Nanquan Family

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This is a boxing family that boasts sub-tropical oceanic atmosphere and a hills-style.With Fujian and Guangdong as the center，it is widespread in the south of the Yangtze River area，so it is called Nanquan，or southern boxing.Legend says it was derived from Fujian Nanquan，or the South Shaolin Temple in Fujian，but no strong evidence supporting it has ever been found.

Fujian folk custom was tough.As early as the mid-Ming Dynasty，Kungfu in Fujian had made a striking figure.Yu Dayou，a well-known general who fought against Japanese aggressors in Jinjiang，Fujian（today’s Quanzhou），was both a fencing and wand technique master，which was rare at the time.Another master of martial arts，Qi Jiguang（1528-1588），led Qi’s family forces to participate inthe fighting against the Japanese aggressors，and also in the long garrison in Fujian.Qi was born in Penglai，Shandong，and his Kungfu belonged to the north Shaolin family.He taught the officers and men martial arts，and had some influence on martial arts in Fujian and Guangdong.

Gongli Quan performance by students from Guangzhou Yuanjian Girl’s School，at the 1ith Guangdong Games in 1930 Two of 24 spear forms，from Volume Ten of New Chronicle by Qi Jiguang，the Ming DynastyNanquan is characterized by its strict regulation，compact action，smart techniques and lower-center movements.Southerners have relatively short arms and legs，so they pay attention to use of short fists，taking advantage of the，”better use of short instruments than long ones in special cases.”Nanquan boasts mighty and quick movements，characterized by the combination of rigidity and flexibility，and arms and hand forms involve great changes.Its mighty force is fairly unique and natural.

The Nanquan family took shape in the early-to-mid-Qing Dynasty，or from the late 17th century to the late 18th century.It includes hundreds of boxing generics，and they are widely spread in Fujian，Guangdong，Hubei，Hunan，Zhejiang，as well as in Taiwan，Hong Kong and Macao.They spread to overseas communities early，and were also rooted in Southeast Asia，Oceania，and the Americas.In terms of contributing to the spread of China’s martial arts，the Nanquan family is second to none.