Now Arrived!
KC078 Classical Ba Gua Zhang: The Old Eight Palms of Master Wang Shi Tong
Tom Bisio
English Language
227 pages, B&W photos and illustrations, throughout
$29.95 Plum Price: $26.95
Classical Ba Gua Zhang: The Old Eight Palms of Master Wang Shi Tong contains tremendous energy. It offers a version of the original Old Eight palms of Bagua Zhang, that is, the fundamental Eight Palm Changes. Topics include not just the obvious circle walking, but over one hundred applications taken directly from practice. The scope of this book is thorough and commendable.
Many of the different approaches are taken from the Double/Single Palm Changes, creating a solid base for this style’s famous endless spinning techniques. As Sifu Bisio writes in his introduction: "In particular, his (Master Wang's) Body Turning Palm, or Hidden Hand Palm, is direct and to the point while his Opportunity Seizing Palm contains many subtle dynamic rotating and body shaking actions as it deftly mixes high and low attacks." We would add that it also, correctly, intertwines defense with attack, transforming into throwing maneuvers and off-balanced control.
The text charges a lot of information into the reality of Bagua, such as threading exercises, wraps, and its touchstone, transformational Bagua. The power is strong, and deflectional, with a typical set of circling Bagua actions ending with straight tangential follow up.
Wang's version of Lao Ba Zhang incorporates folding movements with subtle sophisticated palm actions. The eight primary
movements are noted with names handed down from the early days of Bagua; starting with the Single Palm, the Double palm, the Body Turning Palm, and five other key palms from which all the other changes may emanate. The hands and arms are quite significant in this style, twining like snakes. And uprooting is prevalent, as it should be.
The eight palm formations in this book are closely related to the YiJing; for instance, the upward facing palm is related to Qin or Heaven; downward facing to Dui, or Lake, providing both a demonstration of the fighting capability alongside the symbolic and historical faces of the palms.
Wang Sifu passed away in 2005 and this book — compiled and written by Tom Bisio, a noted disciple — is a great testament, not to mention an important document, of his work. This is the kind of important material that will, hopefully, keep Bagua alive into the 21st century.
Click the Table of Contents Image, to the right, to see more.
KH022 Hawk Splits Sky: Jibengong Practice, Bagua Zhang Mastery (Book and 2 DVDs)
Ted Mancuso
English Language
(BOOK)
134 pages, Full color photos throughout
(DVD) Usage: 80 minutes
(DVD) Instruction 124 minutes
$59.95 Plum Site: $44.95
Introductory Price: $39.95
The ongoing study of Chinese martial arts involves navigating a small catalogue of methods to advance. You learn hand routines, weapons routines and, if you are lucky enough to have a good teacher, the basics of your particular style, as well as general Kung Fu theory.
But there is another level that is often absent, whose name might bring knowing nods from senior practitioners, but blank stares from younger students — Jibengong. You might hear these Jibengong, or Gong(s), referred to as 'advanced basics' or 'foundational movements;' they are the meeting place of concept and practice in Chinese martial arts, and a necessary component of mastery.
Gongs are the principles behind the movements put into practice: for instance, you might learn different downward blocks, but the concept of "Pressing" allows you to understand repelling movement of that type. Gongs employ those principles, expanding your capabilities in performance as well as usage. They also have the advantage of tying together larger systems, seeing the relationship among Long Fist styles, for instance, which employ the same principles but with different emphases. Gongs allow you to play within them, further developing your style.
In this new book/DVD package, Sifu Mancuso presents 24 of the Gongs that he has used over decades to teach his own Bagua students. True to the narrative style of his earlier books and DVDs, the instruction resembles that which you might find in a live class.
In the book itself he addresses the qualities and meanings of these 24 Gongs, along with information on true Bagua practice. On the first DVD, which runs a little more than 2 hours, he teaches the details of each of these Gongs. And in almost 1 1/2 hours on the second DVD, he works with 2 senior students on how to incorporate these principles into usage. Also included is a section specifically addressing Bagua Leg Usage.
KI010 (book) and D24405 (DVD) Introduction to Baguazhang: From Circle Walking to Advanced Practice
Kent Howard
Book: English Language, 224 pages, $18.95 discounted to $16.95
DVD: English Language, 80 minutes, $29.95 discounted to $26.95 when purchased with book
Another fine book and DVD project from Sifu Kent Howard on Bagua Zhang, taken from the Wang Shu Jin lineage. This book has already been well-received by the Bagua community.
Book:
Unlike his previous two books, which were translations of Wang Sifu’s own writings, this one comes direct from Sifu Howard, distilling his own knowledge gained from his teachers over decades. Not only is the book well-laid out, but each and every posture is—thankfully —shown in a FULL PAGE photograph. This provides a dandy way to pick up additional nuance that is difficult (if not impossible, sometimes) to communicate through text. Sifu Howard also presents more solid, interesting details, such as Response Time in relation to Stress situations.
Essential Palms are shown and widely acknowledged as the key movements in the entire style. Sifu Howard spends much time in both the book and the DVD emphasizing the importance of Basics, which we heartily endorse. His instruction is clear, and he comes through with his idea that this book is good for beginner to advanced practitioner, offering something at each level.
DVD:
The DVD that rides with this series is particularly open to important and foundational underpinning. A source of information from a practitioner with Howard's background will rapidly add solidity to your practice, such as his approach to the Mother Palms, Bagua flavor, and the inclusion of major stepping patterns, showing key foot and hip formations.
The contents:
~ The Basics: methods of walking, directional changes, circle walking, basic palm positions, stances, and hand shapes
~Body mechanics: postures, alignment, post standing, principles of fluid motion, and composite strength
~Essential forms: the mother palms, single and double palm changes, and sparring
~Vital applications and how to move beyond form into advanced practice
A good deal of information here, to be sure.
