located in the upper part of the body, with three major joints: the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, allowing for flexible movement. Hand techniques are varied and do not require consideration of body balance when striking. However, hand techniques have limited reach and power, and they are easily detected by the opponent.
Now, let’s look at the feet (legs):
(1) The legs are located in the lower part of the body and serve as the body’s support, bearing the weight of standing, walking, running, and jumping daily. The femur is the largest and longest bone in the body, and the leg muscles are the most developed. Compared to the arms, the legs are much stronger, giving leg techniques greater striking power.
(2) The legs make up about half of the body’s length, making leg techniques have a longer reach.
(3) Since the legs are in the lower part of the body, leg techniques are harder to detect, giving them a stealthy advantage.
(4) Leg techniques can strike high (e.g., kicks to the face) or low (e.g., ankle sweeps), and can be used in close combat with knee strikes, making them versatile in three-dimensional combat.
(5) There are many offensive and defensive leg techniques, such as snapping, kicking, stomping, sweeping, and hooking, making them both offensive and defensive. However, leg techniques are less flexible, require greater flexibility, and can easily disrupt balance.
Comparing hand and leg techniques, it is clear that the limitations of hand techniques are inherent, such as the length of the arms, which cannot be changed through training. On the other hand, the limitations of leg techniques can be improved through rigorous training, such as enhancing flexibility, strength, and agility, making the legs as flexible and quick as the hands.
Hand and leg techniques are a pair of opposing elements on the human body. In combat, relying solely on hand or leg techniques is insufficient to defeat an opponent. Only by unifying them and leveraging their strengths while compensating for their weaknesses can one achieve superior combat effectiveness. The combination of hand and leg techniques results in a force far greater than the sum of their individual parts.
So, what is the relationship between hand and leg techniques? One must choose a focus between the two. In the competitive world of martial arts, to stand out and succeed, one must develop unique skills that exploit one’s strengths and the opponent’s weaknesses. While many schools emphasized fist, palm, and elbow techniques, the founders of Chuojiao took a different path. Through analysis, comparison, and countless battles, they developed the core principle of “hands as the vanguard, feet as the commander.” This principle established the roles of hand and leg techniques in Chuojiao: “70% legs, 30% hands, with the legs being faster than the hands.” This principle made Chuojiao a shining “new star” in the martial arts world, earning it the reputation as the “pride of Northern leg techniques” and giving it the distinctive style of “equal emphasis on hands and feet, with a focus on legs.”
Just as the sun is the center of our solar system, and its gravity holds all the planets and other objects within it in orbit., “hands as the vanguard, feet as the commander” is the center of Chuojiao. The Chuojiao Quan Lun (Chuojiao Fist Theory) states: “The eyes have the power of observation, the hands have the ability to strike and deflect, and the feet have the power to move forward. When the feet move forward, the body follows; when the feet retreat, the body follows. When the feet move inward, the body leans; when the feet move outward, the body crouches. When the feet follow, the hands lead. Hands are the vanguard, feet are the commander. Fists strike in six directions, feet kick in eight directions. When the feet move, the body sways first, observing the enemy’s eyes, with the hands leading and the feet striking swiftly.” Guided by this core principle, Chuojiao’s forms, techniques, and theories are unique. Here the legs are not just for kicking but for evading, for positioning the body in the right place, for engaging and rooting, providing stability for the body, so that power can be manifested.
Chuojiao emphasizes both hand and leg techniques. Some believe that “Chuojiao has many leg techniques and few hand techniques, with hand techniques mainly used for defense.” This is a misconception, possibly influenced by the saying, “Hands are two doors, relying entirely on legs to strike.” If we compare Chuojiao to a flower, without leaves (hand techniques), the flower would appear dull and lonely, and it would wither quickly. In reality, Chuojiao has many hand techniques. The Chuojiao Quan Lun mentions the “eight-character fist theory”: “Fists and elbows are like wings. In combat, speed determines victory. Slow loses, fast wins. This is natural. Hands must extend and retract with precision, following the eight characters: rise, fall, drill, flip, burst, turn, horizontal, and vertical.” These eight characters describe the movements of the hands, which are essential for beginners to understand. Chuojiao’s hand techniques include eight types, with hand shapes divided into fist, palm, hook, and finger. These hand shapes can be used for attacks such as punching, chopping, slashing, and thrusting, as well as defenses like blocking, deflecting, and grabbing. In short, Chuojiao’s hand techniques are rich and versatile, used not only for defense but also for offense.
