Ba Qua/ Pa Qua

[dtstiachi]

My Tai Chi Headmaster also teaches Ba Qua.

He is teaching a course in it this summer. He told us in class last week that one of the Yang family practicioners fought a Ba Qua practicioner for 3 hours and they fought to a draw. He demonstrated some of the circular forms that are used and did part of the form for us. Unfortunately, he is offering the course in the summer when I will be back home. Oh well, there are my 2 cents.

[Existence_is _suffering]

I want to train in this art so bad! It sounds like a perfect art for me (along with aikido). One thing, I watched some Youtube vids of Fu style bagua and and the practicioners seemed to lack the power I had expected... I'm guessing this was just the practicioners? Also is Bagua affected by "McDojoism"? Thanks,

E.I.S

[Kajukenbopr]

I did already make a thread regarding this style...

however, it is written Pakua or Baguazhang

http://www.karateforums.com/baguazhang-vt31141.html

[Kajukenbopr]

I want to train in this art so bad! It sounds like a perfect art for me (along with aikido). One thing, I watched some Youtube vids of Fu style bagua and and the practicioners seemed to lack the power I had expected... I'm guessing this was just the practicioners? Also is Bagua affected by "McDojoism"? Thanks,

E.I.S

it would be really awkward to learn this art's footwork, though i personally recommend it, the footwork is almost the opposite of what you've been taught at Aikido. If you decide to give it a try, look up Cheng Style bagua, or any of the bagua than came from it.

[Kajukenbopr]

JerryLove,

I know a little ba gua. perhaps you can answer a question i have:

are you familiar with the Chum Choy or Buk Pai forms and do you know of a video resource available for them? Asfar as I know these are the only kicking forms in Pa kua and of course they are difficult.

Second, are y'all associated with that guy in orlando?

in these internal styles, kicking is very restricted, while most styles have some kind of kicks in them, when using, they should not be raised above the waist.

[Kajukenbopr]

i'm speaking from a point of view of the one fighting a pa qua practitioner coz i haven't practiced it. my first encounter i divided his "line" of attack into quadrants. try it you'll see (i just used "line" for lack of a better term i can use)

by the way, all pa qua came from tong hai chuan but it was his students who propagated it and developed thier individual styles just like in karate where there are many ryu out there. right?

this is the main theory behind it, some schools however, like "yin yang baguazhang" this art was not developed by Dong Haichuan and 9 dragon baguazhang claims it to be a 400 year old art, however, this last allegation has yet to be proven right by historical accounts.

Dong Hai Chuan said he learned his walking exercises from a Taoist monk, but the information comes from the late 19th century and its hard to corroborate what and where he learned.

[Kajukenbopr]

I have to make something clear about this art- the similarities with Taichi extend to the repetition of movements to train muscle memory to move fast and precisely. AS WITH TAICHI, LEARNING THE FORMS, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEARNING THE ART.

However, it differs from TaiChi in the complexity of the movements, which have to be intricate to guarantee that you will damage an opponent in a way it makes it easy to counter more opponents.

Footwork is also much different from Taichi- walking the circle and depending on the style, the aim is to get at an angle from the sides, or the back of the opponent to counter a bigger opponent without using too much strength.

While Taichi practices complete relaxation throughout the forms, Bagua practitioners might be encouraged to use weighted vest, weights on the arms, and in some schools either Iron Palm or Cotton palm are learned to ensure hand strength.

[Tiger1962]

Forgive my ignorance but I know nothing on Pa Qua and I'm trying to find out more specific information on this particular style. Are there throws or flips in this style? Contact sparring? Any weapon training involved ?

[joesteph]

While Taichi practices complete relaxation throughout the forms, Bagua practitioners might be encouraged to use weighted vest, weights on the arms, and in some schools either Iron Palm or Cotton palm are learned to ensure hand strength.

I didn't realize this about Bagua, having studied just a bit of it when I was doing Taiji, to gather something of what it was about. Perhaps this is why Taiji is often used more "meditatively" and was even utilized as part of my father's therapy (nothing complex; balance/coordination focus) after he had a mild stroke.

[Kajukenbopr]

Forgive my ignorance but I know nothing on Pa Qua and I'm trying to find out more specific information on this particular style. Are there throws or flips in this style? Contact sparring? Any weapon training involved ?

Look up baguazhang.

baguazhang is a style which is based around walking in circles.

there are chinese throws, chin na, pressure points, and HEAVY weapon training( most bagua weapons are bigger than usual)

Contact in bagua consists of strong movements- most applications have linear forms.