Bagua (Pa Kua)
A brief overview of the martial art of BaGua (pakua) written by Mike Patterson
BaGuaZhang
(8 Trigrams Palm)
BaGuaZhang or PakuaChang is the second of the "three sisters" of Neijia, or Internal Martial Arts (Kung Fu) practice. The Neijia School of thought is comprised of Bagua, Xingyi and Taiji as primary disciplines.
There are many different styles of Baguazhang being practiced today. It has been long thought that the diversification stems from early teachers of this art imparting different training structures to their pupils depending on the prior martial background the student carried into the study of Bagua.
Regardless of the reasons, the yield is a multitude of different styles in practice and widely recognized today.
Each style of Baguazhang has a different flavor, but the appearance of the form, regardless of family, will have certain characteristics that remain a constant. Each method will also contain certain unique techniques and training methods that may set it apart from the other methods, or families as they are sometimes called.
For example: The Lung Hsin (Dragon Heart) style is a powerful integration of smooth angular transition coupled with the characteristic spriral winding and unwinding of Bagua, yielding an appearance that is not entirely unlike stringing together a series of Xingyi turning sequences in terms of visual effect.
In contrast, the You Lung Hsing (Swimming Dragon Form) has the appearance of a languid, continuous expanding and contracting spiral that is truly inspiring and visually stunning at high speeds.
Compare any of the other methods to these two and you will get yet again the combination of same, yet not same, which is perhaps fitting for an art that derives its principles from the I Ching or Book Of Change.
Bagua's tactical principles of constant motion, bait and switch, hit and run, and blending with the ever changing canvas that is combat remain a constant throughout all the various styles. As do the mechanical methods of closing and opening the body with spiral-like power.
There are several recognized spelling and/or renderings of this arts name. The most common now perhaps being BaGuaZhang from the newer PinYin system of Chinese phonetics, or PaKuaChang from the Wade/Giles. Other common spellings include the abbreviated Bagua, Pakua or Pa-Kua. Also, on occasion an apostrophe is added, as in Pa Kua Ch'ang to further emphasize the pronunciation.
Let me share with you a few of our perspectives on the key aspects of the Chinese Internal Art forms of kung fu... Follow the other links within the Bagua section... Body, Characteristics, Goals, History, Mind, Spirit or Internal Vs. External, to learn more about this internal martial art form.
Here is a video sampling of BaGua (pakua) movement and application.
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. The videos of our Bagua series have won International acclaim and recognition as the "Finest Instructional Videos by far of their kind on the market today." This video is a necessity as a beginning point for the serious Bagua student. The video starts by taking you very slowly through the finer points of Walking the circle, with strict attention to detail. Then it moves into the Eight "Serving Tea Exercises" which are used to increase flexibility initially and later become the foundation for the "coiling and uncoiling" energy of Bagua. Then the video goes on to present the eight "Bagua Pole Exercises" which teach incredible sensitivity and provide the foundation of real skill in the Bagua Sticking Energy. These exercises were contrived and developed by Shrfu Patterson in the 1980's while looking for better ways to develop "ting jing" or "listening" ability in addition to the more common two person practices in pursuit of same. Simply Incredible Stuff! Complete applications of the eight Bagua Pole Exercises are shown sequentially. A truly helpful experience for the Bagua practitioner to strengthen foundation and ability.
Running time = 32 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Multiple Camera Angles
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at both one quarter and half speeds of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. The videos of our Pa Kua series have won International acclaim and recognition as the "Finest Instructional Videos by far of their kind on the market today." This video has so many innovative features it has become one of the most popular of all our videos. It is structured for making things easier to learn from video. It is truly ahead of its time. The video takes you through the opening and Kuas One through Four of the Ba Chang Bien Hsing (The Eight Continuous Variations) form. This form is known for the characteristics of: Long, Fluid Changes; Easily applicable techniques and an emphasis on "Shuai" (Throwing). The video proceeds step by step, side by side with voice over guiding you right along with the movements and pointing things out to you as if you were right there in class! Volumes One and Two present complete applications of this fluid fighting style breaking the entire form down sequentially. A truly helpful experience. Simply Incredible Stuff!
Running time = 31 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at both one quarter and half speeds of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. The videos of our Pa Kua series have won International acclaim and recognition as the "Finest Instructional Videos by far of their kind on the market today." This video has so many innovative features it has become one of the most popular of all our videos. It is structured for making things easier to learn from video. It is truly ahead of its time. The video takes you through the remaining Kuas Five through Eight of the Ba Chang Bien Hsing (The Eight Continuous Variations) form. This form is known for the characteristics of: Long, Fluid Changes; Easily applicable techniques and an emphasis on "Shuai" (Throwing). The video proceeds step by step, side by side with voice over guiding you right along with the movements and pointing things out to you as if you were right there in class! Volumes One and Two present complete applications of this fluid fighting style breaking the entire form down sequentially. A truly helpful experience. Simply Incredible Stuff!
Running time = 34 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles