Content of the Bajiquan System

Bajiquan emphasizes single movements (Dan cao) and combinations that can be strung together for combat. There are however stages of development often represented by certain sets/routines that contain the strategy, principles and tactics a different stages of development. Our Bajiquan contains vast content incorporating the essentials of Bajiquan, Piguaquan and of other methods added over its long history.

Bajiquan revolves on different expressions from the essentials of the system. The three essentials of empty hand are Baji – Xiao Jia (小架 / 八极架子, small frame/structure), the large frame or Dual set of Baji – Da Jia (大架 / 八极拳) and Baji Dui Jie ( 八极对接 Baji Matching Set and the Si Lang Kuan (四朗宽) & its extension Si Lang Ti (四郎提). Those three aspects have dual sets to assist in the comprehension and training, such as Liu Zhou Tou ( 六肘头 6 Elbows matching set), the Baji Dui Jie ( 八极对接) and the Fu Shou 扶手 Grasping hands Dual set, 8 series).

There are further methods adopted from other styles such as Taizhong (太宗拳, Second Emperor) and Feihu (飞虎拳, flying Tiger) which are resultant from Wu Zhong’s daughter whom married a Taizu Changquan practitioners. The Heihu (黑虎拳) black tiger was developed and the Xiaojia were extended to three different types by M Wu Huiqing. Xiaojia was applied as a canvas on which to express different tactics and techniques, into twelve levels or interpretations (小架十二极) by M Wu Xiufeng. We also practice combination sets such as the Ying Shou (应手) in eight sequences which was developed by Huo Diange in consultation with his teacher Li Shuwen. The Xing Pi (形批 or 行劈) in 12 lines, the Xing Bao (形抱) in 12 lines, Luohan (罗汉) including Luohan Duije (罗汉对接, dual set) and Lianshou (连手, Lianshou) among many methods developed by M Wu Xiufeng.

Internal Cultivation methods consist of the Yijin Jing (Tendon Changing, 易筋经), Yigu Jing (Bone/ Structural Changing, 易骨经) and Yisui Jing (Marrow Changing, 易髓经). External conditioning include many exercises such as Iron Palm, Iron Blocks, weighted sand bags as well tactical methods like the Qixing Zhuang  (七星桩 Seven Star Posts) and Jiugong Zhuang  (九宫桩 Nine Palaces Posts).

Piguaquan have a close relationship to Bajiquan and therefore for generations they mutually trained each others’ methods. Thus from Pigua, we have the Piguaquan (抹面 Mo Mian Quan), Qinglong Quan (青龙 Green Dragon), Pigua Duijie Dual Set 劈挂对接 and the Babu Gou Dual Set.

The Bajiquan Stick or staff methods include the short stick Ba Huitou Gun (八回头短棍), also nicknamed beggar’s stick and the Monkey Staff Xingzhe Bang ( 行者棒). There is also the Fengmo Gun (风魔棍), mad devil staff from Pigua.

The Saber consists of methods such as Tiliu Dao (提柳刀 Raise the Willow Leaf Saber), Simen Dao (四门刀) and the Long handled saber (春秋大刀). From Pigua there is Pigua Dao (劈挂刀) and Piaoyao Dao (飘摇刀) or better known as Miao Dao (苗刀), *actually Miao Dao is from the Taizu Tongbei system of Jinghai, but later modifed during the Nanjing Guoshu academy.

The spear is probably the most known Bajiquan weapon, it consists of Liuhe Hua Qiang (六合花枪), Liuhe Hong Qiang (六合洪枪), Lihua Qiang (梨花枪), Meihua Qiang (梅花枪), Wushu Zhuanmen Qiang (五鼠转门枪, Five Mice Turning around the gate Spear) and the Liuhe Da Qiang (六合大枪, Long Spear).

Bajiquan includes the Green Dragon Sword (青龙剑), 8 Immortals Sword (八仙剑) and the Nine Palaces Chunyang Jian (九宮純陽剑 Chunyang Sword), a sword method in the spirit of Chunyangzi Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. There are numerous weapon dual sets such as Staff vs Staff ( 行者棒对练, Monkey King Staff Dual Set) , Short Stick vs Short Stick  (八回头短棍对练, Short Stick Dual Set)，Three sectional staff vs spear 三节棍对枪, Spear vs Spear 枪对练, Dao vs Spear 刀对枪, etc.