Ba gua translates to 'eight trigrams'. These symbols from the classical book, the I Ching, represent all natural phenomena in a state of flux. Ba Gua Zhang uses continuous change in response to the opponent with circular movement and skill rather than meeting force with force.
Baguazhang training is based on Taoist meditative circle-walking and is great for improving balance and flexibility.
Classes at our school represent two Bagua family lineages:
Liang Zhenpu Baguazhang comes to us from Li Ziming, a student of Liang Zhenpu, who learned from Dong Haichuan, the founder of the art. The Association’s founder, Vince Black, studied with Li Ziming and continues to provide oversight as president of the U.S. Branch of the Li Ziming family, along with senior advisor Tom Klingelhofer.
Cheng-School Gao-Style Baguazhang comes to us from the Tianjin Gao Bagua family through Liu Shuhang, a student and grand nephew of Liu Fengcai, who in turn was a senior student and blood relative of the art’s founder, Gao Yisheng. Liu Shuhang continues to provide instruction and training oversight as senior advisor to the Association and member schools.
Xingyiquan was used by soldiers and was developed from the movements of the spear. It is a straight-line attacking art that is based on the Five Elements and Twelve Animals, and cultivates the ability to coordinate muscular and structural movement with intention and relaxation to maximize power.
Classes at our school represent two Xingyi family lineages:
Shen Long Xingyiquan comes to us from Master Hsu Hong-Chi of Taipei, a senior student of Hung I-Hsiang, who was founder of the original Tang Shou Tao Association in Taiwan. Master Hsu was an outstanding martial artist and healer, who strongly believed in cultivating both the martial and medical arts to a high level. His teachings are the core curriculum taught in our classes and clinic. Vince Black, who studied with Master Hsu for eleven years, provides oversight to member schools.
Song Shirong-Style Xingyiquan comes to us from Li Guichang, one of the most renowned practitioners of Xingyiquan in Shanxi Province, the birthplace of Xingyi. His son, Li Runxi carries the lineage forward and is senior advisor to our Association and member schools.