Bagua Zhang Books (also spelled "Pakua Chang") |
|||
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. 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. |
|||
|
|||
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 picture to see larger version. Note, the inside pages are shown at half size for samples. click for Bagua Concepts series with Tom Bisio |
|||
See some reviews of this book From the back cover... 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 |
|||
![]() KD004 Dragon Stretches its Claws
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 |
|||
KB013 Bagua Swimming Body Palms
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 ONR OF the first English translation 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. Others Resources: |
|||
#KP022 Pa Kua Chang Journal
The entire
run of all 38 issues all on CD-ROM 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 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 This new 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 |
|||
KS051 Strategy and Change This is an in-depth contemplation on the meaning of strategy with a wealth of examples from both Western and Eastern Military history. Using such sources as Sun Zi, Liddel, Francoise Jullien, and our own Kang Ge Wu, the author shows many correlates between martial arts and the wide ranging application of strategy in both war and daily life. We share many of Mr. Bisio's views and also have had Bagua instructors who see little correlation between the I Ching, for example, and the concepts of Bagua in actual practice. However, we feel there is a wider activity here than one may first suspect. Asians, long familiar with these sources, already think along these strategic avenues. But as Kung Fu becomes a shared art in the world, the original source materials bear investigation. It's not a matter so much of keeping alive the thoughts of previous generations as examining the underpinnings of the most basic ideas. Tom Bisio supplies many examples from famous military histories: Hannibal to Cao Cao, then correlates them to martial arts examples which add life and immediacy to the concepts. Like Musashi, we can see the connection between beating one man and employing ten thousand troops. He takes these examples and correlates them to that mysterious and perennial source of wisdom, the I Jing. Should start some people thinking and the stories, mostly unknown to non-Asians, are the very stuff of the martial inheritance. Gao Ji Wu's VCDs Tom Bisio's Bagua DVDs |
|||
Just Out !! KF006 Fu Zhen Song's Dragon Bagua Zhang see special offer below. "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 PLUM special offer: |
|||
KB009 Bagua Linked Palms
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: |
|||
NEW!! K#010 64
Hands of Bagua Zhang
|
|||
KL007 Liu Bin's Zhung Gong Bagua Zhang This new book by is a nice edition 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 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. |
|||
From the back cover: 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. " |
|||
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. |
|||
KB002 BaGua
You Shen Zhang 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 |
|||
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." |
|||
|
This oversized book is the first in English from He Jing Han . It contains a number of sections on general principles in almost philosophical language. There are also photos of basic BaGua style stretches and some illustrations with instruction on the Chang Palms. There is a section on BaGua applications with "spontaneous" responses recorded. Much correlated information on which meridian and what muscle group is involved in basic internal palms. We have to say that some of the information here, especially postural, should be scrutinized with a skeptical eye. There is the distinct feeling that He Jing Han is a better dancer than Bagua expert. His arched back and "vogueing" attitude may grate on you if you have traditional standards. He comes from the lineage of Gong Bao Tian and is therefore a Yin Fu branch member. The book itself is a very good presentation from Lion. Translation by Yang Ya Hui and Alex Kozma. |
|||
KP008 PaKua for Self Defense 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. |
|||
KF004 Fundamentals
of PaKuaChang Vol. 1 This
book 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 fighter that the Japanese put a price on his head.
This book by his student of many years is chock full of hands
on BaGua training. Besides detailed instructions on walking,
it contains... The FIRST volume of a two part series it is a pretty comprehensive introduction to at least one method of BaGua practice. |
|||
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. |
|||
Robert W. Smith & Allen Pittman
|
|||
|
|||
KL005 Liang
Zhen Pu 8 Trigram Palm "(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. Good photos, illustrations and the essential section, "Formulae Handed Down from Dong Hai Chuan" with comments by Li Zi Ming himself. |
|||
Click for a page of Bagua Translations by Joseph Crandall. |
|||
|
|---|
|
|---|