The New York Internal Arts (NYIA) Ba Gua Zhang Classmeets at New York Insight Meditation Center at 28 W. 27th St. (between Broadway and 6th Ave.) on the 10th Floor.There are no requirements or previous knowledge needed to take the class. Ba Gua is not easy to learn, but has a unique approach to teaching the body how to move correctly with power and harmony while simultaneously improving health, and teaching self-defense skills. Additionally, Ba Gua Zhang functions as a moving meditation. There are two classes each week:
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 9:00 AMIntermediate/Advanced Class
Thursday 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM Beginning Level Class
Beginning students may only attend the Thursday class, while Intermediate/Advanced Students may come to both. Advanced students are often called upon to help out in the Beginning Level Class.
We take on new students as a group every 6-8 months and then close the class to incoming students so as to move ahead with the material.
Observing a class before starting is recommended. You are welcome to come by any time to observe. It is useful to observe both the beginning class on Thursday
and the more advanced class on Tuesday as it gives you a better idea of how training changes over time.
There are no trial classes, except during the period in which we are taking on new students.
The weekly classes are supplemented by seminars which present the key material in blocks. This offers an opportunity for people who cannot attend the morning class to still study.
Because material is presented in blocks, the pace is faster than in the weekly class. A number of students attend both the class and seminars, as revisiting material over and over again is the key to understanding. Students in the on-going Tuesday and Thursday classes receive a discount of 50% for the seminars.
The cost of the weekly class is $60 a month.
Students wear loose clothing. New York Internal Arts T-shirts are available online from the website store, however they are not required. Students generally wear thin-soled sneakers or kung fu shoes that do not have a black sole. No black-soled shoes or street shoes on the training floor.
Also available from the website store are Curriculum Manuals which are not required. The manual outlines the entire curriculum, gives background on history, classroom behavior, lineage and tips for training at home. T-Shirts and the Curriculum Manual as well as other NYIA products are produced on-demand by Cafe Press.
Please use this PDF file as a Help Guide while you practice with the 2 videos posted below.
New York Internal Arts Fundamental Exercises for Ba Gua Practice
12 Basic Postures For Ba Gua Practice
Ba Gua Zhang - Eight Diagram Palm Ba Gua Zhang, the sister art to Xing Yi Quan, is based upon the principles of constant change expressed in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). Ba Gua emphasizes internal stillness within external movement. This trains the vital energy to circulate freely to every part of the body, while developing skills of evasion and counterattack. Ba Gua's unique practice of method, walking in a circle while changing postures constantly, develops stable footwork, lightning quick responses and the ability to create a thousand changes from a single intention. In practice, the Ba Gua practitioner steps and turns moving smoothly like a swimming dragon, swooping and spiraling like a hawk, coiling like a snake, and changing postures nimbly like a monkey. The Ba Gua curriculum covers:
Ba Gua Foundational Exercises
Tian Kan (heavenly stem) Exercises
Ba Gua Marrow Washing Exercise
Tao Yin (health preservation exercises)
Lao Ba Zhang (Old Eight Palms)
Eight Hand Methods
Eight Elbows
Linking Palms
Dragon Palms
Eight Direction Palms
Push Hands Methods
64 Linear Forms
Leg Methods
Ba Gua Saber, Sword, Stick, Knives, Spear
Classes held every Tuesday, 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM New York Hung Gar
115 West 27th Street
6th Floor
Xing Yi Quan - Form-Intention Boxing Xing Yi Quan is one of the three "internal" arts of Chinese gung fu. Its emphasis on internal movement within external stillness allows the practitioner to actualize the instinctive hair-trigger reactions of the human body in direct powerful movements. Focusing on natural whole body power, breathing, and the movement of Qi (vital energy), rather than external technique, develops not only internal calmness, and humility, but also the potential to develop natural and effective self-defense skills. The Five Element Fists and Twelve Animal Forms of Xing Yi harmonize the functioning of the internal organs while developing sophisticated fighting methods and tactics. The full curriculum covers:
Seminar 1 Foundational Exercises & Posture Holding Exercises This seminar will focus on the twenty-two basic exercises which develop foundational skills, while loosening the muscles and joints and unifying the action of the legs, waist and upper body. They can be employed both as warm-up exercises and as a daily health regimen. Following the basic exercises, students will learn the Ba Gua posture holding skills which help to develop internal connection and power and the basic stepping exercises that are the key to mobility, evasion and counter-attack, and kicking skills.
