Wang Shujin Style Bagua

Wang’s bagua system starts students from stillness in zhan zhuang postures, first double weighted and later 60/40 weighted. These are aimed at building roots, relaxation, calm and qi. The second component, and one of the most important ones in terms of power and martial application I think, is the practice of single movements. These consist of palm, fist and leg exercises aimed at developing gong li, or power. They are practiced first standing in 60/40 posture and then with moving steps on a straight line. For example, left piercing palm (chuan zhang) will be practiced 60 repetitions on the left and 60 reps on the right. There is an assortment of these exercises such as piercing, slapping, shaking and the five elements of xingyi and so forth. Especially in the beginning, I used to feel my arms were about to fall off and my legs were like cooked spaghetti (not al dente!).

These exercises also build coordination and unity of the upper and lower body. We call it jiu gong gui yi which means nine palaces return to one point, meaning the body acts as one unit and all power is concentrated in any given technique, point. The mental aspect of this training is very important. Wang delivered tremendously painful and dangerous strikes and my teacher is the same. I was once hit by him so badly I felt all my internal organs had been crushed. It wasn’t serious though and after sitting down for a while, everything was fine but I did think I needed to be rushed to hospital. My teacher did not use full force in any way and I hope he never does. Anyway, jiu gong gui yi is an important part of Wang’s practice and all the single movements are aimed at developing that kind of coordinated, unified power for application. There are also single movements for kicking, mainly low outer or inner kicks, the most common being at the end of Wang’s single palm change with the first bai step. Again, Wang’s physique did not encourage anything higher but kicking knees and shins is the most effective anyway and it doesn’t affect your balance or defense either!

Wang's 'Ba gua Connective Palms' system consists of 8 part movements, as follows:

Single Change Palm

Double Change Palm

Kite Flies to Heaven

Yellow Dragon Turns Body

White Snake Spits Out

Great Roc Spreads Wings

White Ape Presents Peaches

Whirlwind Palms.