Baguazhang is one of the most complex & advanced Northern Chinese Martial Arts, & generally considered the last major development of Classical Styles during the Qing Dynasty. One of the most striking features of Baguazhang is the large number of Sub-Styles that exist, said to be as many variations as there are years of history. While the choreography of the routines varies greatly, the technical aspects of the training share a common foundation in Turning Palm. Despite its huge variety of expressions, the core of Baguazhang remains the same across the Sub-Styles.
In this piece, I will outline the standard elements that make up Baguazhang, as I practice & teach it. This does not include the various Sub-Styles I’ve learned, such as Yin Style or Sun Style, or the Variant Curricula such as the Eight Animal Palms Method or the Hidden Legs Method. Additionally, the Partner Training, Application Method, & Weapons Training are also absent.
Now, let’s take a look at “Uncle’s Style” of Baguazhang.
The Pre-Heaven & Post-Heaven arrangements of the Eight Signs•老八掌/Lao Ba Zhang – Old Eight Palms
雙下沉掌/Shuang Xia Chen Zhang – Double Lower Sinking Palm
雙托天掌/Shuang Tuo Tian Zhang – Double Supporting Heaven Palm
獅子滾球掌/Shizi Gun Qiu Zhang – Lion Rolls the Ball Palm
雙前撞掌/Shuang Qian Zhuang Zhang – Double Forward Crashing Palm
指天劃地掌/Zhi Tian Hua Di Zhang – Point to Heaven Scratch the Earth Palm
前後雙撞掌/Qian Hou Shuang Zhuang Zhang – Front & Back Double Crashing Palm
抱掌/Bao Zhang – Embracing Palm
推磨掌/Tui Mo Zhang – Millstone Pushing Palm
•八母掌/Ba Mu Zhang – Eight Mother Palms
推/Tui – Push
托/Tuo – Lift
帶/Dai – Carry
領/Ling – Lead
搬/Ban – Move
扣/Kou – Capture
劈/Pi – Chop
進/Jin – Enter
•八勢掌/Ba Shi Zhang – Eight Patterns Palms
穿/Chuan – Penetrate
按/An – Depress
挑/Tiao – Raise
掖/Ye – Fold
削/Xiao – Pare
探/Tan – Probe
撞/Zhuang – Crash
撩/Liao – Scoop
•八大掌/Ba Da Zhang – Eight Main Palms
單換掌/Dan Huan Zhang – Single Changing Palm
雙換掌/Shuang Huan Zhang – Double Changing Palm
順勢掌/Shunshi Zhang – Taking Advantage Palm
背身掌/Bei Shen Zhang – Behind the Back Palm
轉身掌Zhuan Shen Zhang – Turning Body Palm
雙抱掌/Shuang Bao Zhang – Double Embracing Palm
磨身掌/Mo Shen Zhang – Grinding Body Palm
翻身掌/Fan Shen Zhang – Overturning Body Palm
•游身掌/You Shen Zhang – Swimming Body Palm
游身掌/You Shen Zhang -Swimming Body Palm
旋身掌/Xuan Shen Zhang -Whirling Body Palm
搖身掌/Yao Shen Zhang – Shaking Body Palm
閃身掌/Shan Shen Zhang – Dodging Body Palm
穿劈掌/Chuan Pi Zhang – Penetrating Chopping Palm
轉身掌/Zhuan Shen Zhang – Turning Body Palm
牽帶掌/Qian Dai Zhang – Leading Carrying Palm
龍行掌/Long Xing Zhang – Dragon Moving Palm
