The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual - Book Review

The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual: Gao Yisheng's Bagua Twisting-Body Connected Palm Paperback by Gao Yisheng  (Author), Liu Fengcai (Editor), John Groschwitz (Translator)

The Chinese internal martial art of Bagua Zhang, the eight change of the palm, is an art with similarities to Tai Chi Chuan. The author of the book, Gao Yi Sheng, was a student of one the all-time greats of Bagua Zhang, Ching Ting Hua. Gao’s innovation to and standardization of the Cheng Bagua curriculum, as well as his well know fighting ability, earned him a branch of the Cheng school.

The recounting of Gao’s life is almost worth the price of the book. These types of martial histories, while not always accurate, give us insight into the developmental process Gao went through and how he innovated on what he learned. They may not be a way to explore motive but expand our thinking about the influences he was exposed to in the creation of the straight line sets. Also included is the life history of his nephew and student Liu Feng Cai and many of the students in his lineage.

This book is not a teaching book, it was written as a resource for the “in door” students and never meant to be published. If you had access to the book you were a long term, in door student who was already familiar with the basics postures, stances, and movements. This is why the book is heavy on theory, basic rules of the system, etc., and not a posture by posture teaching book. 

Also, you cannot learn a martial art as complex as Bagua Zhang (or Taiji Quan or Xingyi Quan for that matter) from a book. It is not possible unless you have years of experience with basic stancing, body mechanics, had position, application, etc. Learning these arts is time consuming and arduous. Even with a good, open teacher and a willing student it is difficult to learn and will take years of dedication and training.

This book is the official standard for the curriculum of the Gao lineage. Its contents are a must for all practitioner of Bagua Zhang in the Gao system or the Cheng Bagua school. 

I am a 20 year practitioner and teacher of Xingyi Quan, Gao Bagua Zhang and Tai Chi Quan

Bagua Zhang - Gao Yi Sheng's Teacher Cheng Ting Hua

 

He Jin, Feng Junyi, Cheng Ting Hua & Cheng You Long

Cheng Ting Hua is the founder of Cheng Style Bagua Zhang, a direct student of Bagua creator Dong Hai Chuan and one of Gao Yi Sheng's Bagua teachers. Cheng You Long is his first son.

Internal Kung Fu - Cheng Style Bagua Zhang - Founder Cheng Tinghua - Boulder, Colorado

Cheng Tinghua Biography

 Translated by Joseph Crandall (Found: HERE)

Cheng Tinghua was Dong Haichuan's other top student. He was from Cheng Village in Ji County, Hebei Province. Later he moved Beijing, where he opened an eyeglasses shop located next to the Fire Spirit Temple on Sishuai Street in the Flower Market Plaza. Therefore, he was called Eyeglasses Cheng or Spectacles Cheng.

As a youth, Cheng was fond of martial arts. He was best at Shuaijiao and was famous for his throwing skills. He was a friend of Yin Fu and Shi Jidong. He listened to the two men speak of Dong Haichuan's extraordinary martial skill and was enthralled by the stories. They recommended that he ask Dong to teach him. He was 28 years old at that time.

Cheng was accepted and studied with Dong for about half a year. Dong eventually notice Cheng's talents and intelligence. He took a personal interest in Cheng because of Cheng's diligence and pure heart. Cheng studied Baguazhang with Dong Haichuan for many years and achieved a high level of skill. It was not long before Cheng had all of the Baguazhang secrets. It is said that those that came to Dong's school to challenge him would first have to test their skill against Cheng. Cheng was skilled in turning an attacker's energy against himself. Cheng would simply stretch out his hand and the challenger would be thrown. With Dong's permission, he developed his own school, which became famous throughout the country.

Cheng had an impulsive nature. He was short, but strong. In all his fights, he was particularly fond of using single pounding palm and was always successful in throwing his opponents in a single movement. In contrast to Yin Fu, who popularized the ox tongue palm, Cheng was known for his dragon claw palm. He also mixed his art with Xingyi and achieved great things. Thus Cheng style is somewhat like Xingyi, the palm is shaped like a Xingyi palm and the steps sink firmly and strongly.

