THE FUNDAMENTALS OF YIN STYLE BAGUA

THE EIGHT STRATEGIES


连环掌 Lián Huán Zhǎng - Interlocking Palm - Qian Trigram

顺势掌 Shùn Shì Zhǎng - Moving with the Force Palm - Kan Trigram

背身掌 Bèi Shēn Zhǎng - Behind the Back Palm - Gen Trigram

平托掌 Píng Tuō Zhǎng - Supporting and Lifting Palm - Zhen Trigram

风轮掌 Fēng Lún Zhǎng - Wind Wheel Palm - Xun Trigram

卧势掌 Wò Shì Zhǎng - Crouching under the Force Palm - Li Trigram

返身掌 Fǎn Shēn Zhǎng - Returning Body Palm - Kun Trigram

抱势掌 Bào Shì Zhǎng - Enfolding the Force Palm - Dui Trigram

THE EIGHT PRINCIPALS


It is important to know that the Eight principles that are derived from the trigrams are vitally important to improving health and fighting ability. The key to improvement is that everything must change and adapt, so these principles should be done at all times while training and fighting in order to make them work naturally.

The Qian / Heaven Trigram- The mind (intention, eyes), the hands, and the feet all arrive at the same time when executing techniques. No matter what animal or strike everything should come together in the end. This is the crucial ending point of techniques which requires perfect timing and naturalness that only comes about through the practice of different strikes thousands of times.

The Kun / Water Trigram- The Dantian must always be kept solid and full. This involves breathing into the stomach, allowing the diaphragm to expand downward, rather than breathing just into the lungs alone.

The Gen / Mountain Trigram- The neck and crown of the head or Baihu point is held upright, while the chin is tucked in and pulled back slightly, and the back is kept rounded. This principle may not seem important and is often overlooked, but is extremely crucial when you learn how to use the spine and Dantian to deliver power.

The Zhen / Thunder Trigram- The ten toes must grasp the ground. This can't be stressed enough that yes you actually do want to grab the ground with your toes. There is a limit though, you don't want to grab so much that the balls of your feet come off the ground, find the happy medium. You should follow this principle all the time.

The Xun / Wind Trigram- The hips must be rolled under and the Huiyun point must be raised. This ties in with the second principle because when the area of the dantian is being pushed out in all directions there will be a lot of force downward.

The Li / Fire Trigram- The chest must be kept concaved and pulled back protecting the vital organs from attack. This also ties in with the back being rounded and the shoulders forward. This not only extends your reach but it also brings your vital areas further away from your opponents reach.

The Kun / Earth Trigram- All of the joints in the body must be kept flowing and open.

The Dui / Lake Trigram- The tongue must be kept touching the roof of the mouth. This completes the channels of the Ren and Du meridians.

THE SIX KEY WORDS


Stable 稳 wěn - stable, steady; sure; certain.

Accurate 准 zhun - allow; in accordance with; follow; standard; norm; criterion; accurate;

Vicious 狠 hěn - ruthless; relentless; suppress [one's feelings]; harden [the heart]; firm; resolute.

Cold 冷 lěng - cold; cold in manner; without warning.

Crisp 脆 cuì - clear; crisp;

Fast 快 kuài - fast; quick; rapid; speed;

THE FIVE FORCES


'Li' is physical force derived from the working of the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system. These movements generally involve the whole body and in Yin Style Bagua there are basically five ways to achieve this without breaking the principles of being an internal art. Note that many strikes contain the overlapping of one or more forces.

逆力 Ni Li ( Opposing, Moving against )- This force generates a scissors like effect when the upper and lower body oppose each other, stretching and twisting the major muscles and tissues of the torso. The power arrives when the body snaps back into its natural state. This force is circular and on a relatively horizontal plane.

順力 Shun Li ( Unifying, Moving with )- This force generates a whole-body power when all the separate parts are moving in unity and in the same direction. The shoulders, waist, and hips will all be in time and in perfect unison. This force is also circular and on a relatively horizontal plane.

含力 Han Li ( Concaving, Containing )- This force is circular but can be done on horizontal, diagonal, and vertical planes. Its done through a combination of the lengthening and contracting ability of the spine/torso and the ability of the arms and shoulders to work in unison.

挺力 Ting Li ( Straight, Driving )- This force is generated at the back foot, which then travels up the leg to the tailbone and then outward in any direction in a relatively horizontal plane. The power comes from the connection between the hand and the lower spine, any line of force can be traced back through the arm to the lower spine and then to the ground. The back foot is strongly rooted and the joints of the arm are held immovable through the strength of the tendons and ligaments.

登力 Deng Li ( Spiraling)- This force comes from the legs and their connection to the ground, it is done in a circular manner and usually on an upward diagonal plane. The power comes from the foot, spiraling or corkscrewing upward through the legs, hips, torso, and finally through the arms and upon meeting resistance it traces the same route back to the ground. It can also be done by using the hinge joint power of the leg which is a sixth type of force called Beng. Which roughly translates as a popping force. This force sends a straight abrupt stopping force along a horizontal plane through the body. Since both of these forces involve the use of the legs and are interchangeable but not combined, they therefore count as one force.