CLICK TO WATCH A SHORT VIDEO CLIP FROM THE DVD
KX013 Xiantian Bagua Zhang: Gao Style Bagua Zhang Circle Form
C. S. Tang
English Language, 471 pages, $60.00 discounted to $54.95
This is the way to do it. Pack over 470 pages into an entire survey—even, one might say, a grand tour of Gao style Bagua Zhang.
Sifu C.S. Tang has built a comprehensive English language edition with excellent, large format photos of instruction accompanied by a voluminous gallery of celebrated teachers and well-known students in the Gao lineage; including discussions of the well-received Gao and its relations to the endlessly changing master art and its many tendrils.
This book is so information packed, that we encourage you to scan the Table of Contents (click to see), but here are just a few topics to whet your appetite:
- A VERY different version of the origin of Bagua Zhang, including handed-down stories and legends
- The rarely seen Gao style Circle Form (the Gao routine is usually represented in lines)
- Bagua kicking, footwork, hand strikes
- Gao 8 Mother Palms
- Gao Chin Na skills
- Bagua Nei Gong ("The Secret Way" to Qi Gong)
- ...and enough to do a little world-building, all through the diversity of thought and in-depth training of (iron) striking skill, and even more authentic training methods.
Gao style actually seems to have a planned, modular system for the order of instruction, this could be valuable for some people wanting a structured progress.
Teacher Tang is, as we understand it, considered Southern China's leading expert on the style. His scholarship is well-respected; as a side note, when we visited Sifu Tang, his studio was so full of books and resources that he had rented an extra hall in order to teach.
KM022 Master Cai Haikang Leg Techniques of Ba Gua Zhang Succeeded from Jiang Rongqiao
in Chinese and English
268 Pages, $44.95 discounted to $39.95
This book represents an important addition to the Jiang style of Bagua. As a matter of fact I would go so far as to say that, despite any particular branch, a Bagua Zhang practitioner could benefit from this fine book.
Here is a beautifully laid out compendium of leg actions with strict Bagua flavor. With more than 250 comprehensive photographs, teacher Cai Haikang gives us “pin ups” of basic Bagua kick postures. Then, with a good text, layout and presentation, Sifu Cai demonstrates the famous original Jiang form of eight changes, but with distinctive and gracefully interjected kicking actions.
If you know this most popular form of Bagua, the instruction in this book will give you a structure on which to hang even more knowledge. It is a healthy and significant addition to Jiang’s legacy. And if, like me, you have had some experience with Jiang Style, you will additionally appreciate how well the leg actions are fused into the formal practice.
BaGua Zhang KB027Swimming Dragon Eight Trigram Palms
By Chen Yun Ching, with James Sumarac
73 pages plus, softbound, oversized, color photos
$21.95, Plum price $19.95
First Edition from Taiwan, 2011
A well written text showing much of the Chen Pan Ling lineage; the inheritance of a very famous Chinese martial artist, hydraulics engineer and educator. All the key movements demonstrated by both of the authors. Applied defenses are presented by Chen’s son, Chen Yun Ching. Some good stories, acknowledgement of Robert Smith, profiles of significant instructors.
Contents include:
A description of Bagua
Its lineage in relation to Chen Pan Ling
Daoist history and philosophy
Footwork
Loosening exercises
Foundations as stated by Chen Pan Ling
Eight Mother Palms with Applications
All Eight Palm Changes with applications
Biographical Notes
A Shadow on Fallen Blossoms KS060The 36 and 48 Traditional Verses of Baguazhang
Translation and Commentary by Andrea Mary Falk
237 pages, paperback, English with Chinese verse
Plum price $32.95
I’ll be honest with you, I have not yet finished Andrea Falk’s new book: A Shadow on Fallen Blossoms. I wanted to post this as soon as we received copies. I can’t imagine anyone interested in Bagua and not adding a copy to their martial library.
This volume of “poems” and essays are supposedly written—recorded is a better word—directly from the teachings of Dong Hai Chuan, the founder of Bagua Zhang, by a follower named Zeng Zengqi. Falk expertly translates the text from the Chinese (included) and adds enlightened English commentary. She preserves the poetic structure where the principles of Bagua are laid out in small, memorable Chinese verses. In former days these “songs” were studied and memorized, allowing even illiterate students to analyze their rich content.
Andrea Falk has the natural reticence of someone who does not want to mess up her sources. In this case, she has written extensively, adding her own commentary on the original texts. Her approach succeeds, creating a running subtext that taps into her teachers’ and her own knowledge of Bagua and Chinese Martial arts, not to mention the re-statement of many sections in terms modern and clear to an English reader.
Here’s a taste…
伸手不见掌前伸
又无油松照彼身
收缩眼皮努睛看
底盘掌使显奇神"When you can’t see your hand extended in front of you,
And you don’t have a torch to illuminate your assailants,
Narrow your eyes and concentrate on seeing.
Go to a low stance and all will become clear."
"I call this verse Fighting in Darkness. It gives good, practical advice about how to fight in the dark. Outdoors in the dark, if you crouch down you can quite often see your opponents against the natural light, which come from above. Indoors, there could still be light coming in a window. The opponents have much less change of seeing you, looking down into the darkness. This is described again in verse 48.25, which emphasizes that you need to move around , and stay low while moving around. Squinting is not to “see better,” but to help the eyes adjust to the dark by making it even darker for a brief movement, after which you will see better. Also, block the light temporarily so the eyes can serve to stimulate the other senses."
If we haven't already made this point, we highly recommend this book.
The Method of Lu Shui-Tien as Taught by Park Bok Nam
This 2 Volume set continues the lineage of Lu Shui-Tien (1894-1978) through his student Park Bok Nam. Lu was so well known during the Sino-Japanese war as a Chinese fighter, that the Japanese put a price on his head. He had many deadly battle confrontations.
See, also, the companion DVDs for this book series.
KF004 Fundamentals
of PaKuaChang VOLUME 1
Same as "Bagua Zhang" by Park Bok Nam
$29.95, 207 pages
This book by, Park Bok Nam, Lu's student of over 17 years, is chock full of hands
on BaGua training. Besides detailed instructions on walking,
it contains...
