Why should I train Bagua?

Bagua develops extraordinary agility, spatial awareness, and the ability to change direction instantly through zou zhuan (走轉, circle walking). Its walking meditation — xing gong (行功) — creates a unique mind-body practice.

What should I expect at my first Bagua class?

Wear comfortable clothing. Expect extensive circle-walking practice, basic palm positions, and single/double palm change drills. Classes run 60-90 minutes.

Bagua — Martial Arts Guide

Q: What will I learn in Bagua?

Circle walking — zou zhuan (走轉) — meditation and footwork. Ba Mu Zhang (八母掌, Eight Mother Palms). Rapid direction changes — kou bu (扣步, hooking step) and bai bu (擺步, swinging step). Open-palm strikes and coiling throws — rou shen lian huan zhang (柔身連環掌). Internal power generation through spiraling body mechanics — chan si jin (纏絲勁, silk-reeling energy).

Bagua

八卦掌

Internal🇨🇳 China

AI-generated content — may contain inaccuracies

Why train this

At a Glance

IntensityMedium

ContactMedium

Beginner FriendlyDifficult

Belt SystemNone (traditional lineage system)

Origin🇨🇳 China

CompetitionWushu tournaments, Internal martial arts competitions

Who It's For

TraditionalSelf-DefenseFitness

What You'll Learn

Circle walking — zou zhuan (走轉) — meditation and footwork

Ba Mu Zhang (八母掌, Eight Mother Palms)

Rapid direction changes — kou bu (扣步, hooking step) and bai bu (擺步, swinging step)

Open-palm strikes and coiling throws — rou shen lian huan zhang (柔身連環掌)

Internal power generation through spiraling body mechanics — chan si jin (纏絲勁, silk-reeling energy)

Your First Class

Watch & Learn

Gallery

Baguazhang practitioner demonstrating palm technique

Legends of Bagua

Dong Haichuan (董海川)

Dong Haichuan founded Baguazhang (Eight Trigram Palm), one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts alongside Tai Chi and Xingyi. His circle-walking meditation practice became the foundation for a martial art renowned for its evasive footwork and spiraling power.

1797–1882

Sun Lutang (孫祿堂)

Sun Lutang was the only martial artist in history to achieve mastery in all three major internal Chinese martial arts — Xingyi Quan, Baguazhang, and Tai Chi Chuan — and synthesized them into Sun-style Tai Chi. His scholarly writings were the first to articulate internal martial arts theory in print.

1860–1933

Cheng Tinghua

Yin Fu

Related Styles

Xing Yi

Xing Yi Quan (形意拳, "Form-Intention Fist") is one of the three major Chinese internal martial arts — neijia (內家). It uses direct, linear strikes based on the wu xing (五行, Five Elements) — pi (劈, splitting), beng (崩, crushing), zuan (鑽, drilling), pao (炮, pounding), heng (橫, crossing) — and shi er xing (十二形, twelve animal forms).

Tai Chi

Tai Chi — Taijiquan (太極拳) — is a Chinese internal martial art practiced for health, meditation, and self-defense. Its slow, flowing movements build balance, reduce stress, and develop internal energy — qi (氣).

Kung Fu

Kung Fu — gongfu (功夫) — is a broad term for Chinese martial arts, or wushu (武術), encompassing hundreds of styles. Training typically includes forms — taolu (套路) — conditioning, and combat applications with an emphasis on philosophy and tradition.

Aikido

Aikido (合気道) is a Japanese martial art focused on redirecting an attacker's energy through joint locks and throws. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba, it emphasizes harmony and non-resistance.

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