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Thread: Bagua Zhang Prinicpals

  1. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ray Pina View Post
    How has this changing art changed, or evolved/developed, to remain relevant as we approach 2010?

    What are folks doing and working on?
    i dont think it really needs to change. humans have not changed physically, so no need to really change baguazhang.

    perhaps the way it is taught may have changed though. many teachers of 50 years ago or before than would teach in just a certain style. some would never answer any questions, or show something just once or twice. it is a bit different now. and the further releasing of info which used to be kept more privately is another difference.

    edit: as long as people need to stay fit, or fight eachother, or grow as a person, etc, it will remain relevant.
    Last edited by KTS; 12-06-2009 at 11:53 PM.

  2. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Ray Pina View Post
    How has this changing art changed, or evolved/developed, to remain relevant as we approach 2010?

    What are folks doing and working on?
    There is so much in the Bagua curriculum that youll quickly grasp that the learning never stops, no matter how much effort or moments of practicing. There are always enlightenment of biomechanics, energy, speed, power, mind, balance, and the attempts to be a coherent unit of distributing all these characteristics throughout the body. The art itself changes on how the art is challenged by the practitioner. The aspiring seeker would make additive changes whether its with the environment setting(fighting the elements), more weight added when performing the forms, and provide muscle and mental confusion to keep building up your chi, exterior and interior bodily foundations.

    Good example is the prominent student who practices Bagua through various drills to emphasize and isolate their weakness is to challenge your body like a tool to only make discoveries to prolong, build up and overcome the difficult aspects of your training. Pretty much what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger. The student who truly tests and gets creative on top of what is RIGHTFULLY taught only surpasses and reconcile the frequent changes of Baguazhang. You cant have a student walk around circles and practice vaguely to be a champion. The one who goes the extra mile are those who doctor and expand Baguazhang, thus adding on the historical foundation and creating your own avenue of kundalini with Baguazhang. You cant have an artist paint with one brush his/her whole life. Soon he/she finds out other techniques and materials he/she can use to attain a more elaborate, more effective, well diverse mosaic outcome. It is the same with Baguazhang. Your question also refers to how Baguazhang revolved to be relevant of modern day living....there is simple answer to that concern. To preserve what is tradition and to practice with what is modern only makes you more sufficient and adaptive to something new (doesnt have to relate to fighting at all!). The time to truly know one self is the time to truly understand what surrounds you. Only then the ever transcending epiphanies of reality becomes more vibrant to you.
    Last edited by 3DeeMonk; 12-08-2009 at 07:34 PM.

  3. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Chiang Po View Post
    Just an observation, but this is sort of a contradiction. I watched a video of a young man walking around a tree. First one way and then the other. What would be gained by this?
    There is more than what meets the eye. To accurately register a physical substitution of an assailant and to change your direction off a focal point builds up diversity in your strides. Provides understanding of balance of different formations of your body to different oddly shaped trees (compare to a low branch as to a straight tree trunk). Low branches offer you to get lower but not lose balance and have knees not pass toes, ducking the branch while maintaining balance with a low gravitational center. The bark of the tree roughens forearms and legs when implementing roll over techniques.

    You dont get dizzy since you also build up durability with constant rotation. When you do get dizzy quicker than usual, that is an early sign of you getting sick...allowing you to quickly identify something wrong with yourself since you fully comprehend your body. You can with stand vertigo.

    Perform different strikes to each step you take. Generate torque from the core of your waist to your limbs while trying to maintain balance, deliver a blow, provide strength and speed all at the same time. There are training establishments that have you walk around multiple poles/trees, resembling to a crowd of people to maneuver with. Anyone who will do the straight forward, typical boxing traits of attacking...would have a huge wake up call when you quickly can place yourself behind the guy, diverting his intent which provides control off of any movements from your opponents tendencies.

    Much more realization of this drill comes to surface, instead of asking questions, you must try. Get some one to properly teach you and provide ideas to expand the use of walking around a tree. Then try it with weapons....try it holding an empty gun (I like to change it up and use modern weapons with traditional combat techniques...I use shot gun), familiarize and challenge the art, yourself, the weapon and your elements. Get comfortable with whatever is thrown at you. Dont take my word for it...get up and put that remote down and push yourself to the limit to find that you have no limits....

  4. #19
    There is more to it than walking around trees...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gIvq2BXzzg


    Video is not too hot but the idea of Bagua implemented with multiple opponents is there. Its so unorthodox, so adaptive that you can only absorb its effectiveness. Hope this provides light to those who are new and in the dark.

  5. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3DeeMonk View Post
    There is more to it than walking around trees...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gIvq2BXzzg


    Video is not too hot but the idea of Bagua implemented with multiple opponents is there. Its so unorthodox, so adaptive that you can only absorb its effectiveness. Hope this provides light to those who are new and in the dark.
    This is a GREAT drill, especially if done with moderate or stronger contact.