• Philosophical roots
• Two person exercises
• Power issuing practice
• Palm Training
• Snake style body movement
• Body Twisting Exercises
• Ch'i Kung method (Qigong)
• Bagua geometry
• Special footwork
The FIRST volume of a two part series and a pretty comprehensive introduction to this method of BaGua practice. One of the first books in English on the subject.
 |
It's Back!! Fundamentals
of PaKuaChang
(Bagua Zhang) Vol. 2 KF005
$29.95, 206 pages,
English
Besides detailed instructions on Bagua fighting strategies,
it contains...
•
Further circle walking technique
• Body training including Single Palm
• Palm technique with appications
• Elbow Training
• Kou Bu and Bai Bu kicking
• The MIND in Chi Kung (Qigong) practice
• Bagua Ch'i Kung techniques
The SECOND volume of a two part series, this is a pretty comprehensive
introduction to at least one method of BaGua practice. This
text adds more to the overall picture of BaGua while introducing
information about leg locking and elbow attacks, hidden moves
in most BaGua forms.
See, also, the companion DVDs for this book series.
KY008 Yan Dehua's Bagua Zhang Applications by Yan Dehua, translated by Andrea Falk
163 pages plus, softbound, illustrated
$25.00 Plum Price $20.00 English, 10% discount if both Falk translations ordered. Discount taken in shopping cart.
Still one of our favorite Chinese martial arts books of all time. It would be hard to find more charming illustrations for a martial book. These figures resemble a knock down fight between the Katzenjammer kids. Wonderful half-fanciful applications of Bagua, this being the first book with Bagua applications ever published. A nice straightforward and clear translation from Andrea Falk with the appropriate Chinese characters for key concepts printed in Chinese and English.
KJ004 Jiang Rongqiao's Baguazhang: Chinese-English edition by Jiang Rongqiao, translated by Andrea Falk
171 pages, plus softbound, with illustrations and photgraphs
$27.95 Plum Price: $25.00 English and Chinese, 10% discount if both Falk translations ordered. Discount taken in shopping cart.
Revised edition, now containing the Chinese text along with Falk's excellent translation into English.
Bagua teacher, Andrea Falk, gives us her translation of Jiang RongQiao’s Bagua Zhang Eight Palms form. Not only does it proffer a smooth, literate translation of this key form, but each section is accompanied by photographic breakdowns of Jiang’s style by teacher Cai YuHua, a direct descendant in the Jiang line. Further principles and concepts are also transmitted with notes from Falk clarifying topics such as the goal of Bagua stepping methods. A helpful expansion of the original text. A key text, with a fine translation.
SC534 Round Body Bagua Zhang with VCDGao MingXing
94 pages plus VCD, softbound
$18.95 Simplified Chinese/English on both book and VCD
A surprisingly strong performance of a mixed set of Bagua by a national champion. This medium sized set is a solid compilation of many aspects of Bagua besides the Palm Changes. It also blends the Bagua Animals as well as some Old Palms positions. Additionally, kicking methods are shown within the form and capturing the flavor of the style. A good performance set for about intermediate level and one that is clean enough that whichever style you might practice this can be applied.
Though often less than 100 pages, these 'en face' books offer both simplified Chinese and English face to face. In addition, they include a VCD with the form in question demonstrated, often by top performers. The narration in both the Chinese and English is minimal, leaving it pretty much up to you to figure out how to move, but the photographs are quite clear and the English helpful. If you are interested in the form, it is a good value.
Bagua Nei Gong Series by Tom Bisio
Multiple volumes
Order two titles or more, of this series, and get a 10% discount (discount will appear in shopping cart)
As a later addition to the world of Chinese martial arts, Bagua is the inheritor of many branches of information. In addition to its signature circling and twisting, it is also a system comprising much Kung Fu information that is commonly scattered and hard to find.
Tom’s newest offering is a series of books which can progressively or individually bring you into the world of Bagua Nei Gong training. (Martial artists often prefer to use Nei Gong over the more common”Qi Gong” for a number of reasons, including the somewhat more sophisticated concepts involved in the study of Nei Gong.) Many of these will be familiar to practitioners of martial and Daoist studies. In Mr. Bisio’s Gao style, there are nine distinct sections of Nei Gong listed as:
Patting • Dao Yin Guiding Qi • Standing and foundation • 12 Postures standing • Fundamental actions • Circle Walking • Tian Gan • Bone Marrow • Daoist “Returning” Meditation
Book #1: Yin Yang Patting and Dao Yin Exercises (covers #'s 1 & 2)
87 Pages counting 20 page glossary
Patting the body certain ways can be beneficial to developing Qi flow. The method here is simply described with easy instructions and clear definitions of Patting (yin) and Slapping (Yang) methods. This is followed by a section on Guiding Qi (Dao Yin) showing some key actions of Nei Gong training.
Book #2: Qi Cultivation Exercises & Standing Meditation 117 Pages counting 20 page glossary
The concentration in this text is on standing practice with the arms lowered (WuJi style) or raised in front of the chest (embracing method). After these two universal exercises comes a section of six more patterns developing a sense of the proper directional movements and their effects on the body. A clear and concise introduction to general Nei Gong practice and some very simple ways to find results.
This series is particularly good at listing those Key Points in each posture and movement. Also, the methods shown in all books to this point can be trained in any order, allowing customization for the student.
Book #3: Twelve Posture Standing 87 Pages counting 20 page glossary
In this text, standing postures (12) become much more Bagua oriented with 12 animal shapes, each with a specific Bagua version of a classical posture. The first of these is finally demonstrated as a Single Change Palm, the basic method of reversing the circle in Bagua.
This series is particularly good at listing those Key Points in each posture and movement. Also, the methods shown in all books to this point can be trained in any order, allowing customization for the student.
