Ba Shih means "Eight Methods." There are eight things you want to focus on when practicing this form:

1. Maintain correct pelvic alignment without unnecessary tension, allowing the kua and lower back to remain relaxed and connected.

2. When issuing energy (fa-jing), it comes from the ground. The ground doesn't "create" the power—it provides the reaction force. The body organizes and transmits it, directed by the dan t'ien and expressed in the hands (or feet if kicking).

3. The three internal connections—Heart (Xin), Intent (Yi), and Energy (Chi)—must work together. Your Heart (the emotional mind) senses the danger. Your Intent calmly determines the appropriate response. When Heart and Intent are coordinated, your energy and body mechanics can function as one integrated whole. Naturally, the internal body mechanics you've already learned—ground path, peng, whole-body connection, opening and closing, and spiraling—allow that connection to be expressed efficiently.

4. The Five Elements must be smooth and focused. In other words, you must practice the fist postures until your body mechanics and your skill enable you to deliver energy and strength in a coordinated way with internal principles.

5. The Four Internal Principles must be maintained. This means that the focus of your practice should also be on maintaining the ground path at all times, maintaining peng, using whole-body movement and the Six Harmonies, and using the openings and closings to help generate power.

6. Your Heart should be calm. It's difficult to be connected when you're rushing the movements, or if you are frightened. Calm the heart. Do standing meditation and chi kung exercises. Practice reacting to stress with calmness. When you can remain calm in all situations, you'll find that you have plenty of time to respond to any situation.

7. The Stance must be centered and balanced and your hands and feet in their proper positions. Practice your stances, particularly San Ti, until your weight is in the proper place at all times, through all movements. You should be able to "beware" in all directions. Be ready to move in any direction. It is a dynamic balance you are achieving.

8. Maintain the "eye of the tiger." Your Hsing-I must be alive. You must be alert. Your eyes must have Spirit and all your senses taking in everything from all directions. Often, if your eyes show your fighting spirit, a potential opponent will back down and you can win without fighting.

Keep all of this in mind when practicing Ba Shih.

Yes, that is strongly recommended. Ba Shih assumes that you already have some familiarity with the Five Fist Postures and preferably the Five Element Linking Form.

People often ask how the three major internal martial arts differ.

I like to describe them this way.

Tai Chi is like jumping on a beach ball floating in a swimming pool. The ball yields to your force without collapsing. It maintains its structure while absorbing your pressure. Then, when your force is spent, it rebounds and redirects you.

Bagua is like punching a spinning wire ball. As soon as you make contact, you become entangled in its constant change. It rotates, changes angles, and sends you off in an unexpected direction.

Xingyi is like a bowling ball driving through the pins. It doesn't yield or circle. It moves forward with focused intent, penetrating the opponent's structure and driving through it.

These are, of course, simplified analogies. All three arts rely on many of the same internal body mechanics—whole-body connection, rooted power, coordinated movement, opening and closing, and efficient force generation. The difference lies in how those principles are expressed and the tactical strategy each art prefers.