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  • From Avatar to Real Life: Exploring the Impact of Ba Gua and Baguazhang on Martial Arts

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to regale you with a tale of a fascinating Chinese martial art that has been around for centuries - Baguazhang, also known as Eight Trigram Palm. Rooted in the principles of Daoist philosophy, Baguazhang is more than just a way of fighting; it's a way of life.

Baguazhang: The Art of Circular Movement and Open-Handed Technique

The fundamental principles of reality are represented by the Eight Trigrams, the symbols that give Baguazhang its name. These principles serve as a roadmap for understanding the world and our place in it. Baguazhang practitioners strive to achieve a state of harmony and balance in both their physical movements and their inner selves by understanding these principles and their interactions.

Some of you may be familiar with Avatar: The Last Airbender, an animated series heavily influenced by Baguazhang. This series has captivated the world with its intricate world-building and complex characters. One of its unique features is the incorporation of various martial arts into the airbending style, including Ba Gua, also known as circle walking. Dong Hai Chun created Ba Gua in the early 19th century, focusing on circular movements and constant motion to evade attacks.

Ba Gua practitioners walk around the edge of a circle in various low stances, facing the center and periodically changing direction. The circular footwork distinguishes Ba Gua, allowing practitioners to flow in and out of combat in a unique way, similar to airbending. Ba Gua incorporates numerous techniques, such as palm, fist, elbow, and finger strikes, kicks, joint locks, and throws, enabling practitioners to effortlessly face multiple attackers at once.

Returning to Baguazhang, a key aspect of this martial art is its emphasis on circular movement. Practitioners of Baguazhang move in circles, evading their opponents' attacks. This circular movement is effective in combat and also fosters fluidity and balance in the practitioner's movements. It is a dance-like, beautiful, and deadly art that takes years of practice to master.

Another Baguazhang hallmark is its use of the open hand. The art emphasizes open-handed techniques such as palm strikes and pushes, allowing practitioners to utilize their entire body in their attacks. The open hand symbolizes peace, an extension of the body that can be used for self-defense or helping others.

As mentioned earlier, Baguazhang has faced challenges due to the proliferation of different styles and interpretations of the art. The oral transmission from teacher to student over many years led to various practitioners developing their own variations. This has resulted in numerous Baguazhang styles, each with a unique approach, making it difficult for students to choose a suitable teacher or style and distinguish between authentic Baguazhang and modern interpretations or "fad" versions.

Unleashing Inner Harmony and Balance through Baguazhang


Baguazhang practitioners believe that the principles of Daoist philosophy apply not only to martial arts but also to everyday life. By understanding and applying Baguazhang principles, they seek balance and harmony in all aspects of their lives.

The circular movements in Baguazhang cultivate a sense of flow and fluidity in the practitioner's movements, extending to the circular footwork and open-handed techniques. These techniques enable the practitioner to use their entire body in their attacks, generating power and force from their core rather than just their limbs.

Baguazhang also highly emphasizes the use of weapons in combat, including the staff, broadsword, and straight sword, among others. Mastering weapons in Baguazhang involves understanding the principles and techniques of the art and applying them to various situations.

Despite its unique features, Baguazhang has faced challenges throughout its history, including the proliferation of different styles and interpretations of the art. The oral transmission from teacher to student led to different practitioners developing their own variations, resulting in a wide variety of Baguazhang styles, each with its own unique approach.