Warfox Bagua 錦園八卦掌

I recently had an amazing experience in a martial arts competition in Fu Zhou, China on Dec 12, 2008. It was a competion between all of the masters or "participating masters" from Taiwan v.s. the masters of Fu Zhou and other regions of China. Even though I am not big on competition myself, but was honored to be a representitave of the Taiwanese team as well as traditional martial arts. The tournament took two days and the members of the Taiwanese team travelled together for 5 days. It was a wonderful opportunity to work with many masters hands on and learn the differences between the many different styles. I believe that trying to compare so many arts and masters and to say who is better or more effective is impossible. So the trophies and medals I don't really pay attention to. But the best part of the experience was being accepted as a master of the traditional arts. It was incredible being able to talk to the other masters regarding history, culture and the future of t...

This is my brother doin a little demo in Korea. This gives a little closer view to the application of Huek Choo Kwan

I find that many people these days believe MMA to be the most effective form of fighting. Not that I have a problem MMA being a former believer in mixed styles myself, but I have found it to be lacking in comparison to traditional styles in terms of power and effectiveness. Why does MMA and ultimate fighting tend to dominate in competition? 1. Mixed martial arts is one of the easiest and quickest fighting styles to learn. In every style learning the basics can be done in a couple of months and the later more advanced techniques take years to achieve. MMA is a combination of the most basic manuevers from boxing, grappling, kicking etc. In short a person training Bagua for a year or two vs. a person doing mma for a year or two will be beaten. Since we live in a microwave society the quicker route is most appealing in all countries. 2. The second reasoning is that in competition everyone is limited to the same sets of rules. Wearing gloves completely eliminates wristlocks, pressure points...

These are my two students from before who later became the masters students. This is a set from the Bagua sword practice techniques. Look at em go

This is my oldest brother Master Eddie in the beginning and the rest are who students who are also diligent. When I go back to the states we will open a school together along with my other brother Aaron who teaches wing chun. If your intrested in Bagua, Hapkido or Wing Chun this will be the place to be in the Seattle area. We will also have many other specialized instructors that focus on grappling, boxing, capoeira, and everything. Students will be able to design their own class according to their personal goals. This is the meaning of Tian Wu Dao. All are welcome. Oh yeah and Go bro!!

In 1997 a group of martial artist from different styles came together to learn and develop. Stylist from all ages cultures and backgrounds shared the common goal of becoming better martial artists. The idea was not to necessarily mix your style with other movements but also to purify and refine your style by pitting it against others. The weakness of many styles is that they all only have a chance to practice against like minded fighters. We found that the best way to find the weakness in our style was to be attacked by movements from completely different philosophy. At the same time because our backgrounds were so different we also had to come to terms in understanding eachother's cultural backgrounds and languages. Black, White, Chinese, Japanese, French etc. Through martial arts we were able to find something that we hadn't expected.....family. A collection of heroes and heroines who share a simple goal to find peace and strength through unity. Thank you Tianwudao for your b...

In every movement in Bagua it is just as important to be able to do the technique backwards as forwards. If you can only attack while moving forward then you wont be able to get out of a number of circumstances i.e. grappling. This is my master showing how to engage while moving backward.

This was a nice article that they did about my life in Taiwan. Step by step Im getting closer to my goal. Keep training my fellow martial artist. Were about to have our own dynasty. http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2008/10/14/TT-971014-P04-IB.pdf

It is never easy to get up early before work or waiting till after work to squeeze in a few hours of training time. Especially if your working on movements or techniques that are not "the fun part" of kung fu i.e. stances or whatever. Knowing that the key to perfecting a technique only comes from doing the same thing over and over and over and over.....(I get tired sometimes just thinking about some exercises) This is usually a point where martial arts practitioners can have a "mid life crisis in their style" and seek new intrests outside of what they are studying. There is nothing wrong with dabbling in other styles but the unfortunate truth is learning a little bit of everything will hinder you from ever mastering a style. Or another way to say it is not being rooted in any style asures that you are easier to knock down. Dont worry there is no such thing as an ultimate style. Every martial arts that has survived till now has endured the test of time which means it...

