Jiang Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang taught by Jiang Rong Qiao 1890-1974. Jiang Rong Qiao was a student of both Zhang Zhaodong who learned the art of baguazhang from Cheng Tinghua. Cheng was one of the last students of Dong Haichuan . Jiang Rong Qiao's Neijiakung fu is one of the most widely practiced combined styles of Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan in the world today. Jiang's Baguazhang is distinguished by emphasizing efficiency of movement and an ambidextrous.
Influences
Zhang Zhaodong appears to have been the dominant influence on this style, but Jiang Rong Qiao had many other influences. Jiang Rong Qiao started his training as a student of the Shaolin Kung Fu art of Mizongquan with his father, Jiang Fatai. Jiang Rong Qiao later studied more formally with his uncle, Chen Yushan. Jiang also studied Chen-style t'ai chi ch'uan and Wudang sword. Eventually, Jiang Rong Qiao became a formal student of Zhang Zhaodong, who had studied with both Dong Haichuan and Liu Qilan. Jiang Rong Qiao also studied with Li Cunyi, a close associate of Zhang Zhaodong. Li Cunyi was also a student of Dong Haichuan and Liu Qilan. While it is said that Zhang and Li were students of Dong Haichuan, they were most likely taught by their friend Cheng Tinghua because Dong Haichuan was so much older. While Jiang Rong Qiao did not become a formal disciple of Li, Li Cunyi was clearly a significant influence on Jiang. Also, Jiang Rong Qiao studied Liuhebafa with Wu Yi Hui during his stay in Nanjing. Later when he became friends with Wu's disciple Chen Yi Ren, he further studied Liuhebafa in exchange for teaching his system to Chen. He personally wrote about his Liuhebafa study in Chen Yi Ren's 1969 published book entitled Liuhebafa Chuan.
System
Jiang's system of Bagua was kept simple. His concept was to focus developing the essence of Bagua and not over complicating it with more forms and movements. His version went through a drastic change though sometime during his life, which most say occurred perhaps when he lost his eyesight. His original system that he taught was simply called Lao Bagua, meaning "old or traditional bagua". Later on Jiang changed his concept and revised his whole system to what is generally seen today as Xin Bagua, meaning "new bagua". The material he taught included:
Jiang was a prolific writer of martial arts manuals during his time. Though most often the writings were of other styles he did write a manual on his own art entitled "Baguazhang Lianxifa ".
