Bajíquán
Encyclopedia
Bājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes
. It originated in Hebei
Province in Northern China
, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan
. Its full name is kai men baji quan (開門八極拳), which means "open-gate eight-extremities fist".
The first recorded baji quan teacher was Wu Zhong 吳鍾 (1712–1802). Famous teachers that promoted the style included Wu Xiufeng 吳秀峰 and Li Shuwen 李書文 (1864–1934). The latter was from Cangzhou, Hebei, and earned himself the nickname "God of Spear Li". A Peking opera Wu Shen (martial male character) by training, he was also an expert fighter. His most famous quote is, "I do not know what it's like to hit a man twice."
Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge 霍殿閣 (bodyguard to Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China), Li Chenwu (bodyguard to Mao Zedong
), and Liu Yun Qiao 劉雲樵 (secret agent for the nationalist Kuomintang
and instructor of the bodyguards of Chiang Kai Shek). Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style". Ma Feng Tu 馬鳳圖 and Ma Yin Tu 馬英圖 introduced baji into the Central Guoshu Institute
(Nanjing Guoshu Guan 南京國術館) where it is required for all students.
Baji quan shares roots with another Hebei martial art, Piguazhang
. It is said that Wu Zhong, the oldest traceable master in the baji lineage, taught both arts together as an integrated fighting system. They eventually split apart, only to be recombined by Li Shuwen in the late 18th to early 19th century. As a testament to the complementary nature of these two styles, there is a proverb that goes: "When pigua is added to baji, gods and demons will all be terrified. When baji is added to pigua, heroes will sigh knowing they are no match against it." (八極參劈掛，神鬼都害怕。劈掛參八極，英雄嘆莫及)
Today there are several families of baji quan, including Han, Huo, Ji, Li, Ma, Qiang, Wu and the Wu-Tan branch from master Liu Yunqiao. There are some differences in the training between the variants, but the core is the same. The lineage holder of Wu family baji quan in China is Wu Lian Zhi 吳連枝. Through more than 50 years of training, he collected material and records which were passed down from generation to generation.
The "six big ways of opening" (liu da kai 六大開) are:
These striking techniques are related to traditional Chinese medicine
, which states that all parts of the body are connected, either physically or spiritually.
(spear), Chun Yang Jian
(sword), San Yin Dao
(sabre), Xing Zhe Bang (staff), Pudao
, and Chun Qiu Da Dao
(a long two-handed heavy blade, used by Generals sitting on their horses).
The essence of baji quan lies in jin, or power-issuing methods, particularly fa jing
(explosive power). The style contains six types of jin, eight different ways to hit and several principles of power usage. Most of baji quan's moves utilize a one-hit push-strike method from very close range. The bulk of the damage is dealt through the momentary acceleration that travels up from the waist to the limb and further magnified by the charging step known as zhen jiao.
The mechanics of jin are developed through many years of practice and baji quan is known for its strenuous lower-body training and its emphasis on the horse stance
. Its horse stance is higher than that of typical Long Fist
styles. Like other styles, there is also "the arrow-bow stance", "the one-leg stance", "the empty stance" (xūbù 虚步), "the drop stance" (pūbù 仆步), etc. There are eight different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and zhen jiao.
The six Major Characteristic Powers are:
Many of these forms are also based or mixed with Luohan fist
, a Shaolin
style. The term ba shi may also refer to baji, but it can also be noted that the term is also used in xingyi quan.
Elbow (strike)
An elbow strike is a strike with the point of the elbow, the part of the forearm nearest to the elbow, or the part of the upper arm nearest to the elbow...
. It originated in Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
Province in Northern China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Its full name is kai men baji quan (開門八極拳), which means "open-gate eight-extremities fist".
Origins
Baji quan was originally called bazi quan (巴子拳 or 鈀子拳) or "rake fist" because the fist, held loosely and slightly open, are used to strike downwards in a rake-like fashion. The name was considered to be rather crude in its native tongue, so it was changed to baji quan. The term baji comes from the Daoist classic, the Yijing (I-Ching), and signifies an "extension of all directions". In this case, it means "including everything" or "the universe."The first recorded baji quan teacher was Wu Zhong 吳鍾 (1712–1802). Famous teachers that promoted the style included Wu Xiufeng 吳秀峰 and Li Shuwen 李書文 (1864–1934). The latter was from Cangzhou, Hebei, and earned himself the nickname "God of Spear Li". A Peking opera Wu Shen (martial male character) by training, he was also an expert fighter. His most famous quote is, "I do not know what it's like to hit a man twice."
Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge 霍殿閣 (bodyguard to Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China), Li Chenwu (bodyguard to Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
), and Liu Yun Qiao 劉雲樵 (secret agent for the nationalist Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
and instructor of the bodyguards of Chiang Kai Shek). Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style". Ma Feng Tu 馬鳳圖 and Ma Yin Tu 馬英圖 introduced baji into the Central Guoshu Institute
Central Guoshu Institute
The Central Guoshu Institute was established in Nanjing by the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in 1928 for the propagation of Chinese martial arts, and was an important center of martial arts during the Nanjing decade.Guoshu "national art" was...
(Nanjing Guoshu Guan 南京國術館) where it is required for all students.
Baji quan shares roots with another Hebei martial art, Piguazhang
Piguaquan
Piguaquan , also known as Piguazhang due to its emphasis on palm techniques, is often practiced along with Bajiquan and is a style of wushu that features explosive, long-range power...
. It is said that Wu Zhong, the oldest traceable master in the baji lineage, taught both arts together as an integrated fighting system. They eventually split apart, only to be recombined by Li Shuwen in the late 18th to early 19th century. As a testament to the complementary nature of these two styles, there is a proverb that goes: "When pigua is added to baji, gods and demons will all be terrified. When baji is added to pigua, heroes will sigh knowing they are no match against it." (八極參劈掛，神鬼都害怕。劈掛參八極，英雄嘆莫及)
Today there are several families of baji quan, including Han, Huo, Ji, Li, Ma, Qiang, Wu and the Wu-Tan branch from master Liu Yunqiao. There are some differences in the training between the variants, but the core is the same. The lineage holder of Wu family baji quan in China is Wu Lian Zhi 吳連枝. Through more than 50 years of training, he collected material and records which were passed down from generation to generation.
Tactics and strategy
Baji fist is known to open the opponent's arms forcibly (qiang kai men 强開門) and mount attacks at high, mid, and low levels of the body (san pan lian ji 三盤連擊). It is most useful in close combat, as it focuses on elbow, knee, shoulder and hip strikes. When blocking an attack or nearing an opponent, baji quan techniques emphasize striking major points of vulnerability, namely the thorax (trunk of the body), legs and neck.The "six big ways of opening" (liu da kai 六大開) are:
- Ding 頂: using the fist, elbow or shoulder to push forward and upward.
- Bao 抱: putting arms together as if hugging someone. It is usually followed by Pi 劈 (splitting).
- Ti 提: elevating the knee to hit the thigh of the opponent, or elevating the foot to hit the shin of the opponent, etc.
- Dan 單: using a single move.
- Kua 胯: using the hip.
- Chan 纏: entanglement with rotation around the wrist, elbow and shoulder
Stepping and body methods
Footwork in baji quan has three special features:- Zhen Jiao
- Nian Bu
- Chuang Bu
These striking techniques are related to traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
, which states that all parts of the body are connected, either physically or spiritually.
Forms
The forms of baji are divided into armed and unarmed routines. There are 20 fist forms, which include 12 Baji Small Structure Fists, Baji Black Tiger Fist, Baji Dan Zhai, Baji Dan Da/Dui Da, Baji Luohan Gong, and Baji Si Lang Kuan. There are eight weapons forms, including Liu He Da QiangQiang (spear)
Qiang is the Chinese term for spear. Due to its relative ease of manufacture, the spear in many variations was ubiquitous on the pre-modern Chinese battlefield...
(spear), Chun Yang Jian
Jian
The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE during the Spring and Autumn Period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian.Historical one-handed versions have blades...
(sword), San Yin Dao
Dao (sword)
Daois a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping , often called a broadsword in English translation because some varieties have wide blades. In China, the dao is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the gun , qiang , and the jian , and referred...