Book #4: Foundational Body Training 165 Pages counting 20 page glossary
This fourth volume covers 25 fundamental exercises and Bagua Walking Nei Gong. For those who want to know what Bagua is, JiBen Gong or fundamental exercises are important because they introduce the flavor of the system while opening up the pathways in the correct ways. Many of these basics training forms encourage waist and shoulder rotation while giving good examples of the proper method.
This series is particularly good at listing those Key Points in each posture and movement. Also, the methods shown in all books to this point can be trained in any order, allowing customizing for the student.
Book #5: Tian Gan Heavenly Stem Nei Gong 135 Pages counting 20 page glossary
"Tian Gan Nei Gong is indispensible to the practice of Ba Gua Zhang and the martial arts in general. The Tian Gan Exercises develop the ability of the legs and waist to generate the torsional power known as 'Silk Reeling' Energy. Tian Gan also trains the correct internal mechnaics" .... ' Tian Gan literally means' Heavenly Stem.' The name... refers to the longitudinal axis or stem that passes through the body.... combined with the movements of the arms and legs, stimulate and open the meridians...."
This series is particularly good at listing those Key Points in each posture and movement. Also, the methods shown in all books to this point can be trained in any order, allowing customizing for the student.
Order two titles or more, of this series, and get a 10% discount (discount will appear in shopping cart)
Book #6: Marrow Washing Nei Gong 103 pages, photographs and illustrations counting 20 page glossary
In this volume Tom Bisio takes a decided step toward the core of the the practice—literally. Almost the first thing he does in this volume is to introduce bone breathing, an ancient and perennial method well known among martial artists and monks. He extends this into a series of even deeper direction aiming at concentrated focus on the marrow in the bones, partly a method of concentration that engages fundamental reactions. He then shows a consolidating series of postures and massage techniques. Finally there is a chapter on principles linking the exercise to its philosophical basis and relation to the I Ching: the Classic of Changes.
This series is particularly good at listing those Key Points in each posture and movement. Also, the methods shown in all books to this point can be trained in any order, allowing customizing for the student.
#KC065 Cheng School Gao Style BaguaZhang Edited by Liu Feng Cai, Editorial Director Vince Black, Translator John Groschwitz
392 Pages, photographs
$29.95 Plum price $25.50
Here is a major book on Bagua Zhang spanning three inheritances: Gao Style, Cheng School, and Li Branch, all started by three famous Bagua teachers.
This is the first English language presentation of the writings of Liu Feng Cai, one of the greatest of all Bagua Zhang performers. Besides Liu's version of Gao style Bagua, the famous 64 palms of Gao, there is much information that shows a very original and deeply considered take on the art. In addition, the report by Professor Kang Ge Wu gives a detailed and well documented historical reconstruction of its origins.
Besides discussing Bagua weapons and usage, there is a lot of information on living skills and "martial destiny." For instance, the section on the relationship of Pre-Heaven to Post-Heaven, strikes us as one of the best and most detailed expressed so far in English. Gao, according to Liu, has five distinctions from other styles of Bagua.
-
1. Post and Pre Heaven are trained separately
-
2. The Gao preserves all the original characteristics of Bagua
-
3. The roundness is constant, whether still or moving
-
4. Gao emphasizes softness with hardness inside
-
5. The Pre-Heaven Palms are the basis of the Post-Heaven Palms
A book like this gives a lot of valuable information but must also just hint at a few things. We hope to see more Gao Style books on its peculiar weapons, two person drills, and things like that. However, this book is a great start.
Basics, color photos, personal insight by long -time practitioners, health benefits, combat theory, historical background, a text that will make you reconsider some of the basic principles, animal boxing and important insights on life-cultivation: there are a number of noteworthy books on the art of Bagua coming out now. This is one of them and an important reference to add to the complete Bagua library.
#KY006 You Shen Ba Gua Lian Huan Zhang
by Sun Zhi Jun; editor and translator: Suzanne Robidoux
400+ Pages
$67.95
Plum PRICE $62.95
Here it is. Sun Zhi Jun is considered by a lot of people to be the top Cheng style Bagua Zhang practitioner in the world. Here we have a special package combining many things until now only available in Chinese. It starts with his Chinese textbook—the 1994 edition revised, expanded and translated into English—outlining the history, technique, background and forms of Cheng Bagua. There are a lot of nicely translated pages covering spirit and practice. Every form in the accompanying DVD is explained so you can use the book for those technical details impossible to get off a video. The translation is top grade, articulate and east to read. The DVD alone is almost worth the price since it collects the forms of six previously published VCD (Video Compact Disks) right there a value of over 45.00. Sun himself, though no kid, is graceful and powerful at the same time. His Bagua is no-nonsense and he likes contact so his applications are to the point yet retain the flavor of Bagua. Many practitioners can throw a punch or punch a thrower but most of them cannot do it with the distinctive Bagua flavor that takes years to develop. A big oversize book of over 400 pages, a really top notch source book for the serious Bagua student.
Excerpt: “In this case, the qi is stemming from the dan tian area and is sent out to the tip of the spearhead. The Ba Gua spear form combines the arts of Ba gua Zhang with the spar movements and is executed with agile and flexible steps which resemble flying. The movements are linked together by applying all the basic principles of internal qi changes in combination with the external manifestations of force and speed.”
