"Move like lightning, hit like thunder, and disappear like clouds."

Bagua Zhang, also known as Pakua Chang, is one of the primary internal systems of the Chinese Martial Arts. It is best known for its "circle walking" training. Bagua Zhang is also known for its highly evasive footwork, powerful palm strikes, and lightning-fast combinations.

The creation of the original or traditional Bagua Zhang is credited to Dong Hai Chuan. He created his new style of Martial Art by combining the circle walking mechanics of a Taoist Sect he joined with the Chinese Kung Fu he had mastered in his youth.

Some of Dong Hai Chuan's students created their own various styles of Bagua Zhang. The "Eight Great Disciples" of Dong Hai Chuan were Yin Fu, Chen Ting Hua, Ma Gui, Ma Wei Chi, Song Changrong, Liu Dekuan, Liu Fengchu, and Zhang Zhaodong.

Different Styles of Bagua Zhang:

Yin Fu Style

This style of Bagua Zhang includes the practice of Crescent Moon Knives, the Wind and Fire Wheel, the Deer Horn Knives, and the Yin-Yang Brush Pens.

Traditional Bagua Zhang forms and transitional forms, a mixture of Shaolin and Bagua, are also taught in this style of Bagua Zhang. Yin Fu, the oldest and longest student of Dong Hai Chuan, is credited to the creation of this style.

Dragon Style

Cheng Ting Hua created this style by combining the Bagua Zhang techniques he learned from Dong Hai Chuan with various Chinese Boxing techniques, specifically Shuai Chiao. This style of Bagua Zhang is known as Dragon Style because of its extensive throwing and joint-locking movements.

Liu Style

Liu Style Bagua Zhang is practiced in a straight line unlike other styles of Bagua Zhang, which are practiced by walking the circle. Liu Dekuan created a new form that included sixty-four fighting techniques from traditional Bagua Zhang practiced in a straight line. He decided to create this form after realizing that most people have difficulty developing fighting skills and internal components while they walk the circle. Today Liu Style is practiced in combination with other Bagua Zhang styles.

Today it is very difficult to name all the different styles of Bagua Zhang. In fact, according to a Bagua Zhang research facility in China , there are over a hundred styles of Bagua Zhang in existence today. Although different styles of Bagua Zhang exist today, their purpose remains the same, for good health and self-defense.