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Ba Gua Chang Workshop
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We do not currently offer this workshop.
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 Eternal Spring Tours is in partnership with the DaMo Qigong Training Center sponsors classes to teach Ba Gua Zhang which is taught by Liu Jing Ru, the contemporary Chinese Ba Gua Zhang master. Please view the pictures below to see some of the basic postures of this martial art.
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Liu Jing Ru is a famous Chinese Ba Gua Chang inheritor and was born in Gao Yang County, Hebei Province. Now, serving as vice chairman and honored commissioner with Beijing Ba Gua Chang Research Association, he began his study of Cheng style Ba Gua Chang and Xingyi Chuan at the early age of 10 and became an apprentice with Luo Xing Wu. Later he studied with He Zong Qi, the grandson of Mr. Yin Fu who created Yin Style Ba Gua Chang. During his long time Ba Gua Chang study, Liu Jing Ru also got hard-won directions from other Ba Gua Chang masters as Cheng You Xin, Liu Tang Feng, Wang wen Kui, etc.
Ba Gua Chang Introduction
Dong Hai Chuan of Wen'An County in Hebei Province came to Beijing in 1852 and began to teach his Ba Gua Zhang, which soon became very popular in Beijing, and the surrounding outskirts, and he was regarded as the respected founder of Ba Gua Zhang.
Ba Gua Zhang is one of three sisters internal Kung Fu styles and the other two is Tai Ji Chuan and Xing Yi Chuan, As with Xing Yi and Tai Ji, the practice of Bagua generates vital energy for both health and combat purposes. Ba Gua Zhang uses palm techniques exclusively but outwardly is simpler in style, which makes it distinct from Xing Yi and Tai Ji styles.
The basics of Ba Gua Chang are a series of movements done while walking in a circle, and quick footwork and turns are adopted as its self-defense strategy. The movements become faster and more intricate with turning and twisting once this practice is consistent, for practitioners can move the body in all possible angles and directions for fitness, centering and agility. Ba Gua Chang sets the emphasis on circularity; the movements of the Art include twisting, spiraling, turning and spiraling. Specifically, the Ba Gua Chang fighter is doing one of two things: either circling around a central point outside the body or rotating the body around its center. All styles of Ba Gua Zhang emphasize complete physical relaxation, correct skeletal alignment, natural movements which are in harmony with the body's inborn reflexes and inherent design and that all movements are directed by the intent.
Utilizing 'aggression' through mobility of position and agility of body, Ba Gua Chang proves itself to be a formidable style for many practitioners. Instead of directly attacking an oncoming force, Ba Gua Chang 'melts' around the attack; either simultaneously redirecting the attack while closing the position, or by 'ignoring' it and repositioning one's self to an advantageous 'doorway', for finishing the opponent instantly. This strategy allows the smaller and weaker fighter to apply maximum force from an angle at which the larger and stronger opponent cannot resist, effectively making the weaker fighter more powerful at that moment. Finally, the relaxed physical and mental state of the Ba Gua Chang fighter makes it possible for him to change and adapt as the situation demands. His movements are spontaneous and difficult to predict. Fighters of all disciplines agree that the unpredictable fighter is the hardest to beat.
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The Chang (means Palm) is the usual terminology for a martial art. The open hand or palm is preferred by Ba Gua Chang because it creates a better energy flow within the body, an energy flow which can be directed for spiritual, martial, or healing purposes.
Ba Gua Chang practice is based on Walking the Circle and changing direction within the walk using twisting and spiraling movements called Changes. These exercises and techniques were developed from the Taoists' Tao-Pursuing practices (Also called qigong or somewhat). They are all intended to increase the body's vital energy. Depending upon the vital energy you make your own choices about the way you express that energy: martial, meditative, or therapeutic, etc.
The Single Palm Change is the most basic form and is the nucleus of the remaining palm changes found in the Ba Gua Chang practice. Besides the Single Palm Change, the other forms include the Double Palm Change and the Eight Palm Changes
Some of the major branches of Ba Gua Chang are:
