What is Bagua Zhang?

Bagua is identified as one of the three internal Chinese martial arts. Although the Bagua system does have straight line movements, it’s most iconic feature is circle walking. Strikes, parries, blocks, kicks, etc. are all performed while moving in a continuous circle, allowing the practitioner to move in from the side or rear of the opponent. This requires balance and coordination on the part of the practitioner, which only comes with practice. Though powerful as it combines the circular motion as well as the full body in the strikes, the practitioner still retains a relaxed and fluid state.

Bagua Zhang is a Chinese martial art, though not as old as Kung Fu or Tai Chi, reflects many of the same principles. Bagua means means Eight Trigrams Palm and reflects the Bagua symbol and circular movement. Developed by Dong Haichuan, a guard at the Imperial Palace in the 1800’s, he synthesized various forms of his martial arts training over the years into what became known as Bagua Zhang. Many of Dong Haichuan’s students developed adaptions of his training when carrying on his concepts such as Yin Fu, Magua, and Cheng.