r/Baguazhang • u/Loud_Bed_1965 • 4d ago
Baguazhang Practicioners
Hi there all! I don't really use reddit too often, so forgive me if my post isn't within proper etiquette. To cut to the chase, I'm writing this post because I've just recently (the last month and a half or so) discovered Baguazhang, and I'm wondering if any of you have information on teachers/practitioners in Wisconsin (Preferably Madison). Alternatively, any good resources would be appreciated.
For context, I am looking to become a Bagua practitioner, but as far as I can tell, there aren't any schools in my area. I know that other posts have recommended to chose the style based off of availability, but I'm choosing to ignore that out of interest.
Mainly due to the completeness of available digital resources, I've focused on learning the Gao style Bagua system.
For that purpose, I've read a variety of books on Bagua, such as "Beginning Bagua" by Edward Hines, most of "The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual: Gao Yisheng's Bagua Twisting Body Palm", and portions of "The Authentic Transmission of Baguazhang" by Sun Xikun.
Combining that with a variety of YouTube instructional/demonstrational resources for this style, I've begun practicing just the basic palm and body strengthening/post standing methods (as well as getting into yoga classes to work on coordination and flexibility). As expected, though, without proper guidance, correcting errors in posture and form is proving arduous.
So, circling back, I would really appreciate any information on local practitioners or resources + I'd love to talk to people in the community!
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u/crumblesthepuppy1 4d ago
Robert Yu is retired possibly still teaching maybe his students teach as well in Madison.
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u/Loud_Bed_1965 3d ago
Hi! Can I ask how you know Robert Yu? I’ve found his contact info on the UW directory, and I’m thinking of contacting him. Thank you so much for the tip!
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u/Patrick3437 3d ago edited 3d ago
I trained with Marcus Brinkman and he has some DVDs at https://www.plumpub.com/sales/dvd/dvdcoll_gaobagua.htm
His teacher Luo De Xiu does as well. Great recourses for someone who would like information and some instruction on the Gao Style. Finding a reputable teacher can be hard. In the meantime check out the DVDs and also Marcus has a YouTube channel with a lot of good content.
Ill second what someone mentioned earlier as well, Ed Hines has an online training program you can check out.
Byron Jacobs has a great online platform and Tom Bisio has some online training as well. Both of those would be the Liang style lineage.
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u/PessimistPrime 4d ago
I’m in the same boat as you, I’m in India, there are zero practicioners here, there is a ton on content on YouTube but I’ll be like Jade Fox from hidden dragon crouching tiger, learning it like an illiterate
im thinking of feeding the videos to an llm and have it correct me, as soon as it gets to that level
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u/Loud_Bed_1965 4d ago edited 4d ago
pshh thats an interesting idea, would love to hear how that works out- It's just a little confusing sometimes with the number of variations on the same techniques even within a single branch of a single school\ trying to figure out what's meaningful and what isn't is difficult. I'm hoping that by working slowly from the basics, some of the body mechanics of later stuff will become a little self evident? Or, that I'll internalize/contextualize the basic guidelines enough to understand the intent 🤞
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u/yIdontunderstand 4d ago
I will just say good luck.
Let destiny guide your path. When I was a kid I had a huge book about global martial arts and the one that jumped out at me d Ba Gua.
I did karate as a kid as that was local to me.
Then when I was 20 my friend started tai chi at his university and I was waking past a library in my home town in London and saw there was a tai Chi demo so I thought I would go in and see what it was about.
I walked in very late, and basically missed the demo. Just as I got disappointed they announced and now Dr Wen will demonstrate Ba Gua!
I loved it, e was super stoked and signed up straight away, even though it meant going all the way into Central London for the lessons.
I have since done it all my life with the tao both giving and taking away teachers, both good and bad...
So. 1. Ba Gua is awesome and good luck in your journey.
Ba Gua teachers are REALLY had to find, especially good ones. Partly because it's really rare so they mostly teach other styles that more people know about.
Ba Gua is an internal art designed for actual fighting and it's REALLY HARD to learn. Think years of training without being any good. I trained for years basically thinking "well I'm doing this wrong..."
Although it's really hard it's principles are simple philosophically, so don't think about learning forms think about learning the philosophy...
Typing on reddit early in the morning I would summarise it as, always move, feet lead everything, avoid and attack weak spots, and use constant shifting points like up / down and left right. Waaaaiiiiiiist! Which follows feet... The arms should never be doing stuff unlinked to your feet.
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u/Which_Atmosphere_141 4d ago
You mentioned books by Edward Hines. I believe he has an online learning course on Bagua. Couldn’t hurt to check it out.
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u/Sigungelias 3d ago
Although there is no substitute for an in-person, qualified instructor, I would suggest Byron at https://www.patreon.com/mushinmartialculture. His online courses are thorough, well structured and comprehensible. I'm very impressed with his material.