1. Cheng style (after Cheng Tinghua),
2. Yin style (after Yin Fu),
3. Jiang style (after Jiang Rong Qiao's),
4. Liu style (after Liu Fengchun)
5. Ma style (after Ma Weiqi).
Below we list the main form names:
 PART 1
1. Mud-Wading Footwork
2. Eight Basic Hand Forms
2-1. Fierce tiger jumps out
2-2. Roc spreads its wings
2-3. Lion opens mouth
2-4. Ape offers peach
2-5. Hug a full moon
2-6. Bear reaches out claw
2-7. Point to sky and pierce into ground
2-8. Dragon reaches out claw
PART 2
Eight Sections of Palm Forms
1. Single Relaying Palm
1-1. Dragon reaches out claw
1-2. Lock step, draw in elbow
1-3. Sway foot to bury flower under armpit
2. Double Relaying Palm
2-1. Dragon reaches out claw
2-2. Single relaying palm
2-3. Point to sky and pierce into ground
2-4. Reach out foot to get skirt
2-5. Turn the horse to hold backward
2-6. Bury flower under armpit (Also called put palm under armpit)
3. Following-Trend Palm
3-1. Dragon reaches out claw
3-2. Lock step to outside
3-3. Pick off helmet from back side of head
3-4. Snakes hide in grass field
3-5. Turn the horse to hold backward
3-6. Bury flower under armpit (Also called put palm under armpit)
4. Reversing-Trend Palm
4-1. Dragon reaches out claw
4-2. Swirl palm in cloud
4-3. Swirl body to lock step and pierce palm
4-4. Snakes hide in grass field
4-5. Double snakes reach out tongues
4-6. Push mountain into sea
4-7. Turn horse to hold backward
4-8. Bury flower under armpit
5. Turning-Body Palm
5-1. Dragon reaches out claw
5-2. Two palms arc downward and hit elbow down
5-3. Step forward to pierce elbow
5-4. Retreat to form Xu Bu
5-5. Walk body in a circle
5-6. Launch attach in horse stance (Ma Bu)
5-7. Turn horse to hold backward
5-8. Bury flower under armpit
6. Swirling-Body Palm
6-1. Dragon reaches out claw
6-2. Cross two blades to cut
6-3. Bend waist and lower head
6-4. Screw the body to point to sky
6-5. Swirl the body
6-6. Bury flower under armpit
6-7. Turn body back to walk the circle
7. Leaning-Backward Palm
7-1. Dragon reaches out claw
7-2. Two palms offer a kick
7-3. Birds fly touching water
7-4. Lock step to bend waist
7-5. Lean backward to open up two arms
7-6. Snakes hide in grass field
7-7. Launch attack in horse stance (Ma Bu)
7-8. Push mountain into sea
7-9. Turn horse to hold backward
7-10.Bury flower under armpit
8. Turning Back Palm
8-1. Dragon reaches out claw
8-2. Joint two feet and ready palms
8-3. Birds fly touching water (to outside)
8-4. Step forward to pierce palm
8-5. Turn backward to ready palms before abdomen
8-6. Step forward to push two palms
8-7. Retreat one step to form Xu Bu
8-8. Push mountain into sea
8-9. Turn horse to hold backward
8-10.Bury flower under armpit
Hand Work
1. Dragon presents its head
2. Swing single arm
3. Lion opens mouth
4. Step forward to bump shoulder
5. Hold and pull arm
6. Step forward to thrust two palms
7. Join two palms to punch
8. Transforming-force palm
PART 3
BaGua Consecutive Palms with Snaking Body
1. First Section
1-1. Dragon reaches out claw
1-2. Lock step, draw in elbow
1-3. Open window to look moon
1-4. Put palm under armpit
1-5. Throw open the palm
1-6. Open window to look moon
1-7. Put palm under armpit
1-8. Reach out foot to get skirt
1-9. lock step to pierce palm
1-10. Pick off helmet from back
1-11. Birds fly touching water
1-12. Turn horse to hold backward
1-13. Put palm under armpit
2. Second Section
2-1. Put palm under armpit
2-2. Snake reaches out tongue at right side
2-3. Lock and sway feet one circle, bending elbow
2-4. Turn backward to reach out one tongue
2-5. Step forward to pierce palm
2-6. Sway tail backward
2-7. Turn right to reach out two tongues
2-8. Snakes reach out two tongues to both sides
2-9. Snake reaches out tongue at left side
2-10. Sway and lock foot one circle, bending elbow
2-11. Turn backward to reach out tongue
2-12. Step forward to pierce palm
2-13. Sway tail backward
2-14. Turn left to reach out two tongues
2-15. Reach out tongue to both sides
2-16. Closing posture
3. Third Section
3-1. Walk body in a circle
3-1-1. Retreat to join two feet
3-1-2. Reach out foot to get skirt
3-1-3. Join two feet to bring forward palm
3-1-4. Lock and sway feet to thread two palms
3-2. Woodcock leaning body backward
3-3. Woodcock flying through woods
3-4. Dragon sways its tail
3-5. Walk body in a circle
4. Fourth Section
4-1. Walk body in a circle
4-2. Lift knee to punch two palms forward
4-3. Ape offers peach
4-4. Lion opens mouth
4-5. Reach out two palms to chop sideways
4-6. Throw two palms in turn to chop downward
4-7. Turn backward one palm hitting foot
4-8. Throw fist sideways
4-9. Lift knee to punch forward the wrist
4-10. Horse gallops in sky
5. Fifth Section
5-1. Horse gallops in sky
5-2. Fling palm in cloud, lean backward to throw open arm
5-3. Point to sky and pierce into ground
5-4. Root reach deep into ground
5-5. Boa turns around body
5-6. Stretch out leg levelly
5-7. Snake twines willow tree
5-8. Snakes hide in grass field
5-9. Closing posture
Ba Gua Chang Twin-Practitioners' Practice
1. First Section
1-1. Fend off attack palm with palm
1-2. Pick away one arm to punch
1-3. Hold downward palms
1-4. Twine arm to bump
1-5. Roc spreads its wings
2. Second Section
2-1. Roc spreads its wings
2-2. Lock step to exchange two palms
2-3. Turn back to pierce palm (Woodcock flying through woods)
3. Third Section
3-1. Woodcock flying through woods
3-2. Hold and pull arm
3-3. Pierce elbow to hit
3-4. Push upper arm
3-5. Go forward looking back
3-6. Throw two palms in turn to chop downward
3-7. Lion opens mouth
4. Fourth Section
4-1. Lion opens mouth
4-2. Raise foot to kick
4-3. Hug a full moon
4-4. Pierce palm to up back
4-5. Woodcock flying through woods
5. Fifth Section
5-1. Woodcock flying through woods
5-2. Hold wrist and turn it backward
5-3. Reach out foot to get skirt
5-4. Turn back to throw fist sideways
5-5. Dragon reaches out claw
5-6. Closing posture
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