A
martial art, possibly originating in
Hong Kong action films, which centers around the use of
projectile weapons. Its name is derived from the characteristic
sound made when a
round is
chambered in a
pistol, which is subsequently
fired: the chi-ching as the
slide is pulled back, then released, and the loud crack or "pow" of the tiny
explosion which propels the
bullet forward. (This noise is sometimes emphasized by a
sonic boom if the bullet exceeds
the speed of sound).
Chi'ching-Pao was developed around the same time as the semiautomatic handgun, and -- providing it is used correctly -- can be very deadly. Unlike other martial arts, its tenents do not include self-discipline or restraint. Instead, it emphasises self-important posturing, waving of the hands holding the gun, and, eventually, violence. Chi'ching-Pao has long been romanticised by popular media, though some critics are attempting to stem its spread.