Displaying posts filed under

Q & A

Jan
1
2022

QA: The Benefit of Reeling Silk in Bagua

A little while back, we published a short video tutorial on Reeling Silk exercise in Bagua Zhang. We just received a nice comment on it from Lyn, plus a couple of questions… Q: Very interesting little video. The informal style of it made it easy to watch–& a disappointment when it ended! I always tend […]

Nov
24
2018

Q & A: Single Move, Same Way?

Dear Plum, I have been thinking a lot about repeated moves in Tai Chi Chuan sets. In Chen style, for example, Single Whip is done in Eighteen Movements, 7 times in Lao Jia (Old Frame), 7 times in Xin Jia (New Frame), once in Lao Jia 2 (Cannon Fist) and one in Xin Jia 2. […]

Nov
23
2018

Q & A: Yi (意-Intention) and the Levels of Tai Chi

I have been told that tai chi can be done on three levels: up high and lightly for stress relief, down low working the muscles for health, and in the middle for combat. But as I was drawing a diagram for my students, it didn’t seem complete. The more I looked at it the more […]

Jul
15
2014

QA: Bagua’s Gaze

Hi Debbie, WOW….Ted’s DVD’s are excellent. Thanks so much for such a great product. Can I ask a few questions? ~I have studied with a guy who said we should always have our gaze on the hand facing the center of the circle, etc. I did not hear Ted mention this, though he may have […]

Jun
23
2014

QA: Is there a Mantis out there…?

I have been a student of Kung fu, kenpo, and tai chi since 1988. I am looking for praying mantis of a type I was taught, supposedly Chinese by way of Hawaii. It is a very rolled up approach to mantis emphasizing entering the opponent’s guard, employing hooking and grasping. It also emphasized attacking or […]

Mar
27
2014

QA: Bagua Zhang Variations

I really enjoyed the article about bagua. Thanks. I’d appreciate it if you could explain to me why there are so many forms/palms. What is the goal of variations? Thanks in advance, M Dear  M, You are right there are a lot of variations in Bagua, especially for a style that is less than 200 […]

Feb
5
2014

QA: Gong Li Quan

Dear Sifu Mancuso, Recently, I’ve been trying to learn more about Tan Tui’s brother: Gong Li Quan. I say “brother” because the two are both recognized as reliable, off-the-rack forms for developing general strength and skill in kung fu, and they’re both included in the Jing Wu curriculum (some of PlumPub’s own books even have […]

Aug
19
2013

QA: Does Size Matter (in a Bagua Circle?)

I’d love nothing more than to paint a circle on my nice concrete floor and would do so in a heartbeat, but I don’t own this home and therefore doing so is out of the question…

Mar
27
2013

QA: Bagua Mud-Stepping

Dear Sifu Mancuso, I have a few important questions as a novice practitioner of Ba Gua Zhang. First, although one of the principal features of Bagua is Tang Ni Bu (Mud-step walking) why is it that when you watch the films of so many teachers, you do not see them doing this step? Please understand: […]

Dec
6
2012

Q & A: Feng Shui and Martial Arts

Question: Is there a relation between Bagua Zhang and Feng Shui?

Nov
7
2012

QA: Qigong and Neigong

Dear Sifu Mancuso, Is the difference between qigong and neigong simply a matter of intention, so for example, could many qigong routines become neigong ones by simply a change of focus or mental attitude, and vice versa? Thank you, Thomas Kiefer A great question, Thomas, if for no other reason than I am sure my […]

Jun
5
2012

What is jibengong? What would be a good DVD for some examples?

Dear Ted, Recently in the online community RumSoaked Fist, Dr. Kenneth Fish has expressed a lament in the lack of jibengong being taught to new students. Dr. Fish then goes on to elaborate that there needs to be more leg lifts, goblet and pistol squats, crescent kicks and so forth for any martial arts foundation. […]

Jun
1
2012

QA: Iron Wire Recommended DVDs?

Hi 🙂 I wonder if you can help me a little? I’m fascinated by the Iron Wire form but there are no schools near me to teach me this, and I realize its a very difficult form to learn from film, but can you recommend a film that is good instruction, etc. and maybe not […]

Apr
27
2012

QA: Can You Learn Martial Arts from Media?

I’m in the Military and as such I’m on the move alot and don’t really have the time to try and track down a local teacher of anything I’d like to learn (Mostly internals like Baguazhang). And I have seen, again and again, places and sites selling books and videos on how to learn styles. […]

Apr
8
2012

QA: Mud Stepping in Chen Tai Chi and in Bagua Zhang

Is the mud stepping in Liang Shan the same as it would be in Cheng style Bagua? There is the young female Bagua master on youtube who gives some brief introductory lessons on mud stepping, as I believe it is called. Dear RP, The Cheng style mud stepping relies a bit more on the sliding/landing […]

Dec
18
2011

QA: Mizong Stances

I’d like to pass a query to Ted, if that would be possible: are the ma bu stances etc in Mizong as low as in other northern styles?   JS Dear JS, It’s nice to hear from you again. As far as your question, many practitioners do Mizong pretty low, like Shaolin. You don’t have to, […]

Nov
10
2011

QA: Jiang Style Bagua Palms

Hi there., I recently bought the DVD,  Bagua: Art of Change from you and am most happy with the quality of instructions.  I understand it is Jiang Baguazhang covered in the DVD.  I am wondering if there might a set of static arm postures (whilst walking the circle) associated with Jiang Baguazhang. 

Oct
18
2011

QA: Yan Qing Staff

I think I’ve spotted why – the way he holds it with his leading hand. He often uses the ends of his fingers, as though holding a director’s wand.

Nov
27
2010

QA: Baguazhang and Strength building?

I don’t understand if it’s internally or externally or both, but it feels like I did when I use to lift weights…

Nov
17
2010

What About Baji?

Please remember, that despite the wide variety of styles good Kung FUis 90% the same from style to style…