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*** Welcome ***
to the Ba Gua Zhang (Pa Kua Chang) Website of Sifu Park Bok-Nam!
We hope that you will find this site to be interesting and informative,
and will use it as a starting point for
learning
more about the Ba Gua Zhang of Lu Shui-Tian.
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= THIS EDITION = Featured in this edition of the FYI Page: THE KEY TO SUPERIOR BA GUA ZHANG FIGHTING SKILL . |
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. 2004 Summer Training Camp: . This year's Summer Camp will occur June 11 - 15. Reserve your spot now before all of the available openings are filled. New Workshop for
2004:
. One day on - Ba Gua Staff Techniques and Staff Fighting....... Check the 2004 Seminar Schedule for locations, dates, and contacts. |
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.The Key to Superior Ba Gua Zhang Fighting Skill - Francis Hriadil - |
Lu Shui-Tian
often compared
a martial art method/technique to a tree bearing fruit.
Similarly, for a martial art method/technique to be good, the body must have a good step and a good hand. Superior Method/Movement = Step + Body + Hand |
| This comprises one of many trinity relationships in Ba Gua Zhang. Each element alone can provide a measure of effectiveness in attack and/or defense but none alone can match or surpass a method in which all three are applied together in the proper way. |
| Applied to Defense: |
| In Ba Gua Zhang, defense is more
important
than attack. The reason, as Master Park frequently states, is
that . Consider the situation where an opponent
attacks
What defense options are available? Single Elements: Hand Only Defense = Opponent attacks. Defender defends by blocking with his hand.
Body Only Defense = Opponent attacks. Defender defends by turning his body.
Step Only Defense = Opponents attacks. Defender defends by stepping out of the way. |
| Paired Elements: Body + Hand Defense =
Opponent
attacks. Defender defends with Body and Hand. Step + Body Defense = Opponent attacks. Defender defends with Step and Body.
Step + Hand Defense = Opponent attacks. Defender defends with Step and Hand. |
| Trinity Elements: Step + Body + Hand Defense = Opponent attacks. Defender combines all 3 elements for defense.
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| While all of the other individual or
paired elements
provide some form of defense, what is different and unique about the trinity
defense, in which all three elements are utilized, is that the defense
is
optimized
and
possesses
inherent redundancy.
Specifically: - there is defensive
redundancy. If,
for example, the defender misses . - the defender is clearly in a superior position to counter-attack . |
| Where does this principle come from? |
| The philosophy and principles that
form the
basis of Ba Gua Zhang were derived from nature. As a result
of
man's study of nature and the world in which he lives, two universal
tenets
have been identified:
The "Trinity" is a fundamental principle in nature. The "Fundamental Trinity" of principles in nature consists of: - the Principle of Yin and Yang - - the Principle of the Wu Xing (Five Elements) - - the Principle of Continuous Change -
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| Ba Gua Zhang was built upon and embraces these principles. The trinity concept has been identified as the key to the strength and flexibility of Ba Gua Zhang. It even manifests itself in the structure of the diagrams (i.e. the Trigrams) that comprise the symbol for Ba Gua Zhang itself. |
.Eight
Trigrams of Ba Gua Zhang
| While researching and studying these concepts can be an intellectually satisfying endeavor, unless they can be applied efficiently and effectively in the physical world, they offer little benefit to the martial artist involved in a confrontation. The Ba Gua Zhang method of Lu Shui-Tian as taught by Master Bok-Nam Park stresses the internal and external manifestation of the trinity concept in all aspects of training and fighting. |
| With respect to self-defense
specifically, the
Ba Gua Zhang method of Lu Shui-Tian identifies the following fighting
trinities:
Fighting Skill = Method + Speed + Power Method = Movement + Target + Accuracy Movement = Step (Foot) + Body + Hand |
| Within this framework, . . Movement (Step + Body + Hand) is the key to superior Method. . Stepping is the key to superior Movement. The most important thing that a Ba Gua Zhang fighter does is Step. Everything else in Ba Gua Zhang derives from the step. As a result, the Stepping Methodology of Ba Gua Zhang is very sophisticated - involving linear, angular, and circular methods derived from the underlying natural principles. [For a more detailed discussion, refer to the article, "Martial Balance Through Ba Feng Gen Bu - Eight Direction Rooted Stepping"] |
 .Direction Stepping |
 .Angle Pivoting |
| All of the stepping methods comprising Ba Gua Zhang, when performed in a continuous and fluid manner, provide the Ba Gua Zhang fighter with the lightning fast speed and unpredictable movement ability that typifies Ba Gua Zhang and has surprised many an unwary opponent. |
| Another Self-defense Example: |
| Here is another fighting example in which a counter-attack is immediately carried out. Consider how step, body, and hand are applied. |
| Step #1 - The opponent
attacks.
The defender steps and intercepts the attacker's strike with his arm.
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| Step #2 - The defender
turns his
upper body to deflect the attacker's strike.
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Step #3 - The defender
moves forward,
grabs the attacker's rear arm while sliding under the attacker's front
arm.
 Step #3 |
| Step #4 - The defender
drops low,
presses downward and traps both of the attacker's arms, steps behind
the
attacker's legs, and reaches down to grab the attacker's rear pant's
leg.
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| Step #5 - The defender
presses his
body forward to throw the attacker back.
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| The "Real Thing" |
| Many people have asked Master Park what
makes
Ba Gua Zhang different from other martial arts and how can they be sure
that they are learning the "real thing".
His response is always the same. "This is not a difficult question to answer with regards to my system of Ba Gua Zhang because every method or technique that is used satisfies the natural and universal Trinity Principle and the Fundamental Trinity of Yin and Yang, Wu Xing, and Continuous Change. Otherwise, these methods or techniques would not be balanced, complete, or effective." In the Ba Gua Zhang method of Lu Shui-Tian as taught by Master Bok-Nam Park, it all begins with the proper utilization and integration of Step (Foot) + Body + Hand This is the key to superior Ba Gua Zhang movement, method, and fighting skill. |
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