Ying Zhao Quan — The Eagle Claw Fist

Ying Zhao Quan (鹰爪拳, “Eagle Claw Fist,” also: Ying Jow Pai) is one of northern Chinese Kung Fu’s most distinctive styles — renowned for its extraordinary gripping and controlling techniques. The eagle claw (Ying Zhao, 鹰爪) is the characteristic hand position: fingers bent like an eagle’s talons, ready to grasp, press, rotate, and pull. The system contains 108 grappling techniques (Yi Bai Ling Ba Qin Na) — a complete grappling system from a Chinese perspective, integrating joint locks, pressure point attacks, and throwing techniques. Ying Zhao Quan is a compound system: it combines Fan Zi Quan (Tumbling Fist, a striking system) with Yue Shi San Shou (Yue Family Free Hands, a grappling system). This combination makes Ying Zhao Quan a complete combat system — with strikes, kicks, and Chinese grappling (Chin Na) in one.

History

Legend: Yue Fei and the 108 Techniques

Ying Zhao Quan is legendarily attributed to Song dynasty General Yue Fei (~1103–1142) — the same national hero who also serves as the mythological founder of Xingyiquan. According to tradition, Yue Fei taught his soldiers 108 grappling techniques as a close-combat system against armored opponents.

Historians cannot verify this connection — Yue Fei is invoked in this role as a legitimizing founding father, as in many Chinese martial arts.

Historically established: Liu Shi Jun (1827–1910)

The first clearly documented master of modern Ying Zhao Quan was Liu Shi Jun (1827–1910) from Xiong County, Baoding, Hebei Province — a Qing-era military instructor. Liu spread the system among many students.

His student Liu Cheng You taught Chen Zizheng, who was invited to teach Ying Zhao Quan at the prestigious Chin Woo Athletic Association in Shanghai — China’s most influential martial arts center of the Republican era. This spread Ying Zhao Quan across China and eventually into the global diaspora.

Technical Foundations

The system combines two components:

Fan Zi Quan (翻子拳, Tumbling Fist): Fast striking combinations with flowing body movements — the striking, mobile part of the system.

Yue Shi San Shou (岳氏散手, Yue Family Free Combat): The 108 grappling techniques — the Chin Na grappling system.

Technique Category	Term	Content
Grasping	Qin Na	Joint locks, pressing, rotating
Striking	Jiji	Eagle claw strikes to muscles, nerves
Pressure points	Dianxue	Precision attacks on Qi points
Throws	Die	Throws developed from grasping techniques
Ground techniques	—	Control after the throw

The Seven Principles

The Ying Zhao system rests on seven core principles:

Jow Da Cum Na — Clawing, striking, and controlling
Dim Yut Bye Hei — Pressure points and breath stopping
Cow Wai Sau Fung — Locking and enclosing
Diu Cow Fing Lau — Controlling, pushing, and pulling
Sim Jim Tong Na — Twisting, jumping, and dropping to the floor
Noi Sup Chung Dit — Falling and waist techniques
Fun Gun Chaw Quat — Cutting tendons and shattering bones

Philosophy

Ying Zhao Quan teaches the eagle principle: precision over force. An eagle does not strike with maximum force — it grasps precisely, at exactly the right spot, with absolute speed. This precision is the goal: the grip at the right nerve or joint point makes raw force unnecessary.

The connection to General Yue Fei gives the system a patriotic dimension — loyalty, sacrifice, and national virtue are part of the mythological tradition.

“The eagle does not strike — it grasps. Once grasped, no animal fights against it.” — Ying Zhao Quan teaching maxim

Connections to Other Martial Arts

Xingyiquan — Yue Fei as shared mythological founder; both from Hebei; Xingyi emphasizes force, Ying Zhao Quan precision
Tanglangquan — both emphasize fast grasping hands; Praying Mantis hooks and Eagle Claw are conceptually similar
Chin Na — Ying Zhao Quan is perhaps the most complete Chin Na system of all Chinese martial arts

Today

Ying Zhao Quan is taught worldwide in Chinese martial arts centers — primarily through the diaspora networks of the Chin Woo Association. In Wushu competition it is an independent category.