Martial Arts and Healing Arts DVD's

All Titles Are Now Available in Pal and NTSC Formats

PAL is used in the UK and Europe, Australia and South Africa.  

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Please specify which format you would like to be sent.

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The price includes post and packing to anywhere in the world.

Please browse down the page to see all that is available. Any problems just email me at paul@taiji.net


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Here is a list of what is on this page so far.

The 26 Postures of Tai Chi ( 13 Yang Style and 13 Chen Style ) DVD
 
The Tai Chi Double Broadsword Form DVD

The Tai Chi Long Pole Form DVD

The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form DVD

The Martial Applications of The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form DVD

Chinese Double Short Sword Training and Fighting Methods DVD

A Martial Arts Journey Part One South East Asia DVD

A Martial Arts Journey Part Two China DVD

Fingertip Healing Volume One DVD

Fingertip Healing Volume Two DVD

Tai Chi F
ighting and Healing BOOK

The Principles of Bagua BOOK



The 26 Postures of Tai Chi DVD

13 Yang Style and 13 Chen Style


On this DVD I demonstrate and teach The Thirteen Postures of The Yang Family Style of Tai Chi and the The Thirteen Postures of The Chen Family Style of Tai Chi. These 26 Postures are the source moves of all other Tai Chi forms and contain all the principles of correct Tai Chi posture and movement. If you know these 26 Posture you can more easily learn any Tai Chi Form of any Tai Chi Style because if Tai Chi was a Book then these 26 Postures are the ABC.

It is most probable that in ancient China this was how Tai Chi was practiced originally, the individual movements, each practiced to both the right and left sides and that it was only more recently that the moves were put together in a fixed order and made into the forms that we have today.

The Thirteen Postures of The Yang Family are, Tai Chi Commencement, Stork Spreads Wings, Roll back, Snake Spits Venom, Parting The Wild Horses Main, Waving Hands Like Clouds, Brush Knee Palm Strike, Monkey Strike, Deflect Parry and Punch, Double Hinge Arm ( Low Peng or Ward Off ), Jade Lady Works The Shuttle, Draw The Bow To Shoot The Tiger, Grasp the Sparrows Tail and lastly Tai Chi Completion.

The Thirteen Postures of The Chen Family are, Tai Chi Commencement, Single Yang Spiral Palm Silk Reeling, Single Yin Spiral Palm Silk Reeling, Shoulder Strike, Double Palm Circle, Double Circle Cross High, Double Circle Cross Low, Long Low Double Palm Circle, Toe Stance Circle Deflect Low Strike High, Toe Stance Circle Deflect High Strike Low, Front Kick, Sweeping The Lotus Root Kick, Horizontal Overlapping Palms and lastly Tai Chi Completion.

Why are there Thirteen Postures ? well Five plus Eight is Thirteen !
The five is a reference to the Five Elements, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. It is also a reference to in front of you, behind you, to your left, to your right and central equilibrium. The eight is a reference to the Eight Triagrames of the I Ching ( Book of Changes ) also it is referring to North, South, East and West (The Four Directions) and NE, SE, SW and NW (The Four Corners).

Whatever style of Tai Chi you currently practice these 26 Postures and the principles of posture and movement that I explain on this DVD can improve what you are doing and give you a deeper insight into the source of your art. If you are new to Tai Chi then these 26 Posture are an excellent way to be introduced to the style, instead of having to learn a form you can learn the individual movements which are much easier to learn and understand.

Cost £30




The Tai Chi Double Broadsword Form DVD

On this DVD I demonstrate the Tai Chi Double Broadsword Form all the way through and then I teach it carefully and slowly move by move clearly explaining everything in detail so you can learn this very rare and excellent weapons form from the DVD.

The structure of the form is that first we begin in the centre then some moves are done to the four sides then we do some other applications whilst walking a circle ( a bit of Bagwa influence I think ! ) and then some other techniques are done to the four corners and then we return once again to the centre.

