The Lion system of Yin Style Baguazhang, which is transmitted directly from Dong Hai Chuan, Yin Fu, Men Baozhen, then to Dr. Xie Peipi (who passed away in 2003), and finally to He Jinbao, is the most aggressive and structurally dominant animal system within the broader Eight Animal Shape framework of Yin Style. The Lion system is the foundation of the “combat structure” known as the Interlocking  Palm, representing the principle of strike and advance. The Lion shape embodies direct, unrelenting force, ferocity, integrity, and overwhelming bio-kinetic momentum. The Lion shape builds the practitioner into a living avalanche.  *He Jinbao demonstrating Yin Style Baguazhang. “Strike, strike, and strike again. Anything is a valid target. There is nothing within the human physical condition that the Lion Palm cannot obliterate.”  Let's break down the Lion Shape of Dr. Xie Peiqi’s Yin Fu style Baguazhang from his specific lineage’s perspective: Internal Mechanics and Strategy: Th...

*Peng /Phoenix (At the time of this piece's initial writing, I was attempting to differentiate between the Phoenix of Chinese culture and the European conception of the Phoenix).  The quality of Wind or Xun trigram is that of sustained pervasive influence, insomuch a degree of omnipresence can be tangibly grasped. Further notable associations with Wind, or Xun trigram, include vastness and expansion, but also a feeling of remote distance and dissociation from attachments. This phenomenon manifests as Peng or King of Birds in the physical dimension and Chinese cultural context. Peng is an elusive but paradoxically continuously present animal, largely beyond emotional expressions. Peng's aloof personality should not be mistaken for an uncaring or selfish nature. Peng is supremely benign and virtuous but is virtuous and kind because that is what Peng is, not to "act" benignly or noblely. Serene, in the face of violence, Peng responds to evil by natural law. Once harmony ...

  The fighting sets of Yin Fu Style Baguazhnag, most notably the infamous "piercing palms," serve as a bridge for individuals with little to no prior combat experience to practice Yin Fu Baguazhang's martial strategies and health-building exercises, especially circle-walking, before the more specialized aspects of Yin style Baguazhang which generally required a student to have a solid foundation in martial arts to begin with.  Yin Fu Style Baguzhang's fighting sets are mainly separate from the art's esoteric I-Ching connections. These are fighting forms, and while the student does assume a "posture" or "body" such as Lion, Dragon (by far the most well known), Pheonix or even Bear, these postures, in this context, are stripped down in essence, purely transmitting kinetic chains of movement and acting as delivery systems for the martial payload.  That is not to say the advanced, esoteric methods of Yin Fun Baguazhang founded on the I-Ching are le...

  On and off, from 2016 to 2019, I regularly (when I was in Idaho) practiced long hours of Bagua circle walking around a specific tree in Settler's Park, Meridian, Idaho. Here we are, four years later, and the circle I walked still shows up.  Looks like a crop circle... - Kevin Wikse Vimana Vajra Baguazhang

  "Eight Attacks of the Lion" is a highly productive and result-producing beginner's set of Vimana Vajra Baguazhang, which amasses and hones an impressive arsenal of martial weapons while establishing a solid foundation for more advanced Baguazhang sets. Eight Attacks of the Lion is extremely "Yang" in nature, assuming the shape of the I-Ching's "Heaven" trigram or "Lion" mind and body.  Highly versatile and comprised of eight minimalist and spartan "turnarounds," Eight Attacks of the Lion can be applied to circle walking or performed as line drills. Each "turnaround" is direct and simplistic, focused nearly exclusively on attacking and offensive strategies common to the "Lion." Each attack is meant to be drilled and repeated ad nausea. The footwork of the lion is heavy and springy, with stabbing and sything actions for stepping.  The Eight Attack of the Lion Pounce/Leap Penetrating. Pounding. Cutting. Slicin...

  The "Directed Energy" turn-around is the "Single Palm" change of my Vimana Vajra Baguazhang's "Eight Mothership" palms foundational set. Exceptionally "yang" in nature, meaning aggressive and straight to the point, the Directed Energy turn-around features a triple palm strike employing the same hand, utilizing the three shapes most responsible for all the death, damage, and destruction palm strikes in human history. In addition to serving as a platform for launching the mind, body, and spirit into a weaponization process, Directed Energy turn-around teaches the practitioner how to direct their energy to a singular focus point, maintain it even while altering its trajectory, and toggle between right and left sides of the body. This training keeps the practitioner's mind and body active even when they appear static. The applications are great, and many not just for a martial artist but for anyone developing any practice were directing ene...

Birthed from the Fire Gua or Trigram of the I-Ching, Rooster Shape Baguzhang is an animistic personification of fire. Explosive, quick, and always moving, the action of the Rooster is that of a flame's ability to leap to new and nearby sources of fuel. The Rooster hops and struts like the pops and snaps of a long string of firecrackers; each step and movement of the Rooster is sharp, fast, and powerful.  The Fire Gua or Trigram of the I-Ching is drawn as two unbroken yang lines, top and bottom, with a split ying line sandwiched between them, which denotes the idea that fire possesses qualities of circling and clinging, spiraling around and engulfing its fuel sources. Even while expanding outward, the fire's primary movement is upward (if only to generate power for the downward).  The Rooster is the same, utilizing rapid spiral stepping, launching kicks, knees, palm strikes, palm/backhand whips (mimicking a rooster's wings flapping), slicing elbows, and chopping strikes up a...

Chan Pan Ling's Yang Energy Dragon Shape Baguazhang is an intermediate-level school of martial Baguazhang that emphasizes the explosive, consuming, and constantly-moving qualities of fire while developing to coiling, raising, and aggressive nature inherent within the Dragon Shape as expressed by the Thunder Gua or Trigram of the I-Ching.  Violent and abrupt, the Dragon of this Baguazhang set enjoys sudden force expressions while evading, deflecting, and redirecting. The Dragon is strong and spring-like, like a steel whip. The Yang energy is sharp, disruptive, and punishing.  In my teachings of Daoist metaphysics, this set constitutes Fire over Thunder in the I-Ching, or Hexagram #21. It denotes a sense of being wronged and seeking justice. The Hexagram (six lines, the top, bottom, and third down lines are unbroken yang lines) illustrates a structured environment with a free energy flow from bottom to top. However, there is a disruption in that flow. This is seen as a divider b...