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While Ba Gua Zhang is an effective martial art system, its benefits extend far beyond fighting and self-defense. It is also well regarded as method of self-cultivation, meditation, health and longevity practice. While my initial
Wind as Internal Atmosphere or Pressure In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is viewed as a landscape that is continuous with the landscape of heaven and earth outside of us. On some level there is
In China the Mid-Autumn Festival takes place with the arrival of the full moon between mid-September and early October. This full moon is known as the Western Harvest Moon, which this year (2020) falls on
By IAI Instructors Thad Wong & Kelly McDonald As is so often the case in Ba Gua Zhang, it all comes back to Ding Shi. Over the past couple of years, fellow Ba Gua Instructor
In my kung-fu teacher’s clinic there was always a pot of herbs ready to be heated at a moment’s notice. Often as we treated one patient, another would be sitting with his hand or foot
Seasonal Energy Each of the seasons has a characteristic energy with its own characteristic climate. Spring is temperate and changeable; summer is hot; autumn cool; winter, cold. During the cycle of the seasons the energies
Metal Element Students of Traditional Chinese medicine and internal martial arts often have questions about the Metal Element. Why is the Metal Element confusing? One problem is that the associations attributed to Metal often don’t
Another excerpt from on the Fundamental Body Alignments of Ba Gua Zhang that stimulates new thoughts about the basics. This article is excerpted from Miraculous Secrets of Dong Hai Chuan’s Ba Gua Zhang (董海川八卦掌神功秘诀 )By
Gao Ji Wu was born in 1942. He began learning Chang Quan (Long Fist or Long Boxing) as a child and later progressed to learning the internal martial arts under his father. Having practiced martial
After decades of practicing Ba Gua Zhang I still find small gems that increase my understanding of the art in books by different Ba Gua Zhang teachers. In this brief discussion of the legendary Guo
Chronic Stage 3 Injuries This stage begins 3-4 weeks after the injury. Swelling and inflammation are generally gone, but stiffness and aching pain may still be present. A minor sprain should be resolved by
More Ba Gua training you can do at home. Use the Ba Gua Zhang kicking bag to train kicking skills that are natural extensions of the Mud Wading Step. The kicking bag helps you train
One of the interesting things about the Chinese internal arts is the many different levels of practice possible even in the most fundamental exercises. Ba Gua’s 12 Standing Postures are a good example of this.
Here are two more Ba Gua Zhang Ball Exercises that one can do at home using weighted balls to develop internal body connection. These are traditional exercises common to many styles of Ba Gua Zhang.
The Xing Yi / Tai Ji Ball Exercises come from Xing Yi Master Shang Ji. These ball exercises are useful for internal body training, and require no special equipment beyond an ordinary basketball. The ball
This is the second installment on the Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang. The Eight Mother Palms are an essential part of Ba Gua Zhang training and the primary foundational Nei Gong exercise. The Mother
In the Spring, during the Waking Insects (March 5-7 to March 20-21) and Spring Equinox Seasonal Nodes (March 20-21 to April 4-6), the Yang energy in the natural world around us gains in strength and
We recently received this Flu Prevention herb formula from a contact in China. Some TCM doctors are using this preventative herb formula to protect against contracting the Coronavirus when working in their clinics. Although I
I first met Master Zhao Da Yuan in 1996, but did not get a really chance to study with him until 2012, when I brought a group of IAI instructors to Beijing to train intensively
The Eight Mother Palms of Ba Gua Zhang are an essential part of Ba Gua training and the primary foundational Nei Gong exercise. develops both the footwork and the internal strength that are critical to
In Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 1, we discussed the use of Liniments, Soaks, and Gao (Poultices) in treating these kinds of injuries. Continuing our multi-modality approach to treatment, this article
Kai – He 開合 (Open-Close) One way to summarize the synergy between the circular expression of the Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and their various linear expressions is to understand the meaning of Kai He.
Post-Acute Stage 2 Injuries If your injury was treated correctly when it first happened, there may be no Stage 2 symptoms and you can quickly return to your normal activities. However, if the injury
In Treating Overstretched Ligaments & Tendons with Chinese Medicine Part 1 and Part 2, we discussed the use of Liniments, Soaks, Gao (Poultices), moxibustion and exercise in treating these kinds of injuries. Continuing our multi-modality
Wang Shi Tong’s Lao Ba Zhang is inextricably linked to the Eight Palm methods, the Eight Linear Forms and the 64 Hands. Understanding how these forms and methods relate to and combine with the Eight
Zen And the Art of Standing As a student of both the Dharma and the internal arts, I must preface everything to come with a brief disclaimer. This article represents my beginners (always beginning) understanding
Sinew injuries, or soft tissue injuries, are not only the most common type of sports injury, they also plague many of us who don’t play sports but perform repetitive tasks, like typing at
Fu Shu Yun was born in 1916 in Tianjin, China. She began training in martial arts in junior high school. Her skill developed quickly and she was soon called upon to give demonstrations at sports
Rigorous physical training can lead to chronic injuries which can affect performance or curtail training altogether. One chronic injury that can be particularly frustrating and debilitating is tendonitis. While tendonitis can be caused by a
This article builds on last month’s article on Lao Ba Zhang: Opening the Form. The Four Forces All of the movements in Lao Ba Zhang incorporate four essential, oppositional yet complimentary movements, that act together
The Impact of Internal Arts on Clinical Practice I entered my 20th year of clinical practice in 2018 and I have been reflecting on the journey. I have considered what I would say to myself as
Almost every style of Ba Gua Zhang has a version of Lao Ba Zhang, or “The Old Eight Palms.” These palms are sometimes referred to as the Eight Palm Changes. In Liang Style Ba
This intensive seminar is based on Tom Bisio’s popular book, A Tooth From the Tiger’s Mouth. Students directly experience the power and effectiveness of Chinese Medicine by learning sophisticated multi-modality methods of treating and rehabilitating
Master Wang Shi Tong was one Beijing’s great Ba Gua Zhang practitioners. He generously passed on many of the classical Ba Gua Zhang fighting forms and weapons forms that IAI teaches today. Wang Shi Tong
On May 26th, 2019, IAI Instructor Ba Gua Zhang Instructor Eric Deutsch won 2nd place at the Los Angeles International Chinese Martial Arts Competition. Eric performed the Ba Gua Zhang Slicing Rotating Saber Form (Ba
Which Martial Art? Which martial art is the best? It depends. If you are interested in beginning martial arts or considering switching to a different style, the more relevant question is “which martial art is
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