Bjqun

Bjqun (Chinese: ; pinyin: Bjqun) is a

Chinese martial art that features explosive,
short-range power and is famous for its elbow
strikes.[citation needed] It originated in the
Hebei Province in Northern China,[citation
needed] but spread to Taiwan and other places.
Its full name is kai men baji quan (),
which means "open-gate eight-extremities fist"
Origins

Baji quan was originally called bazi quan (
or ) or "rake fist" because the fists, held
loosely and slightly open, are used to strike
downwards in a rake-like fashion. The name was
considered to be rather crude in its native
tongue, so it was changed to baji quan. The term
baji comes from the Chinese classic, the Yijing (I-
Ching), and signifies an "extension of all
directions". In this case, it means "including
everything" or "the universe".

The first recorded baji quan teacher was Wu
Zhong () (17121802). Other notable
teachers included Wu Xiufeng () and Li
Shuwen () (18641934). The latter was
from Cangzhou (), Hebei, and acquired the
nickname "God of Spear Li".[citation needed] A
Beijing opera Wu Shen (martial male character)
by training, he was also an expert fighter. His most famous quote is, "I do not know what it's like to
hit a man twice."[1] Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge () (bodyguard to Pu Yi, the
last Emperor of China), Li Chenwu (bodyguard to Mao Zedong), and Liu Yun Qiao () (secret
agent for the nationalist Kuomintang and instructor of the Chiang Kai Shek's bodyguards).[citation
needed] Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style".[citation needed] Ma
Feng Tu () and Ma Yin Tu () introduced baji into the Central Guoshu Institute (Nanjing
Guoshu Guan ) where it is required for all students.[2]

Baji quan shares roots with another Hebei martial art, Piguazhang. It is said that Wu Zhong, the
oldest traceable master in the baji lineage, taught both arts together as an integrated fighting
system.[3] They eventually split apart, only to be recombined by Li Shuwen in the late 18th to early
19th century. As a testament to the complementary nature of these two styles, a proverb states:
"When pigua is added to baji, gods and demons will all be terrified. When baji is added to pigua,
heroes will sigh knowing they are no match against it."
()[3]
Branches and lineages

Prominent branches and lineages of the art survived to modern times, including Han family Baji, Huo
family, Ji family, Li family, Ma family, Qiang family, Wu family (from Wu Xiefeng), Wutang Baji Quan
and Yin Yang Baji Quan. Each has its unique elements, while sharing core practices. Some lineages
are more common or only exist in Mainland China, while others have spread to Western countries.
Wutang Baji

Wutang Baji is the most common lineage in the West today. Originally from Taiwan, where its
founder, Liu Yunchiao, lived. This lineages includes additional arts which are taught alongside Baji,
such as Piguaquan and Baguazhang.

Jian Diansheng[4] >> Li Shuwen[5] >> Liu Yunchiao >> Adam Hsu[6] >> Tony Yang[7] >> Many
students in Taiwan and abroad (taught by either Hsu or Yang).
Nanjing Baji

Baji of Nanjing was introduced to the Central School of martial arts of Nanjing by a group of pupils of
Li Shuwen, from whom arise Huang Bonian and his(her) son Huang Guozhen and Jung Yunghwan
Jin Dian Sheng >> Li ShuWen >> Ma Feng Tu and Ma Yin Tu >> Huang
GuoZhen >> Jung Yung-Hwan >> Nolgove Cyril
Mengcun Baji

Meng Village (Mengcun) is said to be the original birthplace of Baji Quan, or at least the modern
versions of the art.[8] Baji is still widely practiced there.
Wu Xiufeng

Wu Xiufeng[9] (19081976) is the "grandfather" of many modern Baji lineages. The following
lineages came down from him.
Tian-style

A branch of the art which has mutual influences from Jingang Bashithe second art practiced by
Tian Jinzhong.