    Sorry to OT slightly: our ZRM has a drill we call the "bar fight drill." It's similar to this, only the defender changes after 3 attacks. Say in a group of six people, #1 is the defender. #2 attacks #1, who attempts to deal with it. The rest count 3 seconds, and then another person attacks - usually the person closest, let's say #4. #1 again attempts to deal; if he hasn't resolved the engagement with #2, he's now forced to deal with both #2 AND #4. Everyone else counts 3 seconds, and then a third person attacks - say #6. Again, if #1 hasn't been able to resolve the other encounters, he may be faced with all 3 attackers. If, however, #1 manages to deal with all 3, HE now becomes an aggressor - choosing to attack one of the 3 that didn't attack him. For instance, if he (#1) attacks #5, then #5 becomes the defender, and #1 becomes the first attacker. Everyone else counts 3 seconds between attacks, while 2 other people attack #5. When #5 has had 3 attacks, he now goes on the offense, attacking someone who didn't play this round. The drill continues in this way until everyone's had at least one go at being the defender. Even better, keep going until everyone's limp.

    It's a crazy fun drill, unfortunately our problem of late has been getting enough people at that level together at the same time. If you have enough people to try it, I totally recommend this variation.
    Last edited by Xiao3 Meng4; 12-08-2009 at 09:21 PM.
    "It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own." -Cicero

  6. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3DeeMonk View Post
    Get some one to properly teach you and provide ideas to expand the use of walking around a tree. Then try it with weapons....try it holding an empty gun (I like to change it up and use modern weapons with traditional combat techniques...I use shot gun), familiarize and challenge the art, yourself, the weapon and your elements. Get comfortable with whatever is thrown at you. Dont take my word for it...get up and put that remote down and push yourself to the limit to find that you have no limits....
    Dee,
    Ever done "move, draw to retention, index-point-shoot, change direction, extend to aimed fire" all while keeping the bagua body?

    Try it.. it's a blast. Quite literally it's a blast if you forget to clear your weapon
    "The first stage is to get the Gang( hard, solid power). every movement should be done with full power and in hard way, also need to get the twisting and wrapping power, whole body's tendon and bones need to be stretched to get the Gang( hard) power. "
    -Bi Tianzou -

  7. #22
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    so true...

    Quote Originally Posted by 3DeeMonk View Post
    There is so much in the Bagua curriculum that youll quickly grasp that the learning never stops, no matter how much effort or moments of practicing. There are always enlightenment of biomechanics, energy, speed, power, mind, balance, and the attempts to be a coherent unit of distributing all these characteristics throughout the body. The art itself changes on how the art is challenged by the practitioner. The aspiring seeker would make additive changes whether its with the environment setting(fighting the elements), more weight added when performing the forms, and provide muscle and mental confusion to keep building up your chi, exterior and interior bodily foundations.

    Good example is the prominent student who practices Bagua through various drills to emphasize and isolate their weakness is to challenge your body like a tool to only make discoveries to prolong, build up and overcome the difficult aspects of your training. Pretty much what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger. The student who truly tests and gets creative on top of what is RIGHTFULLY taught only surpasses and reconcile the frequent changes of Baguazhang. You cant have a student walk around circles and practice vaguely to be a champion. The one who goes the extra mile are those who doctor and expand Baguazhang, thus adding on the historical foundation and creating your own avenue of kundalini with Baguazhang.
    This describes very much of what I "aspire to" in taijiquan... While mostly not circling - but sometimes circling - every movement from day one has multiple opponent "steps".

    I have maybe 20 good years left to me, and there is not enough time for me to learn it all.... a future Master must start as a younger person in order to have enough time to learn mastery..... and even younger still to have enough time to (learn enough to) become the Grandmaster. Some Masters go so far as to learn other internal systems as well... and be able to integrate the best of them together.
    .... Skip

  8. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skip J. View Post

    I have maybe 20 good years left to me, and there is not enough time for me to learn it all.... a future Master must start as a younger person in order to have enough time to learn mastery..... and even younger still to have enough time to (learn enough to) become the Grandmaster. Some Masters go so far as to learn other internal systems as well... and be able to integrate the best of them together.
    This is one reason why it is super important to get the best quality teacher one possibly can. Since few westerners come from "wushu families" by birth, and usually don't train seriously until at least their 20s.. and can't spend as much time on it as the old days.. it would behoove the bottom-feeders (among whom I count myself) to get the best quality instruction possible.

    No time to waste on less than the best one can find. The skills are high but the years of life are short!
    "The first stage is to get the Gang( hard, solid power). every movement should be done with full power and in hard way, also need to get the twisting and wrapping power, whole body's tendon and bones need to be stretched to get the Gang( hard) power. "
    -Bi Tianzou -

  9. #24
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    faster, faster

    Quote Originally Posted by dimethylsea View Post
    This is one reason why it is super important to get the best quality teacher one possibly can. Since few westerners come from "wushu families" by birth, and usually don't train seriously until at least their 20s.. and can't spend as much time on it as the old days.. it would behoove the bottom-feeders (among whom I count myself) to get the best quality instruction possible.

