BAJI FIST
The Style
of Eight Ultimates Ba Ji is a very famous style in China although
it is only now becoming well known throughout the world. Powerful,
simple, elegant yet subtle; Ba Ji is winning the respect and interest
of martial artists everywhere. In Japan, for instance, Ba Ji is one
of the most popular Kung Fu styles ever taught.
Ba
Ji is known by many names including Ba Zi Quan (Rake Fist after the
distinctive shape of the hand); Kai Men Ba Ji Quan (Open Mountain
BaJi Boxing); Yue Shan Ba Ji Quan (Yue Mountain Ba Ji Boxing); Ba
Ji Quan (8 Strikes Boxing); Ba Ji Quan (Eight Avoidances Boxing):
Ba Ji Quan (Surveilance Boxing) and Tsou Sha Xing (Moving to the Extremes).
It is also known as "the Bodyguard Style" for its simple
yet effective and no-nonsense approach. For many people seeing Ba
Ji for the first time they might assume it relates in some way to
Xing Yi (Hsing I) or even Japanese martial arts due to its tremendously
powerful and explosive actions. But Ba Ji comes from its own separate
background 
combining the powerful energy of the TIGER and the loose yet definite
actions of the BEAR.
Ba
Ji is also famous for its powerful stamping actions. In keeping with
the style's theme of Eight Extremes there are Eight distinct stamping
actions for the BaJi styles. Certainly not restricted to simple foot
actions these stamping actions develop a specialized form of "power
issuing" that makes Ba Ji's movements bothpowerful and loose.
So specialized are the stamping actions of Ba Ji that the student
must work very gradually and carefully so as not to injure himself
or herself in the acquisition of BaJi's famous power
Baji has a fair number of forms. Among these are: Small Baji, Large Baji, Liu Da Kai, Si Lang Kuan, Baji sword, Baji spear and others.There are also some interesting mixed fists where Baji is blended with its sister style: PiGua (Split and Parry) style. Baji and Pigua have, at different times,been taught parallel, blended together and spearated as styles. It is generally considered that the wide open and loose movements of Pigua perfectly balance the powerful downward energy of Baji.
Baji originated in Cang county, one of the poorest in China. For centuries Cang county produced little more than Kung Fu practitioners. In fact, it is so well respected in the Kung Fu world that it is sometimes known as the heartland of Kung Fu. Bodyguards who pass through Cang county lowered their banners in respect to the fighters there. The old saying is that, "Should you come to Cang looking for a confrontation and the men are harvesting in the fields the women will be glad to fight you." Cang County Baji is respected wherever it is known.
Some of Baji's forms:
Black
Tiger Fist
Small Frame 4th Road
Single
Plucking
Small Frame 5th Road
Small Frame 3rd Road
Small Frame
6th Road
LoHan (Buddha's Disciple) Work
Small Frame
1st Road
Small Frame 2nd Road
Six Big Openings- Liu
Da Kai
Pu Dao Plain Knife
Spring Autumn Big Knife
6 Harmony Big Spear
Single Strike
Railing
Hand Partner Set- Fu Shou
Si Lang Kuan
Pure Yang Sword
Raise the Willow Saber
Travelling Staff
Six Harmony
Spear
Examples
of BaJi texts from China (not for sale).
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