The Ancient Art of Shuai Jiao: China’s Oldest Martial Art

Shuai Jiao, also known as Chinese wrestling, is considered the oldest martial art in China, with a history dating back more than 4,000 years. Its origin is recorded in a military confrontation between the Yellow Emperor and the rebel Chih Yiu, in the year 2697 BC. Back then, horned helmets were used and a primitive form of grappling called Jiao Ti was used.

As the centuries passed, the Shuai Jiao evolved, replacing horns with hands and arms, and improving its techniques. In ancient times, practitioners competed bare-chested, but today they train with a padded canvas jacket.

Importantly, the Shuai Jiao does not rely on the opponent’s jacket or clothing to throw them, but instead focuses on grasping the muscles and bones through the clothing to control and throw the opponent.

The use of the competitor’s jacket, which has short sleeves and is wrapped tightly around the torso with a canvas belt, adds variety of techniques to control and throw the opponent.

Quick footwork with sweeps, inside hooks and leg kicks combines with controlling and punching arms, creating a two-way action that results in a powerful throw.

In addition, Chinese martial arts pants and fighting boots are used. The main objective is to knock down the opponent without falling to the ground yourself.

Shuai Jiao, also known as Chinese wrestling, is considered the oldest martial art in China.

Another distinctive aspect of this system is the use of leg holds. The way landings are taught in Shuai Jiao differs from judo, as a more compact stance is adopted before touching the ground. This is because training was originally carried out on hard surfaces, which influenced the way falling techniques were developed.

Shuai Jiao is a martial art focused on throwing and knocking down the opponent to neutralize the threat, and is considered China’s only wrestling martial art.

Shuai Jiao en Sudamérica

In South America it was developed in Brazil through Master Li Wing Kay. In 2001, the 1st Pan-American Shuai Jiao Championship was held in Brazil and was attended by Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and the USA. It was the first international activity organized by the Panamerican Shia Jiao Federation (PASF) led by Master Weng Chi Hsiu and Master Li.

Maestro Li Wing Kay.

In 2008, the Chinese Wrestling competitions continued through the 2008 International Kuo Shu Huarpes Tournament, held in the province of San Juan, Argentina. That same year, Master Li Wing Kay appointed Shifu Paul Jimenez from Peru, Shifu Jaime Cáceres from Chile and Shifu Victor Figueroa from Argentina as executive directors to represent Shuai Jiao in each country.

El Shuai Jiao en Perú

In 2012, Shifu Paul Jimenez asked Master Li Wing Kay to appoint Shifu Jorge Zavaleta as the representative of Shuai Jiao in Peru, and then the Peruvian Association of Shuai Jiao was formed. In 2014, it was held in Lima, Peru. the 1st seminar by Master Li and the activities of the association are made official.

In 2019, Shifu Jorge Zavaleta Alemán, is recognized as the official representative of the “World Shuai Jiao Federation” for Peru in a ceremony where world leaders met in Langfang, China, for the inauguration ceremony of this world federation.

In ancient times, practitioners competed bare-chested, but today they train with a padded canvas jacket.

In that same year, the Peruvian Shua Jiao Association participates in the “Panamerican Shuai Jiao Cup 2019” through 2 athletes, obtaining 1 bronze medal for Peru and marking the beginning of the international competitions of our teams.

This 2023, after overcoming the pandemic and having reactivated the competitions, our Peruvian Shuai Jiao team will compete in the “International Shuai Jiao Championship Tournament 2023”, to be held in Sao Paulo-Brazil. These are our selected martialists:

Carlos Mendoza Valencia Álvaro Mendivil De la Fuente Oscar Aragón Poma

Shifu Jorge Zavaleta Aleman will go as team leader and official representative.

Master Paul Jiménez, psychologist and direct disciple of Grand Master Wang Xian, guardian of the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan, with whom he completed his training of more than 15 years in Chinese martial arts. From the ETAMC Peru kung fu school and the South American Association of Chen Taichichuan & Qi Gong Wang through dedicated teaching work that takes place both in hospitals, focusing on health, and in study houses such as the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú or the Universidad del Pacífico. Learn more about his work at or contact him via WhatsApp or email.

2023-10-18 23:18:12
#Shuai #Jiao #Chinas #oldest #martial #art #Asia #News

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