Ba Ji Quan

From Mw

Muslim master of Ba Ji Zhang Shao Fu

Ba Ji Quan is a specific form of martial arts that is practiced mainly by the Hui Muslims in China. It has both a secret and effective branch whose origins trace to a Muslim Hui named Wu Zhong from Cang County, Hebei Province who lived during the Qing Dynasty. The other branch is more demonstrational, as practiced as part of Wushu

1 Origins of Ba-Ji
2 Recent History of Ba Ji
3 Characteristics of Ba Ji
4 See Also
5 References

[edit] Origins of Ba-Ji

according to the earliest texts a man named Wu Zhong (nicknamed Hong Sheng 1712 CE (1123 AH) - 1802 CE (1216 AH)), also the founder of Ba Men Chuan (eight gate style) - Which is a direct reference to the eight gates of Jennah

Wu Zhong practised Wushu when he was eight. He liked martial arts and practised day and night, in all weathers. One night Wu Zhong was practising Wushu in the courtyard and an old man suddenly jumped from the roof and stood in front of him, laughed at him and said he was not practising properly. Wu Zhong asked who he was but the old man didn't answer and started to do some kung-fu. Wu Zhong had never in his life seen such techniques so he asked the old man to sit down and tell him what he was doing. The old man told Wu Zhong a great deal about martial arts theory and techniques most of which he had never previously heard. Wu Zhong asked him what style was he doing, the old man said it was 'Ba-Ji Chuan'. Immediately Wu Zhong knelt down and begged him to accept him as his student. The old man refused and said, "I'm going to travel a lot, how can I teach you?" But Wu Zhong persisted, performed three kowtows, and told him how much it would mean to him to be taught by him. The old man, realizing Wu Zhong was sincere and had a deep love for Wushu, was so impressed by his determination and enthusiasm that he agreed to accept him as a student . So he stayed at Wu Zhong's house and started to teach him. After ten years of practice the old man said, "I've taught you almost everything and I have to go now." Wu Zhong was very upset, kowtowed and said, "Master, you have been teaching me for ten years but you have never mentioned your name or who you are." The old man said, "My surname is known only to my closest students - it is Lai." The old man was Lai Kou Yuan one of the great and almost legendary masters of the past. Later, after Wu Zhong had improved on Ba-Ji and it became more advanced he was invited by the great nobleman Wang Gong Da Ren to teach 150 of his retainers in his palace.

[edit] Recent History of Ba Ji

Part of a of articles on Islam Muslim Martial Arts
Muslim Wushu
Ba Ji Quan • Pi Gua Quan • TanTui • Liu He Quan • Tong bei Quan
Muslim Wushu Masters
Wang zi ping • Ma Menta • Yang Wan Lu • Chamir • Chang Yuchun Hu Dahai • Mu ying• Lan Yu • Wu Zhong • Zhang Shao Fu • Ma Xianda • Chang tung sheng
Silat

Wu Zhong passed the style on to Li Da Zhong and Chang Kemin; Li then taught his son Li Gui-Zhao, and Chang taught his son Chang Jing-Xing. Through several more generations the art was passed on to the great twentieth century master Ma Fu Luo still alive today in his eighties, living in Ningxia, China. Ma Fu Luo is the head of the Hui minority people in his province and a strict Muslim not considering himself to be a Chinese. Indeed, in the past he has led a battalion of resistance fighters against both the Japanese and the Chinese. Until recently he has refused to teach Ba-Ji to any Chinese or non-Muslim.

One of todays most eminant Masters of Ba ji is the Muslim master Zhang Shao Fu, an 83 year old muslim from Cangzhou

[edit] Characteristics of Ba Ji

Ba-Ji is a very powerful, aggressive and effective fighting art, but this side of the style has usually been kept secret or taught to very few people. In Taiwan for example, fighting Ba-Ji is practised by the presidential guards and various special security agents. So when Ji Jian-Cheng saw Ma Fu-Luo he realised that he had discovered a genuine master of real fighting Ba-Ji and not the commonly practiced exercise-based Ba-Ji. Although Master Ma had not taught Ba-Ji to anyone outside the Hui minority people he took a liking to Ji Jian-Cheng, already a qualified Wushu instructor and master of several other styles, and agreed to teach him real Ba-Ji.

Most of the movements in the single Ba-Ji form are performed in a very sudden, violent, and explosive manner. There is a strong unleashing of force followed by immediate relaxation ready for the next action. Like Chen style Tai Chi, Ba-Ji also utilises 'Chan Si Jing' or 'silk reeling energy' where power coils through the body and is released in a sudden burst of energy, short but strong.

The punch starts from a low crouching position and spirals up into the final left punch, arm slightly bent, with a simultaneous right shoulder and elbow strike. The breathing is combined with the technique and a sort of 'hng' sound is produced in the throat on completion. There is also a slight sinking forward and down of the upper body. The Ba-Ji form is done fast and aggressively with occasional slow and relaxed movements. There are frequent jumping and twisting techniques and sudden attacks and retreats.

One of the main distinguishing characteristics of Ba-Ji is its fast attacks followed by sudden withdrawing movements. There are no high kicks; just simple practical low front kicks, low leg attacks and foot sweeps, knee strikes, and stamps to the ankle, knee, or foot. There are several types of punch but the hand techniques tend to be mainly palm attacks, open-hand chops, finger strikes, grabs, blocks, and various locks and holds.