The Baguazhang (Advanced) Program – 八卦掌
Baguazhang is often regarded as one of the most sophisticated art forms to emerge from China. It represents a seamless integration of Nei Gong, Alchemical Practice and Martial Training. The art of Bagua is as difficult to define in simple terms as it is to master through practice. It is frequently described as the only truly Daoist Gong Fu system and, whether or not this claim is accepted in absolute terms, it is easy to see how Baguazhang aligns closely with the enigmatic philosophy of the Daoist mystics.
Within Lotus Nei Gong, Baguazhang is taught as an advanced system and is therefore not made available to newcomers within the Internal Arts Academy. Students are required to first establish a strong foundation in Nei Gong alongside either Xingyiquan or Taijiquan. This approach reflects the considerable complexity of Baguazhang and the depth of internal skill required to train it effectively. In traditional martial culture, Baguazhang has long been regarded as a ‘graduate’s martial art’, studied by those who already possess a solid level of competence in the Chinese internal boxing methods.
It is for this reason that when you first sign up to the Academy, the Baguazhang training will not be available to you, this program will become available for joining when the appropriate foundations have been built. We do this to ensure that those starting their journey in Baguazhang with us are not engaging with a practice too early.
Bagua Zhang (Eight Trigrams Palm) is a dynamic internal martial art rooted in the energetic principles of the Yi Jing (I Ching). Within Lotus Nei Gong, Bagua Zhang is taught as both a martial discipline and a method of internal cultivation, developing physical vitality, energetic balance and meditative focus. Central to the practice is circle walking, through which practitioners cultivate a deep relationship between the body’s internal energetics and the surrounding space. This method enhances grounding and balance while opening the joints and tissues, allowing Qi to circulate freely through the channels.
In this way, classical Baguazhang functions as a fully integrated system of Nei Gong and Chinese martial arts.
Circle Walking Nei Gong
Baguazhang is an unusual art form in that, unlike other more conventional martial arts, it doesn’t include ‘forms’ in the normal sense. Instead, it is based upon the practice of various, short ‘palm changes’ which have the following qualitie:
- Circularity: All changes are performed while walking the circle, emphasizing continuous and uninterrupted motion.
- Spiraling Energy: Each palm change incorporates coiling and twisting movements, generating internal power and fluid transitions.
- Body-Mind Integration: The movements train coordination of the whole body, breath and focused intent (Yi).
- Martial Application: Each change includes striking, deflecting and evading techniques that emphasize Bagua’s unique adaptability and unpredictability.
Palm Changes
The Palm Changes form the heart of Baguazhang and act as the primary method through which the internal qualities cultivated through circle walking are brought into motion. Each palm change represents a concise transformation of structure, intent and energetic direction rather than a fixed technique.
Each palm change carries martial function while simultaneously refining sensitivity, spatial awareness and intent (Yi 意). Stepping, turning and hand methods are coordinated as a single action, allowing offence, defence and evasion to arise together. Over time, the changes cease to feel like separate movements and instead become expressions of an underlying internal method that can manifest freely.
Within the broader training, the palm changes serve as a bridge between internal cultivation and applied movement. They give form to the principles of Baguazhang while remaining fluid enough to change with the practitioners will.
Weaponry
Within the esoteric framework of Baguazhang, the Deer Horn Knives are traditionally associated with the phases of the moon and its cyclical passage through waxing, fullness, waning and renewal. This lunar correspondence reflects the art’s underlying relationship with change as described by the Yi Jing (易經).
The Deer Horn Knives demand a high level of internal skill. Stepping, turning and hand method must remain unified as the practitioner moves through changing spatial relationships. Errors in alignment or intent immediately disrupt the flow of the weapon, making the knives an exacting teacher. Through sustained training, the practitioner learns to express internal power efficiently, guided by cyclical awareness rather than linear force.
The Baguazhang program of the Acadamy goes into great detail with regards to the Deerhorn knives in later stages of the training.
Partner Exercises
Partner training within Baguazhang centres upon Rou Shou, or ‘soft hands’, a method designed to cultivate sensitivity, adaptability and functional expression of internal principles. Rather than relying upon fixed drills or rehearsed responses, Rou Shou develops the practitioner’s ability to remain connected while responding fluidly to another body in motion. This work acts as a bridge between solo cultivation and applied skill.
Applications emerge naturally from this process rather than being imposed as isolated techniques. Stepping, turning and palm changes are introduced progressively, allowing martial function to arise from the same mechanics cultivated through circle walking and solo practice. Offence and defence unfold together, guided by angle, timing and positioning rather than force. This trains the practitioner to operate within close range while remaining calm and internally unified.
1. Ding Shi Ba Zhang (定式八掌)
Training begins with Ding Shi Ba Zhang (定式八掌), the Eight Fixed or Static Palms. This is a core practice for learning to align and awaken the body’s internal mechanics. Each posture is held while walking the circle; this is Baguazhang’s equivalent to Taiji’s static, standing-post training.
This training is the basis of Baguazhang and a great deal of time should be spent here for those who wish to master Bagua training.
2. Ba Mu Zhang (八母掌)
Building upon the structural integrity of Ding Shi, the next stage introduces the Ba Mu Zhang(八母掌), or Eight Mother Palms. These dynamic changes form the nucleus of Baguazhang’s movement system, embodying the key forces and internal principles which underpin the art.
The eight mother palms taught within Lotus Nei Gong are a fairly fundamental version of the Cheng method. They serve as a basic method for training the palm changes without the student becoming bogged down with overly intricate choreography.
3. Cheng Shi Zhuan Zhang (程式转掌)
The classical form of Cheng Shi Zhuan Zhang (程式转掌), or Cheng Style Turning Palm, represents the most mature expression of the art as transmitted through the lineage of Cheng Tinghua. This form synthesizes the internal foundation of Ding Shi with the dynamic expression of the Mother Palms.
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With the Internal Arts Academy, not only do we have access to Damo’s incredible knowledge of these arts, but also a clear, gradual, and structured path to practice and experience them within ourselves.”
The Training
The Internal Skill Foundations of Cheng Baguazhang establish the underlying Nei Gong root of the system, providing the structural and energetic basis upon which all later expressions depends. This work is embodied most clearly through Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang (定式八卦掌), the fixed-posture training. In parallel, the Core Hand Forms teach the basic palm methods and stepping patterns through Ba Mu Zhang (八母掌), the Eight Mother Palms, which encode the essential principles of Cheng-style Baguazhang.
Weapons Training runs alongside these hand methods. All three streams ultimately converge into Cheng Shi Zhuan Zhang (程氏转掌), the Turning Palms of the Cheng lineage, where internal skill and application are unified into one, advanced integrated expression.
Advanced Syllabus
Though the Internal Arts Academy previously included Baguazhang training for beginners, we have decided to change this situation and so now, Baguazhang is considered an advanced practice that is not to be studied unless students have been in our school for a number of years. This ensures that they have established the required foundations for correct Baguazhang training.
Baguazhang was considered a ‘Graduate Martial Arts’ due to its complexity and so we respect this vision within the Academy.
For students to be ready for Baguazhang, they should already have a solid foundation in Nei Gong training as well as competency in at one martial arts such as Taijiquan or Xingyiquan, otherwise they will not manage to do Baguazhang justice and so their time is likely to be wasted.
Baguazhang sits at the peak of Internal Gong Fu practice.
Annual Membership
Our Annual Membership Includes- Access to all ongoing programs
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Monthly Membership
Our Monthly Membership Includes- Access to all ongoing programs
- Access to extensive theoretical material
- Access to regular live class
- Access to discord group for questions and feedback