Baguazhang
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! The 8 palms are known as:
No.1 Palm - Representing Heaven, No.2 Palm - Representing Earth, No.3 Palm - Representing Fire, No.4 Palm - Representing Thunder, No.5 Palm - Representing Wind, No.6 Palm - Representing Water, No.7 Palm - Representing Mountain, No.8 Palm - Representing Clouds.
It is said that Baguazhang has the fastest footwork of any martial art.... this can be attributed to its unique stepping method known as 'mud-stepping'. However, one should note that this a most excellent training method for strengthening the legs, while teaching us effective kicking, balance, timing, coordination etc. - all the prerequisites of any fighting system - and is NOT how we move in a realistic self-defence situation, where the feet usually take care of themselves in 'natural stances'!!
Baguazhang consists of several forms and countless training methods thus, giving us a complete fighting and healing system much like Taijiquan. The forms can be generally broken into:
The Circular Form - This is the most commonly known form.
The Animal Forms - These can be broken down into 3 sections comprising of; The 8 Animal forms, the Animal Qi Shaking Forms and the 2 person Animal Training Sets.
The Linear Form - This a rare and little known form emphasizing the fighting aspects of the art and performed as a 2 person learning aid, much like the Pauchui of Taijiquan.
The fighting art of Baguazhang has been much misunderstood in modern times, leading to some truly exotic fighting techniques being practiced today, alongside purportedly mind-bending esoteric interpretations of certain ideas! This is not our belief...!
Like all good martial arts, Baguazhang develops certain core skills and ideas, giving us the tools which are considered prerequisites of self-defence. However, one must absolutely make a clear distinction between martial arts & self-defence - they are NOT the same thing!
Martial arts are basically designed to teach us certain skills and principles - practicing them does not mean that the practitioner knows how to fight!
Self-defence, however, is where we take these skills and ideas and transfer them into a realistic fighting art for the street through specific training methods.
Baguazhang has 2 main methods of attack and defense:
The larger persons method - for those who are literally able to smash their way through any obstacle offered by their opponent in order to reach their centre and..
The smaller persons method - reliant more upon the evasive techniques developed through the circular form by moving rapidly to either side and attacking from the rear!
As a healing art Baguazhang is just as effective as Taijiquan.
It, too, acts upon the acupuncture meridians of the human body, sending out Qi along these channels while healing and nourishing the organs concerned.
The constant twisting, turning, and bending during form practice is a great physical exercise for the joints, muscles, tendons and bones as well as the internal organs.
The art of Tung the fugitive was proliferated throughout China by his disciples and their students in turn - Sun Lu-Tang being perhaps the most famed & gifted of the Masters. The genealogy of our school follows as:
Tung Hai-Chuan
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Chang Chao-Tung
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Chiang Jung-Chiao
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Ho Ho-Choy
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Erle Montaigue
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Nasser Butt & Elliot Morris
This is by no means a detailed account of Baguazhang, but merely an introduction to this amazing art.