You Will Learn:
The Twenty-Two Foundational Exercises
Stake Standing (Zhan Zhuang)
Twelve Linked Posture Holding
Ba Gua Three Posture Skill
Crane Stepping
Seminar 2 Fixed Posture (Ding Shi) Ba Gua Zhang and Applications This seminar will focus on the Ding Shi, the fixed posture circle walking of Ba Gua Zhang. This is the key practice from which many of the other skills in Ba Gua are derived. The practice of Ding Shi combined with the “mud wading step” not only provides the key foundation for maintaining structure while throwing and locking, but is the primary nei gong method that stores qi in the Dan Tien and actualizes the spiraling of energy through the body. Some practitioners feel that Ba Gua begins and ends with the Ding Shi – that it is simultaneously the most basic and the most advanced aspect of Ba Gua Zhang. Applications of each posture and their changes will be demonstrated and practiced.
It is not necessary to have taken Seminar I: Foundational Exercises to attend this seminar.
You will learn:
The Eight Ding Shi Posture and Variations
Their Relationship to the 8 Animals of Ba Gua
Applications of the Ding Shi for Self Defense
Tang Ni Bu - Mud Wading Step
Footwork Variations using the Ding Shi
The Piercing Palm
Linear Stepping
Plum Blossom Stepping
Seminar 3 Foundational Partner Exercises These partner exercises teach some of Ba Gua’s basic self-defense skills, while strengthening the body, developing power and rooting and the ability to control the opponent’s center.
Seven Star Drills: toughen the body while developing power, root and the ability to strike with the arm, shoulder, hip, and elbow.
Spiral Piercing/Filing Exercises
Grabbing Wrists & Pulling Arms Exercises: foundation exercises for Chin Na: seizing and locking techniques.
Leg Trapping Drills
Parrying Hands
Piercing Palm Exercises
Seminar 4 The Eight Linear Ba Gua Palms (Ba Zhang) These eight linear forms have numerous applications in striking, bridging hands, defense and counterattack and throwing. Each corresponds to one of the Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and is therefore a linear expression of the corresponding Lao Ba Zhang Palm, which is readily applicable for self-defense. Additionally there are two-person exercises for each of these linear palms.
You will learn:
The Eight Linear forms : Ba Zhang
Applications
Two-person Drills
Seminar 5 Tian Gan (Heavenly Stem) Exercises and Single Palm Change The Tian Gan Exercises specifically develop the torsional winding power that is characteristic of Ba Gua Zhang. Some people refer to this as silk-reeling energy. These 24 exercises literally wring out the spine, freeing it of restrictions and allowing energy to move freely from the perineum to the top of the head. This class will also introduce one version of the single palm change, which is the basis of the Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang).
Seminar 6 The Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and Applications: Part I This seminar presents the first four palms of Lao Ba Zhang: the eight basic palm changes, with applications.
You will learn:
1st Palm: Single Palm Change
2nd Palm: Covering Palm
3rd Palm: Body Turning Palm
4th Palm: Chopping Palm
Applications
Students must have completed Seminar 2: Ding Shi or the equivalent before taking this class.
Seminar 7 The Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and Applications Part II This seminar presents the last four palms of Lao Ba Zhang: the eight basic palm changes, with applications.
Seminar 8 Ba Gua Seizing Methods (Chin Na and Na Fa) Chin Na (Capture/locking) and Na Fa Seizing are an important part of Ba Gua. They are used not only as joint locks but as methods of entering, off-balancing and controlling. Ba Gua’s linear and circular movements contain many Chin Na and Na Fa techniques. This class will consist primarily of partner work.
You will learn:
15 Basic Chin Na methods
Eight Linking Chin Na – 2 person linked exercise
Seminar 9 Ba Gua Kicking Methods (Ti Fa) In Ba Gua, every step is potentially a kick, or leg trapping technique and Ba Gua specializes in hidden kicks. This seminar will cover the developmental exercises for kicking as well as kicking drills and applied work with partners. Emphasis will be on developing both power and accuracy in striking with the legs.
