Edward here again. I have a special affection for Baguazhang because it is a unique and special art.
How is it unique and special?
I’ll explain the key ideas then get more specific about style, the courses, and how to choose what is right for you if you want to learn Baguazhang.
What’s special about Baguazhang?
Bagua is a great and adaptable exercise. Twisting and turning it works the joints, cardio, coordination and focus to leave your body feeling strong, balanced and alive.
Martially the footwork creates angles and setups for strikes and throws. The body twisting of the movement is an amazing education in locks and unbalancing.
So far so good.
But lots of martial arts build fitness, and have strikes locks and throws. What’s different about Bagua?
What’s unique is that Bagua does things almost inside-out compared to many martial arts.
Power is present, but it’s hidden. The flowing movements look more like dancing than fighting. Stability is developed through instability.
Equally importantly the physical movements are built on a frame that simple, natural but supremely adaptable.
Baguazhang is built out of principles that you can apply to any situation. You are a big strong person? Ok, you can use Bagua. You are a small person? You can use Bagua.
You have no previous training? For all its apparent strangeness there are readily accessible skills in Baguazhang, providing the teaching method is clear and honest.
You have previous martial training? The frames and methods that Bagua gives you can make you better at what you do already.
Bagua is just plain cool that way. This is why many experienced martial artists find there way to learn Baguazhang after years of other practice.
What is the translation of Baguazhang?
Baguazhang translates literally as eight trigram palm. In this context, palm means martial art broadly.
Palm does not mean Baguazhang is limited to palm strikes, even if it is known for palm strikes. The art is adaptable remember, and like all Chinese martial arts includes kicks, throws, and more. There is a saying the whole body is a palm. Every part of the body can be used.
A trigram is a set of three lines that can be complete (yang) or broken yin. There are eight possible combinations of yin/yang over three lines. Yin and yang and the eight trigrams are the core of the ancient Chinese classic the Yijing.
You can find many links between the theory of Yijing with the movements and principles of Baguazhang. These links can be very practical as well as adding a rich, fascinating layer of study for those interested in Chinese philosophy.
How many styles of Baguazhang are there?
There are many different styles, though they all have certain things in common. They all centre the practice around the special method of circle walking.
There are so many styles because the founder of Bagua attracted high-level martial artists, he taught them the core skills and concepts which they then adapted to their previous training.
The most well-known styles are Cheng, Yin, Liang, Jiang and Gao.
I practice and teach the Gao style.
The systems that I teach do not require previous martial training though. It has methods that have developed over the generations to help you build up through foundations to advanced skills.
Is Bagua better than Tai Chi?
Bagua is not better, it’s different.
The two arts have a lot in common, they both provide sophisticated health and martial methods that do not depend on strength. They spring from similar cultural and theoretical roots. In many ways they are complementary.
For some people Bagua is more interesting – the movements can be challenging in terms of balance and coordination, they tend to be more dynamic.
For people who think Tai Chi might be boring, Bagua offers something easier to get into.
Is Baguazhang Daoist?
Any method that has sprung out of Chinese culture has been influenced by Daoism, but that does not mean it is necessarily or exclusively Daoist.
Daoism is an extraordinarily broad and diverse collection of writings, theories, practices, sects, rituals, ideas and festivals. Over the centuries Daoism has absorbed aspects of Buddhism and other religions, folk practices, and technological advancements.
One theory of the origin of Bagua is that the founder learned a kind of Daoist meditation practice that involved walking in circles around a temple incense burner. He then combined this practice with his previous martial training.
It is possible to approach Baguazhang from a Daoist perspective, but not necessary. The methods work for anyone. Flexible and adaptable remember.
Is Baguazhang Qigong or meditation?
In many ways, you can look at all internal martial arts as Qigong training and meditation in movement.
The deliberate integration of qigong elements into the movements is what makes these arts so fascinating and effective, and why you feel so good after practice.
Within the system that I teach, some exercises emphasise the qigong aspect of movement, and others in which meditative focus is the primary feature.
There are some very specific methods that you learn in the courses to develop and understand these aspects of practice.
What’s the best way to learn Baguazhang?
The best way to learn is in person. But there are very few qualified and experienced teachers, so you are unlikely to live close to one.
The next best way is in a format where you can get live feedback from a teacher. You can get this in Zoom classes (private or public).
You can also join one of the online courses. These have extensive videos, and explanations as well as places to ask questions or share your practice to make sure you do not go wrong.
When you join an online course you get discounts and priority treatment for Zoom classes.
The worst way to learn Bagua is via Youtube. I’ve met people who have wasted huge amounts of time this way. You will not get the specific details that make the art work. You won’t get corrections. You will get distractions.
At this moment there are two online courses where you can learn Baguazhang.
Bagua circle walking – with this you get the foundations, the core exercises and theory you need to have a personal Bagua practice. It does not include martial practice, but will set you up for martial practice if you choose.
This course is a good place to start. It may be all you need. Less is more.
Gao style Baguazhang – The complete syllabus of the Gao style system, from basics to advanced. As well as forms, theory, and foundation training, You can also learn partner drills and martial applications. I add material to this course regularly. You want a complete (rather large) system, here it is.
With these courses, if you feel like you have not learned anything useful, you can get your money back.
Gao style Baguazhang