Fists in the South, Legs in the North (南拳北腿) Nán Quán Běi Tuǐ

Nan Quan Bei Tui, or Fists in the South, Legs in the North, is an old Chinese martial arts adage. Traditionally the Huang He (黄河), or Yellow River, was considered the demarcation line between the Northern and Southern Schools of Gong Fu.

Overall, there is some truth that Southern styles are known more for their use of the hands and Northern styles are known more for their kicks. We must be mindful that Nan Quan Bei Tui is a general characterization that needs to be carefully analyzed since it can be misleading.

This adage has erroneously led people into believing that the Southern Schools of Gong Fu use only punches, and the Northern Schools use only kicks. This assumption is false because there are many Southern styles, such as Cai Li Fu (Choy Lee Fut), that use a variety of kicks. Some Northern styles, such as Eagle Claw and Mizong Luohan, employ an even greater variety of hand techniques than many of their Southern counterparts.

Quan (拳) does not refer to punching but to fist; punching is referred to as Chui (捶). And Tui (腿) does not refer to kicking but to leg, since kicking is called Ti (踢).

Let us consider another concept common in the Northern Gong Fu styles: Ti Da Shuai Na (踢打摔拿). Ti means kicking, Da means striking, Shuai means throwing, and Na means joint locking. For this post I will focus on the first two since they relate to this topic. 

Ti does not refer just to kicking but to the general use of the leg. Hence, kicking, sweeping, and even footwork belong to this category. 

Da refers not just to striking and punching, but to techniques such as wrist and elbow strikes as well as shoulder bumping.

It is imperative not to be constricted by the literal “Fists in the South, Legs in the North” saying, and to refrain from labeling Northern or Southern systems as being “this” or “that.” Rather, we must study the structure of the style we practice, and more deeply, its individual Tao Lu (Forms). 

Our Long Fist forms use far more hand techniques than kicks. Some forms, such as the Mizong Luohan Chang Quan, predominantly use punching and striking techniques. Nonetheless, the leg skills contained within this form are diverse and important.

Note: The character for Chui (捶) can also be translated as Hammer.