UPCOMING WORKSHOP SERIES: BAGUA MONKEY BOXING
About Ba Gua Zhang
Daoist Cosmology
Basic Concepts
The Classics
The Eight Animals
Training Syllabus
Training Resources
Online Learning
Introduction to Baguazhang
Baguazhang is one of the three main branches of Internal Gung Fu (the others being Xingyiquanand Taijiquan).
The name literally translates to “Eight Trigram Palm,” referring to the trigrams of the I Ching -the Taoist Book of Changes
With both practical and philosophical roots in daoistspirituality, baguazhangis characterised by quick circular stepping methods and vigorous, intricate, waist driven movements.
Aside from being a devastatingly effective martial art, baguazhangcontains integrated methods for self cultivation
Origins of Baguazhang
The history of Bagua is shrouded in controversy but can be traced back to one man -Tung Hai Chuan(Dong Hai-Chuan)(1796-1880), or simply ‘Tung the fugitive’, a resident of Wen’an district in Hebei Province.
Tung was deliberately vague about the origins of his martial art and many theories have arisen as to the reason why.
One belief is that Tung, himself, invented the form and was too embarrassed to admit it for fear of losing face – attributing his work to ancient sages in order to gain respect and acceptance from his peers and society in general.
Another, belief is that Tung was a wanted man, on the run from the law and that was the reason why he was so vague – Whatever the reasons, one thing is for sure -the art has been added to and subtracted from, over the years, in order to arrive at the highly complex martial and healing form that we have today.
Baguazhang Syllabus (WTBA)
The Classical Circular Form of Jiang Rong-Qiao
The Animal Forms -The include for each of the 8-Animals the ‘Full’ forms, the Qi Shaking Forms and the 2 person (San Sau)Training Sets.
The Linear Form –A long and difficult form emphasizing the fighting aspects of the art and performed as a 2 person learning aid, much like the Pauchui(Cannon Fist) of Taijiquan.
Weaponry –Staff (gun) Linear & Circular forms, Deer Horn Knives, Hook knives, Double Dragon Swords (Jian).
Wooden dummy training, 8 power sets, and an array of qigong, kicking and striking methods and auxillary exercise.
Click here to see the Student Grading Syllabus and Instructor Grading Syllabus
Baguazhang basic concepts
The central core of the system is its form, performed upon the perimeter of a circle generating, both, circular and spiral movements, whilst twisting and turning, and learning to relate our own centre to that of the circle, until all 8 palm changes have been completed.
Since we have two hands that would give us a combination of 64 palms (The I-Ching has 8 trigrams and 64 hexagrams) from which one can derive thousands of applications
Relevance of the Circle
Used by traditional cultures for communal gathering, dance, storytelling, ritual, creating boundaries, enter non-ordinary states of consciousness -magical/transpersonal
Medicine wheel, sufiwhirling dervishes, other shamanic and pagan practices.
Natural for small children to run or spin in circles.
Map of consciousness
The Eight Animals
(coming soon)
Readings:(highly recommended books, available for free download)
Montaigue, E 2004 Baguazhang, The Complete System, Volume One, Moontagu Books
download link: http://www.wtbamembers.com/BaguaV1.pdf
Babin, M 2004 Thoughts on Learning Baguazhang,ISBN 0-9735370-0-0
download link: https://www.scribd.com/doc/132904050/Thoughts-on-Learning-Baguazhang-Michael-Babin
Online Instruction:
Circle Walking
Lesson 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x18Lt2yAuH8
Lesson 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Fh04n_CqI
Bagua Circular Form
Lesson 1a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsomE3ePeMU
Lesson 1b https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OutqYnum4ZY
Lesson 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYhniox7Xf4