Wu Xiufeng >> Tian Jinzhong >> Shen Jiarui[10] >> Zhou Jingxuan[11][12] >> Many students in China
and abroad.[13]
Yin-Yang

The creation of Zhao Fujiang, who combined his knowledge of Baji, Xingyiquan and Yiquan to create
a new art form.[14][15]

Wu Xiufeng >> Zhao Fujiang >> Many students in China. Some of Zhao's skills have reached other
lineages, such as that of Zhou Jingxuan.
Features
Tactics and strategy

Baji quan opens the opponent's arms forcibly (qiang kai men ) and mount attacks at high,
mid, and low levels of the body (san pan lian ji ). It is most useful in close combat, as it
focuses on elbow, knee, shoulder and hip strikes. When blocking an attack or nearing an opponent,
baji quan techniques emphasize striking major points of vulnerability, namely the thorax (trunk of
the body), legs and neck.
Master Zhou Jingxuan of Tianjin, holding a typical Baji Quan posture. The sideways-protruding elbow
is often used for striking in this art.

The "six big ways of opening" (liu da kai ) are:[16]

Ding : using the fist, elbow or shoulder to push forward and upward.
Bao : putting arms together as if hugging someone. It is usually followed by Pi (splitting).[17]
Ti : elevating the knee to hit the thigh of the opponent, or elevating the foot to hit the shin of
the opponent, etc.
Dan : using a single move.
Kua : using the hip.
Chan : entanglement with rotation around the wrist, elbow and shoulder.

Stepping and body methods

Footwork in baji quan has three special features:

Zhen Jiao
Nian Bu
Chuang Bu

These striking techniques are related to traditional Chinese medicine, which states that all parts of
the body are connected, either physically or spiritually.
Forms

The forms of baji are divided into armed and unarmed routines. There are 20 fist forms, which
include 12 Baji Small Structure Fists, Baji Black Tiger Fist, Baji Dan Zhai, Baji Dan Da/Dui Da, Baji
Luohan Gong, and Baji Si Lang Kuan. There are eight weapons forms, including Liu He Da Qiang
(spear), Chun Yang Jian (sword), San Yin Dao (sabre), Xing Zhe Bang (staff), Pudao, and Chun Qiu Da
Dao (a long two-handed heavy blade, used by Generals sitting on their horses).

Most schools focus on a much smaller curriculum. Standard across almost all groups are Xiaobaji and
Dabaji; two weapons forms, the sabre and the spear; a two man training routine called Baji Duijie or
Baji Duida and a series of 8 short attacking methods called the "Ba Shi" (Eight Postures), which are
derived from the art of Shaolin Jingang Bashi.
Power generation and expression

The major features of baji include elbow strikes, arm/fist punches, hip checks and strikes with the
shoulder. All techniques are executed with a short power, developed through training; among
Chinese martial artists, baji is known for its fast movements. Baji focuses on infighting, entering from
a longer range with a distinctive charging step (zhen jiao).

The essence of baji quan lies in jin, or power-issuing methods, particularly fa jing (explosive power).
The style contains six types of jin, eight different ways to hit and several principles of power usage.
Most of baji quan's moves utilize a one-hit push-strike method from very close range. The bulk of the
damage is dealt through the momentary acceleration that travels up from the waist to the limb and
further magnified by the charging step known as zhen jiao.

The mechanics of jin are developed through many years of practice and baji quan is known for its
strenuous lower-body training and its emphasis on the horse stance.[1] Its horse stance is higher
than that of typical Long Fist styles. Like other styles, there is also "the arrow-bow stance", "the one-
leg stance", "the empty stance" (xb ), "the drop stance" (pb ), etc. There are eight
different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and zhen jiao.

The six Major Characteristic Powers are:[18]

Sinking (Xia Chen or Chen Zhui )
Thrusting (Chong )
Extending (Cheng )
Entangling (Chan )
Cross (Shi Zi )
Inch (Cun )

Influences

Baji focuses on being more direct, culminating in powerful, fast strikes that will render an opponent
unable to continue. Even so, there are some styles that are derived from Baji's main principles or
concepts on how to hit the opponent:

Eight postures (Ba shi)
Eight movements method (Ba shi gong)
Eight movements method (Ba shi chui)
Double Eight Postures (Shuang ba shi)
Eight postures of the dragon style (Longxing ba shi)

Many of these forms are also based or mixed with Luohan fist, a Shaolin style.[citation needed] The
term ba shi may also refer to baji. The term is also used in xingyi quan.