Bajiquan


Bajiquan is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kai men baji quan, which means "open-gate eight-extremities fist".

Origins

Baji quan was originally called bazi quan 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, 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 . Other notable teachers included Wu Xiufeng and Li Shuwen . The latter was from Cangzhou, Hebei, and acquired the nickname "God of Spear Li". A Beijing opera Wu Shen 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." Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge , Li Chenwu, and Liu Yunqiao . Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style". Ma Feng Tu and Ma Yin Tu introduced baji into the Central Guoshu Institute where it is required for all students.
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. 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."

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, Wutan Baji Quan and Yin Yang Baji Quan. Each has a unique element while sharing core practices. Some lineages are more common or only exist in Mainland China, while others have spread to Western countries.

Wutan Baji

Wutan Baji is the most common lineage in the West today. Originally from Taiwan, where its founder, , lived. This lineage includes additional arts that are taught alongside Baji, such as Piguaquan and Baguazhang.
Jian Diansheng >> Li Shuwen >> Liu Yunqiao >> Adam Hsu, Su Yuchang, and Tony Yang >> Many students in Taiwan and abroad.

Nanjing Baji

Baji of Nanjing was introduced to the Guoshu Institute by students of Zhang Jingxing, Han Huiqing, and Ma Yingtu. Han had a great influence on the spread of Baji in southern China, to the point that there was a saying ‘bei li nan han’ meaning ‘Li in the north and Han in the south’.

Mengcun Baji

Meng Village is said to be the original birthplace of Baji Quan, or at least the modern versions of the art. Baji is still widely practiced there.

Wu Xiufeng

Wu Xiufeng 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 Bashi—the second art practiced by Tian Jinzhong.
Wu Xiufeng >> Tian Jinzhong >> Shen Jiarui >> Zhou Jingxuan >> Many students in China and abroad.

Yin-Yang

The creation of Zhao Fujiang, who combined his knowledge of Baji, Xingyiquan and Yiquan to create a new art form.
Wu Xiufeng >> Zhao Fujiang >> Many students in China.

Features

Tactics and strategy

Baji quan opens the opponent's arms forcibly and mount attacks at high, mid, and low levels of the body. 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, legs and neck.
The "six big ways of opening" are:
Footwork in baji quan has three special features:
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 twenty fist forms, which include twelve 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, Chun Yang Jian, San Yin Dao, Xing Zhe Bang, Pudao, and Chun Qiu Da Dao.
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", 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.
The essence of baji quan lies in jin, or power-issuing methods, particularly fa jin. 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. 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", "the drop stance", etc. There are eight different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and zhen jiao.

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