Time:71 mins

Regional Code: All

Language: Chinese

Baguazhang is an internal martial art & exercise form. The name means "Eight Diagrams (or Trigrams) Palm." It is sometimes written instead as Pa Kua Chang - Pa Kua Ch’uan -Baguaquan, or simply abbreviated to Bagua. Baguazhang is soundly linked to Taijiquan (T’ai Chi Ch’uan), & Xingyiquan (Hsing I) which are sometimes referred to as the "Three Sister Arts". These internal martial arts rely heavily on the classical & cosmological views developed in Taoist alchemy and medicine for their foundations. To understand the complexity of internal Chinese martial arts a brief excursion into Taoist thinking is worthwhile for any serious enquiry. The Foundation Thinking of Baguazhang is Rooted in Philosophy Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang - Pa-kua ch'uan) is purportedly derived from the metaphysical diagrams generated from the I-Ching -The Book of Changes. Oldest parts date from 800BC more recent 200AD.

The Taoist vision schematically demonstrated multiplicity of yin-yang possibilities & interrelations through the Pa-kua & other diagrams. Such diagrams served to classically illustrate a interwoven selection of key ideas germane to Taoist visions of change and internal martial arts. Two of the most well known diagrams describe the Tai Chi Principle of Taijiquan & the Eight Correspondences are frequently used as a root expression of the three sister arts.

The earliest known history of Ba Gua begins with Dong (T’ung) Hai-ch'uan (1798-1879) who learned Bagua from a Daoist named Dong Menglin of Jinhua Mountain in Anhui Province. After rising in fame in Bejing (Peking) Dong (Tung) was challenged by Kuo Yen-Shen of Hsing-i ch’uan both were equally matched & stalemate resulted. A pact between these two masters ensured that their future students were to be instructed in both internal styles.

Liu-Jing Ru, National Martial Arts Champion, "China", with nearly 50 years Martial Arts experience in Hsing-I & Ba Gua teaches the foundation of Ba Gua, The Eight Large Palms Form.

This instructional was created in China & is valuable in its offering of a unique opportunity to see a TRUE Master at work.

The instructional is on VCD, playable on most DVD player & computers with CD Rom. The audio is in Mandarin Chinese with forms and their proper performance by an demonstrated by an authentic Master.

BA003