Wu Guo Zheng's Classes 吳國正的課 Taipei City Xin Dian Highschool 新店高中 Sunday at 3:30 禮拜日 15:30 Warren Fox's Classes 孔太龍的課 Taipei City Zhongxiao Fuxing Mrt near exit 14 忠孝復興捷運地下街 靠近14號出口 8pm to 9:30 pm Tuesday and Thursday 禮拜二四 晚上 8點

Section two of the post heaven movements or applications. This is not like sparring but a very effective method that teaches the timing of the movements and has an endless amount of variations that can be practiced. This is consideed one of the most complex parts of Gao bagua and should only be practiced after the post heaven movements are done smoothly

This was a wonderful experience in Taiwan to be able to be surrounded by so many masters. I saw masters of every internal style along with up and coming masters in the external styles. Truly a blessing to be in Taiwan for me now.

一、持刀式 Holding Blade Technique 二、獻刀 三、 Offering Blade 舞花左砍（左） Dancing Flower Slash 四、別刀右砍（左） Right Dividing Slash 五、背刀式（左） Back Blade Style 六、獻刀式（左） Offering Blade Technique 七、大舞花（挨右） Big Dancing Flower 八、獨立後搗 Single Back Thrust 九、獨立前摩 Single Forward Grind 十、撲刀式 Pounding Blade Style 十一、轉身觀風 Turn and Face the Wind 十二、古樹盤根 Roots of the Old Tree 十三、透步別刀 Through Step Dividing Cut 十四、蹋步下砍 Deep Step Downward Slash 十五、蹲步挑抱 Crouching Plunge 十六、回身掃膛 Turning Sweep 十七、推窗望月 Push the Window and Gaze at the Moon 十八、、輪花撲刀 Rolling Pound 十九、背刀式 Back Blade Style 二十、騎馬下撩 Riding Horse Rising Blade 二一、騎馬蓋頂 Riding ...

My master demonstrates the movements of engagement. The rest can be found on youtube. Sorry there all in Chinese

In gao style bagua there are 25 different variations of footworked designed to close the gap and apply the technique The Twentyfive steps for engaging 走式變換名詞 1 Stationary Step 不動而走 2 Stationary Leaping Step 不動跳步而走 3 Forward Left to Right Step 向前左右一步一走 4 Forward Left to Right Multi sStep 向前左右多步而走 5 Forward Left to Right Low Step 向前左右蹋步一步一走 6 Forward Left to Right Low Multi Step 向前蹋步多步而走 7 Spinning Step Left to Right 轉身左右一步一走 8 Spinning Multi Step From Left to Right多步轉身左右而走 9 Rotating Low Step 翻身蹋步一步而走 10 Leaping Rotating Low Multi Step 多步跳躍翻身而走 11 Backward Step From Left to Right 倒步左右一步一走 12 Backward Multi Step From Left to Right 倒步左右多步而走 13 Backward Low Step 倒步蹋步而走 14 Leaping Step From Left to Right 跳步左右一步一走 15 Leaping Low Step 跳步蹋步而走 16 Straight Forward Step 向前直步一步而走 17 Backward Leaping Step From Left to Right 後退左右跳步而走 18 Straight Backward Leaping Step 後退直跳一步而走 1...

First set High Block 上截 Low Parry 下欄 Horizontal Waist strike 欄腰橫棒 Right Attack 右擊 Left Attack 左擊 Ear Strike 耳棒 Covering Top 蓋頂 Middle piercing staff 中平刺棍 Second set Low Block 下截 High Block 上截 Through Step Heart Pierce 透步刺心 Turning Sweep 轉身掃蹚 High Block 上截 Horizontal Waist Strike 欄腰橫棒 Covering Top 蓋頂 Middle pierce 中平 Third Set High Block 上截 Hold the moon 托月 Low Block 下截 Brow Strike 挑眉 Ear Strike 耳棒 Horizontal Waist Strike 欄腰橫棒 Covering Top 蓋頂 Middle Pierce 中平 Fourth Set High Block 上截 Hold the moon 托月 Low Block 下截 Brow Stike 挑眉 Shoulder Pierce 刺肩 Back Slam 背鐗 Covering Top 蓋頂 Middle Strike 中平 Fifth Set High Block 上截 Brow Strike 挑眉 Crossing Strike 外跨 Turning Brow Strike 挑眉 High Parry 上攔 Horizontal Waist Strike 攔腰橫棒 Covering Top 蓋頂 Middle Stike 中平 Sixth Set High Block 上截 Horizontal Waist Strike 攔腰橫棒 Covering Block　蓋頂 High Block 上截 Horizontal Waist Strike 攔腰橫棒 Covering Top 蓋頂 Ear Strike 耳棒 Middle Strike 中平 Seventh Set Low Parry 下攔 Turning Overhead strike 轉身劈頭 Outward parry 外攔 Inward Parry 內攔...