Legend says that he wore at ten pound vest of iron. To the end of his days, in practicing his skills or running his business, he never remove his vest, and matter how hot or cold it was. When practicing one form of striking palm, he used a basket of sand weighing 300 pounds hanging from a beam. He practiced striking it night and day. Many boxing masters were amazed at Cheng's strength and skill. He had a tub of water strung on a rope and he would use one palm to lift it up and down 10 times. Then, still holding up the tub, he would circle around three times. The water was never spilled. Cheng never ran out of breath, and his face never got red.

Cheng's reputation was heralded far and wide. It constantly made men jealous, but ordinary men couldn't compare. One day a husky fellow arrived to see Cheng. He said, his strength was incomparable and wanted to contest with Cheng. Cheng out his right arm and said, "If you can lift my arm, I will admit defeat." The fellow used his shoulder to try and raise Cheng's arm. He used his utmost strength but didn't raise it a fraction of an inch. Cheng slightly dropped his elbow and the fellow was dumped on the ground. He lay gasping for quite a while before rising and leaving.

Cheng associated with Xingyi Quan masters. The famous Xingyi master Guo Yunshen was from Ji County like Cheng, and they were familiar one another. When Guo visited the Capitol, he stayed a time with the Cheng family. Cheng asked Guo why he had come. Guo replied that he had heard of Dong Haichuan's skill and he had come to challenge him. Once Cheng knew of Guo's purpose he said, "We are from the county, and have a good relationship with each other. I will be honest with you. I don't think you should go see Master Dong. It will be damaging to your reputation. Dong likes to fight. Ten thousand men have lost to him. How can you hope to win? My humble opinion is that you don't go see him." Guo listened to Cheng and pondered his words as he drank his tea. Suddenly Guo faced Cheng and said, "Brother, how about it you suffer my beng quan?" That was all the notification Cheng got that the punch was coming. Cheng evaded the punch and Guo's incoming fist struck the door frame, knocking a piece from it. (Bagua master Li Ziming attests to seeing this door frame after it had been repaired.) Guo stayed with Cheng a few more days and then returned to Ji County.

Another time, Cheng was walking along a road outide Beijing's Sui Wen gate. It was late at night. Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching rapidly from the rear. He quickly evaded as a man with a saber tried to split his back. Cheng twisted his body and the saber met emptiness. Cheng seized the saber and with one kick sent the man sprawling. He said, "My friend, there are many martial arts and many skills. When you are ready, you may try me again."

There was a man from Shandong named Li Yong'gui. He was six feet tall and each arm had the strength of 100 pounds. He had iron palm training and his gongfu was very strong. He carried a single saber in a sheath across his back. He came to Cheng's home and called out, "Is this Eyeglasses Cheng's home? Where is Eyeglasses Cheng?" Master Cheng came to the door and asked what he wanted. Li said that he had come from Shandong to see Cheng. Cheng told him that he was Cheng Tinghua's younger brother and that Cheng was out visiting friends. Li was acting rudely. He wolfed down the cakes and dumplings Cheng served him and when Cheng asked him if he had had enough, he only said, "It was not too bad." Li then went outside. Cheng sent a student to see what Li was doing. The student saw Li suddenly seize a stone hitching post and break it apart. The student quickly went to tell Cheng. Master Cheng thought that Li had come a long way to compare skills and was not likely to go away. He also wondered if Li might want to be his student. Cheng went to Li and said, "No one knows when Master Cheng will be back, but I have practiced a long time. Why don't we compare out skills?" Li replied, "That is a good idea. However, if my strike knocks you down, I will continue to look for Eyeglasses Cheng." The two men went out into the courtyard. They assumed their stances and did two or three moves. Master Cheng put his palm on Li's upper hip and Li was thrown six feet. Then, while still on the ground, Li tried a move called 'Hungry Tiger Seizes Food' only Cheng dodged the blow and again struck Li to the ground. Li rolled over, opened his eyes and said, "You said you were Eyeglasses Cheng's student but I think you are Eyeglasses Cheng himself. Why are you so unfair to me?" Li then knelt down and asked to study Baguazhang with Master Cheng. Following this event he lived in the Cheng household. Many months later, Cheng said to Li, "Let us talk. You came to learn my art and I welcomed you. However your appetite is too big. I cannot stand it. You had best return to your home and practice there." Li heard this and laughed for now he was able to leave Cheng Tinghua without bad feelings.