THE DVD: By eliminating repetitions from the old 800 series, and and probably shaving a few instructional slices, most sections run between eight and fifteen minutes. There is no cumulative time for the DVD so we are estimating it at about 142 minutes
Basic training: 6:29
Empty Hand Forms:
8 Palm Changes 8:10
8 Mother Palms 23:53
8 Connecting Palms
4:34
24 Movement 64 Changes Form 29:48
Bagua Saber: A fast, fluid and beautiful set performed with the oversized weapon often associated with the art of Bagua. Numerous spins and “lift the curtain” movements. 19:07
Bagua Straight Sword : Many under the arm, coiling, spinning and figure eight cuts show a strong, well-constructed set that never naps as far as Bagua principles. Less fancy than some, more meaningful than most. 16:35
Bagua Spear: A good spear form with a wide variety of movements most of them still emphasizing the core actions. Don’t expect everything to be performed in a circle though, to our eyes, everything is circular. Not a beginner’s spear form. 19:06
Bagua Elk Horn Knives: One of the primary double handed weapons for increasing your Bagua skill. This is a wonderfully twisty form with spins, double wing actions, coiling steps and whirling blades. Best to start with cardboard knives or such. Much like an extension of his 24 strikes form taken to a higher level. These forms brought together establish a core series of routines for capturing the Cheng and swimming dragon flavor. 14:52
Sun Zhi Jun was born in 1933 in Cheng Village, Shen County, Hebei. He started his training under Liu ZiYang who was himself a disciple of Cheng DianHua, Cheng TingHua’s younger brother. He later studied under Cheng YouSheng (the son of Cheng Dian Hua). He also studied from Cheng Ting Hua’s other son, Cheng YouXin. Besides being a famous instructor he taught competing members of contemporary Wushu teams. This year he has been designated a National Treasure in mainland China.
A couple of customers have reported having problems playing the DVD on their DVD players. The DVDs are Region 0, which means playable anywhere; and they play without trouble on all computers. Just in case...
#KE015 The Eight Animals of Bagua Zhang (Book +DVD) Ted Mancuso
(Book) 141 Pages, (DVD) 35 minutes
$39.95 Plum price $32.95 Bagua Zhang is exotic, effective, beautiful and practical; it shows the grace of Tai Chi with the skill of Kung Fu, incorporating the best of martial and health practices with philosophy.
There are over 150 branches of this great art, but it is commonly acknowledged that "The Eight Animals" is the core practice for Bagua. The Eight Animals routine combines Bagua's signature circle walking with eight special Qigong postures.
Plum's book and DVD provide a complete introduction through simple instruction mixed with higher level practices. Originally developed as the text for introductory seminars, the book combines photos and text to clearly show the breakdown of each movement. And the companion DVD offers the complete set plus fundamentals, including demonstrations of pole work rarely seen. Ted Mancuso's signature style of narrative teaching is evident in both; as one reviewer commented, "It's like having a teacher right at your elbow."
Ted Mancuso is the author of the popular book "Learning Bagua Zhang: The Martial Art of Change," which is a companion to his best-selling DVD series "Bagua: The Art of Change." He has been teaching Chinese martial arts for more than forty-five years.
Click picture to see larger version.
KT057 Taiji, Xing Yi and BaguaQuan by Way of Our Modern Masters Mark Small
103 pages, $29.95, oversized
Sifu Mark Small brings the teachings of many instructors together in what might be called a book of comparative principles. Having studied over a forty year period with various instructors such as Chang Tsung-Sheng, “The Butterfly King”; Liang Shou-yu, a Shuai Jiao champion; JouTsung-Hwa, Chen Yun-Ching and Choy Kam Man, he can legitimately claim to know something about his subject.
For instance, here is one important and powerful example: Small shows that the basic fighting posture of all these arts is essentially the same. Further, he demonstrates that this meta-posture can be applied to many throws. He then goes on to enumerate the use of different energies in throwing, including well-known concepts like Warding, Pressing and Plucking. He also offers us a wealth of comparisons between the arts and the styles uncovering key principles used by the various methods. There are so many ideas tucked away in the middle of paragraphs and side notes that the reader will have to be attentive to break them out to apply them. This is a good text for intermediate and advanced martial students.
#KB015 Bagua Circle Walking Nei Gong Tom Bisio
249 Pages, Click picture to see larger version. Note, the inside pages are shown at half size for samples.
$28.95 Plum PRICE $25.95 ( over 10% off)
Here's another significant book by Tom Bisio. He is probably doing more than anyone else in English to chronicle a consistent style and approach to Bagua training, especially within the Gao branch of the style. This book concentrates on the Ding Shi, the walking palms with stationary upper body positions. These form much of the core of Bagua.
Drawing on his own knowledge as an acupuncturist, conversations and lessons from Zhao Da Yuan, along with notes taken from the famous Li Zi Ming, Tom has produced a book not only of tips on how to walk the Ding Shi (the same as in his DVDs) but also which meridians correspond to which animals. There is much information about the cycle of energy in the body and its relation to Bagua. There is a lot of information here and this can only be a valuable supplement to any Bagua student's training. Topics include the Channels, Micro-cosmic orbit, the functions and locations of the channels, walking the Bagua posts and "the rarely taught Bagua Energy Accepting Palm, in which vital force (qi) is absorbed from the natural environment."click for Bagua Concepts series with Tom Bisio
#KL008 Learning Bagua Zhang: The Martial Art of ChangeTed Mancuso
225 Pages
$28.95 Plum PRICE $22.45
From the back cover...
" Some people don't believe that you can learn Bagua from a book. But they don't have over forty years experience teaching martial arts. Ted Mancuso has created a step-by-step process for learning Bagua, based on what he calls "narrative instruction." In this book, you will first learn the key hand motions, followed by Bagua's distinctive circle-walking and foot patterns. Next, hands and legs are joined into core Bagua movements, which are then applied to partner practice and self-defense. Finally, he shows the technique of the Bagua poles, Bagua's own special Qigong practice, and the never-before-explained Dragon Fighting."
We at PLUM consider this the most direct route available today to learn Bagua. It companions with our very popular DVD, Bagua Zhang: The Art of Change, filling in strategy and background information, complementing everything shown in the video. This text takes core movements and builds them into a complete Bagua practice that will aid ANY form of Bagua Zhang. This art is so versatile that all, from rank beginners to black belts, can immediately gain from its practice. Plum guarantees that you will make progress by engaging in The Art of Change.
