Ba Ji Quan

Bajiquan () is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kaimen ba ji quan ().

Origins

Baji quan was originally called bazi quan ( or ) or "rake fist" because the fists, held loosely and slightly open, are used to strike downwards in a rake-like fashion. The name was considered to be rather crude in its native tongue, so it was changed to ''baji quan''. The term ''baji'' comes from the Chinese classic, the Yijing (I-Ching), and signifies an “extension of all directions”. In this case, it means “including everything” or “the universe”.

Some writers see the first written reference to Baji Quan in a military treaty called "Jixiao Xin Shu" (纪效新书) written by general Qi JiGuang (戚继光, 1528 - 1588). Due to that, certain scholars consider the reference made by Qi JiGuang as an indication that Baji Quan already existed during the 16th Century.
The first recorded baji quan teacher was Wu Zhong () (1712–1802). According to the Wu family manual, Wu Zhong was taught Baji Quan by a Daoist monk whose nickname was Lai (癞).
Other notable teachers included Wu Xiufeng () and Li Shuwen () (1864–1934). The latter was from Cangzhou (), Hebei, and acquired the nickname "God of Spear Li". A Beijing opera ''Wu Shen'' (martial male character) by training, he was also an expert fighter. His most famous quote is, "I do not know what it's like to hit a man twice." Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge () (bodyguard to Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China), Li Chenwu (bodyguard to Mao Zedong), and Liu Yunqiao () (secret agent for the nationalist Kuomintang and instructor of the Chiang Kai-shek's bodyguards). Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style". Ma Feng Tu () and Ma Yin Tu () introduced baji into the Central Guoshu Institute (Nanjing Guoshu Guan ) where it is required for all students.

In the tradition of Ma brothers, Bajiquan is believed to share roots with another Hebei martial art, Piguazhang. It is said that Wu Zhong, the oldest traceable master in the baji lineage, taught both arts together as an integrated fighting system. The legend has it that they eventually split apart, only to be recombined by Li Shuwen in the late 18th to early 19th century. As a testament to the complementary nature of these two styles, a proverb states: "When pigua is added to baji, gods and demons will all be terrified. When baji is added to pigua, heroes will sigh knowing they are no match against it." ()

Branches and lineages

Prominent branches and lineages of the art survived to modern times, including Han family Baji, Huo family, Ji family, Li family, Ma family, Qiang family, Wu family (from Wu Xiefeng), Wutan Baji Quan and Yin Yang Baji Quan. Each has a unique element while sharing core practices. Some lineages are more common or only exist in Mainland China, while others have spread to Western countries.

Mengcun Baji

Meng Village (Mengcun) is said to be the original birthplace of Baji Quan, or at least the modern versions of the art. Baji is still widely practiced there.

Nanjing Baji

Baji of Nanjing was introduced to the Guoshu Institute by students of Zhang Jingxing, Han Huiqing, and Ma Yingtu. Han had a great influence on the spread of Baji in southern China, to the point that there was a saying ‘bei li nan han’ meaning ‘Li huwenin the north and Han uachenin the south’.

Wu Xiufeng

Wu Xiufeng (1908–1976) is the "grandfather" of many modern Baji lineages. The following lineages descend from him.

Tian-style

Tian-style is a branch which has mutual influences from Jingang Bashi—the second art practiced by Tian Jinzhong. Practitioners include Wu Xiufeng, Tian Jinzhong, and Shen Jiarui >> Zhou Jingxuan Tian-style is practiced in China and abroad.

Yin-Yang

Yin-Yang was created by Zhao Fujiang, who combined his knowledge of Baji, Xingyiquan and Yiquan to create a new art form. Yin-Yang is primarily practiced in China.

Wutan Baji

Wutan Baji is the most common lineage in the West today. Originally from Taiwan, where its founder
Liu Yunqiao
lived. This lineage includes additional arts that are taught alongside Baji, such as Piguaquan and Baguazhang.

