Jiang Style Bagua: The Eight Changes

Welcome to this class on Jiang Bagua!

There are three types of classes in this course: Detailed Classes which take you through warm-up and conditioning drills and move-by-move detailed instructions; reference Videos which allow you to review the moves at a typical training speed and pre-view upcoming material; and assignments which give you the opportunity to submit video for feedback and corrections.

Recommended textbook for this course: Jiang Rongqiao's Baguzhang translation by Andrea Falk

This first lesson covers the details of the First Change.

First Change Postures:

Violet Swallow Tosses Its Wings

Close the Door Push the Moon

Hide the Flower Under a Leaf

Swan Leaves the Flock

Use this video to review the First Change and the practice it at a typical training speed. Also you can use this video to preview Changes 2 to 4.

This class covers the details of the Second Change. This class has the same opening and closing movements as the First Change, but includes five additional movements in the middle.

Second Change Postures:

Violet Swallow Tosses Its Wings

Close the Door Push the Moon

Fierce Tiger Escapes Its Cage

Golden Pheasant Shakes Its Wings

Move Leaf to Graft A Limb

Pluck the Helmet From Behind the Head

Embrace the Moon

Hide the Flower Under a Leaf

Swan Leaves the Flock

This lesson provides additional details and a review of the first two Changes. If also outlines the 36 & 48 Verses of Bagua and a discussion the first two verses. The 36 & 48 Verses are shared across the various styles of Bagua Zhang and encapsulate the essense of the tradition.

Recommended textbook for the 36 & 47 verses: A Shadow On Fallen Blossoms by Andrea Falk

Use this video to practice the First and Second Change at a typical training speed as well as to preview Changes Three and Four.

Optional Assignment: Submit video for feed back

Make a recording of yourself performing the First and Second Changes. Start with walking a full circle (or more) using the Mud Step. When you are in the centre of the camera's frame perform the First Change (don't rush!). Walk in the other direction and when again in the centre of the camera's frame, perform the Second Change.

Becuase the Second Change will likely take you outside ideal framing, take note of where on the circle you are during the Fierce Tiger Escapes Its Cage (furthest point along the circle). Complete the Second Change and then stop and reposition yourself so the second half of the sequence will be in the frame as you repeat the Second Change.

Upload the video as an unlisted/private video on youtube.com, vimeo.com, Google Drive, or another free service. Please ensure the video can be streamed! File transfers requiring download will not be accepted.

Send me the streamable link via email: james@eastmountain.ca. I will respond with detailed feedback as soon as I’m able.

Tips for recording video:

• Cell phones are a convenient way to record video. Consider having someone film for you or use a stand. Here’s a video on how to make a phone tripod with just a paper towel roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCF-uPQ4zzo

• If you have an option for setting the video quality, avoid high quality (makes the file size too large). Medium or low quality settings are typically fine.

• Don’t have bright windows or other bright lights behind you. This will turn you into a silhouette. Try to position yourself so that the camera is between you and main light sources.

• Try to ensure you start with hands and feet in the frame of the recording.

• Ideal is to position the camera at the start so all of you, from head to feet, is recorded. But if you don’t have enough room, then please ensure that your feet, legs, torso and arms are in the picture.

• Don't rush! Ideal is to keep the movements continuous and at a steady pace. Of course, avoid doing the Changes too slow as well - this isn't Yang style Tai Chi. But the tendency when being recorded is to speed up.

• Review the video before you send it. It doesn’t need to be perfect in terms of recording or performance. Just an accurate reflection of your practice to date.

Recording your practice is an excellent way to see your progress objectively. Often students immediately see details they want to correct. It also serves as a reference point that you can return to, letting you see your improvements over time.

This lesson covers the details of the Third Change. This Change has a number of movements and trains the footwork for Bagua's characteristic spinning movements.

Third Change Postures:

Violet Swallow Tosses Its Wings

Close the Door Push the Moon

Sparrowhawk Pierces the Sky

White Snake Coils It Body

Embrace the Moon

Jade Woman Presents A Book

Mount Tai Presses Down

Black Bear Rolls Over

Yellow Eagle Clutches the Throat

Yellow Eagle Clutches the Throat (2nd time)

Ape Picks Fruit

Ape Sit in the Cave

Qilin Tells a Story

Swallow Skims the Water

Embrace the Moon

Hide the Flower Under a Leaf

Swan Leaves the Flock

Use this video to practice and review the first three Changes and to preview the Fourth Change. Try to match the speed of the video, which is a typical training speed.

This lesson covers the details of the Fourth Change. This Change includes strikes that follow the tangent off the circle line and trains a rolling force through the body.

Fourth Change Postures:

Violet Swallow Tosses Its Wings

Close the Door Push the Moon

Golden Pheasant Shakes Its Wings

Move a Leaf to Graft a Limb

Pluck a Helmet From Behind the Head

Road Crosses the Clouds

Golden Pheasant Shakes Its Wings

Move a Leaf to Graft a Limb

Black Dragons Coils Its Body

Scoop Up the Enemy on Horseback

Pull the Cloak While Walking

Push the Mountain Into the Sea

Bat Lands on the Ground

Swallow Skims the Water

Embrace the Moon

Hide the Flower Under a Leaf (Monkey Steals a Peach, Monkey Offers the Fruit)

Swan Leaves the Flock (Great Roc Spreads Its Wings)

The Postures in brackets are for when moving on to Change Five. 

This lesson provides a review and additional detail on Changes Three and Four.

If also provides a discussion of Bagua Verses Three and Four.

Recommended textbook for the 36 & 48 Verses: A Shadow On Fallen Blossoms by Andrea Falk

Use this video to review the first four Changes.

Optional Assignment: Submit video for feed back

Make a recording of yourself performing the Third and Fourth Changes. Start with walking a full circle (or more) using the Mud Step. When you are in the centre of the camera's frame perform the Third Change (don't rush!). Walk in the other direction and when again in the centre of the camera's frame, perform the Fourth Change.

Becuase the Fourth Change will likely take you outside ideal framing, take note of where on the circle you are during the Fierce Tiger Escapes Its Cage (furthest point along the circle). Complete the Fourth Change and then stop and reposition yourself so the second half of the sequence will be in the frame as you repeat the Fourth Change.

Upload the video as an unlisted/private video on youtube.com, vimeo.com, Google Drive, or another free service. Please ensure the video can be streamed! File transfers requiring download will not be accepted.

Send me the streamable link via email: james@eastmountain.ca. I will respond with detailed feedback as soon as I’m able.

Tips for recording video:

• Cell phones are a convenient way to record video. Consider having someone film for you or use a stand. Here’s a video on how to make a phone tripod with just a paper towel roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCF-uPQ4zzo

• If you have an option for setting the video quality, avoid high quality (makes the file size too large). Medium or low quality settings are typically fine.

• Don’t have bright windows or other bright lights behind you. This will turn you into a silhouette. Try to position yourself so that the camera is between you and main light sources.

• Try to ensure you start with hands and feet in the frame of the recording.

• Ideal is to position the camera at the start so all of you, from head to feet, is recorded. But if you don’t have enough room, then please ensure that your feet, legs, torso and arms are in the picture.

• Don't rush! Ideal is to keep the movements continuous and at a steady pace. Of course, avoid doing the Changes too slow as well - this isn't Yang style Tai Chi. But the tendency when being recorded is to speed up.

• Review the video before you send it. It doesn’t need to be perfect in terms of recording or performance. Just an accurate reflection of your practice to date.

Recording your practice is an excellent way to see your progress objectively. Often students immediately see details they want to correct. It also serves as a reference point that you can return to, letting you see your improvements over time.