See the Table of Contents
See the Ted Mancuso's Art of Change Bagua DVD series
See some reviews of this book
An illustrated manual of BaGua Zhang
by Liu JingRu & C.S.Tang
$24.95
A book in English by the very famous Liu JingRu and his
co-author C.S.Tang.In this generously illustrated volume they
share their deep knowledge of BaGua Zhang with the general
reader. Simply and accurately they explain its origins and
development. The basic forms, postures and applications of
this seemingly difficult art are illustrated step-by-step
in a comprehensive series of photographs. All photographs
are accompanied by Liu and Tang's own clear and expert explanations.
Main characteristics
Brief description of various palm routines
BaGua and health
Ten important points and eight methods
Names of the Palm Postures and Routines
Eight Palm Changes illustrated
also, applications of the movements
Duets and partner routines
To many people Liu JingRu is one of the reigning masters of the Cheng Ting Hua branch of BaGua. We are happy to announce we have become co-publishers in this book and carry one of only two exclusive stocks of this title in the world. Consequently, this is the place to get Dragon Stretches Its Claws.
Other
Links for Liu JingRu: BaGua VCDs also DVDs
Translation of an earlier text by Li
KB013 Bagua Swimming Body Palms
by Wang Shu Jin
Translated by Kent Howard and Chen XiaoYen
$16.95 PLUM price 13.95, 168 pages, softbound, photographs and illustrations
This is the second in Wang Shu Jin's well known series of books on Bagua Zhang.
Wang Shu Jin is "the man" to many practitioners especially from the Taiwan group where his presence as a teacher is still highly honored. This is ONE OF the first English translations by Kent Howard and Chen Xiao Yen. Topics covered include some introductory material on Wang's teachings, The Eight Character Secrets of BGZ, the 9 Palaces Returning to One; BGA Hand Forms, Post Standing Methods, 13 Prohibitions, Basics Principles and the Swimming Body form shown from Wang's own photos and restated by Kent Howard in sequence.
See also Kent Howard's DVD on Bagua Linking Palms
Others Resources:
Wang Shu Jin's Swimming Body in English another version
Chinese edition: Swimming Body book
#KP022 Pa
Kua Chang JournalThe entire run of all 38 issues all on CD-ROM
with a table or contents to allow access to each issue and article.
Over 1000 pages of great information.
Edited by Dan Miller.
$34.95
PC and MAC compatible--in PDF format
PA KUA (BaGua) CHANG JOURNAL edited by Dan Miller is a real treasure for the martial arts enthusiast. Published between November 1990 and February 1997 the Pa Kua Journal was without a doubt one of the best martial arts periodicals in the English language. It lasted 32 excellent and interesting issues combining high quality reportage with a wide ranging series of internviews and articles by top notch practitioners of the art of BaGua. For those of us who subscribed to it in the paper form the total price for the entire run cost $130.00. Now it's all available, without advertisements, for $34.95. and you don't have to wait a month for each issue.Filled not only with great articles, the Pa Kua Journal has historical and famous photographs of major practitioners. Here, for instance, are some of the many topics covered...
The first major writings in English of Xie Pei Xi on the requirements of BaGua
A complete breakdown of the teaching method of Grandmaster Liu Yun Chiao's BaGua by Adam Hsu
Tim Cartmell's experiences learning BaGua in Taiwan
Vince Black's study with Li Zi Ming
And entire issue on the Single Palm Change as pracitced by major schools
Excellent articles on Ba Gua Weapons
and many more...
The Pa Kua Chang Journal is now available in this excellent format where all issues are perfectly accesible and will not yellow or fade. This full run of articles, photos, interviews and reviews is a truly great deal for anyone interested in the martial arts, especially BaGua, T'ai Chi and related arts.
KA012 The Attacking Hands of Ba Gua Zhang by GaoJi Wu and Tom Bisio
large photos by Valerie Ghent
$36.95 381 pages, softbound,
This book is a fine presentation built around the core defensive movements of the Gao style of Bagua. It contains 72 techniques and 64 Hands passed down from the famous boxer Liu De Kuan. It all breaks down like this: the 72 Techniques are single action maneuvers such as a throw or strike. Each of them is accompanied by a couple of pictures and they are basically straight forward moves though performed with a Bagua manner. Next is the 64 Hands. These are the same movements on Gao Ji Wu’s three part VCD series. There are eight lines each with eights “hands” and generally more than eight counts since some hands take a few counts. Each of these hands and its basic application are shown in the book with very good photography. The Hands are a little more involved than the “Techniques”. Along with some historical notes, especially pertaining to Gao style, this is the bulk of the presentation. Definitely a good resource for this method of showing applications.
Gao Ji Wu's VCDs
Tom Bisio's Bagua DVDs
KF006 Fu Zhen Song's Dragon Bagua Zhangby Lin Chao Zhen
Edited by Wei RanLin and Rick L. Wing
$17.95 PLUM price 15.95, 168 pages, softbound, photographs and illustrations see
All we need on this much awaited book is to show you the blurbs (and the names) from the backcover...
"Speak to any native of Southern China about Bagua Zhang and the name of Fu Zhen Song will quickly come up in the conversation. Fu was largely responsible for the introduction of the Northern internal martial arts systems to the Southern Chinese, and his coiling movements, lightning quick footwork, spinning manuevers and thunderous palm strikes are legendary. All students of Bagua Zhang will benefit greatly from the material that has been provided in this book, and I applaud Wei Ran Lin and Rick L. Wing for their efforts in providing Lin Chao Zhen's book to the English-speaking world.
Dan Miller. Publisher and editor, Pa Kua Chang Journal
The Chinese martial artof Bagua Zhang has a long and illustrious history of training manuals, and Fu Zhen Song's Dragon Bagua Zhang carries on this grand tradition. Lin Chao Zhen was a direct student of Fu Zhen Song, and his closeness to that renowned teacher is reflected in the detail shown in the various techniques in the book. I highly recommend this i mportant and informative training manual.