During the Boxer Rebellion (July 1900) Cheng was in Beijing. He saw the invading armies come in killing and looting. He swore to defend his country from the invaders. One day the invading armies were killing indiscriminately.  A German army company had orders to kill the Yihe Guard, but proceeded to kill the common people because the Yihe members wouldn't fight. They proceeded to plunder and burn everywhere. When Cheng saw this his heart was filled with righteous indignation. In the middle of the night he approached a German patrol alone and attacked, killing many. The officers were furious and ordered the soldiers to surround Cheng. Cheng used his piercing palm to evade them but was shot and killed as he leapt over a wall.

Translated by Joseph Crandall (Found: HERE)

Note: Cheng Tinghua is the founder of Cheng style Bagua Zhang. Cheng style Bagua Zhang (and all its branch schools) are the most practiced variations of Bagua Zhang in the world. Gao style Bagua Zhang is a branch of the Cheng School. Learn Gao style Bagua Zhang here in Boulder, Colorado at Boulder Internal Arts.

 

Internal Kung Fu - Gao Style Bagua Zhang - Gao's Teacher (Peerless Palm) Zhou Yuxiang

Zhou Yu Xiang

Oral Accounts: Zhang Zhenzhi and Hou Jinlong

Recorded by: Li Jishan

Edited by: Qiao Han

 

Translated by: Joseph Crandall (Found: HERE)

 

Printed In: Wudang Magazine 2012.8

 

(Note: Gao Yi Sheng (founder of Gao Style Bagua) was a student of Cheng Ting Hua but learned most of his skills from another Cheng Ting Hua student, Zhou Yuxiang.)

 

Mr. Zhou Xiang was also known as Zhou Yuxiang. He was from Tianjin Wuqing Wafang Village. He was born in 1861, the first year of the reign of Emperor Tongzhi. He was a famous Baguazhang master. He was our grand teacher. Our teacher was called Xue Zhaoji. He was a student of Mr. Yuxiang. Mr. Yuxiang was originally a student of Baguazhang Grandmaster Cheng Tinghua. Around the time that the Eight Nations Allied Armies entered Beijing, Mr. Cheng was killed by the German forces near the Hade Gate. Then Mr. Yuxiang became a student of Liu Fengchun. Mr. Yuxiang was obsessed with the art. He practiced diligently and was an expert. He was braver and stronger than most men. Because his skills in Baguazhang were so deep, that Mr. Yuxiang had a special introduction in The Register of Famous Martial Artists. In Tianjin there was a famous Baguazhang master of the previous generation named Mr. Zhang Zhankui. At first, Mr. Yuxiang also studied with him. Mr. Zhang Zhankui had a job in Tianjin catching criminals. Every time he had a tough case he would ask Mr. Yuxiang to help him out. So one can see that Mr. Zhang Zhankui was completely confident in Mr. Yuxiang’s martial skills.

 

Extremely Skillful in Martial Arts

  

Mr. Yuxiang deeply got the true transmission of Baguazhang from Masters Cheng and Liu. He also received instruction in Xingyi Quan from the great master, Li Cunyi. He was also a very good friend with the great Taijiquan master, Li Ruidong. They would often have mutual exchanges. They learned each other’s strong points to offset their weaknesses. In addition to his native great strength, his martial arts skills were very high, particularly his palm skills were deep and vast. Teacher Zhaoji often quoted Great Master Li Cunyi as saying, "Zhou Mazi’s (Mr. Yuxiang’s nickname) palm skills are not less than Cuihua Liu’s" (That is Liu Fengchun’s nickname.) Mr. Li Ziyang often spoke to us in regard to this evaluation. Still more Mr. Li Ziyang often related to us that because of Mr. Yuxiang’s great palm skills, each time Mr. Yuxiang and Mr. Zhang Zhankui had their mutual exchanges, Mr. Zhang Zhankui did not dare to join hands. He had to resort to using evasion to respond to him. It was that difficult to get the upper hand. Teacher Zhaoji said, "Mr. Yuxiang talked about how meeting others throughout his life, very few impressed him. He only admired and respected Guo Yunshen, Cheng Tinghua, Li Cunyi, Liu Fengchun, Sun Lutang as great masters and none others." In addition, he also had positive feelings for the skills of Li Ruidong and Shang Yunsheng. With other people, he often acted as if they were beneath his notice. In those days, Mr. Yuxiang would cross hands with practitioners of all the famous styles. In The Register of Famous Martial Artists, it says that Mr. Yuxiang in his younger years won fights in famous palaces, one after another defeated two top teachers of the sixth son and ninth son of the prince.

