DRUNKEN BOXING

As we've pointed out before there is no style of Kung Fu specifically known as "Drunken." The closest thing is called Eight Drunken Immortals. Drunkard's Boxing is actually more a stage in the training regimen of certain styles. It is used to "break the student out" of . However this form of deception is often over-stated as the goal of drunken methods. These forms can be a lot of fun especially if supplemental to real Kung Fu drunken boxing. They can also be a form of expression that borders on mime. At one point even Contemporary WuShu judges wanted to restrict the performance of Drunken Boxing because they were seeing everyone staggering around like it was an epidemic. There's really a little more to it than swaying and rolling on the ground. Probably the best analogy we can make is to calligraphy. When someone is a good calligraphy, with a firm hand they can write in many other styles such as "running" or "Grass" where the essence is retained but the strokes are much wilder and more spontaneous. Drunken Boxing should have the same relationship to Kung Fu.
Click on picture to see larger version.

KD012 Drunken Monkey
Boxing Form & Applications
by Leung Ting & Chiu Chung Yat
$16.95, English 162 pages,

Co-authored by the famous Leung Ting, a student of Yip Man. We used to mention Drunken Monkey boxing in our classes at which time the students would chuckle. Little did they know we were absolutely serious. This form represents one of the qualities in Monkey Fist. Others include Stone Monkey and Wooden Monkey. According to Leung Ting this form is short and simple. There is much usage demonstrated by So Hon Sang a well known movie stunt double. Learnable with interesting applications. In English with Chinese name postures.

KZ002 Zui Jiu Quan
A Drunkard's Boxing
by Cai Long-Yun & Shao Shan-King
$14.95, English/Chinese 155 pages

This is a nicely turned out text. Basically it is a well drawn and well translated version of a Contemporary WuShu Drunken Fist. Very clear instructions and beautiful line drawings make this form into a "learnable" one. Pure form, no applications. Introductory remarks give a good over view of the requirements and actions involved in this art which pretends a dunken player staggering around, rolling, lying on the ground etc.

KD010 The Drunkard Kung Fu
& its Applications
by Leung Ting & Chiu Chung Yat
$16.50, English 161 pages

Written by the famous Leung Ting, a student of Yip Man. This volume shows the form representing the Southern Eight Drunken Immortals boxing. Leung Ting rightly mentions in the introduction that there is no self contained Drunkend style but many styles have drunken forms within their style. This one is, according to him, the best of the Southern branch. Supposedly originating in the same Wu Tang area that birthed Tai Chi, the Drunkard's Boxing is learnable and fun. Also, not to skimp on usage the applications sections of this 161 page book starts on page 88.