The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual : Gao Yisheng's Bagua Twisting-Body Connected Palm

In its first English-language edition, this detailed training manual is a complete guide to Gao baguazhang, as preserved through the lineage of Liu Fengcai. The youngest of the major bagua lineages, Gao bagua shows the influence of taiji quan, xingyi quan, and shuai jiao. It incorporates traditional bagua weapons, pre-heaven palms, and animal forms in addition to sixty-four individual post-heaven palms and their accompanying two-person forms. A unique synthesis of health-building techniques, Daoist theory, and practical fighting applications, Gao-style bagua is an example of the finest internal-arts traditions. The original manuscript for The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual was completed by the art's founder, Gao Yisheng, in 1936. It was not published at the time, but handed down to his student Liu Fengcai, who edited and published the first Chinese edition in 1991 with the help of his own student Liu Shuhang. In 2005, Liu Shuhang published a revised and expanded version, and this was again expanded and reissued in a third edition in 2010. Now, the manual has been translated and fully updated for its first English-language edition. Including over 400 photos showing step-by-step techniques and forms, the manual documents the fundamentals of the art as well as detailed descriptions of techniques and empty-hand forms, laying the groundwork for advanced training. This edition includes rare photos of important masters in the Gao lineage, lineage charts, biographies, and other updates, making it the essential companion for anyone studying Gao style and a useful guide for any practitioner of baguazhang or other Chinese martial arts. From the Trade Paperback edition Title Page Copyright Dedication Table of Contents Preface to the English Edition Preface to Volume 1 of the 2010 Third Chinese Edition Preface to Volume 2 of the 2010 Third Chinese Edition Preface to the 2005 Second Chinese Edition Preface to the 1991 First Chinese Edition Introduction Gao Yisheng’s Study of Martial Arts Liu Fengcai’s Study of Martial Arts Wang Shusheng’s Study of Martial Arts Historical Baguazhang Reference Photos Baguazhang Theory Reference Charts 1. Baguazhang History, Theory, and Performance Baguazhang’s Origin, Development, and Transmission The Naming and Meaning of Baguazhang Basic Special Characteristics of Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Basic Hand Positions and Footwork Baguazhang Post-Standing and Piercing the Nine Palaces An Explanation of the Art-Training Tree Diagram Combat Applications of Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Combat Application of the Pre-Heaven Palms Combat Application of the Post-Heaven Palms Gao Yisheng on Combat Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang’s Health-Building Benefits Skill Is in Training the Internal and Fostering the Root Efficacy Is in Strengthening the Legs and Solidifying the Waist Ingenuity Is in Building the Body and Strengthening the Mind Benefit Is in Holistically Building the Body Gao Yisheng on Building the Body Toward Scientific Tests and Conclusions about Building the Body Required Introductory Knowledge of Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Ten Rules for the Practice of Baguazhang The Three Unacceptables for Teaching and Interacting When Practicing Baguazhang Avoiding the Three Harmful Errors Required Knowledge for Beginning Baguazhang Study 2. Pre-Heaven Baguazhang The Naming of Pre-Heaven Baguazhang Pre-Heaven Baguazhang’s Twenty-Four Requirements (Neigong Posture-Completion Methods) A Pictorial Explanation of Pre-Heaven Baguazhang Opening Postures (Turning and Changing Palms) Eight Big Palms Palm 1: Snake-Form Flowing-Posture Palm (Qian Posture) Palm 2: Dragon-Form Piercing-Hand Palm (Dui Posture) Palm 3: Turning-Body Tiger-Striking Palm (Li Posture) Palm 4: Swallow-Overturning Covering-Hand Palm (Zhen Posture) Palm 5: Spinning-Body Back-Covering Palm (Xun Posture) Palm 6: Twisting-Body Forward-Searching Palm (Kan Posture) Palm 7: Overturning-Body Backward-Inserting Palm (Gen Posture) Palm 8: Stopping-Body Moving-Hooking Palm (Kun Posture) Closing Posture: Black Dragon Whips Its Tail Palm 3. Post-Heaven Bagua Sixty-Four Palms Heaven (Qian) Eight Postures Water (Kan) Eight Postures Mountain (Gen) Eight Postures Thunder (Zhen) Eight Postures Wind (Xun) Eight Postures Fire (Li) Eight Postures Earth (Kun) Eight Postures Marsh (Dui) Eight Postures 4. Baguazhang Weapons Bagua Yin-Yang Mandarin Duck Knives Bagua Rolling-Hand Broadsword Bagua Connected Links Straight Sword Bagua Body-Adhering Spear Bagua Cane Double Rattan Sticks Night-Fighting Saber Wudang Straight Sword 5. Baguazhang Form Boxing Routine 1: Qian—Lion Waves Routine 2: Kan—Snake Wraps Routine 3: Gen—Tiger Crouches Routine 4: Zhen—Dragon Form Routine 5: Xun—Swallow Overturns Routine 6: Li—Eagle Tears Routine 7: Kun—Bear Yanks Routine 8: Dui—Monkey Image 6. Essential Selections on the Life-Cultivation Arts The Three Dantians Jing, Qi, and Shen Important Poems on Life-Cultivation Cultivating Kidney Skill-Methods Golden Liquid Returning to Dantian Massage and Daoyin Art 7. Records of Famous Baguazhang Practitioners Dong Haichuan, the First-Generation Founder “Spectacles Cheng”: Cheng Tinghua “Dragon-Tongue Palm”: Yin Fu “Coal Ma”: Ma Weiqi “Wood Ma”: Ma Gui “Heavenly Brave”: Zhang Zhankui “Bodyguard Master”: Li Cunyi “Superior Palm”: Zhou Yuxiang “Monkey” Sun Fuquan (Sun Lutang) Famous Hebei Practitioner Li Wenbiao Gao Yisheng and Liu Fengcai: Double Rattan Sticks and Night-Fighting Saber 8. Insights of Famous and Junior Practitioners Wang Fuling, Direct Disciple of Liu Fengcai Han Fengrui, Direct Disciple of Liu Fengcai Chen Lianfa, Direct Disciple of Liu Fengcai Ge Guoliang, Grand-Student of Liu Fengcai Ge Shuzhen, Grand-Student of Liu Fengcai Li Xueyi, Grand-Student of Liu Fengcai Ge Shuxian, Grand-Student of Liu Fengcai Yuan Pengfu, Great-Grand-Student of Liu Fengcai Postface to the First Chinese Edition Translation Notes Endnotes About the Editors