This form is incredibly violent in application but flows amazingly gracefully, the two big broadswords are sometimes like tigers leaping on their prey and sometimes like swallows darting and spinning through the air.

We sometimes use one broadsword to attack their attack ( this means to either knock aside or deflect their weapon or to cut the wrist of the hand that is holding their weapon ) whilst the other broadsword is used to attack their torso or head and neck. At other times both broadswords flow together to simultaneously counterattack, the way they flash and fly through the air they are like the wings of a steel butterfly.

We also have movements were we trap their sword with one of our broadswords and then counter attack with the other. And we also have the most amazing moves to counter attack a spear thrust, we deflect and trap their spear tip and then leap and spin in the air towards them and stab them as we land.

So this form is both graceful and flowing but dramatic and deadly. It is a very well balanced form in two ways first and obviously we have a weapon of equal weight in each hand so both sides of the body are equally exercised and secondly almost all of the moves are performed to both the right and left sides so it is a very well balanced form.

Tai Chi Double Broadsword Form is excellent for good health and effective practical training for the principles of weapons fighting and develops the power of a leaping tiger, the speed of a darting sparrow and the grace of a beautiful butterfly.

Cost £30




The Tai Chi Long Pole Form DVD




On this DVD I demonstrate the Tai Chi Pole Form all the way through and then I teach it carefully and slowly move by move clearly explaining everything in detail so you can learn this classic weapons form from the DVD.

The Tai Chi Pole is about one foot (30 cm) taller than your head height, you can use a hard wood pole but I prefer a rattan pole so that the fa jin shaking energy can more easily be released from the lower tan tien (dandien) in the belly and travel all the way to the end of the pole.

We have both high and low moves in this form so it is good for flexibility, we have leaps, jumps and spins so it is good excersise and we are constantly twisting our hips/waist/belly so it is good for health. The rotation of our body generates a huge amount of spinning power that is transferred in to the pole.

From a self defence perspective this form uses the pole as both a long range weapon by thrusting it outwards to strike the opponent from some distance away to get them before they get you even if they have a long weapon. And also as a close range weapon by spinning it close to the body whilst using ingenious stepping methods.

We strike with the ends of the pole for specific targets on one opponent and also have dramatic triple jumping spinning movements where we are just flattening any one and everything within a ten foot radius of us.

There are moves against single and multiple opponents both armed and unarmed and even moves to counter attack a bandit trying to charge you on his horse !

Cost £30




The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form DVD



On this DVD I demonstrate the Tai Chi Walking Stick Form all the way through and then I teach it carefully and slowly move by move clearly explaining everything in detail so you can learn this very rare and excellent weapons form from the DVD.

The Tai Chi Walking Stick is not only a beautiful and interesting form to train but is also good for our health and of course fantastic for self defence. It is a very special weapon because any one of any age can walk down the street with a walking stick and no one even notices. With a walking stick we can defeat unarmed opponents and thugs with knives. It is illegal for people to carry knives but legal to have a walking stick.

The form contains a huge variety of uses and applications for the walking stick, it is a beautiful and interesting form with pokes, hooks, spins and kicks and some jumps and the most incredible fast footwork.

We strike with the tip, the handle and the edge, we also use the handle to hook their leg and neck. Sometimes we use the walking stick like the sword of a skilled fencer deflecting the opponents blade and then darting in for our counter attack and sometimes we use it like a great broadsword sweeping across in great cutting arcs and also we use it like a small staff, clubbing and striking the opponent.

The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form is a beautiful, interesting and graceful form to practice, effective for self defence and good for our health.

Cost £30




The Martial Applications of The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form DVD

On this DVD I teach The Martial Applications of The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form. These are demonstrated against multiple opponents armed with sticks but the applications could be used against opponents armed with knives or any other weapon.

Any one of any age can walk down the street with a walking stick and no one even notices. It is illegal for people to carry knives but legal to have a walking stick. With a walking stick we can defeat unarmed opponents and thugs armed with knives or clubs.

