Xingyi Five Elements Fist Forms 形意五行拳 - Part 4 of 5: Pao Quan 炮拳

Master Tony began his training in Xingyi Quan and Yiquan under Grandmaster Chen Zhengzhong (陳正中大師) in the late 1990s. Having received direct, traditional instruction from Grandmaster Chen, Master Tony is dedicated to preserving and passing on his teacher’s authentic teachings in their entirety, ensuring that the next generation inherits the art just as it was entrusted to him. Wuxing Quan (五行拳), or the Five Element Fists, is the foundational “Mother Form” (母拳) of Xingyi Quan (形意拳). It consists of five core striking methods, each corresponding to one of the Five Elements and serving as the basis for Xingyi Quan striking techniques. Xingyi Wuxing Quan (形意五行拳): • Pi Quan (劈拳) – Hacking (Splitting) Fist — Metal (金) • Beng Quan (崩拳) - Crushing Fist - Wood (木) • Drilling Quan (鑽拳) - Drilling Fist - Water (水) • Pao Quan (炮拳) - Cannon Fist - Fire (火) • Heng Quan (拳) - Crossing Fist - Earth (土) In this video, Master Tony presented the Pao Quan (炮拳), the fourth element of the Xingyi's Five Element Fists (Wuxing Quan 五行拳). 形意五行拳中的“炮拳”属火，对应人体五脏中的“心”。其拳法刚猛暴烈，以“合如填药，开如炸膛” 的火药爆破原理发力。炮拳将前手钻顶与后手崩撞合二为一，技法大开大合，气势逼人，是五行拳中攻击性极强的拳法。 Pao Quan (Cannon Fist) is the Fire element of the Five Element Fists (Wu Xing Quan) in Xingyiquan, corresponding to the Heart in traditional Chinese medicine. Its movements are fierce, explosive, and powerful, generating force according to the principle: “Closing is like loading gunpowder; opening is like the cannon bursting from its chamber.” This vividly describes the method of storing energy through compression and releasing it in a sudden, explosive discharge. Pao Quan seamlessly combines the upward drilling and lifting action of the lead hand with the crushing, driving strike of the rear hand into a single coordinated movement. Its techniques feature broad opening and closing motions, overwhelming momentum, and relentless forward pressure. As one of the most aggressive and dynamic techniques within the Five Element Fists, Pao Quan embodies the explosive power and commanding spirit of the Fire element. Visit Master Tony’s 黃偉兒 website www.chenfamilytaiji.com for Qigong and Taijiquan classes and workshop information.