Brian L. Kennedy co-author of Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey "
All we can add is that for a primary and first major English text on a martial subject this is a gem, filled with history, instruction, analysis. A great introduction to the unique style created by the master Fu Zhen Song.
Others Resources:
Fu Bagua in VCD
Brian Kennedy's Martial Arts Training Manuals
Joseph Crandall's translation of Fu style
Pa Kua Journal: The Complete Run
KB009 Bagua Linked Palms by Wang Shu Jin
Translated by Kent Howard and Xiao Yen Chen
$16.95 PLUM price 13.95,
softbound, photographs and illustrations
All we need on this much awaited book is to show you the blurbs (and the names) from the backcover...
Wang Shu Jin is "the man" to many practitioners especially from the Taiwan group. This is a new translation by instructor Kent Howard. This edition also has expanded information, in the time tested traditon of commentary on the text, by co-translator and long time Bgua practitoner Kent Howard. It has notes on Wang Shu Jin's life and his spiritual teachings. Some really intriguing notes on Bagua's history including special information on Dong Hai Chuan and Bagua's relation to I Ching philosophy. Step-by-step breakdown of the Eight Linked Palms.
Others Resources:
See a clip of Kent Howard performing Wang's style
Wang Shu Jin's Swimming Body in English another version
Chinese edition: Swimming Body book
New! the DVD version of this book
K#010 64
Hands of Bagua ZhangFighting Techniques of Liu De Kuan
by Gao JiWu and Nigel Sutton
$16.95 PLUM Price 14.45
151 pages, softbound, photographs,
We have hardly had time to review this one but we were anxious to make it available. This book brings the 64 "straight" techniques of the Gao sttyle of Bagua to the reader. Many people consider this the very foundation of understanding how Bagua "works". As with many of the books Nigel Sutton works on, the information is given with an eye to detail. In addition there are pieces on Gao's family background, the key principels of the art, solo and applied versions of the moves and much more. A good text to start understanding the application of Bagua Zhang.
Resources:
see VCDS by Gao Ji Wu
See a sample of Gao Ji Wu's form
KL007 Liu Bin's Zhung Gong Bagua Zhang South District Beijing's Strongly Rooted Style
by Zhang Jie & Richard Shapiro
This new book by is a nice addition to the Bagua corpus. Not only is the writing good and clear but the introductory sections have many stories, anecdotes and history told from a decidedly different perspective (Bi Cheng Xia created "traditional" Bagua, Dong Hai Chuan wasn't a eunuch but a Daoist adept who could "retract"). Zhang Jie was exposed to many Bagua practitioners before coming to America and his insights and perspective shows deep dedication. The instructional content of the styles, a branch of the Cheng Ting Hua family, shows 16 standing exercises and a 24 movement series based on the eight animals. Our only disappointment, which happens with Blue Snake Press, is that the outside of the book is beautiful but the photos we find a bit on the dingy side and smaller than we would like.
KL011 Liu Bin's Zhung Gong Bagua Zhang South District Beijing's Strongly Rooted Style
by Zhang Jie & Randy Chung, Richard Shapiro , William Baller, Mark Wigzell
$22.95 PLUM Price $18.95, 229 pages, softbound, Photos
VOLUME TWO is now, sadly, out of print with the publisher. If it comes back, we will have it again!
This second book in the series is peppered with personal stories of Bagua masters, three open-hand forms and two weapons sets never documented in English before. Since the author has had personal contact with many of the people described he adds a liveliness and intimacy that is unique. These two books form a nice overview of a style including the history, impressions, culture and challenges of this branch of the Bagua family. Bagua, being a relatively new style, has the advantage of growing not only into the modern age but also through a time when documentation and human memory is still fresh. Unlike so many styles that must half-believe what they know, the Bagua framework allows for a very rounded picture of the style's development.
Want to see a short excerpt from this book?
KW003 Walking the I Ching
The Linear Ba Gua of Gao Yi Sheng
by Allen Pittman
$17.95 PLUM Price $14.95, 226 pages, softbound, Photos and illustrations
From the back cover:
"After an overview of Ba Gua's history and philosophy, author Allen Pittman presents eight chapters corresponding to the eight 'houses' of B Gua theory—elemental groupings that match the eight foundational trigrams of the I Ching. Each of these houses manifests a distinct underlying dynamic and martial arts principle, and each chapter begins with an introductory survey of the symbolism and cultural, anatomical, tactical, and spiritual ramifications of the house. Detailed and extensively illustrated directions for performing the eight linear sequence forms of each house follow.
This combination of practical instruction and philosophical insight make Walking the I Ching not only an authoritative guide to hands-on practice, but also a pathway to a deeper understanding of Ba Gua Zhang and its traditional roots."
KE011 The Essentials of BaGua Zhang by Gao Ji Wu and Tom Bisio
Photos by Valerie Ghent
Reg $31.95, PLUM: $28.95; 359 pages, softbound,
Order with any other Tom Bisio book or DVD and get this for 26.00
This is "a unique portrayal of the power, effectiveness and beauty of the art of Ba Gua Zhang. The essential principles and training methods of BGZ are presented by Master Gao Ji Wu, inheritor of Beijing Gao Family BGZ. Chapters cover the basic principles of Ba Gua Zhang, nei gong, footwork, standing postures, fixed posture circle walking, the eight basic palm methods and the Ba Gua linking form, as well as kicking and seizing methods, pushing hands and BGZ's 36 songs and 48 methods. With over 570 photographs."Gao Ji Wu began study of traditional Chinese martial arts at age seven under the tutelage of his father and grandfather. Today, Gao Ji Wu carries on his family's martial arts tradition. His expertise and understanding of BGZ and the 64 Hands is extensive and unique. This book and those to follow will expand on this previously filmed VCDs.Tom Bisio has been involved with martial arts since 1973. He teaches Xing Yi and Ba Gua and heads a Chinese medicine clinic in New York. He is the author of A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth.