    No time to waste on less than the best one can find. The skills are high but the years of life are short!
    Yesssss.... I was 56 when I started, and I'm 61 now, and my Dad lived to be 78; so the math is that time is running out.... not that I let that bother me any... but I am very picky about what I spend my own time on...

    On the other hand, my instructor would teach me as fast as I can learn - but I do have a limit as to how much I can learn at a time. Therein lies the "time limitation" factor... Most folks start taiji at an older age than me, so I have no complaints. I take every workshop our Master gives, consequently, "my cup runneth over" so to speak... I compete once per year, and may do more than that in the future.
    .... Skip

  10. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skip J. View Post
    Yesssss.... I was 56 when I started, and I'm 61 now, and my Dad lived to be 78; so the math is that time is running out.... not that I let that bother me any... but I am very picky about what I spend my own time on...
    You make me feel very lucky. I got started with bagua as my first art and first real athletic interest at 24. But at 35 I'm starting to get a sense of where I am versus where I should be.. and there is not, as you say, nearly enough time.
    "The first stage is to get the Gang( hard, solid power). every movement should be done with full power and in hard way, also need to get the twisting and wrapping power, whole body's tendon and bones need to be stretched to get the Gang( hard) power. "
    -Bi Tianzou -

  11. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by dimethylsea View Post
    This is one reason why it is super important to get the best quality teacher one possibly can. Since few westerners come from "wushu families" by birth, and usually don't train seriously until at least their 20s.. and can't spend as much time on it as the old days.. it would behoove the bottom-feeders (among whom I count myself) to get the best quality instruction possible.
    The "wushu family" tradition is a recent phenomenon and it meant little if one did not want to follow tradition or did not want to practice. 'Eating bitter' was essential whether you were a family memeber or a stranger so to be associated with one family or the next, by itself, is not a guarantee of expertise or skill.
    You know we have all seen the "hangers on" who state they were in the presence of famous master zed but when you ask them to explain this or that, they are as mystified as their audience!

    Better said, it MAY be the depth of instruction and actual showing/explaining of such that is the mark of excellence.

  12. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by mawali View Post
    The "wushu family" tradition is a recent phenomenon and it meant little if one did not want to follow tradition or did not want to practice. .
    If this is a "recent phenomena" in your opinion then we must be talking about different things. When I say "wushu family" I am simply talking about people who come from a family or clan with a strong martial history and/or a "family style".

    In this sense the Chen clan is a "wushu family". There are "families with a martial arts tradition" in other cultures also. The Filipino culture is an excellent example.
    "The first stage is to get the Gang( hard, solid power). every movement should be done with full power and in hard way, also need to get the twisting and wrapping power, whole body's tendon and bones need to be stretched to get the Gang( hard) power. "
    -Bi Tianzou -

  13. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by dimethylsea View Post
    Dee,
    Ever done "move, draw to retention, index-point-shoot, change direction, extend to aimed fire" all while keeping the bagua body?

    Try it.. it's a blast. Quite literally it's a blast if you forget to clear your weapon
    Excuse my late response....seems like I am not the only one that has fun with circle walking with guns!

    My recent fun moments is phoenix posture with a crooked bar,shotgun or Naginata/Chinese Guan Dao. It really helps build your shoulders and level your waist to see the science in posture for less strain while walking.

    Everything I do, I find myself doing 7 core footwork patterns of the first 4 animal systems in Yin. From washing dishes, to cutting the grass....Bagua is in the blood.

    It is so great to share ideas here and expand with other kungfu brothers. I SERIOUSLY THINK EVERYONE should practice some type of internal martial arts...it just makes you a better person, creative and have longevity.

    -Dee

  14. #29
    Philbert is having a bad day and Philbert decided to remove the offensive material from this post and not delete it because it amuses him so.
    Last edited by PHILBERT; 01-01-2011 at 08:00 PM.

  15. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by dimethylsea View Post
    Gao Bagua Principles......

    Qing。清 Qing Liang Yi 清两仪 Understand Yin and Yang
    Ming。明 Ming san Jie 明三节 Clear the 3 sections
    Qi。齐 Qi Si Shao 齐四稍 Work the 4 ends together
    Let's talk about these above ones. Does your bagua style or school train these principals?

    For instance.. the first bagua style I studied had a version of the Qing。清 principal (knowing Yin and Yang), as well as an interest in the idea of a "trinity principal".
    The four ends principal is something that wasn't part of that style.


    Qing Liang Yi means understand Yin and Yang. The Yin and the Yang, they oppose each other, they fight each other, and as they struggle and contend their power increases and grows.

    Ming San Jie means lots of things have three sections, a *root* section where power comes from, a *middle* section to transmit the power, and an *end* section where the power is expressed.

    Anyone else have a "Four" or "Four Ends" principal in their bagua?
    "The first stage is to get the Gang( hard, solid power). every movement should be done with full power and in hard way, also need to get the twisting and wrapping power, whole body's tendon and bones need to be stretched to get the Gang( hard) power. "
    -Bi Tianzou -

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