On this DVD I demonstrate and explain how all the moves in the form are used to defeat opponents. We use jabs, pokes, slashes, hooks, spins and kicks and some jumps and the most incredible fast footwork. We strike with the tip, the handle and the edge, we also use the handle to hook their leg and neck. Sometimes we use the walking stick like the sword of a skilled fencer deflecting the opponents blade and then darting in for our counter attack and sometimes we use it like a great broadsword sweeping across in great cutting arcs and also we use it like a small staff, clubbing and striking the opponent. All these applications are explained and demonstrated against some of my students on this DVD.

The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form is a beautiful, interesting and graceful form to practice and when you know the martial arts applications it becomes a very effective weapon for self defence.

Cost £30





Chinese Double Short Sword Training and Fighting Methods DVD



On this DVD I teach and demonstrate Eighty Training Methods and Fighting Principals of The Chinese Double Short Swords. The Chinese Short Sword is about as long as ones forearm and is used by many different martial arts styles in Mainland China. There are many different variations, sometimes they are referred to as Butterfly Swords or Eight Slash Swords, Bart Jarm Dao and are also called Pau Jung Doe, Elbow Strike Blade, they have many names and have a variety of different designs, some are a bit longer or shorter, wider or thinner etc.

It is not a Tai Chi weapon but I have enjoyed my training with these double short swords and thought that I would put down on DVD my experience. Instead of teaching a form I am teaching the individual training methods and fighting principals and then showing how they can be put together in a spontaneous freestyle way. With all weapons and empty hand forms this is what we are eventually aspiring to, natural spontaneous movement without a predetermined pattern. This way we can respond to whatever situation we encounter and can adapt naturally without limitation.

The forms are an important part of ones training but one does not want to be limited by them, they are a stepping stone along the way to spontaneous free expression of your own true nature. If you already know a Double Short Swords Form then this DVD will open your mind to more possibilities of their use and applications. If you have never training with these excellent and effective weapons then this DVD is a great introduction to their many uses and techniques and should you ever want to learn a form then you will already have the moves and just have to put them together in a particular order.

I explain how these short swords can be used in both lethal and non lethal ways, how they can be used to disarm the opponent and how we can fight with not only the point of the sword and the edge of the blade but also the flat and the back of the blade, the handle guard and the pommel, it really is a most versatile weapon.

Cost £30





A Martial Arts Journey Part One - The DVD

Whilst travelling in South East Asia in the 1980's I had the good fortune to train with many top Chinese Internal Martial Arts Masters these adventures are all in my free to download book  A Martial Arts Journey Part One - The Book

This DVD is of a very rare martial arts event held in Singapore in 1986 when an incredible collection of great masters came together to give demonstrations of their unique skills. Some are from Singapore and some had been invited to Singapore from Mainland China specifically for this event. The DVD contains the following demonstrations:

A Martial Arts Journey Part One -  ( Singapore 1986 )

The Chen Family Style Tai Chi Chuan Second Form
The Chen Family Style Tai Chi Chuan First Form
Explosive Fa jin Fast Yang Style Tai Chi Long Form
( This is a completely different version from the Yang Style taught by Erle Montaigue ! )
Hsing I Chuan demonstration ( the best demonstration I have ever seen of Hsing I )
Bagwa Circle Form
Pushing Hands demonstration
Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Broadsword Form
Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan Broadsword Form
Tai Chi Walking Stick Form ( this is a very very rare highly skilful weapons form )
Two Person Straight Sword Free Fighting
Iron Shirt Chi Kung - in this demonstration ten men charge at the Iron Shirt Master with a tree trunk held like a battering ram and strike him in the solar plexus whilst at the same time someone else smashes a chair over his back.
Iron Head Chi Kung - in this demonstration the Iron Head Master places his head on a stool and two blocks of concrete are put on his head and then smashed with a sledge hammer.
Iron Body Chi Kung - in this demonstration the Iron Body Master lies on his back on a bed of nails and then a man jumps of the top of a ladder and lands with his heels in his solar plexus then he goes up to the top of the twenty foot ladder and jumps on him again ! Then a huge concrete slab is laid on top of the prone Iron Body Master who is lying on the bed of nails and then another man jumps of the top of a ladder and lands on him and then another slab is put on top of the first and a huge heavyweight man climbs to the very top of the ladder and jumps down ontop of the two concrete slabs crushing the Iron Body Master between the slabs and the bed of nails. Then another Iron Body Master lies down on top of the slabs and another slab is placed ontop of him and then out comes the sledge hammer ! This really is probably the greatest Iron Body demonstration you are likely to ever see.

