THE HAN TRADITION · CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS
Rooted in tradition. Practised with purpose.
Explore Bajiquan through the Han lineage: its roots in Luotuan, its history in Zhongxing, and the teaching of Han Huachen, Han Jiequan and Han Zhende.
An art passed from one generation to the next
Bajiquan is a Chinese martial art known for direct, powerful movement and coordinated whole-body force. Zhongxing Bajiquan brings together history, biographies and teaching from the Han tradition. Understanding the art means studying both its practice and the lives and ideas of those who passed it on.
The introductions on this page are in English. Linked historical articles remain in Chinese; videos retain their original audio.
Roots & lineage
Follow the people and places that shaped the Han tradition.
The Han lineage of Bajiquan
Trace the connections from the Zhang family training hall in Luotuan to Han Huachen, Han Jiequan and Han Zhende.
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Luotuan and the Zhang family training hall
Read about the early roots of the tradition and accounts of Zhang Jingxing and Han Huachen.
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Han Jiequan and Han Zhende
Explore a family tradition through biographies, martial writings and recorded demonstrations.
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The people behind the tradition
Lives, knowledge and practice connecting past and present.
Han Huachen
An important figure in the Han tradition, whose work connects Zhongxing's mining community in Zaozhuang with modern Chinese martial education.
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Han Jiequan
He continued Han Huachen's family tradition through martial practice and theoretical writings.
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Han Zhende
Continuing Han Jiequan's teaching, he explains Bajiquan through principles, movement breakdowns and Xiaojia and Dajia demonstrations.
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Principles into practice
Read, observe and study: introductory essays, illustrated sequences and teaching discussions.
Beginner form: movement index
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Xiaojia · Sequence I
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Xiaojia · Sequence II
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Xiaojia · Sequence III
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An introduction to Bajiquan Chinese original
Han Zhende on Bajiquan Chinese original
Questions on Bajiquan · I Chinese original
Questions on Bajiquan · II Chinese original
Movement, structure, power
Demonstrations by Han Zhende and a film on the Zhongxing tradition.
Xiaojia · Han Zhende
Dajia · Han Zhende
The Zhongxing Bajiquan tradition
Articles & reports
Published reports, biographical accounts and teaching articles, with the original sources identified.
A guide to published material on Han Bajiquan
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Zhongxing Bajiquan and cultural heritage
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Zhongxing Bajiquan competition reports
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Bajiquan at Zhongxing Primary School
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More articles
Han Huachen and the Central Guoshu Institute Chinese original
The legacy of Han Jiequan and Han Zhende Chinese original
Han Zhende demonstrates Xiaojia Chinese original
Power generation in Luotuan Han Bajiquan Chinese original
Xiaojia and standing practice Chinese original
Bajiquan for fitness Chinese original
Han Huachen and the Zhongxing mine guards Chinese original
Luotuan's Zhang family training hall Chinese original
Mine guards and martial education Chinese original
Traditional sports in schools Chinese original
A public performance of Han Bajiquan Chinese original
Zhongxing: a living history
The Han tradition is connected with the history of the Zhongxing coal mine in Zaozhuang. Mine protection, martial teaching and Guoshu education form part of this story. Biographical accounts and historical records help explain how Bajiquan spread through local communities.
The Central Guoshu Institute and martial education Chinese original
Explore the archive Chinese original