 

Mr Li Ziyang spoke about time when Mr. Yuxiang and Xingyi Quan master, Mr. Ma Yaonan, got together. Mr. Ma Yaonan was a student of the great Xingyi Quan master Mr. Guo Yunshen. His skills, for the most part, came from Master Guo. His Xingyi Quan skills were very deep. During the early years of the Republic he came to Tianjin and often competed with people from other styles. He rarely had an equal. Mr. Liu Yunji (a student of Li Cunyi) praised Mr. Ma Yaonan’s high skill in front of Mr. Yuxiang. In fact he was thinking of urging Mr. Yuxiang and Mr. Ma Yaonan to have a competition. At last, the two men met at the Wu Shi Hui. Both men were eager to get to work. Therefore it was not long before they started sparring. They fought about ten bouts, but neither could beat the other. Mr. Li Cunyi urged them to take a break. Mr. Li Cunyi said, "You two performed like Zhang Fei fighting Ma Chao!" This was his way of saying that both men had great skills.

 

Mr. Zhang Jinhe told us how Mr. Yuxiang’s art was equal to the great Ziran master, Du Xinwu. In 1925, Mr. Yuxiang and his classmate Han Muxia went to Bejing to take care of some business and get together with their old friends, Mr. Heng Shoushan and Mr. Zhao Xinzhou. Mr. Heng Shoushan gave a banquet at "The Clay Pot House". Mr. Zhao Xinzhou’s friend, Mr. Du Xinwu, also came. During the feast, Mr. Zhao Xinzhou praised Mr. Du Xinwu’s Ziran skills rather highly. When Mr. Du Xinwu introduced the Ziran skills and he talked a bit about the wonderful skills of his teacher Mr. Xu. Mr. Yuxiang, was never lightly convinced by what people said. Therefore he rose up and requested that he and Mr. Du Xinwu learn from each other by comparing skills in martial arts. Mr. Heng Shoushan immediately suggested that they use chopsticks to compare skills, to stop being touched by the point. Mr. Yuxiang and Mr. Du Xinwu faced each other across a table. Almost simultaneously they started to move. Both men’s body methods were extremely fast. After about ten exchanges each returned to their original places. Mr. Du Xinwu saluted to show his respect. Everyone could see that Mr. Du Xinwu’s chopstick was in Mr. Yuxiang’s hand. Many people invariably highly praised Mr. Yuxiang’s body method as being extremely fast and his hand method as being ingenious. But Mr Zhang Jinhe said, "In fact, Mr. Du Xinwu’s martial skills were extremely good. And when he compared styles with people, he rarely lost."

 

One time Mr. Yuxiang was in his hometown. And Taiji master Mr. Li Ruidong was hanging out with him. Mr. Hao Ming told us about how at this time Mr. Yuxiang did his best to destroy the Tongbei master, Mr. Zhang Ce. Mr. Zhang Ce was called the "Arm Saint". He was skilled in both Taiji and Tongbei, and well as with the saber. During the Republic era, there was one year that Mr. Zhang Ce returned to the village. He heard that Mr. Yuxiang was with his family and asked if he could come visit. At that time it happened that Mr. Hao Ming’s teacher Mr. Li Zilian was also staying at Mr. Yuxiang’s place. Because Mr. Li Zilian mentioned that Mr. Zhang Ce, in his early years, once crossed hands with Mr. Xiang Runtian and was defeated. This was done to provoke Mr. Zhang Ce, and he was not happy about it. He suggested that he cross hands with Mr. Li Zilian. Because Mr. Li and Mr. Zhang are both guests, Mr. Yuxiang at once encouraged them together. Mr. Yuxiang was not good with words, and his urging didn’t have the result he wanted. Instead it causes Mr. Zhang Ce vent his anger on Mr. Yuxiang. Mr. Yuxiang had no alternative; thereupon he crossed hands with Mr. Zhang Ce. In the first bout, Mr. Yuxiang issued into Mr. Zhang Ce. Mr. Zhang Ce ended up with his head buried in the courtyard’s haystack.

