Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
Martial Arts Of The World - Webs Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
Baguazhang is closely associated with Daoist yoga or inner alchemy and other Chinese esoteric traditions. Cultivation of inner energy (qi) and breathing practices are taught along with the fighting techniques. A student of baguazhang practices these moves at the Shen Wu Academy of Martial Arts in Garden Grove, California. (Courtesy of Tim Cartmell) 24 Baguazhang (Pa Kua Ch’uan) Tsun-I). The linear drills practiced in some styles of baguazhang are believed to descend from the interaction with xingyi. The style taught by Zhang Junfeng, a student of Cheng Tinghua, for example, teaches eighteen exercises that are fairly linear in nature. Baguazhang is closely associated with Daoist yoga or inner alchemy and other Chinese esoteric traditions. Cultivation of inner energy (qi) and breathing practices are taught along with the fighting techniques. It has been suggested that baguazhang is a descendant of certain Daoist schools that practice moving meditations while walking in a circle. Baguazhang is still practiced as a form of qigong (exercise that develops psychophysiological energy) and Daoist yoga as well as a fighting art. The student in baguazhang begins by learning to walk the circle. In the beginning, the circle is six to twelve feet in diameter. As mastery of the art is obtained, the circle can be as small or large as needed. Initially, the student walks the circle while concentrating on moving correctly and breathing. In the old days, this could continue for as long as three years. When the student is able to move correctly, he is introduced to the single and then double palm changes. After this foundation is learned, the student learns the eight mother palms. This is a long form that consists of eight sets of movements done to both sides, separated by periods of walking the circle in different positions. When observed, the bagua player is seen to go through patterns of fluid movement, fluidly twisting and turning in both high and low stances. Between these periods of activity, he tranquilly circles. After he attains a certain degree of proficiency, the student is introduced to two-person drills, pole training, and weighted training. Two-person training teaches him how the movements of the form conceal striking, grappling,
and throwing techniques and also how to respond to an opponent. Pole training and weighted training teach power transfer and condition the body. Other techniques are used to train the development and release of applied internal power (jing). As the training continues, the student may learn other forms, such as swimming-body baguazhang, as well as weapon techniques. The range of baguazhang forms is great: Thirteen empty-handed forms, five two-person forms, and sets for the standard Chinese weapons exist. When fighting, the baguazhang practitioner twists and weaves about his opponents, entrapping limbs and striking to vital points. Drills exist to train for multiple enemies that are similar to Hebei xingyi’s Nine Palace Boxing, and it is claimed baguazhang allows one to fight eight opponents simultaneously. The elusive and entrapping nature of this style has given rise to the analogy that baguazhang is like a wire ball, where attacks are trapped and twisted around. While baguazhang uses the standard Chinese arsenal of jian (twoedged sword), dao (broadsword or cutlass), qiang (spear), gun (staff), dao (long saber), gou (hook sword), double knives, and guai (crutch), it also has two specialized weapons: a metal ring like a hoop and the lu jiao dao (deer hook sword). This latter weapon, unique to baguazhang styles, looks like two crescents interlocked to create a weapon with points. Used in pairs, the swords are close-quarter weapons designed to trap and destroy the enemy. Kevin Menard See also Xingyiquan (Hsing I Ch’uan) References Bracy, John, and Xing-Han Liu. 1998. Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial Art. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Crandall, Joseph. 1994–1996. Classical Ba Qua Zhang. 6 vols. Pinole, CA: Smiling Tiger Martial Arts. Hsieh, Douglas H. 1983. Pa Kua Chuan for Self Defense. Honolulu, HI: McLisa Publications. Johnson, Jerry. 1994. The Essence of Internal Martial Arts. 2 vols. Pacific Grove, CA: Ching Lung Martial Arts Association. When fighting, baguazhang practitioners twist and weave about their opponents, emphasizing the use of the open hand in preference to the closed fist. Two men demonstrate a throw using this distinctive technique at the Shen Wu Academy of Martial Arts in Garden Grove, California. (Courtesy of Tim Cartmell) Baguazhang (Pa Kua Ch’uan) 25
