Académie Sino-Canadienne de Kung Fu
 

Baguazhang


Ba Gua Zhang is based on the theory of the Eight Trigrams of the Book of Changes (Yi Jing, or I Ching). Style forms include moving inside an imaginary circle, alternating between straight line and circular movement in patterns of eight steps; Ba Gua Zhang forms are extremely long and complex.

Created during the Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912), little is known about the identity of its true creator. It has been registered that the first well-known master to openly divulge Baguazhang was Dong Hai Chuan. The style was popularized by two of his students: Cheng Ting Hua and Yin Fu. Sun Lu Tang also contributed significantly to the development and diffusion of Baguazhang in modern days.

The techniques are similar to those of Tai Ji Quan and include combat with closed and open hand, seizing and locking, kicks, sweeps and throws. The predominant forms are freehand but the style counts on weapons (spear, straight sword, broadsword, daggers and yin-yang fish blade).