Cost £30




A Martial Arts Journey Part Two - China - The DVD

In 2005 in mainland China I had the good fortune to be able to go to Wudang mountain and see a Taoist Martial Arts Monk teach his kicking skills in the temple, I met Yang Chen Fu's son and he demonstrated his fathers style, I found Yang Lu Chans house and met eighty year old Mr Han who still teaches there. In Yong Nian I was shown the incredibly rare Tai Chi Snake Ground Form. All these experiences and many many more are all written about in my free to download book
A Martial Arts Journey Part Two - China - The Book 

China's top internal martial artists were friendly, helpful and happy to share their experience and demonstrate their systems. I took with me a video camera and recorded the forms and training methods they demonstrated. I saw an incredible amount of Traditional Chinese Internal Martial Arts and made this DVD with the following things on:

A Martial Arts Journey Part Two - China 

Mr C.S. Tang demonstrates Cheng Style Bagua Circle Form and applications
Mr Siu demonstrates Yin Fu Style Bagua Circle Form
Mr Wong demonstrates Wing Chun Chee Sau and Butterfly Knives
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Snake Ground Form
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Great Spear Fa Jin Training
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Short Pauchui Form and application.
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Large San Sau Two Person Form
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Da Lu
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Single and Double Pushing Hands
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Broadsword Form
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Great Spear Form
Mr Zhao Xian Ping demonstrates The Yong Nian Tai Chi Staff Form
The Yong Nian Tai Chi Fast Wrestling Form
Finding Yang Lu Chans House in Gwan Fu Town
Mr Han demonstrates The Yang Style Tai Chi Form in Yang Lu Chans House
Mr Han demonstrates Wu Yu Xiang Style Tai Chi Form in Yang Lu Chans House
Finding the Yang Family burial grounds and Yang Lu Chan’s Tomb 
Climbing to the Gold Temple on the peak of Wudang Mountain
The Lang Mei Temple on Wudang Shan containing the statue of Zhang Sanfeng
Taoist monk teaching kicking in The Purple Cloud Temple on Wudang Shan
Mr Shen demonstrates Chi Kung
Mr Shen demonstrates Emei Shan Chuan Five Animals Form
Mr Shen demonstrates Iron Head Chi Kung
Demonstration of Iron Shin Chi Kung
Demonstration of Iron Forearm Chi Kung
Demonstration of another Iron Forearm Chi Kung
Demonstration of Iron Shirt Chi Kung
Mr Shen demonstrates Wudang Shan Chuan Movements
Mr Lu demonstrates Five Stepping Form
Mr Lu demonstrates The Chen Fa Ke Old Frame Tai Chi Form
Mr Gao demonstrates The Shaolin/Wudang Rice Flail Form
Mr Gao demonstrates The Shaolin/Wudang Steel Trident Form
Mr Gao demonstrates The Shaolin/Wudang Coiling Dragon Steel Long Pole Form
Mr Gao demonstrates The Shaolin/Wudang Long Straight Sword Form
Mr Gao demonstrates The Shaolin/Wudang Wooden Long Pole Form
Mr Gao’s son George demonstrates The Shaolin/Wudang Gao Family Form

Cost £30



Finger Tip Therapy For Everyone

Paul Brecher is the Principal of the College of Chinese Medicine in London and on these DVD's he is sharing his many decades of experience so people can gain great benefits from this healing system. This two volume set explains how to use your fingertips instead of acupuncture needles to treat a wide variety of common ailments by stimulating the acupuncture points. These DVD's have been created for the general public, all the explanations are clear simple and easy to understand, so that everyone can gain benefit from this excellent healing system.

