NOTE: Please be aware that we only have one or two copies of some of these. Many aren't even in print any more. Even if it is listed here it may already be out of stock (we'll try to keep it updated but they may go fast).

Bagua Zhang Weapons- SC837   
Author: Liu Jing Ru
166 pgs. photographs, Many QR codes to online videos, softbound, $17.95
Simplied Chinese Characters

This book, written by the famous bagua practitioner Liu JingRu, includes lessons for each of the four weapons routines famous in Bagua: Sword, Saber, Spear and the wonderful Elkhorn Knives. The book also contains important aspects and qualities of each of these bagua weapons, in addition to step-by-step instruction and photos.

Liu Sifu makes specific points about weapons use and their importance, sometimes quoting his own masters. The photos are clear, a bit smaller than we would like (we always prefer them larger!), but their size is well-made-up-for by many bonus videos (using QR codes) that direct the reader to films showing Liu JingRu performing the routines. In the book itself, both Liu JingRu and a senior student perform the instructional routines. Historical photos and essays are also included.

Yin Yang Bagua Palm: Monkey Palm- SC540   
Author: Tian Keyan
301 pgs. photographs, softbound, $16.95

Bagua Zhang is built on Yin and Yang like a building rests on bricks and mortar. The Basic 8 Animals, Bagua’s skeleton, are shifted and rearranged before taking on more complex combinations. One example—good to watch and possibly back in stock on our shelves—is an entire volume dedicated solely to Bagua’s “Monkey” Energy. Like a boutique store everything here reinforces and expands on the monkey-this-monkey-that theme which—as in much of  Chinese culture—creates a jigsaw puzzle effect wherein lies the style.

This Hou Xing Quan, Monkey Boxing, introduces Monkey boxing to the student through detailed instruction and concentration through, various poses such as,  Ape Picking Fruit, Monkey Offering Fruit, Ape Protecting Fruit, Monkey Playing Fruit, Monkey bright palm, The practice uses methods of the monkey entangling arms and monkey kicking branches and other vividly agile characteristics of Yin-Yang Bagua Palm free play.

For a quick example of developing some exemplar skill: the energy of the ape is known in Chinese as Cai (Tsai)  or “plucking.” This sudden  grabbing or, more correctly, SNATCHING action transfers everything the monkey wants, anything held in hand, with for only the smallest example of strength in an almost invisible action like a magic trick or transference.

Shih Style Bagua Zhang- SC336   
$14.95
398 pgs. photographs, softbound, 2012

A large book with a lot of photographs on a lesser known style of Bagua Zhang. The founder of the style was a student of Dong Hai Chuan himself. Shi is a clean and brisk form of Bagua with an interesting difference; almost any of the basics is practiced in a circle even if it does not qualify as a palm. Some such basics are only a single movement but almost everything is done in the round with Bagua's signature curvature. A relatively lesser known style outside China. 64 palm changes also shown

Shi style Bagua Linked Legs
& Guiding Fist - SC 830
by Shi Nai Jian and Wang Cheng Shan
272 pages, photographs , softbound
$14.95 Simplified Chinese;

Shi Ji Dong was the son in law of Dong Hai Chuan who taught him, as he indeed taught all his students, a customized format with special emphasis on the legs. This traditional practice from Li has passed down to Shi Nai Jian and Wang Cheng Shan. This book contains two rarely seen Bagua Fists: the Linked Leg set and the Guiding Fist. The Guiding Fist is composed of 64 movements. The Linked Legs, divided into eight sections, is composed of 118 movements not all of them kicks. A few styles, mostly derived from the Yin Fu branch, have Bagua leg sets. This is one of the longest. The book ends with a one page lineage chart.

Yin (Fu) Style Bagua Zhang- SC 433   
By Wang Ding
$12.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
114 pages 160 photographs

This little book shows Yin Fu’s branch of Bagua practice with good photos and simple layout. The forms shown are the Old Eight Palm Forms explained. Next comes a Yin Fu set of “serial” palms. All this is followed by Yin style applications many of which are well-known traditional techniques with a few interesting variations. What we get from this book is the loose and open version of Yin style as many people practice it today. The author has a nice overall relaxed and comfortable form.

Traditional Bagua Spear - SC 335   
by Li Chun Ling
$14.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
202 pages, softbound, 120 photographs. form

Do not be fooled by the picture on the cover, this is a single-headed spear set from the Cheng Branch of Bagua. Ms. Li, a martial arts competitive champion, is a student of the famous Sun Zhi Jun. This is a longish set with the complexity of a well-developed art. Ms. Li is a hand- picked student to represent the style and appears on a number of Sun instructional DVDs. Definitely one of the better Bagua spear sets especially for its clarity and integration of correct Bagua technique.

