The acrobatic combat is one of the four main performances in Chinese opera performance. The foreigners who learn Chinese in China should know that it is the dance form of the traditional martial art in opera art, and also the art refining of the fist fighting scene in the realistic life. Generally speaking, the acrobatic combat can be divided into two classifications, namely, “tan zi gong” and “ba zi gong”.

Any performance that the weapons such as swords, spears, two-edged swords and halberds are used in the acrobatic combat belongs to “ba zi gong”. For the “tan zi gong”, the performers show great technique in the blanket. If you have come to study Chinese in China for a long period of time, you may know that the performers are highly demanded for the performance. The performers should make great effort to train the basic skills since they are very young so that they can lay a firm foundation for the performance.

The basic techniques are important because they are the basis for the performers to do creation. In addition, when they perform at stage, they should be good at making use of these difficult techniques to express the features and expressions of the figures, thus providing a fantastic and lifelike performance.

The acrobatic combat in traditional Chinese opera has the independent value of appreciating in certain degree. However, it is never the independent dance performance in the opera. Some of the foreign learners who study Mandarin in China may think that the programs of “tan zi gong” look like acrobatics when seen independently. And those in “ba zi gong” like the martial arts. However, when combine them together in the opera, they become expressive dance language.

We should realize that both two classifications of the acrobatic combat can fully express the unique charm of the traditional opera art. At stage, when the skills or techniques are combined perfectly with the corresponding plots, it will gain the excellent result of portraying the figures, explaining the plots and providing art appreciation. Some students who learn Chinese in China may know that after the combat is finished, the winner is clearly known.

We should know that the acrobatic combat is one of the four essential main performance techniques. It has its own features but the perfect opera art can be shown when they are combined together.