Finger Tip Therapy Vol 1 - DVD

Volume One has an introduction by Erle Montaigue and then Paul Brecher gives a short and clear explanation of how we can use the acupuncture meridian system to heal ourselves, family and friends. Paul then explains how to get the energy to the fingertips so the healing will work and then which points to use and how to use them to treat Stress, Upper Back Ache, Headache, Stomach and Digestive Problems and Travel Sickness.

Cost £30


Finger Tip Therapy Vol 2 - DVD

On Volume Two Paul continues this excellent series with treatments for Menstrual Pain, various Lung and Heart Problems, Weak Bladder, Problems with the Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder, Hip, Knee and Ankle. As well as treatments for bringing down a Temperature, to Revive a person from Unconsciousness and a treatment for Hypothermia.

Cost £30



Tai Chi Fighting and Healing 
(This is a book not a DVD)



This book is an overview of The Old Yang Style Tai Chi System taught by Master Erle Montague detailing the main forms and training methods, the history and internal power training techniques and also explanations of Fa jin explosive energy movements and Dim Mak acupuncture point strikes. There are no pictures in this book, it is not for display nor is it to learn Taiji from,
it is a reference work, a curriculum or syllabus that Paul Brecher teaches his students.

It contains interesting information that all practitioners of Tai Chi would benefit from particularly those doing The Old Yang Style of Taiji. This book is for the dedicated serious student who has a particular interest in the martial aspects of Tai Chi, it is a book which puts a great emphasis on the fighting aspects of Taiji rather than its healing side. 
 
The book explains in great detail, The History of Taiji (Tai Chi), The Old Yang Style Long Form, The Large San Sau Two Person Fighting Form, The Pauchui Cannon Fist Form, The Small San Sau Two Person Fighting Form, The Four Lung Har Chuan Dragon Prawn Methods, The Twelve Circular Taiji Dim Mak Palm Techniques, The Eight Pre Emptive Attacking Methods, The Da Lu Two Person Fighting Form, Single Pushing Hands and Double Pushing Hands, Fighting, Dim mak (Point Striking), Fa jin (Explosive Energy), Internal Power (Qi Gong) and Answers to Questions about Tai Chi.

Here is the Foreword to Tai Chi Fighting and Healing by Erle Montaigue
It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword for Paul Brecher's new book. Paul has been a student of mine since 1989 and in that time he has not only excelled at being a student, but also as a friend and now instructor. This book is a more advanced introductory book, however, it is written in such a way that the beginner right up to the advanced Taijiquan player will benefit from the contents. In particular it will give even the advanced student/instructor a totally different view to the common view held by most Tai Chi players.

Tai Chi ch'uan is not only one of the greatest and most deadly fighting systems ever invented but also one of the greatest self healing and medical arts having been derived from the ancient Chinese healing methods of acupuncture, bone and meridian manipulation. There are three areas that we must learn from our Taijiquan (Tai Chi) training and until these areas are learnt, we are only scraping the crust of Taijiquan.

Firstly we always begin with the Martial or Self-Defence area as this makes the healing way easier to understand. It is easier to learn how to use one's Qi in the fighting area first, then go on to the more subtle area of healing as we use exactly the same Qi for both. This is why this great healing arts is based upon the fighting system.

Once we are beginning to understand how to move correctly we find that our whole body and mind comes into a state of balance and we begin to feel well again. This is the 'Self Healing' area. We must of course pass through this area before going on to heal others using this art.

The third area of 'Medical Taijiquan' is the most difficult to understand and achieve because it involves much automatic response to sick people. Here we learn how to sub-consciously diagnose disease states and then to heal these states by either laying on of hands or simply being there! There is in fact an old saying from China which goes something like, (using some colloquial licence here) "When a sick person enters your space, if he or she is not healed by the time they reach your desk, then you ain't got it"! Which means that although we are able to learn all kinds of physical skills like acupuncture and massage etc, all of these mean nothing if you do not have anything internally to give out to the patient!