We also carry a DVD of this form.

Bagua Hands and Weapons Self-Study - A524 
by Zhao Zhen Zhong
$12.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
194 pages, Softbound, photographs.

This book, by a student of Sha Guo Zhen, is meant to be a general introduction to Bagua. It starts with survey material like “What is Bagua?”, and a series of short sections describing ten different styles of Bagua training such as Yin, Cheng and Zhang styles. It shows four sets:
The Basic Eight Bagua Hands (109 moves)
Bagua Straight Sword (23)
Bagua Elk Horn Knives (32)
Bagua Staff (34)
Clear and simple illustrations and lots of them. Probably one of the shortest Elk Horn Knife sets on record.

 

72 Bagua Hidden Legs A525
Zhao Zhen Zhang
$15.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
198 Pages, softbound, illustrations.

After presenting a variation of the Eight Palm Changes by Jiang Rong Jiao, Mr. Zhao illustrates breakdowns of the "hidden legs" of BaGua (and they are indeed hidden  when you first learn the art, at least to most people) . In this book, compared to A805 below, the explanations are all usage from the particular form, where, in the Fatal Kicks book,  general BaGua kicks are demonstrated.

If you want to know more about the author...

 

Fatal Kicks of Bagua A805
Zhao Zhen Zhang
$10.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
98 Pages, softbound, illustrations.

Clear illustrations (and of a decent size) highlight this book strictly on the applicatons of kicking in Bagua. Easy to understand and all you need is a partner to take the beating. There's a short introduction about the general movements of the style and then one and two-step illustrations of leg usage.

If you want to know more about the author...

Bagua Linked Palms - SC132
形意八卦掌—健身与技击
By Song Di Lei 宋狄雷
$18.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
198 pages, photographs, softbound

This book is on the combined styles of Xing Yi and Bagua but with aa distinct leaning toward reintrepreting Bagua with Xing Yi flavor added. It shows a lot of training methods some of them simple such as basic iron palm slapping and some more interesting such as a series of different execises with the Bagua poles. Next comes a formal section with the animals changes emphasized based on Bagua's eight animals and a somewhat Xing Yi inspired intrepretation of them. Finally a lot of rather free drawings of Bagua applications many inspired by the classic book and others, including multiple attackers, by a more imaginative muse.

Bagua Palm Records - SC430
by Guo Gu Min (posthumously) & Zang Xue Fan
$19.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
230 Pages, Softbound. Photographs and illustrations.

Bagua Zhang Shu Ji Cheng. A compendium, the name suggests, of the Liang Branch of Bagua practice. Direct lineage teachers show the basic circling palms of this system along with applications and a "64 move" application set somewhat like the linear style of Gao Branch. One of the few books on the very respectable Liang Zhen Pu branch of the art. This book covers a lot of Bagua including principles, form, body arts relating to all parts, five form palm, strategy, the "36 Song", 48 hands methods, health issues, usge, applications and more. A clear and useful manual on the entire Bagua system.

Guo Gu Min (1887 - 1968) was a major proponent of Bagua. Early on he started to learn and communicate with many Bagua masters and had access to a wealth of information on martial arts. He was taught by such varied master as Yi Fu, Kiu Feng Chun, Li Cun Yi. At this time separate styles were no barrier since Bagua still reflected its common origin with Dong Hai Chuan. Guo wrote on Bagua even revealing some special techniques from Dong Hai Chuan never written before. He taught many hundreds of people and was instrumental in Bagua's development especially in the BeiJing area. Among his contributions were the 64 Hands Straight Line practice and the Bagua Hook Swords.

BaGua San Shou Palms - SC311
by Zhang Yao Zhong
$8.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
200 Pages, Softbound. Illustrated.
"San Shou"- free hand - can have a number of meanings in different martial contexts. In this case one might think of it as a "linking set" as in Xing Yi. The core form to this book is a series of movements which are not structured around the circle. BaGua San Shou also refers to spontaneous practice of turning and changing. In addition a number of BaGua Chi Kung type exercises.

BaGua Three Harmony Exercises - SC 217
by Zhang Jin Liang
$8.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
186 pages, Soft bound, Photographs.