Self defense will always be a key reason for training martial arts regardless of the many other benefits that are gained from training. The real question most people ask themselves is, "How will I handle myself in a real fight?" The answer comes down to how you train. I have found that it is true that there is no such thing as an ineffective technique, their are only techniques trained ineffectively. However in order to apply certain techniques in a real combat scenary will take a great deal more of effort to perfect. My teacher told me that once you have done a technique a thousand times you have learned it, after ten thousand times it is effective, 100,000 it becomes powerful and one million times it is flawless. How many techniques have you practiced a million times? It is the reason hand techniques seem more effective at first. I can fnish a million hand techniques in a year if I work at it consistantly. A technique like a spin kick however will take a great deal more tim...

If you couldn't tell by some of the articles that I have already written I am not a big fan of the pop era. Where to most people it me seem like a harmless fashion it has also indirectly affected all histories and cultures. Everything real is getting eaten away by imagery. Martial arts instructors are often more concerned about the business than the art which is the cause of incomplete or incorrect styles being taught. Thus creating an idea that some styles are ineffective, when in actuality the teacher or students are practicing the movements ineffectively. In the pass it was necessary to hide the techniques of a style and for martial artist to remain low-key in order to survive. Now even at the point of origin for many martial arts the youth is completely uninterested in learning martial arts. Causing a dilution of the styles potency as well as getting mixed together with "demonstration" and "sport" styles losing the truth in the style itself. The only way I ...

　　Master Wu Guo Zheng officially started his training in Bagua in 1979. At that time his father Wu Jin Yuan was already teaching Gao style Bagua and as a youth Wu Guo Zheng was surrounded by an enriched martial arts environment. For the next 30 years he trained under his father without break in order to take on the responsibility of carrying on his fathers complete teachings. Now Wu Guo Zheng is the head of the Jin Yuan Bagua Association as well as teacher of the arts. He has been teaching for over ten years to his students in both Xin Zhu as well as Xin Dian Taipei. With the responsibility of having to complete his fathers teaching on his shoulders he has taught diligently in order to spread the style of Soft Body Repeating hands Bagua . (Known in mainland China as Gao style Bagua .) When he teaches he explains the purpose of every movement in great detail and often writes articles on how to better your training. He has unselfishly taught to many students the comple...

Me and my master demonstrating the first Gua or Heaven sections applications form. These are the most basic movements of Gao that teach attacking and countering. It's especially good for footwork training and ranging.

Wu Jin Yuan was born in 1897 in Shan Dong China and died in 1993. The country of Shan Dong was saturated with martial arts in order to combat the many bandits that were often prevalent in the area. Because of this there were many authorities or protectors of the area that were knowledged in different styles of martial arts. These created a general feel that all of the families in the area should study martial arts of some kind. The most popular at the time was Shao Lin, Bagua was not as widely known. Wu Hui Shan an elder who was familiar with the martial arts world for a long time. It is also said that he had practiced some of the martial arts in his own leisure time. Cause of this he wanted to implement this into his own children's development. He had 5 boys and 1 girl who were all involved in martial arts from a very young age. He then organized the prosperous five which was his attempt to involve his children in something different than Shao Lin and other basic martial ...

吳國正師父 和孔太龍 I have had many different teachers in my years of training. Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Americans have helped to guide my understanding of the martial arts. However their is only one person that I will call master and that is Wu Guo Zheng.He has been training Bagua since before I was born and when I came to Taiwan searching for the masters he showed me the door to knowledge. I hadn't heard of him before my arrival to Taiwan, in fact I heard of other masters that I found to be "less than inspiring". The very instant that I felt him grab my arm I was willing to completely let go of everything I learned just to be able to study under him.He is not the kind of master that drags your time along because he is afraid you will surpass him, which is a common trait with many Asian teachers. He says, "I will teach you as much as you can learn." I have been very fortunate to train with him one on one for the past years here in Taiwan. I have learned things tha...