(sabre), Xing Zhe Bang (staff), Pudao
Pudao
The Chinese weapon known as the podao was originally an edged infantry weapon which is still used for training in many Chinese martial arts. The blade of a podao is shaped like a Chinese broadsword, but the weapon has a longer handle usually around one and a half to two meters which is circular...
, and Chun Qiu Da Dao
Dadao
The dadao one of the varieties of dao or Chinese saber, is also known as the Chinese great sword. Based on agricultural knives, dadao have broad blades generally between two and three feet long, long hilts meant for "hand and a half" or two-handed use, and generally a weight-forward balance...
(a long two-handed heavy blade, used by Generals sitting on their horses).
Power generation and expression methods
The major features of baji include elbow strikes, arm/fist punches, hip checks, and strikes with the shoulder. All techniques are executed with a short power, developed through training; among Chinese martial artists, baji is famous for its fast movements. Baji focuses on in-fighting, entering from a longer range with a distinctive charging step (zhen jiao).The essence of baji quan lies in jin, or power-issuing methods, particularly fa jing
Fa Jing
Fa jin, fajin, or fa chin is a term used in some Chinese martial arts, particularly the neijia martial arts, such as Xingyiquan, T'ai chi ch'uan , Baguazhang and Bak Mei....
(explosive power). The style contains six types of jin, eight different ways to hit and several principles of power usage. Most of baji quan's moves utilize a one-hit push-strike method from very close range. The bulk of the damage is dealt through the momentary acceleration that travels up from the waist to the limb and further magnified by the charging step known as zhen jiao.
The mechanics of jin are developed through many years of practice and baji quan is known for its strenuous lower-body training and its emphasis on the horse stance
Horse stance
The horse stance is an important posture in Asian martial arts and takes its name from the position assumed when riding a horse. It is called mǎbù in Chinese, in Japanese, kekuda or kuda-kuda in Malay, asvavadivu in Malayalam, and juchum seogi or annun seogi in Korean...
. Its horse stance is higher than that of typical Long Fist
Changquan
Chángquán refers to a family of external martial arts styles from northern China.The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be considered a long-range fighting system...
styles. Like other styles, there is also "the arrow-bow stance", "the one-leg stance", "the empty stance" (xūbù 虚步), "the drop stance" (pūbù 仆步), etc. There are eight different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and zhen jiao.
The six Major Characteristic Powers are:
- Sinking (Xia Chen 下沉 or Chen Zhui 沉墜)
- Thrusting (Chong 沖)
- Extending (Cheng 撑)
- Entangling (Chan 纏)
- Cross (Shi Zi 十字)
- Inch (Cun 寸)
Influences
Baji focuses on being more direct, culminating in powerful, fast strikes that will render an opponent unable to continue. Even so, there are some styles that are derived from baji quan’s main principles or concepts on how to hit the opponent:- Eight postures (Ba shi)
- Eight movements method (Ba shi gong)
- Eight movements method (Ba shi chui)
- Double Eight Postures (Shuang ba shi)
- Eight postures of the Buddha Guards (Jingang ba shi)
- Eight postures of the dragon style (Longxing ba shi)
Many of these forms are also based or mixed with Luohan fist
Luohan (martial arts)
Luohan quan , also known as in Japanese, literally means "Arhat boxing". The traditional story of its creation states that it was created by monks in the Shaolin Temple, by observing and imitating the forms and expressions of each Arhat Statue in the temple...
, a Shaolin
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
style. The term ba shi may also refer to baji, but it can also be noted that the term is also used in xingyi quan.
External links
An article on baji and some photos of the style can be seen on http://www.chinesemartialarts.eu- Official website of the Wu family BajiQuan
- Bajimen.com - Grandmaster Liu Yun Qiao
- Ottawa Chinese Martial Arts - Baji
- Adam Hsu Kung Fu. Traditional Chinese Martial Arts
- Hollowfist.com - Essays about Bajiquan's internal theory.
- Dai Nei BajiQuan by Ex-Instructor of Taiwan Special Force Team (Chinese)
- Baji Quan's involvement with other styles. (Spanish)