ShihFu Zhang has impressed us with his excellent presentation of LIANG style BaGua. His VCDs and DVDs are some of our most popular. Here he presents stretching, postural and Chi Kung exercises based on the system of BaGua in which he is expert. The photos are a little on the fuzzy side but they are easily understandable and the movements are demonstrated with integrity and clarity.
See his VCDs
See his DVD series

Orthodox BaGua - SC212
by Liu JingRu
$16.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
Softbound. Photographs.

A good beginning volume on Cheng style BaGua Zhang. Li starts it with a section on his own introduction to martial practice. This is followed by a chapter on BaGua health building. Then BaGua's flavor in self defense. Other sections include: mud stepping, basic hand positions, 8 Big Palms, Swimming Body linked palms, exercise palms and practice palms. Many photographs.

BaGua Palm Essentials- SC209
by Zhang Quan Liang
$16.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
504 pages, Softbound. Photographs.

A huge manual containing good photos and a lot of information on the art of BaGua. Includes 8 Mother Palms, Usage, BaGua Saber,BaGua Chi Kung, BaGua Posture training, mixed routines and much text on the art. An outstanding compendium of information on BaGua with a lot of information.

BaGua Three Harmony Sword SC108
by Zhang Quan Liang -
$8.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;
224 pages, Softbound

Photographs clearly illuminate this book about the BaGua straight sword known as "Three Harmonies". The entire set is shown and, in addition, a partner set with the sword similar to the famous San Tsai sword but with a BaGua emphasis.

Lion Style BaGua
by Tian Jiong -SC101
$13.50 Simplified Chinese Characters;
316 pages, softbound.

A nicely done edition of Yin Yang BaGua Zhang. This volume focuses on the branch which is known as Lion Form Palm: that is the 8 changes inspired by the Lion's energy. Good photos, a young and limber practitioner and form pictures interspersed with applications.

Cheng Style BaGua Zhang- SC 602
by Liu JingRu
$16.95 Simplified Chinese Characters;

Another BaGua book by the indefatigable Liu Jing Fu. This time he focuses on his beloved style, Cheng Shi. Bagua Zhang. One bonus is that just about everything in this book is demonstrated by the clear form of Liu himself. Applications are given as the text and photos show the Palm Changes. This text has explanatory notes on footwork, palm work, etc. Then it delves into the 8 X 8 64 Palm which it shows with applications and variations. Next comes the 8 X 8 64 Hand form which is a Linked Hand set shown without applications. The book also has some color plates in the front.

BaGua Series
by Zhu Bao Zhen
SC1003
An amazing four-volume set on the art of Bagua. Weapons, exercises, applications, forms... etc.

Born in 1933 Zhu Bao Zhen studied from three BaGua masters: He Zhong Xing, He Zhong Chi and Liu Zhen Lin.

He is the martial brother of Liu Hung Chieh, one of B.K. Frantzis' teachers. He was born in July, 1933. After studying Shaolin and Xing Yi he was introduced to BaGua with Liu Zhen Lin. He is particularly expert in Yin Branch of the art. His accomplishment in this art is considerable. His movements are fluid and changeable showing the prinicples of BaGua in every action. Still strong for his age he shows a lively and precise interpretation of the style.

At present we can only offer a few copies of Volumes #2 and #3. Be assured, if we see the other volumes, we will get them!

With literally thousands of nice clear photographs, teacher Zhu takes you through one complete range of BaGua. Here is a representative sample of some topics covered...

Volume 1:
BaGua's origins.
Great teachers such as Yin Fu and Cheng Ting Hua.
Basic hand positions and kicks.
Walking and different foot patterns.
Basics 8 Palms.
8 Hard Palms.
8 Soft Palms.
24 Powers Palms.

Volume 2:
Basics of the BaGua Saber.
Eight Old Strokes.
Turning Saber 8 Powers.
BaGua Spear basics.
8 Big Old Spear Moves.
Elk Horn basics.
Needle basics.
Saber Form.
Two Headed Spear form.
Elk Horn Knife Form.
Judge's Needle Form.

 

Quantity  

 

Volume 3:
Advanced Hand form.
Advanced Two Headed Spear form.
Advanced Saber Form.
Advanced Elk Horn Knife form.
Advanced Judge's Needle form.
BaGua Ringer Dagger form.

 

Quantity  

 

Volume 4:
OUT OF PRINT
Color photos
A lineage chart
64 Hands with 384 Applications (descriptions only)
BaGua usage shown with photographs
The flavor and special characteristics of Ba Gua usage