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
