Martial System

The Yin Style Bagua Zhang (Pakua Chang) fighting system comprises eight animal systems each of which is a full bagua system in its own right. Each of the eight Yin style bagua animal systems has eight different attacking methods, each of which can be done in seven different ways at three different levels. Thus it can be seen that the Yin style bagua zhang system is very extensive with some 1344 different ways of attack overall.

Since the system is so extensive only about one practitioner in each generation learns the whole system. Xie Peiqi learned the complete system from Men Baozhen and is passing the whole system to his disciple He Jinbao. Most practitioners learn just part of the middle basin of one of the animal systems. This is however more than adequate to allow the practitioner to be healthy and proficient at fighting.

Each of the eight animal systems has its own distinctive ways of moving and striking reflecting the characteristics of the animal concerned and the trigram that represents it.

1. Standing Exercises

The standing exercises, which include static and moving exercises, are a key element in Yin style bagua and are used to build up qi, physical strength and flexibility.

2. Circle Walking

Circle walking is perhaps the single most important area but sometimes the least practised! It comprises walking in a circle holding a static posture from the animal system concerned and then using a simple routine or strike to periodically change direction . It is an important method of building up qi and learning relaxation and rooting.

3. Routines

Routines involve practising a sequence of strikes (typically seven strikes) whilst walking the circle. Also included in this area are the practical fighting applications of these strikes. Practising the strikes whilst walking in a circle helps the practitioner to develop the ability to change his line of attack relative to an opponent.

4. Power Training

Power training involves repetitive practice generally of single strikes to build up power in the strikes. The power training is done using stationary drilling, single step drilling, two step drilling and three step drilling. Particular emphasis is placed on developing a relaxed connected structure in the body, rooting to the ground and on optimising the body mechanics so that the power comes from the whole body and not just the arms.

5. Practical Combinations

In addition to these four main areas of practice there are many other areas of practice within the system. Thus a practitioner who is particularly interested in fighting would practise Practical Combinations. These are combinations of two or three strikes that the practitioner would practise by himself whilst visualising an opponent and then with an actual opponent.

6. Weapons

The Yin style bagua zhang system also includes a large number of weapons. The two most common weapons are the dadao or large sabre, and the jian or straight sword. The dadao is used to build up strength and co-ordination in the body as well as to practise using the yi or intent to move the qi in the body.