Skills and Martial Arts
The most notable martial art of the Beggars' Sect are the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' (traditional Chinese: 降龍十八掌; simplified Chinese: 降龙十八掌; pinyin: Xiáng Lóng Shí Bā Zhǎng) and the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique' (Chinese: 打狗棒法; pinyin: Dá Gǒu Bàng Fǎ). The chief is expected to have a profound mastery of both, especially the latter, which is only passed on from a chief to his/her successor. No other member, not including the elders, know the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique'. The sect has a battle formation known as the Dog Beating Formation (打狗陣). A typical member is usually armed with at least a wooden staff.
Since members are not limited to only beggars, people from all walks of life join the sect, including scholars and military personnel. As such, the sect's martial arts are rather diverse, since some members have learnt other forms of martial arts prior to joining the sect. For example, Wu Changfeng in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils uses a customised saber movement while Chen Guyan carries a sack filled with poisonous creatures for use against enemies.
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