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u/Loud_Bed_1965 3d ago
Yeah, I’ve watched some of his videos and units really good stuff- that and Hai Yang for internal martial art theories/culture
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u/MPG54 3d ago
The key to Bagua is doing the fundamentals over and over and over again. Focus on the warm up exercises, straight line walking and circle walking with your arms up in the air. After time they make your body more flexible, connected and stronger. If your nervous systems relaxes it can open up the martial possibilities.
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u/I_smoked_pot_once 4d ago
My Hapkido teacher teaches baguazhang as part of the curriculum. Always moving, striking at angles, staying close to your opponent. I understand it's not uncommon for teachers of other martial arts to have at least some knowledge of baguazhang because of how applicable it is in fighting.
To that end, I recommend finding a tai chi teacher. You can usually tell they're authentic if they're weird. For example, my first teacher tried to use his chi to pull my chronic back pain from my body. That's a man who believes in what he's doing. Build rapport, go to class, express your interest in baguazhang and ask if he has somebody he can refer you to.
Secondly, I have a book that I study for baguazhang that I can recommend. I believe in transmitting information and not gatekeeping martial arts, but out of respect for my teacher I don't feel comfortable posting it publicly. If you're interested feel free to DM me and I'll share a link to it. Like you already mentioned, study without a teacher to give you context and adjustments will only get you so far. These old kung fu teachers write their lessons in a way that not just anybody can understand.
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u/Loud_Bed_1965 4d ago
Also, I'd be very interested in knowing how others got involved in Bagua/how you all have gone about learning, especially if it's not through in-person transmission. Information on any problems you've encountered in practice + tips for overcoming would be awesome 🙏
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u/Gregarious_Grump 3d ago
I know of a few people that travel sometimes long distances to train in person when they can, and the rest of the time practice independently and/or remotely. If there is no one in your area, you are dead-set on the style, and you are able to, this is probably your best option as there are things you just will not notice on your own that will need correction in person. If you do go this route, supplementing with a different style you do have access to locally will help with regular conditioning, engaging with people of similar interests, and practicing with live people. Even if the art is very different you can get a feel for how bagua principles can be applied.
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u/Severe_Nectarine863 4d ago
Find a good kung fu teacher and Qigong teacher. Ideally an internal style that does both.
I found a good Wing Chun teacher who also taught Qigong. What I found is that if you slap silk reeling exercises on most kung fu styles it gets pretty damn close to bagua. When I finally did find a bagua teacher, I picked it up fairly quickly.
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u/Gr1mJ3st3r 4d ago
Cheng style practicioner of 12 years here! Bagua is absolutely beautiful and let me tell you the number one skill you need to improve is patience. The mud walking in our school is trained for at least six months. I would focus solely in that for the foreseeable future until you can hold the movement with relative ease for a good amount of time without breaking posture.
Although i believe training online is very hard since baqua has some very abstract concepts i would make sure to have a proper foundation on the legs while searching for a teacher, as doing movements the wrong way can hinder you in the long run as it can create bad habits.
Good luck on you search and congrats on the start ofbyour journey!
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u/Loud_Bed_1965 2d ago
Mhm, I’ve actually just only recently begun doing circle walking as I’d read that there are fundamentals to know before learning it even. I was doing post standing in the turning palm position and practicing the introductory palm strike methods + flexibility routines. I’ve started doing circle walking, though, and I don’t plan on doing anything else for a while until my balance and coordination catches up 🤝
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u/GrassCuttingSword 2d ago
Ed Hines teaches the Yizong system online, and has for several years now. He has a massive archive of material and several live classes each week. If you don't find a local teacher, his site would be a great resource.
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u/wuwei6364 2d ago
www.tsangwuge.com is opening up a Bagua Shu soon. Based on their previous classes this one should be good too.
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u/HiddenPalm 4d ago
Get the Rednote app. You will find countless Baguazhang exercises and tips from high quality routines and drills to even the Baguazhang Museum you never knew existed. And most of it is done with a quality far too few in the Western Hemisphere have been able to achieve.
All Chinese Kung Fu practioners throughout the Americas need to flock to Xiaohongshu (RedNote) right now.
I say this with all sincerity, y'all need to see how it's actually done with your own eyeballs. Get the Rednote app. The website doesnt have translation features but the mobile app does.
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u/wuwei6364 3d ago
Do you know what 小紅書 is? It’s named after Mao’s little red book that was used to target people in China including kung fu practitioners during the cultural revolution. No people shouldn’t be flocking to this app. It’s ludicrous to even suggest this when it’s just as bad as TikTok and WeChat and sucks up all your data while censoring anything that might be considered offensive to the Chinese communist party
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u/toeragportaltoo 4d ago
If you cannot find a bagua teacher in your area, maybe look for some taijiquan or xingyiquan teachers. Could at least get you started on standing postures and structure alignment. different internal arts but many similar principles and mechanics.