Ba Gua

Paperback. Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial Art. John Bracy / Liu Xing-Han.

The Taoist yogic discipline of Ba Gua is an internal form of the ancient art of kung fu – as are the much older t’ai chi and Xing I. Ba Gua is the most arcane and yogic of these three sister arts distinguished by serpentine turning and circling movements and its own internal energy exercises Ba Gua Qi Gong. As more people study t’ai chi and Qi Gong major interest has focused on the techniques of Ba Gua for keeping the joints loose and enhancing deep breathing.

Ba Gua’s founder was Dong Hai-Chuan a later 29th century imperial bodyguard who became a famous master during the waning years of the last Chinese Dynasty. In this history and instructional guide John Bracy and Liu Xing Han the oldest living master of Ba Gua describe Ba Gua’s relationship to the I Ching and how Taoist yoga came to be connected to the martial arts.

Used for the last century in China as a physical practice for ‘opening the joints’ and nourishing qi Ba Gua has become popular in the West as an alternative health and meditative practice. Bracy and Liu probe especially the connection between qi training and superior martial arts ability showing how late nineteenth century esoteric intellectual currents merged with the martial arts of the Boxer Rebellion. This information lends depth and texture to the description of technical training moves and postures. More than a hundred photos help the Ba Gua observe correct and incorrect postures. Especially valuable is the primaer on ‘Walking the Circle ‘ the most fundamental exercise in Ba Gua.

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