Chuojiao treats the feet as the “commander,” placing great emphasis on leg techniques. The Chuojiao Quan Lun states: “Mastering leg techniques ensures the smooth flow of the five elements and the harmony of the six directions. Those who do not train their legs will find their movements sluggish, their advances and retreats clumsy, and their use of strength difficult.” Therefore, training must begin with developing leg strength. There are eight primary leg techniques: lifting, swinging, kicking, stomping, thrusting, pointing, circling, and raising. These eight techniques, known as the “eight mother legs,” form the foundation of Chuojiao’s leg techniques, with each having numerous variations. For example, the “pointing leg” has 18 variations, and the combination of the eight mother legs gives rise to various offensive and defensive techniques, including the famous “81 leg techniques of Chuojiao.”
Under the guidance of the core principle “hands as the vanguard, feet as the commander,” Chuojiao’s basic training emphasizes not only upper body conditioning but also leg training, aiming to make the legs as flexible as the arms. Leg training includes flexibility, strength, hardness, speed, joint mobility, and technique practice. Flexibility training includes stretching, lifting, splitting, hanging, and holding the legs. Strength and speed training methods include weighted squats, single-leg squats, hopping, and resistance training with sandbags. Hardness training involves kicking sandbags, wooden posts, and stomping on hard objects to develop “iron legs” capable of breaking bones and causing severe internal damage.
Chuojiao, with its core principle of “hands as the vanguard, feet as the commander,” often employs the “three hands” technique in combat. This refers to using two arms and one leg, where one leg is constantly moving—kicking, sweeping, hooking, and circling—while coordinating closely with the hands. As the Chuojiao saying goes, “If the hands move without the feet, victory is impossible; if the feet kick without the hands, defeat is certain.” This highlights the importance of coordinating hands and feet. Chuojiao’s offensive and defensive methods are structured and rich in content. Movements often involve the elbows and knees working together, with the front hand attacking and the rear hand protecting the ribs and chest. Hands and feet move in unison, with the hands leading and the feet following. Attacks and defenses are simultaneous, with one hand blocking while the other strikes, the hands defending the upper body while the legs attack the lower body. This creates a seamless blend of offense and defense, with intricate and varied techniques. As Chuojiao masters have said, “Most people rely on their upper body for offense and defense, but by training our legs and using both hands and feet, we can overwhelm the opponent.” They also believe, “Striking with the hands is difficult, but kicking with the feet is not.”
The relationship between the “vanguard” (hands) and the “commander” (feet) in combat is reflected in the following forms:
- Upper-lower coordination
- Left-right coordination
- Vertical-horizontal coordination
- Offense-defense coordination
- Luring and striking
Below is a brief explanation of each:
1. Upper-Lower Coordination
In combat, movements should involve both upper and lower body actions. For example, use hand techniques to attack the upper body and leg techniques to attack the lower body, or use leg techniques to strike the lower body while using hand techniques to defend the upper body. An example is the “groin kick” in Chuojiao: Facing an opponent, first use the left palm to strike their face. As the opponent leans back to avoid the strike, quickly follow up with a right foot snap kick to their groin. Here, the left palm serves as the vanguard, a feint to probe the opponent’s defenses and create an opening for the leg technique.
2. Left-Right Coordination
In combat, movements should alternate between left and right. For example, use a left punch to draw the opponent’s defense to the right, then quickly follow up with a right kick to their left side. This creates openings by forcing the opponent to shift their focus.
3. Vertical-Horizontal Coordination
Attacks should alternate between vertical and horizontal movements to confuse the opponent. For example, use a straight punch (vertical) followed by a roundhouse kick (horizontal).
4. Offense-Defense Coordination
Use hand techniques to defend against the opponent’s attacks while simultaneously using leg techniques to counterattack. For example, block an incoming punch with the hands while delivering a kick to the opponent’s midsection.
5. Luring and Striking
Use feints to lure the opponent into a vulnerable position, then strike with a powerful leg technique. For example, pretend to retreat, then suddenly turn and deliver a devastating kick to the opponent’s vital areas.
In summary, Chuojiao’s core principle of “hands as the vanguard, feet as the commander” emphasizes the harmonious use of both hand and leg techniques, with a focus on leveraging the strengths of each to achieve superior combat effectiveness. This principle has made Chuojiao a unique and respected martial art, known for its versatility, power, and strategic depth.
