HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF
BAGUAZHANG CIRCLE WALKING
Phoenix Snatches Nest
Grandmaster Wong did not learn Baguazhang formally from any masters. So, how did Grandmaster Wong learn his Baguazhang?
In his young days, he spent a lot of time researching into various styles of kungfu, and accumulated a lot of kungfu books, including a few Baguazhang classics. He spent some time corresponding with a Baguazhang master in Hong Kong who sent him hand-written notes on Baguazhang combat applications. When he was teaching chi kung in Kuala Lumpur, he exchanged notes with a Baguazhang master, who became his personal friend.
When Sifu Robin Gamble asked him to teach Baguazhang at the UK Summer Camp 2012, Grandmaster Wong studied in details whatever Baguazhang material he could get, especially from the internet, which greatly enriched his understanding of Baguaznahg.
Distilling the essence from various sources, Grandmaster Wong composed the Wahnam version of Baguazhang Circle Walking, which consists of the following "Mother Palms":
- Single Changing Palm
- Double Changing Palm
- Smooth Flow Palm
- Back Body Palm
- Turn Body Palm
- Circle Body Palm
- Rotating Body Palm
- Return Body Palm
Grandmaster Wong discovered that a Baguazhang classic, "Internal School of Baguazhang" by Ngai Cheng Woh, mentioned these Eight Mother Palms as external, and illustrated Eight Internal Mother Plams. When Grandmaster Wong tried out these internal Mother Palms, the internal force developed was even more tremendous.
The hallmark of Baguazhang lies in its footwork. A Baguazhang master is well-known for getting behind his opponent before the opponent realizes what has happened. This will be a special feature of the Baguazhang Course at the UK Summer Camp in June 2012.
The characteristic of Baguazhang movement is the Dragon. Grandmaster Wong's speciality in the Dragon style is a great advantage not only in the graceful, swerving Baguazhang motion but also in manifesting Dragon force in Baguazhang application.
Grandmaster Wong believes that he has rediscovered two important aspects of Baguazhang that are not commonly practiced today, namely employing Baguazhang stances to develop internal force, and using chi flow in swift, evasive Baguazhang movements. These will be taught at the UK Summer Camp.
20th May 2012.
Cloud Dragon Rests on Pillow -- Baguazhang stance for internal force training
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