How Tai Chi, Hsing-I and Bagua Techniques Overlap in Self-Defense

bagua self-defense internal arts training Mar 23, 2011

In class the other night we were practicing Heng Chuan, Hsing-I's "Crossing Fist," against a roundhouse kick. The photos are shown here.

In photo one, the attacker (Leander Mohs) throws the kick.

In photo two, I absorb the kick with my left arm and cross my right arm under the attacker's calf.

In photo three, I apply pressure to the outside of his leg and push inward, bending it at the knee.

In photo four, I apply a paring, splitting palm to the knee and he goes down. He has to go down. He has no choice.

When you practice this, you realize that the application is the same as the opening for the Chen Tai Chi movement "Fair Lady Weaves at Shuttles."

And this is something we see across the three internal arts that we practice. Several of the principles and palms of Bagua are also in this application, including Blocking, Twining or Snaking, Upward Palm, Outward Palm and Splitting Palm. Dan T'ien rotation is always applied, regardless of the art, and when the kick comes in, I sink my energy and "borrow" his as I block with my left arm.

The photos here are from the video we shot of this technique for my online school. The video shows the technique in regular speed and slow motion.

A couple of years ago, I released a 2 1/2 hour DVD on the fighting applications of the Five Hsing-I Fist Postures. It explores the applications and the body mechanics that give them power.

If you study Taiji along with other internal arts, look for the similarities that exist both in technique and body mechanics. It's true that Xingyi appears a bit "harder" than Taiji, but the mechanics are quite similar.

--by Ken Gullette

Try Two Weeks Free and Get Step-by-Step Training in Taiji, Xingyi and Bagua from Basic to Advanced Skills with No Mystical Mumbo-Jumbo

More than 850 Video Lessons and Downloadable pdf documents -- and You Get It All During Your Free Trial!

Click this Button to Learn More and Watch a Video!

Okay! Let Me See More!

Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

How Tai Chi, Hsing-I and Bagua Techniques Overlap in Self-Defense

Try Two Weeks Free and Get Step-by-Step Training in Taiji, Xingyi and Bagua from Basic to Advanced Skills with No Mystical Mumbo-Jumbo

Author - Instructor

Stay connected with news and updates!

Two Step