- Page 1: Martial Arts of the World
- Page 4 and 5: Copyright © 2001 by Thomas A. Gree
- Page 6 and 7: vi Contents Japanese Martial Arts,
- Page 9 and 10: Editorial Board D’Arcy Jonathan D
- Page 11 and 12: Bill Adams Director, Bill Adams Fit
- Page 13: Kimberley Taylor University of Guel
- Page 16 and 17: xvi Introduction the sword” in Eu
- Page 18 and 19: xviii Introduction References Frida
- Page 21 and 22: Africa and African America Although
- Page 23 and 24: a range of up to 80 meters. The wou
- Page 25 and 26: the competitors. In this respect, t
- Page 27 and 28: Beginning in 1415, after the Portug
- Page 29 and 30: Many African combat systems relied
- Page 31 and 32: as a result of similar circumstance
- Page 33 and 34: eturn strike; rather, the practitio
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- Page 37 and 38: The magic monkey Songoku from a Chi
- Page 39 and 40: A young woman aims at a barrel of s
- Page 41: See also Kendô; Religion and Spiri
- Page 46 and 47: 26 Bandô ———. 1984. The Mast
- Page 48 and 49: Chinese children in a martial arts
- Page 50 and 51: A modern picture of a Buddhist mona
- Page 52 and 53: 32 Boxing, Chinese Shaolin Styles L
- Page 54 and 55: A 74-year-old Buddhist monk practic
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and throwing techniques and also how to<br />
respond to an opponent. Pole training<br />
and weighted training teach power transfer<br />
and condition the body. Other techniques<br />
are used to train the development<br />
and release of applied internal power<br />
(jing). As the training continues, the student<br />
may learn other forms, such as<br />
swimming-body baguazhang, as well as<br />
weapon techniques. <strong>The</strong> range of<br />
baguazhang forms is great: Thirteen<br />
empty-handed forms, five two-person<br />
forms, and sets for the standard Chinese<br />
weapons exist.<br />
When fighting, the baguazhang<br />
practitioner twists and weaves about his<br />
opponents, entrapping limbs and striking<br />
to vital points. Drills exist to train<br />
for multiple enemies that are similar to<br />
Hebei xingyi’s Nine Palace Boxing, and<br />
it is claimed baguazhang allows one to<br />
fight eight opponents simultaneously.<br />
<strong>The</strong> elusive and entrapping nature of this style has given rise to the analogy<br />
that baguazhang is like a wire ball, where attacks are trapped and<br />
twisted around.<br />
While baguazhang uses the standard Chinese arsenal of jian (twoedged<br />
sword), dao (broadsword or cutlass), qiang (spear), gun (staff), dao<br />
(long saber), gou (hook sword), double knives, and guai (crutch), it also has<br />
two specialized weapons: a metal ring like a hoop and the lu jiao dao (deer<br />
hook sword). This latter weapon, unique to baguazhang styles, looks like<br />
two crescents interlocked to create a weapon with points. Used in pairs, the<br />
swords are close-quarter weapons designed to trap and destroy the enemy.<br />
Kevin Menard<br />
See also Xingyiquan (Hsing I Ch’uan)<br />
References<br />
Bracy, John, and Xing-Han Liu. 1998. Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the<br />
Taoist Internal <strong>Martial</strong> Art. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.<br />
Crandall, Joseph. 1994–1996. Classical Ba Qua Zhang. 6 vols. Pinole, CA:<br />
Smiling Tiger <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>.<br />
Hsieh, Douglas H. 1983. Pa Kua Chuan for Self Defense. Honolulu, HI:<br />
McLisa Publications.<br />
Johnson, Jerry. 1994. <strong>The</strong> Essence of Internal <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong>. 2 vols. Pacific<br />
Grove, CA: Ching Lung <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> Association.<br />
When fighting,<br />
baguazhang<br />
practitioners twist<br />
and weave about<br />
their opponents,<br />
emphasizing the use<br />
of the open hand in<br />
preference to the<br />
closed fist. Two men<br />
demonstrate a throw<br />
using this distinctive<br />
technique at the<br />
Shen Wu Academy<br />
of <strong>Martial</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> in<br />
Garden Grove,<br />
California. (Courtesy<br />
of Tim Cartmell)<br />
Baguazhang (Pa Kua Ch’uan) 25