Meaning of juezhao

[jbb73]

Hy there,

can somebody help me with the meaning of juezhao (絶招)?
I think it is something like "techniques", but assume there is a more specialized meaning or context in which the term is used...

Thanks!

[Ian]

These are 絶招

[jbb73]

Hy Ian,

okay, so you say the meaning is "wrestling applications"? Or are applications a part of the meaning?
And are cooperative routines also called juezhao?

[johnwang]

the meaning of juezhao (絶招)?

Your opponent knows exactly what you are going to do to him but he can't stop you. Another term is "看家本领 (Kan Jia Ben Lin) - door guarding skill".

[nicklinjm]

Obviously I will defer to the native speakers on this one, but my understanding of juezhao (绝招) is that they are 'no can defend' moves that, if used, normally finish the match. Could also translate it as a fighter's "trademark move". For example, if a fighter is incredibly good at scissor kicks and uses them to finish matches, then it can be considered a juezhao.

[Ian]

Sorry Mr. jbb73, I was joking.

The above two posts are spot on.

This is juezhao:

[jbb73]

Ian and the others,

thanks, I think I got it now. (I still have to check wether it fits in the kontext I read about it, but looks good...)

[Ian]

Another example of juezhao:

[yeniseri]

Hy there,

can somebody help me with the meaning of juezhao (絶招)?
I think it is something like "techniques", but assume there is a more specialized meaning or context in which the term is used...

Thanks!

It is not "specialised" but a basic level of "guarding the door" type of orientation and conditioning (it may generically be call "jibengong" per Wang sifu.
Just as in Judo, where the present mindset is of throwing only but its basic roots are in traditional ne-waza )ofetn ignored but making a great comeback(you can google yourself) is the ground/root for what is called BJJ today

[Wuyizidi]

Hy there,

can somebody help me with the meaning of juezhao (絶招)?
I think it is something like "techniques", but assume there is a more specialized meaning or context in which the term is used...

Thanks!

Jue Zhao means superlative technique, often unique to that person, and often very clever, unexpected. Usually something the person can fall back on when all else fails. It sort of has that "if done right, no can defend" feeling.

In basketball the best example of jue zhao is Kareem Abdul Jabbar's famous skyhook: He's already taller than just about everyone, then he launches upward using the hand that is away from you (so you can't reach the ball as he's at least one shoulder's distance away), then the ball goes up at a highly vertical angle, so you have even less of a chance intercepting it when it leaves his hand. And of course it's against rules to block a ball on its downward trajectory. And he has practiced it so much he's incredibly accurate with it. So all this together, the technique, the unique physical attribute of the person, the degree of perfection, all to make it so perfect it's just about impossible to defend against.

Jue has the connotation of being absolute. So for the general public, kids especially, they think if they know a secret technique, and practice it alot, than they can beat everyone. It doesn't work like that. In reality no technique by itself is absolutely invincible (perfect in every way), it can never be separated from the person. My skyhook would never work on LeBron.

This by the way is a major difference between internal martial art and external martial art. In external martial art, people really try to keep their techniques secret (the "unexpected" part of formula).

External martial art relies on pre-designed skill: I do this, and you, being a reasonable person, would likely to counter with that, and I, having researched this deeply before, found a really clever way to get you based on your reaction... This way in a fight, they can execute a technique exactly as they have done hundreds of thousands of times before in practice. That's the idea in external martial art. They do something you have not seen before very quickly and perfectly, and that secures the victory.

In internal martial art people don't talk about secret jue zhao. Internal martial art focus on developing general abilities about dealing with force. So in Taiji we say "it doesn't matter what you do, I'm not going to do what you expect me to do, I'll let your initial contact move me, but in a way that now it's awkward for you to really exert a force on me at that point". In Bagua it's like "ok you expect me to block you here, fine I'll touch you, but from that touch I'll control you and change the centerline on you, so now you can't hit me but I can hit you", in Xingyi people will do "ok you want me to block your hand here, but from that touch I'll exert a crossing force..." In all three cases, sensitive and control (using internal force) creates problem for the jue zhao so that it cannot proceed as designed.

[edededed]

Hey Wuyizidi, good to see you back

Great description of juezhao! In my experience, though, baguazhang does have a set of juezhao (72 juezhao) - perhaps reflecting its somewhat eclectic nature (it likes to do everything). Of course as you say, no technique is 100% foolproof, but one way to keep effectiveness is to keep their knowledge secret (because if everyone knows, it probably won't work so well).