Paul has learnt all three areas of Taijiquan and has indeed become one of my top students because of his doggedness in asking incessant questions and wishing to gain the good oil, so-to-speak. I can recommend this book to all who would gain a better understanding of the Internal healing/martial arts.

Erle Montaigue
Master Degree, China

This incredibly comprehensive book covers every aspect of The Old Yang Style of Tai Chi.
Here is a copy of the list of contents of ' Tai Chi Fighting and Healing '.

Acknowledgment

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 
The History of Taiji ( Tai Chi )

Chapter 2
The Old Yang Style Long Form

Chapter 3
The Large San Sau Two Person Fighting Form

Chapter 4
The Pauchui Cannon Fist Form

Chapter 5
The Small San Sau Two Person Fighting Form

Chapter 6
The Four Lung Har Chuan Dragon Prawn Methods

Chapter 7
The Twelve Circular Taiji Dim Mak Palm Techniques

Chapter 8
The Eight Pre Emptive Attacking Methods

Chapter 9
The Da Lu Two Person Fighting Form

Chapter 10
Single Pushing Hands and Double Pushing Hands

Chapter 11
Fighting

Chapter 12
Dim mak (Point Striking)

Chapter 13 
Fa jin (Explosive Energy)

Chapter 14
Internal Power (Qi Gong)

Chapter 15
Questions and Answers

Cost £20


The Principles of Bagua 
(This is a book not a DVD)

An explanation of Bagua, the mysterious circle walking,
martial, healing and meditation art of ancient China.



Introduction

Tai chi is known as the mother of the Chinese soft or internal martial arts and Bagua is referred to as the daughter. There is a growing interest in this style because like tai chi its movements are circular, flowing and healing. 

What makes Bagua special, unique and interesting is that all the forms are practiced whilst walking around the circumference of a circle and all the techniques contain spiraling and twisting movements. Practitioners of this beautiful style are often described as looking like swimming dragons.

This book explains the history and philosophy of Bagua, its principles, theories and techniques. For people new to this wonderful style and also for practitioners with some experience, this book will provide a beneficial resource of information and give a broad and deep understanding of this great art.

The practice of circle walking in Bagua comes from Taoist circle walking meditations, which can trace their roots back to the circle walking shamanic traditions of the Siberian and Mongolian shaman.

The movements of Bagua are based on eight animals, we have the earthy stability of the Bear, the sprightly movement of a Monkey, the grace of a Phoenix, the coiling movements of a Snake, the stamina of a Unicorn, the focus of a Hawk, the strength of a Lion and the mystery of the Dragon.

Bagua can help us to return to a more natural way of moving and living. We find that we can realign our body posture, become more flexible and strong and have our minds and emotions balanced and calm and have more energy.

I hope that if you already practice Bagua this book will provide you with some new information and expand your appreciation of this style. If you are new to Bagua and thinking of taking up this excellent system then I hope this book will be a great introduction and give you a broader and deeper understanding of this wonderful and interesting, great and mysterious circle walking martial, healing and medative art of ancient China.

Acknowledgment

I began my martial arts training in 1977 and thanks to good fortune I met and began my training with Erle Montaigue in 1988. His experience in the Chinese Internal Martial Arts is deep and broad, his depth of knowlege and ability is profound. This book reflects my personal perspective of Bagua but it is has only been made possible because of the training I have recieved from Erle Montague.

His martial and healing ability and willingness to communicate his art make him a living treasure of the martial arts community. If it was not for his great efforts to preserve the art, then the Original Animal Forms of Bagua might never have been revealed to anyone in the west. It is also worth mentioning that because the government in Mainland China so heavily promotes modern wushu versions of Bagua that even there in its homeland the Original Animal Forms of Bagua are becoming very rare.

