Baguazhang is categorized as an internal martial art, much like Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. Baguazhang focuses on encircling the opponent and constant movement, with the primary target being the back of the head; either by circling to the opponent's rear, or by going through the opponent's face! It is a stark contrast to some of the more "harder" systems since it favors evasion over hard blocks and direct attacks, but that doesn't mean it isn't effective.
It focuses on rotational movements. Taiji Chuan on spirals. Xing Yi on linear penetrations.
Line + circle = spiral btw
Just as spinning plus pile driver = drill.
Rest of my answer is the same as Mark's.
As for good schools, China used to have the original source, until it got exiled to Taiwan. So now Taiwan has it. So you might need to trace it from Taiwan or China to the US.
If you can take a trip to China for 3 months, there's a full time course on a different internal art.
http://practicalmethod.com/category/full...
Years ago, the name of this art was "Romanized" as "Pa Kua". It is one of the three traditional "internal" arts, that were all taught simultaneously by tradition.
They are:
Bagua or Pa Kua.... A style that emphasizes circular movements and deflections.
Shing Yee or Hsing-i... A style that features very straight, linear movements
And of course, Tai Chi or however they are spelling it now.
A style that sort of synthesizes movements from the other two and adds the element of energy flow and re-direction of the opponent's force.
Chinese Martial Art.
Looks good in concept, I'm sure nobody has ever found a dojo that taught it in a practical combat manour.
It does not work in real life combat, it has almost no sparring of any kind.
No.
Very circular "internal" style of kung fu. I've heard people refer to it as the sister art of tai chi chuan.
Check out the videos:
I believe there's a guy in Tampa... his name escapes me.
He is quite knowledgeable..
name starts with an "N"??
I saw the movie IP man 2, there was a fight scene where IP man fights 3 kung fu masters on a table, one of them was using baguazhang. Does anyone know anything about it? How effective is it? Does anyone know any good schools in the central florida area?
