Baguazhang

Baguazhang, also known as the wandering Baguazhang and the Bagualianhuanzhang, is a traditional Chinese martial art that focuses on changing palm techniques and walking and turning. It is one of the famous styles of traditional Chinese martial arts and is widely spread.

  • Introduction to Baguazhang
  • “Baguazhang” (Eight Trigrams Palm) first appeared in the I Ching (Book of Changes), where it says: “Two opposites give birth to the four symbols, and the four symbols give birth to the eight trigrams.” The original meaning of Baguazhang referred to the eight directions: North, South, East, West, Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast. Baguazhang primarily focuses on the palm techniques, consisting of eight main palms, aligning with the number of trigrams. When practicing, it requires walking in circular patterns, covering all eight directions, unlike most martial arts that move along a straight line or in a square. Therefore, it is called “Baguazhang.” However, there is no inherent connection between Baguazhang and the trigrams.
  • Baguazhang is a martial art primarily based on changing palm techniques and step variations, with an emphasis on walking in circular patterns. The practitioner walks in a circle, using the distance of their arm span as the radius. It combines martial arts with Qi-gong techniques (internal breathing and movement exercises), developing both the body and mind. It not only strengthens the body but also helps train combat skills, particularly for both offense and defense.
  • Baguazhang involves changing palm techniques and circular movements (walking in circles). In practice, a practitioner uses the circle to develop both internal and external strength. The art is meant to enhance physical health and cultivate combat skills. There is an exception to this circular movement: a set of 64 techniques is practiced in a straight line.
  • Baguazhang is a widely spread traditional Chinese martial art, considered one of the three major internal martial arts. It is also a form of Taoist health preservation, fitness, and self-defense through the principles of Yin-Yang. The practice is built upon eight primary stances and palm methods, integrating the eight major circular hand techniques. The base movements involve steps ranging from one to eight, including sweeping, closing, and shifting footwork. The movement is defined by its circular walking and palm techniques, with the whole body coordinated as one. The practitioner’s movements are described as agile, fluid, and highly coordinated, similar to the flow of clouds or water, with rotations resembling the action of an eagle or a dragon. The hand techniques mainly include thrusting, slashing, lifting, sweeping, horizontal strikes, crashing, pinching, flipping, and supporting.
  • Baguazhang fuses martial techniques with internal practice and moral cultivation, developed by the famous master Dong Haichuan. He integrated martial skills and internal power, drawing on a broad range of practices and incorporating his own rich experience to create a palm-centered technique.
  • The characteristics of Baguazhang include its circular walking and techniques like the “mud-walking step” (Tang Ni Bu), “scissors legs,” and “steady as a sedan chair.” It also involves methods like avoiding the opponent’s attacks by shifting angles and striking from the side. Its effectiveness is demonstrated not only in combat but also in improving health, internal energy, and moral cultivation.
  • Traditional Baguazhang has evolved through continuous study by many masters, based on the principles of the eight trigrams. Its set of techniques is highly flexible, with practitioners often adapting their movements to suit individual styles, especially since the practice has evolved since 2013, moving away from the traditional forms.
  • Baguazhang places great emphasis on agility and adaptability, requiring practitioners to adjust distance and direction in real-time, evading attacks while preparing to strike. The technique incorporates palm strikes that are fluid, utilizing the hand’s versatility in both offensive and defensive situations. These hand methods include pushing, lifting, covering, slashing, crashing, and intercepting.
  • The training’s core principle focuses on coordination and flexibility. The leg movements, in particular, are especially effective for building lower body strength. Baguazhang emphasizes the integration of body and mind, with fluid, smooth transitions that resemble a dragon swimming through the air or an eagle’s precise movements.
  • The practice of Baguazhang includes solo forms, partner drills, and free sparring. It is also practiced with various weapons, such as the saber, sword, staff, and twin axes, with corresponding footwork that mirrors the hand movements. The Baguazhang sword, also known as the “Eight-Plate Saber,” is notable for its length (1.4 meters) and weight (2 kilograms), which exceed that of the average single-edged sword.
  • Baguazhang weapons include:
  • Ziwu Twin Axes (Sun-Moon Heaven-Earth Sword)
  • Baguazhang Saber
  • Baguazhang Staff
  • Baguazhang Spear
  • Spring-Autumn Saber
  • Battle Body Spear
  • Chain Swords
  • Chain Pure Yang Sword
  • Chain Twisted Dragon Staff
  • Five Elements Staff
  • Kunlun Spade, among others.
  • Key Techniques and Movement Styles
  • Baguazhang consists of the following main hand techniques and steps:
  • Palm Styles: Dragon Claw Palm, Ox Tongue Palm, and others. These palms utilize pushing, lifting, covering, leading, carrying, and intercepting movements.
  • Footwork: Various stances and steps such as the “split step,” “hook step,” and “half horse stance.” Foot movements are designed to be smooth, precise, and adaptable, including shifts forward, backward, and in various directions.
  • Leg Techniques: Often involving hidden and visible leg movements. Leg actions focus on agility, and the integration of both legs and palms is central to Baguazhang practice.
  • Body Movement: The body flows like a dragon, requiring twisting, spinning, and turning with fluidity. Body movement is synchronized with hand and foot movements, with each part of the body acting in unison, like a well-tuned machine.
  • Combat Principles
  • Baguazhang integrates a variety of techniques for combat, including kicking, striking, throwing, and grappling. The fundamental principle is to move with the flow of the opponent’s energy, evading direct attacks while using flexible angles to strike. The movements are characterized by adaptability and unpredictability, with a focus on maintaining balance between soft and hard actions.
  • Baguazhang Training Philosophy
  • Baguazhang training begins with walking steps, emphasizing internal cultivation, posture correction, Qi flow, and mastering the technical moves. The eight primary palms serve as the foundation, from which various practical techniques and forms evolve. The training includes both internal and external aspects, requiring practitioners to develop both the physical body and the mind to reach a state of unity.
  • The weapons used in Baguazhang also follow the same principles, with weapons constantly moving and adapting to the practitioner’s body, creating a harmonious flow between hand techniques, footwork, and weaponry.
  • Yin Style Summary
  • A key phrase to describe the Baguazhang practice is: “Walk like the wind, stand like a nail, change steps with clarity, and watch the opponent with your eyes while leading with your hands and feet.” It emphasizes fluidity, awareness, and responsiveness, making the practitioner a master of adaptability and precise, powerful strikes.

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