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| Baguazhang kung fu | ||
| 8 trigrams palm | ||
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8 trigrams palm
Baguazhang
(8 trigrams palm)
is a
very challenging internal martial art.
It
addresses the experience of combat
in a different way to taijiquan with
multiple opponents in mind at all
times.
The student avoids direct confrontation by circling around the opponent or by
encouraging the attacker to circle around them.
Martial
Baguazhang has never been taught for health purposes/benefits. It remains a
distinctly martial form of
kung fu.
Change
Baguazhang uses insights from the
I Ching and is based on the principle of
change.
Our class practices
the Jiang style of baguazhang.
The founder of baguazhang (Dong Haichuan) was a bodyguard in
the Imperial court.
Kung fu
Baguazhang was designed to be an advanced
kung fu method.
The art contains many of the same
fighting skills as
taijiquan
(supreme ultimate fist), and a whole lot more
besides...
It is a highly unusual martial art
famous for its fast, evasive footwork and effectiveness against
multiple
opponents.
Your body emulates animal movements and changes continually.
Baguazhang is unlike and
superior to the other arts I learned.
(Robert Smith)
Shuai jiao &
chin na
Shuai jiao and chin na are very important.
Given that baguazhang contains an enormous amount of shuai jiao and chin na
applications, there would be little purpose in learning the Art without the
required foundation.
By learning a vast number of applications before even touching upon
baguazhang palm changes (form), the student already understands range, reach
and good positioning.
It ensures that they will not exaggerate their baguazhang in form or in
application.
Shuai jiao combined
Baguazhang favours shuai jiao. It is ideal against multiple attackers and
perfectly suits the deft, speedy footwork of baguazhang.
By combining unusual angles of attack, chin na, shuai jiao and jing, the
baguazhang student employs a bewildering method designed to take immediate
advantage of the combat situation.
No techniques
Momentum and flow are used to overcome strength. The aim is to draw the
attacker out of their centre and off-balance. Baguazhang trains the student
to adapt, change and improvise.
There are no fixed techniques, with the exponent preferring to respond to
the demands of the moment rather than force an outcome.
Spontaneity
Baguazhang is all about responding spontaneously and favourably to stimuli.
This cannot be achieved if you are standing in your own way.
Fluidity, flow, softness and harmony are not possible when you are
self-conscious.
Naturalness
Baguazhang teaches a student how to
choose-without-choosing; to let the subconscious mind make decisions.
This will produce more powerful responses.
The application feels to have simply occurred, without force or
effort.
Classical baguazhang
We study the classic style of baguazhang: Jiang Rong Qiao. There are circular palm changes but no linear forms.
Why learn baguazhang?
Baguazhang training encourages nimbleness and agility; it enlivens your martial skill.
It makes your footwork smoother
It is sneaky and deceptive
It encourages spontaneity and improvisation
It's fun
It improves your spatial awareness
It works well against multiple opponents
It's hard
It challenges you physically and cognitively
The ability to instantaneously bring all of your power to a single point is
one of the techniques that the art of bagua develops.
(Bruce Frantzis)
Page created 31 July 1994
Last updated
1
December 2015