Baguazhang

Helen Liang Demonstrates Baguazhang
Derek Cheng demonstrates Bagua Dao

Baguazhang is a martial art that was practised secretly for millennia by Daoist hermits before it emerged from obscurity in the late 19th century C.E. The most famous modern proponent, Don Hai Chuan, became the bodyguard of the Empress Dowager, and was a teacher well respected by China’s most famous masters.
It is characterised by fast circular footwork, agile body movements, and lightning-fast hands. It is one of the famous three Neijia (Internal) styles which also include Taijiquan and Xingyiquan.
Baguazhang training is very aerobic, and can teach you to: “Walk like a dragon, retrieve and spin like an ape, change momentum like an eagle, and be cam and steady like a still tiger.”
The use of open palms instead of fists, and the use of “negative space” is one of the things that makes baguazhang particularly good for defeating multiple opponents.
Bagua contains powerful strikes. But the emphasis on flow and constant change is what gives this art its versatility. The options to choose between strikes, throws, joint locks, pressure point control, and varying degrees of control, make this art useful for self defence and for law enforcement.
Bagua training is very aerobic, and emphasises stability and agility.
The training is based on an understanding of 8 basic palm shapes and their “energetic qualities”. Students learn the natural methods of changing smoothly from one to another, in a way that follows the flow of nature.
Baguazhang was practised for centuries by Daoist hermits before it emerged from obscurity in the late 1800’s. The most famous modern proponent, Dong Hai Chuan, became the bodyguard of the Empress Dowager, and became a teacher well respected by China’s most famous masters.

LEVEL 1

Baguazhang Qigong
Basic Bagua Footwork (Mud Sliding Step) with turning Palms – left and right
Bagua Basic Eight Palms:
Upward Palm,
Downward Palm,
Upright Palm,
Embracing Palm,
Chopping Palm,
Scooping Palm,
Picking Palm,
Drilling Palm
Basic Eight Palms Routine and understanding its applications,
Single Palm Change,
Double Palm Change,
Following Through Palm Change,
Reversing Body Palm Change,
Turning body Palm Change,
Double Embracing Palm Change,
Grinding Body Palm Change,
Rotating Body Palm Change.
Eight Palms Sparring Routine

LEVEL 2

Bagua Deer Hook Sword Routine,
Bagua Body Conditioning
carrying weight,
post training,
two person body conditioning training
Basic Bagua Theory:
What is Bagua
Pre-Heaven arrangement of Bagua
The sixteen key words of Baguazhang

LEVEL 3

Swimming Body Baguazhang Routine and understanding its applications;
Bagua Cane

LEVEL 4

International Bagua Competition Training or other Baguazhang Routines,
Iron Shirt Qigong Training
Bagua Sword,
Bagua Broadsword,
Bagua Staff Routine.
Baguazhang is taught in private lessons. It is also taught in group lessons as part of the Neijia Wushu (Internal Kungfu) Curriculum.