All traditional Chinese martial arts systems contain foundational skills that form the core of the art. In Baji Quan, these basic skills are honed through the practice of Jin Gang Ba Shi. Jin Gang is often translated as Buddha Warrior Attendant (see the post on Jin Gang in Chinese Martial Arts). Origins of Jin Gang…
All adherents of Yang Style Taiji Quan should be familiar with Yang Chengfu’s Shi Yao, or Ten Essentials. The Ten Essentials serve as guideposts for building posture awareness and implementing Taiji Quan principles into your practice, which will aid in elevating your skill in the art. One of these ten essentials is Chen Jian Zhui…
Chinese martial arts evolved over millennia from rudimentary forms to highly developed fighting methods that are governed by specific methodology. This methodology has two components: Lian Fa (練法) – Training Methods and Da Fa (打法) – Fighting Methods. Lian Fa can be divided into two categories. The first includes training methods that incorporate auxiliary exercises…
The term Jin Gang (金刚) is often encountered in various styles of Chinese martial arts and occurs most often in Shaolin Gong Fu, as is evident in routines such as Jin Gang Quan. Styles such as Baji Quan and Xing Yi Quan have the Jin Gang Ba Shi. In Baji, Jin Gang Ba Shi refers…
A Chinese Martial Arts proverb states, “Nei Wai He Yi, Xing Shen Jian Bei,” which means that the “Internal and External Harmonize, in both Form and Spirit.” This proverb is often associated with the Nei Jia, the Internal Chinese martial arts of Taiji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, Bagua Zhang, and Liuhe Bafa. It is also…
When practicing Chinese martial arts, especially the Neijia (Internal Styles)and Qi Gong, you become acquainted with the Dantian. You will hear instructions such as “Concentrate on your Dantian” and “Sink Your Qi to the Dantian” For a practitioner of the Neijia, as well as other Chinese martial arts, it is imperative to know what the…
