Yin Style Bagua Combatives Texas

There are several Special Skills that are an intrinsic part of Yin Style Baguazhang. Filing is one of them. This is a method of applying force in a manner very similar to a wood rasp or metal file. It uses the hard parts of the body to inflict control, pain, and damage to the opponent. It is not in and of itself a strike but a force multiplier or a skill to be used in addition to a technique. Body positioning and structure should always be considered when practicing. Relative position to the opponent should always be considered and what is your goal in the application of technique should constantly be asked while applying or practicing your techniques.
Here is some insight into practice. YSB has more techniques than most will be able to learn and apply effectively. This is one reason for the method of codification or way things are arranged in the system. Find what works for you, what you really like or what feels easy or natural to attain. Work those 100,000 times until you begin to feel an ease of use and get a good result.
It is said that the Dragon system is the easiest to apply in combat as it somewhat mostly uses a pushing/pulling force that is direct. The missing part is the long force from the back foot through the body out to the striking weapon. Then there is the spiraling forces that are intrinsic to the system. All of these must be considered and each animal system uses a unique method and concentrates force in a unique portion of the body. Finding and keeping the correct connectedness is also tantamount. This information may seem obtuse or disjointed but it is for you to find the common threads in your thought and practice. Enjoy the gift that is Yin Style Baguazhang of the Yin Fu, Men Baozhen, Xie Peiqi, He Jinbao lineage. It is unique, amazing and profound beyond compare.

Dragon, the East, new beginnings, the Element of Wood. The Springtime.
Dragon representative standing posture use the twisting, torquing element as well as the straight forward/backward element in the arms. The support hand is very much twisted in as the lead hand maintains the stab out/pull back isometric tension. You must find this duality in tension in all your standing practices. The tucked hips and elongated spine cause the rear of the torso to find this. Work towards finding this duality between all your joints, then connect them into the total body. This will give your practice depth, your body strength and agility and cause your fighting skills to develop and your health and longevity to blossom and endure.
Dragon Standing Representative Posture- Both sides 2.5 minutes per side with a recovery during the change from side to side. Let go of the tension and reset. 3 sets per side.
Dragon Turning Representative Posture- Both sides, 5 minutes per side. Make sure to keep all the body requirements of the system and the animal system. Minimally turning adds the requirements of lift, place down, swing open, hook closed. 3 sets per side. No recovery during turning. We must develop a relationship with pain.
Dragon Strike Training
Upper, Whirling and Lower Carrying (I am comparing and contrasting the Long force of the Dragon Carrying with the Short force of the Bear Carrying, there should be obvious differences in the practice.)
Stationary, One Step Line work and Three Step Line work. 3 5 minute sets per side, per method, 10 seconds recovery between sets.
U shaped stepping. This helps to develop the moving around to the back of the opponent while striking. 3 sets per side.
Dragon Carrying Turning the Back form practiced at Learning Speed, With Power and Flowing the form methods. 5 minute sets for 3 sets per side each method.

Cool Down-Servant serves the tea 4 minutes, then turning in the Dragon palms at side 4 minutes.

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Bear

The withdrawing step is a tactical withdraw or repositioning of the body. Although it seems to foot-centric, it also uses the rest of the body to achieve its goals. The 6 methods of force can be used with any and all of the Withdrawing strikes. As I enjoy a "forcing" as opposed to "allowing" force, I stuck with those for this session. No creating emptiness to draw people in, just digging holes and stuffing the enemy in there.
Removing Withdrawing step (need to up your rhythm [front hand/front foot] game, get with this strike) Entering Withdrawing step (got tight hips, do this strike) and Backstep Withdrawing step were used in this session. There are a balance and coordination that are unique to the Withdrawing Step methods. Make sure you are adhering to all the principles, guidelines and requirements.

Striking- 3 minutes per side for 3 rounds each method. Learning speed, With Power and Flowing the Form. Stationary, Box Step and Three Step methods were used. 3 minutes recovery.

Turning- Representative Posture- 5 minutes per side using the Lying Step Withdrawing Step Change to change directions. 3 rounds per side.

Cool Down- Servant Serves the Tea 4 minutes both sides then turning in the Bear Palms at Side 4 minutes.