Luckily for me I was able to see the effectiveness of martial arts from the very beginning. At four years old my fathers rule was that anyone under his roof was to begin training martial arts. (This included my mom...for a short while) Me and my two brothers had to undergoe training that most would say was unsuitable for children. Some days after school we would have to practice a thousand kicks before starting our homework. When I was put against my two older brothers I always felt that I was the weakest. I was slower, less flexable, etc. Though it was mostly due to being younger I tried to find ways to catch up to their level. I would often say I was sick so that I didn't have to go to school and then stay home to train in secret. It wasn't until a number of confrontations I had at school that made me realize that I wasn't a bad martial artist, I just wasn't as good as my brothers. Who were and still are amazing. They have also continued their training and development...

Pre Heaven (For Strengthening & Conditioning) 八大綱 8 Structures (Outline of Power) 單換掌 Single Changing Palm 雙換掌 Double Changing Palm 順式掌 Flowing Palm 背身掌 Backside Palm 翻身掌 Body Reversing Palm (Flipping Palm) 磨身掌 Grinding Body Palm 三穿掌 Triple Piercing Palm 回身掌 Turning Palm (Rotating Palm) 天干八卦 Heaven Movement Forms 蛇形順式掌 Snake's Flowing Palm 龍形穿手掌 Dragon's Piercing Palm 回身打虎掌 Tiger's Turning Palm 燕翻蓋手掌 Swallow's Reversing Covering Palm 轉身翻背掌 Spinning Backward Palm 擰身探馬掌 The Searching Horse's Twisting Palm 翻身背插掌 Reversing Body Backward Stabbing Palm 停身搬扣掌 In Place Hooking Palm (Still Hooking Palm) Post Heaven Movements (For Application) 地支八卦 Earth Movement Forms Section 1: 打法 The Way of striking 開掌 Opening Palm 捧掌 Carrying Palm (offering palm) 扽掌 Yanking Palm 探掌 Searching Palm ...

In Short I study Gao-Style Bagua (), or more specificaly, Soft Body, Repeating Hands Bagua (柔身連環八卦掌). The lineage started with Dong Hai Chuan, then passed to Cheng Ting Hua, then Gao Yi Sheng, then to Wu Jin Yuan (my master's father), and then to Wu Guo Zheng (my master). Until recently, it was taught almost exclusively to the military. I have now been given permission to open it to the public. More Details Dong Hai Chuan (董海川) founded the first lineage of Ba Gua 200 hundred years ago in Mainland China. Like Tai Ji, it expanded over time to include a wide variety of styles and lineages. Dong Hai Chuan taught the style to over a dozen apprentices, but his main successors were Cheng Ting Hua (程廷華) and Yi Fu. Every instructor of the system has added their own unique flavor to the style, which each develped into different lineage names. This system was developed by Cheng Ting Hua and Gao Yi Sheng, hence the name Cheng Gao Ba Gua. Gao Yi Sheng was stationed as a body guard in the Dong...

Me and my two brothers were forced to start martial arts when we were four years old under the instruction of our father. I started with Taekwondo and as I grew up, branched into other styles: Hapkido, Aikido, Ninjitsu, Jeet kun do, Capoeria, etc. When I was about 19, I began studying Chinese to further enhance my knowledge of the arts. I then came to Taiwan to study the "roots" and fell in love with Bagua. The complete Gao-style Bagua system is said to have 8,864 combat related movements, not including Pre-heaven techniques or weapons. Each of the 8 Gua parts have 8 movements. Each of these 8 movements have 6 applications. There are 23 basic steps of entry which, when incorporated with the above, add up 8,832 unique combinations. There remain 8 hidden moves with six applications each. My quest is to find these movements through heavy training and research. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, hit me up.

Bā Guà Zhǎng (八卦掌), often translated as "Eight Trigram Palm" (but more aptly termed "Eight Sectional Palm") is one of the 3 "Internal Styles" (內家功夫 Nèi Jiā Gōngfú) identified by Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂, 1861-1932), the other two being Xíng Yì Quán (形意拳) and Tài Jí Quán (太極拳). "Internal" means that power is developed not though one's muscles, but through proper technique and body structure. The term "internal" is often used interchangeably with "soft" because forces are redirected instead of being met with equal or opposite force. But make no mistake; soft does not equal weak. The trademark of Bā Guà is the "circle" (or more accurately, the "octagon"), a training tool and strategy used to develop the dexterity, balance and fluidity needed to apply Bā Guà techniques in combat. Like other internal styles, proper Bā Guà practice does not damage the body the way western boxing, Muay Thai, and Tae Kwon Do often do,...