 

Mr. Zhang Ce got up and immediately left.

 

 

The Hero Battles Bandits

  

At the beginning of the Republic there was tangled warfare among the Warlords. Tianjin and Northern China were places of strategic importance. Many changes were happening. Stragglers and disbanded soldiers became bandits. The bodyguards in Tianjin were concerned about the bandits.

 

One time in Tianjin, they were guarding a nobleman’s family home at night to protect it against thieves. The nobleman’s family home was not far from the inside of the north gate. A mixture of people would come and go through the gate. The road was clear and it was convenient for bandits to flee this way. After a case was reported to the authorities, Mr. Yuxiang took over this case. Mr. Yuxiang and other comrades seeking business analyzed the details of the case. They firmly believed that the bandits would return in the near future and that they could take advantage of that. Thereupon they planned to capture the bandits.

 

He took advantage of the fact the there would soon be a celebration of the 55th birthday of nobleman’s uncle. Therefore the idea was to make a big deal of the event. He would be disguised as a family member bringing gifts. Mr. Yuxiang then dressed up as accomplished servant went to nobleman’s family home.

 

Not far from the nobleman’s family home was the Liu Family Inn. Because Liu Jitai (Mr. Old Two) was also there seeking to do business, they decided that the others would then in turn hide at the Liu Family Inn. They agreed that when they heard Mr. Yuxiang blow a whistle, then everybody would quickly come to assist him.

 

Three days later, before dawn, some men called outside the gate of the nobleman’s family home. Mr. Yuxiang was hidden and not moving. Not far away, a man leaped up onto the wall and jumped down to open the gate. Four men came inside. They all had rifles. They ran straight to the front of the main hall. Mr. Yuxiang suddenly appeared from behind them and gave a great shout. He struck at them suddenly with a python whip. In the blink of an eye the lash fell on two men. At this time there was a man on top of the roof with a mauser pistol who started to shoot down at him. Mr. Yuxiang narrowly escaped the bullets. He immediately flipped and rolled. Following this he lifted the whip again and lashed and flipped one of the men. Simultaneously, he quickly advanced and struck the man down with his palm. He then leaped to the space below the edge of the roof.

 

He suddenly leaped up onto the roof and applied his whip. The men were frightened and they got up and fled. He turned around, stretched out his hands and continuously struck at the rifles. Among them one rifle rubbed through the skin and flesh of Mr. Yuxiang’s left shoulder. Blood flowed straight away. When the men jumped down from the roof, they saw that Mr. Yuxiang was already standing in front of them. He struck one man straight on the head and he fell down unconscious. At this time, outside the gate there was a carriage pulled by two bandits ready to come to their aid. They heard the commotion inside and decided to flee instead.

 

Eventually his colleagues hidden at the Liu Family Inn arrived. They saw five men lying in the courtyard, four rifles and the Mauser pistol all gathered by Mr. Yuxiang’s side. Thereupon they put the bandits under guard and closed the case. When everyone asked why Mr. Yuxiang didn’t blow the whistle during the fierce fight with the bandits, Mr. Yuxiang said, "The situation was urgent. I completely forgot to blow the whistle."

 

During the interrogation afterwards, they realized that this group of bandits all were disbanded soldiers from the Northeastern Army. Since these bandits really had come from the military, to avoid military retaliation in the days to come, they decided to lock up the people and the affair was never made public.

So you can see Mr. Yuxiang had quite a bit of martial bravery.

 

Translated by: Joseph Crandall (Found: HERE)

 

Bagua Zhang - Traditional Kung Fu Style Demonstrated in the 1980's

 

A nice demonstration of the traditional Kung Fu style, Bagua Zhang from the 1980's; Yin Fu Bagua Zhang, Cheng Ting Hua Bagua Zhang as well as Hou Tien or Post Heaven - Straight Line Bagua Zhang.

 

 

 Learn Bagua: HERE