Baji Features

FeaturesTactics and strategyBaji quan opens the opponent's arms forcibly (qiang kai men 强開門) and mount attacks at high,Website:http://www.chinesetkungfu.com, mid, and low levels of the body(san pan lian ji 三盤連擊). 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.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 六大開) are: Ding 頂: using the fist, elbow or shoulder to push forward and upward.Bao 抱: putting arms together as if hugging someone. It is usually followed by Pi 劈 (splitting). Ti 提: elevating the knee to hit the thigh of the opponent, or elevating the foot to hit the shin of the opponent, etc.Dan 單: using a single move.Kua 胯: using the hip.Chan 纏: entanglement with rotation around the wrist, elbow and shoulder.Stepping and body methodsFootwork in baji quan has three special features:Zhen JiaoNian BuChuang BuThese striking techniques are related to traditional Chinese medicine, which states that all parts of the body are connected, either physically or spiritually.Power generation and expressionThe 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 thehorse 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" (xūbù 虚步), "the drop stance" (pūbù 仆步), etc. There are eight different hand poses, in addition to different types of breathing and zhen jiao.The six Major Characteristic Powers are: Sinking (Xia Chen 下沉 or Chen Zhui 沉墜)Thrusting (Chong 沖)Extending (Cheng 撑)Entangling (Chan 纏)Cross (Shi Zi 十字)Inch (Cun 寸)