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The Bear, not just any bear, but The Bear. Brought to you by Yin Style Baguazhang of the Yin Fu, Men Baozhen, Dr. Xie Peiqi, He Jinbao lineage.
The gua that represents the Bear system is one solid line on top with two broken lines on the bottom. In one aspect this represents a bowl turned over on a table. Imagine the bowl rolling on its edges. How does the weight shift, what are the points of contact, what happens differently when the bowl oscillates faster and higher vs slower and lower as at the end of a spinning cycle? Great questions, ponder these as you study and think deeply about the system.
The Bear's footwork is considered ponderous and in real life bears do seem to be very clumsy and slow because of their great weight. If you have ever watched two male bears squalling, you have seen differently. The Bear's footwork in our system of YSB is know as a treading step. The stepping adds to the waist, hips, and legs power aspect "crushes like an iceberg".
Keep in mind the use of force, stepping, your body requirements and usage, points of contact and issuance of power while training. Along with all the other requirements of the animal system and the YSB system as a whole. We aren't special, Yin Style Baguazhang is Special.
Training-
Warm Up with Big Saber- 5 minute rounds both sides 3 sets with 20 seconds rest between sets.
Stroking the Saber, Single Chopping and Double Chopping.

Standing Bear Representative Posture- 2.5 minutes per side with shake out during the transitions, 3 rounds. 3 minutes standing recovery. remember your body checks, the 8 animal requirements.

Turning Bear Representative Posture- 5 minutes per side using all three basic direction changes, 3 rounds. 3 minutes standing recovery. Remember the requirements of the Bear system for your body as well.

Strike Training- Withdrawing Strikes - Using the U shaped and Forward/Backward stepping methods as a basis.
Moves 1,2,and 3 from the Bear Withdrawing Enfolding form
Moves 4,5 from the Bear Withdrawing Moving with the Force form.
Moves 5/5a,6 from the Bear Withdrawing Lying Step form.
3 x 5 minute rounds each with 2 minutes standing recovery between different forms. Worked from Learning Speed to With Power to Flowing the Moves (don't go crazy here, you have to stay in control, start with aroun75% speed and power. Don't get sloppy.)

The Bear's force is short, blunt and penetrating. The upper body should land like an avalanche but also has the aspect of the spinning bowl. Consider this while training and how you are using force, your body, your intent, and keeping your spirit raised and focused.
Forms Work- Withdrawing Moving with the Force Form.
Remember that the main goal of this session was the use of the stepping and how it affects the issuance of power, the use of the body (in whole, as two halves and just focusing on the feet and their placement, changes and use.)
Worked both sides in 5 minutes rounds for 4 rounds moving from Learning Speed, to With Power x 2, to Flowing the Moves.

Cool Down- Turning in Holding the Saber position both sides, high stance, no tension outside of the differentiation of the weight of the saber causing a slight lifting of the side of the body facing the center of the circle and a slight pressing down on the opposite side of the body. 4 minutes, using a common stepping pattern to change sides.
Servant Serves the Tea- Very relaxed, sort of like yoga, remembering to engage the joint, ligaments and tendons while massaging the internal organs and lymphatic system with the muscles engaged as elastic bands as opposed to driving pistons. 4 minutes both sides.
Turning in Hand at Side with Bear shaped hands, high posture, minimal resistance. Still keeping the 8 Body Requirements. Concentrating on returning to a normal state and allowing my mind and body to be very aware of each other.

Gen, The Bear, The mountain, stillness before action, the youngest son.
The Bear is simple. It's moves are simple. It's legs are like an Iceberg, it's upper body is like an avalanche. It's Gua is One solid line on top with Two broken lines in the middle and bottom. This minimally signifies the strength of the shoulder girdle, upper back, arms and neck/head. It also signifies the ability to change in the core and legs.
I was recently taught that the Bear is one of the few animals that can be turned in a similar to yoga fashion. I will not go into detail as I do not want you to develop bad habits and do need a teacher to show you how. Those who already practice the Bear or YSB in general can learn from their own thought/work habits.
Training-
Standing- Isometric Tension Representative Posture, 2.5 minutes per side with 10 seconds shake out during transition. 3 rounds. 3 minutes standing rest. (Remember if you sit down during training, you are releasing all that Chi you just worked to build up, you don't always have to work so hard you have to sit, 80% is great.)
Turning- Isometric Tension Representative Posture, 5 minutes per side using the Continuous Rushing Basic Direction Change. 3 Rounds. 3 minutes Standing resting. (Just to let the ATP recharge and use your chi gung to control the breath and heart rate)
Strike Training- No Step, 2 Step Box and 3 Step Line. Stamping Rushing, Covering Rushing, Scraping Rushing into ?Inward Scraping Rushing? (moves 2 and 3 from Dragon Withdrawing). 5 minute rounds both sides, 10 seconds standing resting between rounds.
3 minutes standing resting.
Forms Work- Rooster Rushing- 5 minutes rounds, both sides, 3 rounds. Worked from Learning Speed to With Power to Flowing the Moves.
Cool Down- Servant Serves the Tea, Twin Swallows touch the Sea 4 minutes each at slow pace then turning in the hands at side high stance turning 2 minutes to return to "normal".