Jian Diansheng >> Li Shuwen >> Liu Yunqiao >> Adam Hsu, Su Yuchang and abroad (taught by one or more of them).

Features

Tactics and strategy

Baji quan opens the opponent's arms forcibly (''qiang kai men'' ) and mount attacks at high, mid, and low levels of the body (''san pan lian ji'' ). It is most useful in close combat, as it focuses on elbow, knee, shoulder and hip strikes. When blocking an attack or nearing an opponent, baji quan techniques emphasize striking major points of vulnerability, namely the thorax (trunk of the body), legs and neck.

The "six big ways of opening" (''liu da kai'' ) are:

* ''Ding'' : using the fist, elbow or shoulder to push forward and upward.
* ''Bao'' : putting arms together as if hugging someone. It is usually followed by ''Pi'' (splitting).
* ''Ti'' : elevating the knee to hit the thigh of the opponent, or elevating the foot to hit the shin of the opponent, etc.
* ''Dan'' : using a single move.
* ''Kua'' : using the hip.
* ''Chan'' : entanglement with rotation around the wrist, elbow and shoulder.

Stepping and body methods

Footwork in baji quan has three special features:
* Zhen Jiao
* Nian Bu
* Chuang Bu

These striking techniques are related to traditional Chinese medicine, which states that all parts of the body are connected, either physically or spiritually.

Forms

The forms of baji are divided into armed and unarmed routines. There are twenty fist forms, which include twelve Baji Small Structure Fists, Baji Black Tiger Fist, Baji Dan Zhai, Baji Dan Da/Dui Da, Baji Luohan Gong, and Baji Si Lang Kuan. There are eight weapons forms, including Liu He Da Qiang (spear), Chun Yang Jian (sword), San Yin Dao (sabre), Xing Zhe Bang (staff), Pudao, and Chun Qiu Da Dao (a long two-handed heavy blade, used by Generals sitting on their horses).

Most schools focus on a much smaller curriculum. Standard across almost all groups are Xiaobaji and Dabaji; two weapons forms, the sabre and the spear; a two-man training routine called Baji Duijie or Baji Duida and a series of 8 short attacking methods called the "Ba Shi" (Eight Postures), which are derived from the art of Shaolin Jingang Bashi.

Power generation and expression

The major features of baji include elbow strikes, arm/fist punches, hip checks and strikes with the shoulder. All techniques are executed with a short power, developed through training; among Chinese martial artists, baji is known for its fast movements. Baji focuses on infighting, entering from a longer range with a distinctive charging step (''zhen jiao'').

The essence of baji quan lies in jin, or power-issuing methods, particularly fa jin (explosive power). The style contains six types of ''jin'', eight different ways to hit and several principles of power usage. Most of baji quan's moves utilize a one-hit push-strike method from very close range. The bulk of the damage is dealt through the momentary acceleration that travels up from the waist to the limb and further magnified by the charging step known as ''zhen jiao''.

The mechanics of ''jin'' are developed through many years of practice and baji quan is known for its strenuous lower-body training and its emphasis on the horse stance. Its horse stance is higher than that of typical Long Fist styles. Like other styles, there is also "the arrow-bow stance", "the one-leg stance", "the empty stance" (), "the drop stance" (), etc. There are eight different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and ''zhen jiao''.

Influences

Baji focuses on being more direct, culminating in powerful, fast strikes that will render an opponent unable to continue. Even so, there are some styles that are derived from Baji's main principles or concepts on how to hit the opponent:
* Eight postures (''Ba shi'')
* Eight movements method (''Ba shi gong'')
* Eight movements method (''Ba shi chui'')
* Double Eight Postures (''Shuang ba shi'')
* Eight postures of the dragon style (''Longxing ba shi'')

Many of these forms are also based or mixed with Luohan fist, a Shaolin style. The term ''ba shi'' may also refer to baji. The term is also used in xingyi quan.

Notable people

* Li Shuwen
* Liu Yun Qiao
* Adam Hsu - Taiwanese Bajiquan master
* Su Yu-chang

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