|
About Baguazhang and the internal martial arts |
Baguazhang and the Internal Martial Arts
There are three classical Chinese internal martial arts: Taijiquan (Tai Chi), Baguazhang (8 Trigram Palm), and Xingyiquan (Form Intention Fist).
The purpose of internal martial arts is to support one's health and longevity in equal measure to one's spiritual development and understanding of martial application.
Whereas the external martial arts focus more on developing physical power and strength, the internal arts emphasise practices, principles and movements that generate and optimise the circulation of qi through the body. Forms cultivate relaxation, intention, stillness and natural movement, and support whole-body power and awareness.
Because the internal arts are aimed at increasing the overall health of a practitioner, they are very much connected to traditional Chinese medicine. In time, the practices help us align with nature's inherent balance of yin and yang, and harmony with the Dao and its cyclical, generative and transformative nature.
The purpose of internal martial arts is to support one's health and longevity in equal measure to one's spiritual development and understanding of martial application.
Whereas the external martial arts focus more on developing physical power and strength, the internal arts emphasise practices, principles and movements that generate and optimise the circulation of qi through the body. Forms cultivate relaxation, intention, stillness and natural movement, and support whole-body power and awareness.
Because the internal arts are aimed at increasing the overall health of a practitioner, they are very much connected to traditional Chinese medicine. In time, the practices help us align with nature's inherent balance of yin and yang, and harmony with the Dao and its cyclical, generative and transformative nature.
|
Forest Piercing Palm
|
Circle walking with asingle palm change
|
About Mimi and Liu Fengchun Baguazhang
Mimi is a 6th generation Baguazhang shifu in the Liu Fengchun style of Bagua, and learned this art from her shifu, Liu Xuyang, a 5th generation Baguazhang master who lives in Beijing. Their lineage also includes Xingyiquan. Mimi, her shifu and her students' approach emphasises health and spiritual cultivation alongside basic understandings of martial application and use. She has been teaching these arts to small groups for many years.
Liu Fengchun-style Baguazhang is not a well-known or widely transmitted form of practice worldwide. Its emphasis is on cultivating a deeply internal transformation through dedication, simplicity, and repetition.
In our lineage, students begin with the Shaolin Golden Bell Practices for the 12 Meridians (Shàolín Jīn Zhōng Shí Èr Lián Shǒu 少林金钟十二練手). Consistent practice of these exercises promotes healthy circulation and balanced qi flow through the 12 meridians and corresponding organ systems of the body. It also strengthens and mobilises the muscles and tendons, and creates powerful inner clarity and calm.
They also begin to practice single variation drills (Dān Cāo Gōng 单操功) aimed at building the coordination, focus, strength, mobilisation, balance, and skill needed in circle walking. Examples of these drills include:
Eventually, students begin to learn circle walking, which includes a total of 8 palm changes. The practice is meditative, difficult, and deeply transformative for the body, mind and spirit.
Interested in learning more? Read about Liu Fengchung’s Baguazhang here, and discover more about Mimi’s Shifu, Liu Xuyang, here.
Mimi is a 6th generation Baguazhang shifu in the Liu Fengchun style of Bagua, and learned this art from her shifu, Liu Xuyang, a 5th generation Baguazhang master who lives in Beijing. Their lineage also includes Xingyiquan. Mimi, her shifu and her students' approach emphasises health and spiritual cultivation alongside basic understandings of martial application and use. She has been teaching these arts to small groups for many years.
Liu Fengchun-style Baguazhang is not a well-known or widely transmitted form of practice worldwide. Its emphasis is on cultivating a deeply internal transformation through dedication, simplicity, and repetition.
In our lineage, students begin with the Shaolin Golden Bell Practices for the 12 Meridians (Shàolín Jīn Zhōng Shí Èr Lián Shǒu 少林金钟十二練手). Consistent practice of these exercises promotes healthy circulation and balanced qi flow through the 12 meridians and corresponding organ systems of the body. It also strengthens and mobilises the muscles and tendons, and creates powerful inner clarity and calm.
They also begin to practice single variation drills (Dān Cāo Gōng 单操功) aimed at building the coordination, focus, strength, mobilisation, balance, and skill needed in circle walking. Examples of these drills include:
- Primordial Stance (Hùnyuán Zhuāng 渾元樁)
- Leg Punches (Dǎ Tuǐ 打腿)
- Leg Cuts (Qiē Tuǐ 切腿)
- Feather Duster Vase in the Palm (Tuō Dǎn 托撣) – also known as 'Tea Cup'
- Spirit Dragon Transforms Qi (Shén Lóng Huà Qì 神龍化氣)
- Flat Stance/Low Tiger Stance (Pū Bù Yā Tuǐ 撲步壓腿)
- Shoulder Coiling (Róu Bǎng 揉膀) – also called Flower Hiding Beneath a Leaf (Yè Lǐ Cáng Huā 叶里藏花)
- Body Coiling (Róu Shēn 揉身) – also called White Snake Slithers in the Grass (Bái Shé Fú Cǎo 白蛇伏草)
- Piercing Palm (Chuān Zhǎng 穿掌) – also called White Snake Spits Venom (Bái Shé Tǔ Xìn 白蛇吐芯) or Swimming Dragon Threads the Pearl (Yóu Lóng Chuān Zhū 遊龍穿珠)
- Swallows Darting Through the Forest (Yànzǐ Chuān Lín 燕子穿林)
- Baguazhang Fixed Step Stance (Bāguàzhǎng Dìng Bù Zhuāng 八卦掌定步樁)
- Bagua Stepping (Bāguà Bù 八卦步) – also called Butterfly Stepping (Húdié Bù 蝴蝶步)
- Mud Stepping (Tāng Ní Bù 趟泥步)
Eventually, students begin to learn circle walking, which includes a total of 8 palm changes. The practice is meditative, difficult, and deeply transformative for the body, mind and spirit.
Interested in learning more? Read about Liu Fengchung’s Baguazhang here, and discover more about Mimi’s Shifu, Liu Xuyang, here.
LEARNING BAGUAZHANG AND XINGYINQUAN (INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS)
If you’re keen to learn Bagua, there is an wonderful group of my students who have been received into the 7th Generation of Baguazhang and are now teaching this art. All students start learning foundational practices and a set of neigong forms known as the Golden Bell Practices for the 12 Meridians.
Please fill in the form below and we will do our best to match you with someone close to your time zone.
Please fill in the form below and we will do our best to match you with someone close to your time zone.
|
|
7th Generation Baguazhang Transmission Ceremony, July 2026
|