This new book is nicely formatted, with big clear pictures and direct translations of many Ba Gua key points from the "songs". A very good effort for anyone interested in any branch of the Ba Gua tree.
Gao Ji Wu's
VCDs Tom
Bisio's Bagua DVDs
Eight Trigram Swimming Body Palm
by Wang Shu Jin
Translated by Marcus Brinkman
and Bradford Tyrey (1950's text)
$26.95, 130 pages, 120+ photos, small size (5X7)
This translation of Wang Shu Jin's famous book is accompanied by surprisingly clear photos (all things considered). The translation by messrs Brinkman and Tyrey starts with Wang's preface which tells of practicing subjective (understanding, discipline, etc) and objective (standing, progressive actions, etc.) methods. Next is a section on BGZ's "8 Character Poems" . Then we read of the "9 Palaces Returning to One". "Shapes of the Palms" follow. BG "Single Hand Standing Methods" comes next. The Preparations section is followed by Standing practices and Basic Principles. The set of Swimming Body Bagua follows. After this we have a biography of Dong Hai Chuan, BG's founder, with some information rarely seen elsewhere. The final piece is a portrait of lineage holder: Zhang Zhan Kui. According to the translators this second edition has improved binding and overall quality.
Resources
See Wang Shu Jin in old film
read
an excerpt from this book
KW008 The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang
by Frank Allen and Tina Chun Na Zhang
$21.95 Plum price (16.45), 238
pages, softbound,
Back Cover: "Illustrated with over 500 photographs, the training sections teach a complete warm up followed by a step-by-step program for learning the essentials of the practice such as the classical Cheng style Basic Eight Palm Changes and the Cheng Style Deer Horn Knife Set of Grandmaster Liu Jing Ru. These chapters also include combat strategies, theory of ba gua fighting techniques, and a complete account of the unique weapons of ba gua zhang.
Much more than just a technical manual, Whirling Circles shows how bagua zhang developed from Daoist ideology and tells of inspiring historical accounts and legends of the ba gua masters. The final section explains how to use mindfulness, breathing techniques and meditation to recognize and combine the essential eight trigrams of the Yi Jing, the Book of Changes. This book also includes a new, full translation of Dong Hai Chuan's Thirty-Six Poems and Forty-Eight Methods, with expert commentary on their meaning."
An illustrated training manual of BaGua Zhang
Lee Ying Arng and Yen Te Hwa
$16.95, English, Softbound, 86 pages
We have literally been looking to handle this book for years. Originally published in English in 1972 it is a classic in the field, without a doubt. Lee Ying Arng, the vice president of the Hong Kong Kung Fu Association, was a pioneer in the field especially regarding English language publications. His was one of the first Kung Fu books ever in English, the first Iron Palm book, the first film strips (8mm in those days) to be available. His modified Yang style Tai Chi - almost completely ignored - is one of the best abstractions of the set ever done, with every move repeated ON BOTH SIDES yet structured in an elegant and asymmetrical set.
Here is a BaGua book that is not only informative but charming. In the first section it presents the basic palm positions, gives an historical overview with pictures of famous masters, shows Lee himself doing applications. The next section if a translation into English of a famous text by Yen Te Hwa showing some of the neatest illustrations ever of Chinese fighting applications. The usage is Ba Gua to the max with some pretty twisty renditions but all fascinating. A fold out lineage chart is enclosed. A collector's item worth a lot of money if you could find it. This reprint is pretty much the original except for the hard cover and dust jacket. A must-have for any Ba Gua library.
go to a Chinese edition of this book
 |
|
|---|
Robert W. Smith & Allen Pittman
$14.95, 99 pages,
Pa-Kua (just another spelling for Ba Gua and pronounced the same) is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes "soft" movements not dependent on strength. It's secret lies in the cultivation of Ch'i, intrinsic energy, through a series of gentle exercises which are practice while walking in a circular fashion. Both a fighting and living art, Ba Gua is considered by many to be related to the soft, circular motions of T'ai Chi. This book outlines the history of the style which is based on the 8 basic trigrams that were the inspiration for the I Ching- one of the most important books fundamental to Chinese philosophy. Fully illustrated are the basics, the eight palm shapes and the eight traditional circle walks with changes. Robert Smith is considered a "dean of Chinese martial arts", one of the first people to write about it in the West. Allen Pittman has studied for extended time in Taiwan.
KB003 BaGua Zhang Emei styleTheory and Application
Liang Shou-Yu &Yang Jwing-Ming
$39.95 with Plum Discount 35.95, 361 pages,Softbound,
In our opinion one of the best books produced by the prolific Yang's Martial Arts. The historicity of "Emei" BaGua is negligible imparting a confusion between BaGua the style and BaGua the philosophy. Nonetheless this is a big and fairly comprehensive edition. It contains many general notes on martial arts with ample Chinese language quotations and accompanying translation. It also has a section on BaGua Chi Kung, General Concepts, the Jings (Powers) involved in BaGua, Eight Mother Palms with applications,Swimming Body BaGua with applications, and a small Deer Horn set with applications. Liang Shou-Yu, ostensibly the author with a credit to Yang Jwing Ming, is known for his Shuai Jiao expertise and the applications take on some of this flavor. But overall this book of more than 350 pages is a strong addition to one's BaGua library.
Li Zi Ming; Translated by Huang Guo Qi
Compiled & Edited by Vincent Black
"(BaguaZhang) Master Li Zi Ming was the last living representative of the third generation in Dong Hai Chuan's lineage when he wrote this authoritative book. This in-depth exposition explores all of the ramifications involved in performing and unitizing this sophisticated fighting system. Having begun his life long study of Eight Diagram Palm in 1918 with his teacher Liang Zhen Pu, Master Li drew from over 60 years of experience in writing this work. Never before has a treatise by a Master of such long term experience and insight been made available to those outside the Chinese community."
Good photos, illustrations and the essential section, "Formulae Handed Down from Dong Hai Chuan" with comments by Li Zi Ming himself.