BA-GUA
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Ba Gua Zhang, or Pa Kua Chang (pronounced Pa Kwa Chang) develops energy (qi) flow through simultaneously practicing forms, controlling breathing, and walking in circles. |
Ba Gua literally translates to Eight trigrams. These trigrams are symbols which are used to represent all natural phenomena as described in the ancient Chinese text, the Book of Changes (I Ching). Zhang utilizes the palm (zhang) rather than the fist (quan) as it is believe that this allows for better energy flow. Ba Gua Zhang, as a martial art, is based on the theory of continuously changing in response to the situation at hand in order to overcome an opponent with strategy and spontaneity rather than force. |