This section features the yin or earth figure of 8 movement. Most people find this easier than the yang (heaven) version. You should learn the following skills before tackling this section. Horse Stance Scissor Stance Earth Figure 8 Press Transferring Weight Here is the video. https://youtu.be/X5WRpOW0rto… Sorry but to access this course or article you will need a relevant subscription. CLICK HERE to get your Basic membership access (£8pm) CLICK […]
This part of the form uses a signature move from xingyiquan which is one of the most highly respected of China’s martial arts. Taijiquan (tai chi), Baguazhang and Xingyiquan make up the three most important of the internal martial arts. To learn this part of the form the following skills are needed. Infinity circleTiger stanceFront kick Some of the moves in this part will be seen many times over in […]
The first part of this form is designed to strengthen the body in certain positions and to teach you basic skills in kicking and punching. This section onwards is far more fluid. From here you are using circular, whole body power just like in tai chi but with a wider range of movements. This section uses the following skills so make sure you are very familiar with them before you […]
Ever since we first learned to stand and walk on two legs humans have used their hands to reach out and connect with the world. Our hands are highly sensitive and very dexterous and it’s important that we look after them. Too many people end up in their old age with hands that can hardly move and lack the power and dexterity of their youth. They do this through unbalanced […]
The single palm change is the most famous movement in baguazhang. It is the signature move of the system. The way you do the single palm change defines you as a bagua stylist. Over time the way you do it will change as your understanding of it deepens. This is true for all the movements you learn but perhaps none more so than with the single palm change. As a […]
Bagua is an internal martial art and a form of moving meditation. It teaches you how to generate and store power in your body and how to express it in different ways. This post and video teach you four new ways of developing power through the bagua circle walking practice. https://youtu.be/B9NAtCzKmL8… Sorry but to access this course or article you will need a relevant subscription. CLICK HERE to get your […]
Here are a few videos showing a class I ran several years ago on elbow locks. You can see some of the variations and how quickly and effectively you can take someone down when you get the technique right. The technique is simple Block their right arm with your left Grab their elbow with your right hand, palm up Pull their elbow across their body then up over their shoulder. […]
Although bagua is famous for its circle walking practices it is during the changes of direction that the magic really happens. There are many methods of changing direction. Each develops different skills. Some of them are very simple, others very complicated and challenging. The video below will show several key ones. Practice diligently until the movements are smooth, balanced and effortless and require no thought on your part. https://youtu.be/38ZD9emILIQ… Sorry […]
For thousands of years the Chinese have cultivated silk. Silk is a very delicate material to work with. To draw a silken thread out of a cocoon the action must be very smooth and even with no jerkiness or changes of direction. Otherwise the thread will snap. Too fast and the silk breaks, too slow and it sticks to itself and becomes tangled. The concept of reeling silk has been […]
Fan Chang is an arm movement that takes power from a rotation of the legs and waist and projects it out through the palms. With practice you open up the energy channels and can feel a strong connection of energy all the way up from feet to palms. Rotation is extremely important in baguazhang. Being able to rotate in a way that is balanced, coordinated and integrated is essential for […]
Improve your strength, balance and stamina Train your mind to remain calm through this moving meditation practice Open your joints through the twisting and coiling movements of baguazhang Become light-footed and sure-footed Baguazhang (pronounced bag-wa-jang), or bagua (pakua) for short, is a fascinating practice of moving meditation and self development that became the most sought after martial art in China. This post, and the video at the end of it […]
This post takes you step-by-step through the form with links to all the movements. It also includes videos of the whole form. As always note that these videos don’t show you the way to do it – they show you a way to do it. Many variations are possible, and indeed you should feel free to experiment. You will gain so much and learn so much more from them by […]