In this book I aim to contribute to the available literature on Bagua with my present understanding based on my experience. This book is just one of many perspectives and I hope people who are training in Bagua will find within it much useful and helpful information.

The martial art of Bagua can teach us not only how to defeat opponents but also how to live our lives in a more healthy and balanced way. Through the training of Bagua I have gained many benifits and this book is an effort to share with others my understanding of this excellent art, so that they too can gain its great benifits.

Ba Gua means the Eight Trigrams and Zhang means Palm (as in palm strike), so the intended meaning is, the martial art which uses the principal of continuous change as expressed through the Eight Trigrams.

My teacher Erle Montaigue learnt Bagua from many great teachers and I now try to pass on to my students this ancient knowledge. Bagua is all about change but there are some principals that are constant throughout Bagua and life. I hope through reading this book you can get the Principles of Bagua.


Foreword by Erle Montaigue (Master Degree, China)

 
It is my pleasure to introduce this introductory work on Baguazhang by Paul Breacher, a student, friend and one of our main WTBA instructors, representative for London UK.

This book fits a hole that has been vacant for some time, a relatively simple to read introduction to the ancient martial/healing art of Bagua (Baguazhang).

I can see that Paul has done a lot of research and has presented a well balanced view of the various schools, not only our own.

Bagua teaches us not only how to kill and then kill some more (it is known as the 'art of over-kill'), it also teaches us to be loving, caring and most of all that we do not take ourselves too seriously.

Its beginnings are dubious, but its endings are awesome, having been put together by some of the world's greatest martial arts and self defence instructors over hundreds of years.

You can only gain by reading this book which has been well thought out and well written. I can recommend it to all martial artists.
 
Erle Montaigue

07/29/2006

This incredibly comprehensive book covers every aspect of Bagua.

Here is a list of the contents of ' The Principles of Ba Gua '

Introduction

Acknowledgment

An Explanation of Some Chinese Words

An Overview of Bagua

Heaven Palm
Earth Palm
Fire Palm
Thunder Palm
Wind Palm
Water Palm
Mountain Palm
Cloud Palm

The History and Philosophy of Bagua

Siberian and Mongolian Shaman Rituals

Tao Yin Bending and Stretching Exercises

The Five Animal Exercises of Hua Tuo

Animal Styles of Martial Arts

Taoism

Wu Wei

Wu Chi

Yin and Yang

The Tao Teh Ching

The Lao Tzu Temple

The I Ching

Greater Yin
Lesser Yin
Greater Yang
Lesser Yang

Eight Trigrams

Sixty Four Hexagrams

The Pre Heaven Bagua By Fu Hsi

The Post Heaven Bagua By Wen Wang

The Post Heaven Magic Turtle

The Eight Animal Forms and their qualities,
numbers, family, chi kung, elements,
areas of development and fighting charicteristics.

Bear
Monkey
Phoenix
Snake
Unicorn
Hawk
Lion
Dragon


Bagua Lineage

How to Choose a Style

The Bagua Circular Form of Chiang Jung Chaio

1. Single Palm Change
2. Double Palm Change
3. Straight Palm Change
4. Back Facing Palm Change
5. Reversing palm change
6. Body Scraping Palm Change
7. Thrice penetrating palm change
8. Turn the body around palm change

Bagua Technical Information

The Eight Points of Bagua Posture

The Eight Principles of Bagua Movement

The Eight Shapes on the ground to walk in Bagua

The Eight Types of Bagua Internal Power (jin)

The Eight Body Weapons of Bagua

The Eight Ways Bagua Heals

The Eight Ways of Bagua Fighting

The Eight Bagua Stepping Methods

The Eight Bagua Kicking/Stepping Methods

The Eight Ways of Bagua Martial Virtue

The Eight Strengths of a Bagua Martial Artist

The Eight Areas of Bagua Training

The Eight Bagua Weapons

The Eight Fighting Strategies of Bagua

The Eight Mysteries of Bagua

About the author Cost £20