Ba Gua Quan

8 Trigram Form

Pa Kua Chuan

Training

In order to optimize your training, it is suggested you establish a training schedule.  Since not all students are sure what to do or how to do this, here are some suggestions. 

1. It is always best to practice everyday, try your best even if it is 5 minutes. 
2. It is better to practice more times per week than to practice less but for a longer duration.  Simply the repition daily, or regularyly, is needed to retain and progress.  Hence refer to rule number 1, practice daily.
3. The more you practice, the better you will get. 

Recommended 30 - 45 Minute Training Regimen

• Warm-up before you start to get deep into your workout, 5 - 10 minutes. 
• Practice at least two of the eight "Basic Stances," 10 sets each stance, 5 minutes. 
• Practice all of the newest material you are learning every workout, 10 minutes. 
• Practice at least one of you basic forms three times, 5 minutes.
• Practice at least one of your intermediate forms three times, 5 minutes. 
• Pracitce at least one of your advanced forms at least three times, 10 minutes. 
• Practice qigong, standing meditation for at least 5 minutes to cool down and center.
• If at all possible, try to practice at least every other day. 

Health

Stress relief, increased muscle strength, improved coordination, improved flexibility, lowering of blood pressure, improve arthritis, increase bone density, Improve your cardio vascular system, etc...

Self Defense

Gain the self confidence to defend yourself, your family, and your friends if necessary. 

Mind~Body~Spirit

Bring the Mind, Body, & Spirit together through the meditative or focus training.

Pa Kua Chuan History

Ba Gua Quan is one of the three major internal Chinese Martial Arts.  Ba Gua has also been know to go by other names such as: Youshen Bagua (Roving Eight-Trigram), Longxing Bagua (Dragon-Shaped Eight-Trigram), Xinyi Ba Gua (Xinyi Eight-Trigram Boxing), Yinyang Bapan Zhang (Positive-Negative Eight-Plate Palm), etc...

Though there are many stories and versions of how Ba Gua was founded, the most widely accepted version is the one we subscribe too.  Dong Hai Chuan, a native of Zhujiawu, south of Wenan County in Hebei Province was the founder of Ba Gua.  Certainly, it was his teaching of many students which lead to the ultimate popularity in the growth of Ba Gua.  Dong Hai Chuan's most famous students are: 

• Yin Fu

• Cheng Ting Hua

• Liu Fengchun

• Li Cunyi

As in other Chinese Martial Arts, many of the students who taught Ba Gua have used their name to distinguish the styles of Ba Gua being taught.  Other examples of Ba Gua Styles would be: 

• Yin Style

• Cheng Style

• Liang Style

• Sun Style

Ba Gua is based on the Chinese philosophy of I Ching.  The Traditional Style Ba Gua taught by China Hand Kung Fu Academy comes from the lineage of Cheng Tin Hua and the Cheng Style.  Also, our system has no weapons or two man sets.  However, this is the characteristic of the Traditional Style.  Other styles of Ba Gua do teach two man sets and weapons, most commonly seen, the staff, double edge sword, broadsword, and deer horn knives.  

Ba Gua is characterized by its' dexterity, agility, changing footwork, and constant twisting and turning while walking in a circle.  

Dong Hai Chuan was known to teach Ba Gua to students differently.  That is to say, if your strength was in wrestling, then your Ba Gua had more wrestling, throwing, joint locking types of movements.  If you were a Shaolin student, perhaps your training would take on the movements of more kicking, punching, and striking.