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Fu Hu Quan - Taming the Tiger Fist
Fu Hu Quan, "Taming the Tiger Fist," is one of the most powerful animal styles in the Wudang San Feng lineage. Named for the tiger's low, controlled advance and devastating precision, this form channels raw martial energy through the disciplined structure of Wudang internal mechanics. It is typically one of the first animal-style forms that students learn after establishing their foundation in Ji Ben Quan and Xuan Gong Quan.

Taming the Tiger Fist is a set that embodies the quickness and ferocity of a tiger stalking its prey. The movements combine evading and advancing techniques to generate power in quick, smooth progressions.

Movements are low and controlled in this style, generating momentum as each strike advances. Tiger is a great fist set that begins to explore a little deeper into more complex grabs, strikes, sweeps, and transitions than the basic fist sets do. Adding a unique style to basic patterns, Tiger is a form that builds the martial artist into a more varied practitioner, learning new coordination that allows one to strengthen, stretch, and speed up the body.
Taming the Tiger also starts to open up the student to the concept of Fa Jin (發勁). This is a technique that uses the opened channels and flexibility of the body to generate coordinated explosive power during a strike. We combine softness of body, through flexibility and range of motion, with hardness of body, through muscle strength and accurate coordination, to generate maximal force in quick bursts with little energy wasted. These striking techniques are typically targeted towards weak areas on the body. Strikes are low and transition smoothly from blocks into strikes. This helps to carry power into each movement and protect the martial artist as one can continue using the momentum into each consecutive movement.
What You Will Develop
Fa Jin (發勁) — Explosive Power
The defining skill of Fu Hu Quan is the development of Fa Jin — the ability to generate explosive, coordinated power from a relaxed body. Fa Jin is the bridge between basic technique and true martial power. It requires:
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A relaxed, open body with free-flowing Qi through the meridians
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Strong, rooted legs to ground the body during issuance
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A coordinated waist that acts as the axis of power generation
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Clear intention (Yi) to direct the force to its target
Low Stance Training
Fu Hu Quan is practiced predominantly in low stances — training the legs to generate power from the ground up while maintaining perfect structural alignment. This develops exceptional leg strength and the ability to issue power from a rooted, stable base.
Complex Techniques
Fu Hu Quan introduces more complex technique combinations than the basic forms:
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Grabs and controlling techniques: joint locks, wrist controls, and sweep combinations
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Multi-directional strikes: strikes that flow seamlessly from defensive to offensive positions
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Sweeping techniques: low sweeps that use the entire body to generate force
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Coordinated transitions: continuous movement that maintains power throughout each change of direction
The Tiger in Daoist Culture
In Daoist symbolism, the tiger represents the yang energy of the earth — powerful, grounded, and fierce. The practice of "taming" the tiger does not mean suppressing this power, but channeling it through the disciplined structure of Daoist martial arts — transforming raw aggression into refined martial skill.
Prerequisites
Fu Hu Quan is an intermediate form. Students should have:
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Completed Ji Ben Quan and at least one part of Xuan Gong Quan
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A foundation in basic stances, kicks, and body mechanics
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At least 1–2 months of training at WDTKA
Health Benefits
Beyond martial development, Fu Hu Quan training provides significant health benefits:
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Leg strength and stamina from low stance practice
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Hip and lower back flexibility from deep, controlled movements
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Cardiovascular conditioning through continuous, moderately intense movement
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Coordination and balance from complex transitional sequences
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Stress release through the channeling of physical energy
Watch: Fu Hu Quan Full Form — Demonstrated by Zhang Wen Gao
This video shows the complete Fu Hu Quan (伏虎拳, "Taming the Tiger Fist") form demonstrated by Zhang Wen Gao (张文高), one of the senior instructors at WDTKA. Fu Hu Quan is an intermediate animal-style form that introduces Fa Jin explosive power, low stances, and complex grabbing and striking techniques. Students typically learn this form after completing Ji Ben Quan and Xuan Gong Quan.

