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 infinity circle is used in tai chi and many kung fu styles. The whole circle itself is rarely done but parts of it make up so many movements that it is worth practicing and becoming very familiar with. It’s like learning the scales when playing music. It makes you arm movements fluid and powerful, connected and coordinated. In this circle both arms are moving in the same direction but […]
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 […]
In this section we have opponents approaching from left and right. We deal with them both using our most powerful kick – the back kick. Make sure you are familiar with the kick and have trained it. It strengthens all the muscles in the back, the buttocks and back of the legs. You can also use the flying crane to help you develop the strength and balance for the kick. […]
Of the 4 main circular arm patterns I teach this is the most fundamental. All the others are variations of this one. This is also the most powerful as both arms are working as a team connected to a strong structure and the power flows through the whole body. Before you learn this circle make sure you are very familiar with transferring weight and raising and lowering your arms. This […]
The ultimate aim of all Chinese martial arts and particularly tai chi chuan is to attain the maximum power with the minimum effort. To achieve this end we align our body with gravity so that every part is supported by the legs and then we move by pushing the legs into the ground. If you can’t transfer weight properly you’re either pushing yourself up away from the ground or, worse […]
The loss of function in kung fu forms Forms training is a backbone of most traditional kung fu and tai chi schools but why is this so and what is actually being taught? This article puts forms under the microscope to look at the 3 main types of forms training and how forms training is gradually degenerating from being the most efficient way to learn and develop real, adaptable fighting skills […]
The Rising Sun is the first of the true breathing exercises I teach to students. It is the first and most important of the ancient ‘5 Breaths of Tao’ Qigong set. The Rising Sun exercise can be done in many different ways. Each method trains something different inside you. The physical movement of each is almost identical. What changes is the way the breath is performed and most important of […]
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. To view this post in full you’ll need an Intermediate Level membership. This will give you access to a huge […]
The ‘leaping tiger’ is the first form that students of yu lung chuan (Jade Dragon kung Fu) learn. The Jade Dragon School derives its name from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in South West China where its monastery was located. To the West of the mountain flows the Jinsha river, a tributary of the Yangtse. At the foot of the mountain is a very deep canyon where the Jinsha flows […]
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 The student in this video was struggling to take her partner down so she used her head and added a chin lock too. Here is a longer […]