But to be honest, some sets of "powers" (like xingyi's "dantian strike" skill) are more "absolute" than the juezhao (which are more like well-thought techniques - maybe due to the word "zhao").

My experience with taijiquan is much less, but I wonder if there are any similar sorts of things in taiji, too.

[Wuyizidi]

Hey Wuyizidi, good to see you back

Great description of juezhao! In my experience, though, baguazhang does have a set of juezhao (72 juezhao) - perhaps reflecting its somewhat eclectic nature (it likes to do everything). Of course as you say, no technique is 100% foolproof, but one way to keep effectiveness is to keep their knowledge secret (because if everyone knows, it probably won't work so well).

But to be honest, some sets of "powers" (like xingyi's "dantian strike" skill) are more "absolute" than the juezhao (which are more like well-thought techniques - maybe due to the word "zhao").

My experience with taijiquan is much less, but I wonder if there are any similar sorts of things in taiji, too.

Thank you, been busy with work and book project.

Hmm, who came up with those 72 juezhao?

I think you're right. No matter what techniques are used, at a fundamental level martial art is still about exerting a force on the opponent. Internal martial art is about developing general ability to deal with all major types of forces in a sophisticated manner that covered all variations of how those forces can be applied.

[taiwandeutscher]

OT: What about your book? Please keep us posted!

[jbb73]

External martial art relies on pre-designed skill: I do this, and you, being a reasonable person, would likely to counter with that, and I, having researched this deeply before, found a really clever way to get you based on your reaction... This way in a fight, they can execute a technique exactly as they have done hundreds of thousands of times before in practice. That's the idea in external martial art. They do something you have not seen before very quickly and perfectly, and that secures the victory.

Hy Wuyizidi,

thank you for your thoughts.
But in the point above - I have to disagree. In my opinion, and based on more than 25 years intensive training in different "external" martial arts: this seems a really naive view to me. You don´t really think in a fight - be it judo, boxing or knock-down-karate - you operate on that kind of plan??? Sorry, that´s ridiculous.

[marvin8]

I have to disagree. In my opinion, and based on more than 25 years intensive training in different "external" martial arts: this seems a really naive view to me. You don´t really think in a fight - be it judo, boxing or knock-down-karate - you operate on that kind of plan??? Sorry, that´s ridiculous.

I agree with jbb73’s disagreement.

This by the way is a major difference between internal martial art and external martial art. In external martial art, people really try to keep their techniques secret (the "unexpected" part of formula).

External martial art relies on pre-designed skill: I do this, and you, being a reasonable person, would likely to counter with that, and I, having researched this deeply before, found a really clever way to get you based on your reaction... This way in a fight, they can execute a technique exactly as they have done hundreds of thousands of times before in practice. That's the idea in external martial art. They do something you have not seen before very quickly and perfectly, and that secures the victory.

In internal martial art people don't talk about secret jue zhao. Internal martial art focus on developing general abilities about dealing with force. So in Taiji we say "it doesn't matter what you do, I'm not going to do what you expect me to do, I'll let your initial contact move me, but in a way that now it's awkward for you to really exert a force on me at that point". In Bagua it's like "ok you expect me to block you here, fine I'll touch you, but from that touch I'll control you and change the centerline on you, so now you can't hit me but I can hit you", in Xingyi people will do "ok you want me to block your hand here, but from that touch I'll exert a crossing force..." In all three cases, sensitive and control (using internal force) creates problem for the jue zhao so that it cannot proceed as designed.

For example, boxing has 6 offensive “techniques:”

1. Jab
2. Straight
3. Lead Hook
4. Rear Uppercut
5. Rear Hook (can also be consider an overhand right/left)
6. Lead Uppercut

There are no secret techniques in boxing. The boxer uses one of six punches to defeat his opponent. Most professional boxers know how to throw the basic 6 punches. Therefore, it is not so much about technique, as it is about setting up your favorite technique using strategies, traps, timing, distance, etc.

When it comes to actual fighting, I think "internal" and "external" strategies are similar, if not the same. The "external" boxer uses a variety of strategies, setups and traps to defeat his opponent, including, the "internal" strategies Wuyizidi mentions.

Here's an example using boxing technique #3, Lead Hook:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D07BhmI-d1g