You will learn:
Developmental Exercises for Kicking
Stationary kicking drills
Linear kicking Drills
Applications
Seminar 10 Ba Gua Elbow Methods (Zhou Fa) In Ba Gua, elbow techniques refer not only to striking with the tip of the elbow but to techniques of control and locking with the middle section of the arm. This seminar will cover the basic elbow techniques as well as two forms that employ a wide variety of elbow techniques.
8 Stationary Elbows: Basic Form (basic elbow strikes)
Eight Attacking Elbows: Intermediate Circular Form (strikes and locks)
Thirteen Elbows: Advanced Linear Form (strikes; locks and throws)
Seminar 11 Ba Gua Throwing Methods (Shuai Fa) This class will examine in detail the major throwing techniques of Ba Gua, including knockdown, spiraling, shearing and wrapping throws. The class will focus primarily on partner work.
Seminar 12 The Sixty-Four Linear Forms (Liu Shi Si Shou) Part I The 64 Linear forms are applications and expressions of the circular forms which emphasize practical fighting skills, and seamlessly combine striking, kicking, locking and throwing. This seminar will cover the first four lines of eight moves each (forms 1-32 of the 64 forms), with applications and variations.
Seminar 13 The Sixty-Four Linear Forms (Liu Shi Si Shou) Part II This seminar will cover the second four lines of eight moves each (forms 33-64 of the 64 forms), with applications and variations.
Seminar 14 Pushing Hands of Ba Gua Zhang (Ba Gua Tui Shou) This seminar will cover the 8 basic exercises of Arm Kneading and Rolling Hands the traditional “push hands” of Ba Gua Zhang as well as San Shou (free style push hands) and other Tui Shou (push hands) exercises.
Seminar 15 Swimming Body Ba Gua Chain Linking Form (You Shen Ba Gua Lian Huan) Part I This advanced form links elements of the Lao Ba Zhang, the Elbow forms and the Sixty-Four Forms in a continuous unbroken sequence that emphasizes the eight directions and the swimming dragon body movement that is unique to the art of Ba Gua. This seminar will cover the first four palms of Ba Gua Lian Huan, with applications.
Seminar 16 Swimming Body Ba Gua Chain Linking Form (You Shen Ba Gua Lian Huan) Part II This is a continuation of the previous seminar that completes the eight palms of Ba Gua Lian Huan, with applications.
Seminar 17: Ba Gua Saber Part I Basic Saber Methods and Ba Gua 64 Saber Method (Ba Gua Liu Shi Da Dao) The Ba Gua saber is critical in developing strength and power and is one of the key weapons in the Ba Gua Zhang system. The practice of the saber also develops the connection of the waist back, shoulder and arm. For practical purposes, it is easily adapted to he use of the machete. This seminar presents the basics of the saber including partner exercises as well as the opening section of the Ba Gua 64 Saber Method attributed to Guo Gu Min.
Seminar 18: Ba Gua Saber Part II Basic Saber Methods and Ba Gua 64 Saber Method (Ba Gua Liu Shi Da Dao) This seminar presents the remainder of the Ba Gua 64 Saber Method attributed to Guo Gu Min, with applications.
Seminar 19 Ba Gua Rooster Claw Yin Yang Knife (Ba Gua Ji Zhao Yin Yang Rui) The Rooster Claw knife is a weapon unique to Ba Gua Zhang. Like the saber the rooster knife develops strength while also emphasizing the use of the arm, wrist, and elbow and in hooking and controlling. The movements of the Rooster Claw knife can be adapted to other short edged weapons. This seminar will cover Guo Gu Min’s 20 movements of the Rooster Claw Knife.
Seminar 20 Point Striking & the Point Striking Stick The point striking stick is a modern adaptation of the scholar’s pen. It not only helps in developing point striking but is an excellent tool for self-defense that can augment one’s ability to strike effectively and can act an equalizer against stronger opponents or those armed with knives or clubs. This seminar will cover the 45 major vital points and methods of striking them using empty hands or the point striking stick.
