|
Styles
Baguazhang
Baguazhang is literally translated as Eight Trigram Palm. This style is one of the three internal styles of China. Bagua generates chi (internal energy) for both health and combat purposes. Baguazhang uses palm techniques exclusively.This makes Bagua distinct from Xing Yi and Taiji styles, both of which incorporate fist techniques.
Baguazhang’s movements imitate the Taoist symbol of the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). Techniques are demonstrated while walking low in a static circle. The practice of circular walking has three intentions: 1) confuse the opponent, 2) exhaust the opponent, and 3) absorb natural chi evenly from all directions. The health benefits of this circle walking helps with the cultivation of chi. This practice helps ensure longtime practitioners are not only excellent fighters but also live extremely long lives.
Baguazhang is intended to be smooth and coordinated, with the body employed as a whole. No reliance is placed on using muscle power generated from a single portion of the body. The source of power in Baguazhang is the Dantian, or lower part of the abdomen two inches below the navel. The Dantian is considered to be the 'receptacle' for chi in the body.
Baguazhang has a heavy emphasis on coiling and uncoiling movements. This art helps develop the ability to rapidly change directions to evade the opponent while using the hands to distract the opponent from devastating kicks and throws. Long hours of practice condition the palms to penetrate flesh, grapple joints, and to violently disrupt the flow of chi.
Meihuazhuang
Meihuazhuang means plum blossom fist or post. The basic training routine for Meihuazhuang known as the Jiazi serves as the foundation upon which other martial arts skills are built upon. The structure of the Jiazi is strange in that it is not necessarily composed of “fighting postures/stances” but 5 static stances called zhuangbu and moving steps called xingbu. Zhuangbu and Xingbu provide foundational skills for the practitioner.
The static stances (zhuangbu) are composed of 5 stances — Da, Shun, Ao (Rao), Xiao, Bai. Each stance is held motionless for 3—5 breaths to develop the chi and strength. Through the cycle of relaxed, expanded stances, the muscles and tendons are stretched and strengthened. The joints “open” making them stable, strong and flexible and the limbs become coordinated with the body.
The Jiazi serves to train the collection and flow of qi, bring about correct postural alignment and body relaxation, lower the center of gravity, strengthen the body, develop light and rapid footwork and focus the mind. Jiazi training helps achieve the correct body posture alignments to ensure a smooth flow of internal energy and harmonize the coordination of the arms, legs and body. The moving steps (xingbu) improve the coordination of the body and at the same time, develop attack, ambush, outflanking and retreating techniques.
The static stances and moving steps are linked together to form the basic structure of the Jiazi. The basic pattern of the Jiazi contains eight directions, arranged according to the four cardinal directions and the intermediary diagonal directions. This pattern is known as the Simen or, literally, the “Four Doors”. The five stances are performed in each of the directions (also referred to as “corners”) and the overall pattern created resembles a plum flower in full bloom. These “corners” are connected by the moving steps which act like the stem and branches of the plum blossom.
|