Go get in a f1ght. nothing provides training like hitting the ground or taking a str1ke. Learn from your wins and losses. We train to become better at every part of our humanity.

Snake- K'an-the North.
Following with the Force.
Snake is a very, very sophisticated system. Very easy to become overwhelmed or stifled. Snake does require a teacher present for the training for sure, as you will not figure out the techniques from the movements without direction or tons of thoughtful practice.
The Snake system also has no set stepping pattern. What does this mean? Great Question. Following with the Force is part of the answer.
Snake Standing, representative posture. 3 min. per side for 5 rounds. 10 seconds shake out on transitions. Concentrating on the Body requirements of YSB and the Snake system itself. If it seems easy, you are not doing it correctly. 3 minutes rest.
Snake Turning, representative posture. 5 minutes per side for 6 rounds using the three-step circle, then the 5-step circle, and so on.
Also, testing a broken rhythm of stepping by speeding up and slowing down to simulate combat changes. (This is theoretical and I will check in with my superiors about its validity and efficacy.)
3 minutes rest.
Big Saber Practice
Stroking the Double Sabers 30 reps per set for 3 set.
Working the form opening section through section 4.
Learning speed, with power and then flowing the form.
Worked the individual sections 10 times.
Worked opening to 4th section 10 times.
Turning in Carrying the Double Sabers 4 minutes
Turning in Palms at side 4 minutes.

Turning is one of the aspects of YSB that sets it apart from all other systems.
One of the requirements of the waist/body is Whirling. It is the feeling of chasing your own tail as you turn the circle. It also has an elongation of the spine through twisting and lifting the core.
This does a lot inside your body. One thing it does is stretch and strengthen the ligaments and tendons supporting the spine. It can correct hunch neck from sitting at a desk all day. It causes your posture to improve and the circulation of blood in your body to improve as examples.
As you turn, listen to your body. Push yourself gently. Sit down a little longer or deeper, really concentrate on expanding/contracting your joints to create that stab out/pull back isometric tension, where appropriate, in the body. (Each animal system has a Gua. These Gua can be related to the body and it's parts. This should be in the intent and focus.)

Turning in the Rooster Representative Posture.
5 minutes per side, using a lot of isometric tension in the legs and upper body. Lifting the knees a little higher to activate and engage the lower abdominal wall, and the associated muscles, tendons and ligaments of the hip girdle, knees, ankles and feet. Using the Whirling Dodging Direction Change. Total time 30 minutes. 5 minutes rest.

Standing in the Rooster Lying Step Posture.
3 minute sets x 4 per side total time 24 minutes.
30 seconds shake out after set 2,3 and 4.

Servant Serves the Tea
4 minutes, concentrating on stretching the body and elongating the body to relieve any tension or blockages.

Turning in hands at side posture, high turning
4 minutes going over what I just practiced and how I can use the energy of Whirling to apply force to my practice.

Large Saber Training
2nd Section (actually 3rd)
- Double Stroking the Saber- 40 reps 4 sets with 60 seconds between sets and 3 minutes after completion.
-Double Chopping Left and Right, 20 reps for 4 sets. Same rest pattern as Double Stroking. Going directly overhead with turning the waist then dropping the weight of body/saber to Shock Chop.
-Turning in the Bear Double Saber representative posture. 2 minutes per side. Using a turning into the circle spiraling rotational change of the arms with whirling of the body and corkscrewing with the legs. 2 times per side then turn in Holding Double Sabers turning for 2 minutes (1 minute per side) then turning two more times per side. 4 times per side total. 5 minutes rest.
--Sections 1-3-----
Watch, Practice and Re-Learn Section 3-
Review Section 1,2,3 individually-
Putting it all together and practicing with Learning Speed and With Power.
NO Rest.
Turning in Holding Double Sabers. 4 minutes
Servant Serves the Tea 4 minutes, both sides.

How do the Eight Body Requirements of Yin Style Bagua relate to the animal systems and how does this relate to the Chakra theory? Great Question. What are the Body Parts that the Eight Animal Systems are correlated to? What are their requirements? How does this relate to practice? All great questions. If you cannot answer these, there is still time to learn. Come to class anywhere Real YSB is taught and definitely, for sure, absolutely go to China in the Spring if you can. It will absolutely change your life for the better.
If you can't wait until Spring, get yourself to New Hampshire, right now. For the next two weeks He Jinbao and Matt Bild will be teaching the seminar of a lifetime, expounding on the teaching of the Rooster and Snake systems.
Beginners and Returning students alike are welcome. Remember there is no best only better. A few steps everyday puts you a few steps further down the path than you were yesterday.