Baguazhang - Yin Style
Yin Fu, first student of Dong Hai Chuan and progenitor of Yin Style BaguaZhang. From By 無為之道 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=142310156
I am still very much a beginner in traditional Chinese martial arts and I continue to find Bagua fascinating. It seems to be doing wonders for my hips and knees. It’s the newest ‘internal martial art’ and was founded by Dong Haichuan in the mid-nineteenth century. Yin Fu was said to be his best student. The video is not a form That I have learnt in my school, but I love the simplicity of the material presented here by Sifu Ray Hayward and his clear teaching style, so I feel it is worth sharing.
Single Palm Change
The video below is broken into three parts (be warned, the latter parts are a little blurry, but you can still get a good idea of what is happening):
Carefully demonstrating the sequence of moves
Example Applications (13:56 mins)
Strikes to the groin / blocks
Arm bar
Finger strike to the face and clear off
Take down
Escape from wrist lock
Partner Drill Sensitivity Training (16:28 mins)
Similar to Push Hands / Tui Shou in Tai Chi
Walking circles, eight steps and changing
Keeping contact
Sequence
Moving anticlockwise…
Heels together, toes apart, palms by sides facing inwards
Lean on the horse to enquire the way
Left foot half step forward whilst swinging left palm to 45 degrees, right hand chambered on the hip
Repeat on the right side
Turn out into character eight stance (pigeon toed / knock kneed)
Hide the flowers beneath the leaves
Bring right hand up and turn all the way around to the centre
Right hand is high, left hand is low
Wild goose leaves the flock
Turn back to the left, drilling right hand
Left hand slides up under right
Keep turning and drop into guard
High hand index finger is nose height, low hand index finger points to elbow
Weight is back
Push off with back leg…
Eight steps
Walking heel / toe
Keep the head level
Looking through the finger at the centre
Eighth step is horse stance (toe down, heel down) facing to centre
Mount the horse and draw the bow
Right hand strikes with edge of palm, left hand guards head thumb down (the strike looks like an extension of the arm and hand)
Change direction into a bow stance
High hand protects the face
Other hand swings or pushes low
‘Close the door and push the moon’
Turn out into character eight stance (pigeon toed / knock kneed)
Hide the flowers beneath the leaves
Bring right hand up and turn all the way around to the centre
Right hand is high, left hand is low
Wild goose leaves the flock
Ready to walk clockwise
Finishing (anticlockwise) left foot forward
Half step with left foot
Full step with the right foot
Circle hands out, heels together and push down
Scoop energy from the earth, grab energy from heaven or the stars and push it into the human
Heaven, earth and human - the three powers and the three attributes of a dragon
About Ray Hayward
Ray Howard’s website is http://www.rayhayward.com/. He is described as a…
Teacher, writer, content creator. martial artist and spiritual seeker, Ray Hayward has studied with some of the highest level martial artist masters in the world including Master T.T. Liang and Grandmaster Wai-lun Choi.
Interestingly, his YouTube channel references Dr. Kay-Chi Leung, who is referenced as being the Head Disciple of Grandmaster Liu Yun Chiao, the Grandmaster of the Wutan School - so seems we are related!
Note: 06-Jun-2024 - Sifu Howard subsequently confirmed that he was the first American student of Dr Leung and helped him obtain his US visa. See this newer post for additional information - https://www.blackwatertaichi.com/blog/baguazhang-lineage.
Grandmaster Liu showing ‘heavenly horse walks in the void’ from the Third Palm - double palm change (snake and hawk). Screen capture from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUSeZw2ki_I
Cover photo of Sifu Ray Hayward, from his YouTube channel https://youtu.be/gbgRBuq-xh4?feature=shared
The content linked (as with all content in this blog) is the copyright of the creator and is not official material endorsed by my school, Wutan International. It is offered here as reference material only. Please ask your instructor for advice and guidance on training in Baguazhang.
