Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association

Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang Seminar

Eight Animal: Pecking Eagle

Clemmons, NC June 5th, 2011

Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association

Preface
This brief manual is offered by the Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association and is written specially for the Pecking Eagle of Animal in Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang seminar in Clemmons, NC, June 5th, 2010. This brief manual is intended to serve as a supplement to the training all practitioners will receive during the seminar, in order to facilitate the learning process, and make the instruction more effective. This text includes basic and advanced material for the practice of Pecking Eagle as well as some information related to our kung fu system. Please feel free to share the information with cited references, and enjoy the seminar.

Sifu: Yu-Kai Chang Assistant instructors: Matt Cohn, Colin Barker, Matt Staley May 21st, 2011

Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association

Contents Preface .................................................................................................................. 1 About the Chief Instructor ................................................................................. 3 Part I: About Association ................................................................................... 6 Brief Introduction .............................................................................................. 6 The Threefold Mission of Our Association ....................................................... 6 Four Pillars of Achievement .............................................................................. 7 How to Select a Good Kung Fu School? ........................................................... 8 Part II: Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang ......................................... 9 Brief Introduction of Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang..................... 9 Brief Biography of Grandmaster Gao Yisheng ............................................... 12 Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang Lineage ....................................... 16 Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang System ........................................ 17 Part III: Context for the Seminar.................................................................... 19 Ba Gua Zhang Animal Forms .......................................................................... 19 Pecking Eagle ................................................................................................. 20

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About the Chief Instructor
Master/SiFu Chang, Yu-Kai, born in 1977 in Taiwan, Kaohsiung, is the 6th generation disciple of Gao Style from the Cheng School of BaGua, and 7th generation disciple of Yang Style (Family) Tai Chi Chuan. As a youth, SiFu Chang developed an interest in Chinese Martial Arts (Kung Fu) through his father, who instructed him in grappling techniques at a very young age. With an early immersion in the culture of martial arts and a passion for learning, SiFu Chang decided in 1995 to take the entrance exam for admission to the Department of Chinese Martial Arts, at the Chinese Cultural University of Taiwan. After much hard work, SiFu Chang successfully completed the exam, ranking first in his class. During the second semester of his freshman year, SiFu Chang represented his school in a national inter-university competition, where he had the opportunity to meet grandmaster Chang, Shi-Po, the team coach at the time. This meeting inspired SiFu Chang to begin a new path on his journey, delving into the secrets of the Chinese internal and external martial arts. Because the realm of Chinese martial arts is so vast and diverse, SiFu Chang decided under the advisement of grandmaster Chang and his university, to focus his studies on Bagua, Xingyi, Taiji, Tongbei, and the Northern Shaolin Fist and Weaponary forms. Meanwhile, SiFu Chang also participated in national competitions and won several titles in the Collegiate Division, placing first and second in the events of internal martial arts and Tai Chi push hands. Moreover, in the 1999 International Traditional Wushu & Modern Styles Tournament, he had also represented the country and won two Awards of Great Brilliance in Xingy, and Bagua Broadsword Forms, respectively. In 2001, SiFu Chang completed his graduate studies and obtained a masters degree in Sport and Exercise Science with a concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Concurrently, apart from collegiate academic publications, SiFu Chang had also begun publishing articles on the subject of Chinese martial arts for Taiwan Wu-Lin magazine, Taiwans most authoritative martial arts journal. Two years later, in order to integrate and establish the famous
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grandmaster Sun Shao-Tangs system of Northern Shaolin, Zha Quan, and Sun Bin Quan, SiFu Chang collaborated with grandmaster Shi-Po, Chang and authored Grand Master Sun Shao-Tang Style Martial Arts Compendium, which has unveiled grandmaster Suns martial system to the world. Under the direction of grandmaster Chang, Shi-Po, SiFu Chang continued to excel in his martial arts education, meanwhile learning the philosophy of passing down these traditions generation by generation. In his studies SiFu Chang was taught grandmaster Pan, Yuehs Pre-Brith Power; grandmaster Ho, Shan-Fas Three Step Long Staff Form; and master Ting, Ching-Suns Yang Styel (Family) Tai-Chi. Once his teachers were satisfied that SiFu Chang had understood these martial arts in all aspects, after several years of practice, he had become the first disciple of grandmaster Chang, Shi-Po (other disciples include Nien, Yu-hsiang, Liu, Jun-Wei, and Tang, Wei-Fu). In 2004, in order to further his studies, SiFu Chang left Taiwan for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA, to earn his PhD. in Sport and Exercise Psychology focusing on the relationship between exercise, physical health, and mental health. In the following year, for the purpose of integrating, passing down, and promoting traditional Chinese martial arts and enhancing wellness and health by Chinese martial arts approach, SiFu Chang established Classical Chinese Kung Fu Association and was appointed as the chief instructor for Gao Style of Cheng School Bagua, Yang Style (Family) Taiji, Hebei Xingi, Qi Family Tongbei, Northern Shaolin, and Three Step Long Staff Form. In 2009, Sifu Chang received his Ph. D. degree and has served as assistant professor at The Graduate Institute of Coaching Science in National Taiwan Sport University. AWARDS Master Demonstration, The 2006 International Kuoshu Championship Tournament ` Baltimore, Maryland, 07/2006 Champion, The 2006 International Kuoshu Championship Tournament
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Tai Ji Sword Baltimore, Maryland, 07/2006 Champion, The 2006 International Kuoshu Championship Tournament Xing I Baltimore, Maryland, 07/2006 Award of Great Brilliance, The 1999 International Traditional Wushu & Unique Fists TournamentTraditional Martial Arts Zhejiang, xx/99 Award of Brilliance, The 1999 International Traditional Wushu & Unique Fists TournamentShort Apparatus Zhejiang, xx/99 Second Place, The 1999 R.O.C. Collegiate Cup Tournaments of Wushu and Tai-Chi Push HandInternal Martial Arts Taipei, xx/99 Second Place, The 1999 R.O.C. Collegiate Cup Tournaments of Wushu and Tai-Chi Push HandTai-Chi Push Hand Taipei, xx/99 Second Place, The 7th Anniversary of Kaohsuing Mayor Cup Tai-Chi Push Hand Tournament in 1998Tai-Chi Push Hand Kaohsiung, xx/98 Second Place, The 1998 R.O.C. Collegiate Cup Tournaments of Wushu and Tai-Chi Push HandInternal Martial Arts Taipei, xx/98 Champion, Third National Chung-Cheng Cup Ming-Tzai Championship TournamentAdults Shing-Yi Chuan Taipei, xx/98 Champion, The Third National Chung-Cheng Cup Ming-Tzai Championship TournamentPa Kua Chang Taipei, xx/98 Second Place, The 1997 R.O.C. Collegiate Cup Tournaments of Wushu and Tai-Chi Push HandInternal Martial Arts Taipei, xx/97 Champion, The Second National Chung-Cheng Cup Ming-Tzai Championship TournamentAdults Shing-Yi Chuan Taipei, xx/97 Champion, The 1996 R.O.C. Collegiate Cup Tournaments of Wushu and Tai-Chi Push HandTai-Chi Push Hand Jiayi, xx/96

Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association

Part I: About Association
Brief Introduction The Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association was founded by Master Yu-Kai Chang in 2005. The Associations mission is to strengthen the mind and body, through classical Chinese marital arts, as well as sharing Chinese culture and philosophy with communities around the world. The primary goal for students of classical martial arts is self improvement, balance and quality of life with physical, mental, spiritual, and social perspectives. Character development in this association focuses on virtues learned through the practice, and passing down, of ancient Chinese mind-body exercises and philosophy, which form the roots of classical Chinese martial arts culture. With centuries of tradition in martial arts, China has been the point of origin for a vast number of different styles and philosophies, in mind-body exercise and self-defense. Our association places particular emphasis on the most established of the classical schools, within the realm Chinese martial arts culture. These programs we focus are three divisions and two special offers. Three divisions are 1) Gao Style Bagua division, 2) Yang Style (family) Taiji division, 3) Northern Shaolin and Three Step Points Long Staff division, and three special offers 1) Qi Family Tongbei 2) He-Bei Xingi/Iquan, and 3) Classical Qigong. There programs have the unique characteristic with authentic lineage and completely system in our association.

The Threefold Mission of Our Association Based on ancient Chinese philosophy and classical Chinese martial arts culture, our association holds three specific goals in our service to communities the world over. They are: Self improvement through a balance of physical, mental, spiritual, and social perspectives. Development of Moral Virtues. Passing on the traditions of Chinese martial arts culture, by training the Mind and Body together.
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Four Pillars of Achievement In the pursuit of ones training, practitioners are encouraged to reflect upon four crucial principles, which form the basis the rest of their education will be built on: Respect Perseverance Appreciation Sharing Respect is always the first priority for martial artists, in practice as well as daily life, yet this fundamental principle is being lost on some level. Respect includes your school, teacher, parents, brothers and sisters, senior and junior. The second principle is perseverance. In all that you undertake, if you are not prepared to dedicate your energy and your time, you will find your pursuits are empty. Of course this applies not just to the physical training of your studies, but all aspects of your life that you place value on. Cultivating the will to persevere is, in itself (and by its very nature) a difficult task, and one that cannot be taught. Rather perseverance is something that can be found within through guidance, and example. Appreciation is not something we think about in our day to day lives very much. This concept is tied in with respect and perseverance, in as much as it provides perspective. Taking time to step back and appreciate your life and the people in it will help you to see the bigger picture and take stock in what is important. Keeping an appreciative outlook is also quite helpful in dealing with stress, and frustration. Finally, sharing is an essential element in personal development through martial arts. For thousands of years people have felt the benefits of the martial arts in their personal lives, and their traditions live on because of their willingness to share. If training has helped you to improve your life and outlook, all practitioners are encouraged to give something back, by sharing their time and knowledge with others. Although it can be exciting to see others benefit as well it is important to remember that each persons needs are unique and their choices must be made on their own. As respectful practitioners, our task is to offer what we have to give, not to convince or pressure others. In the end these principles are their own rewards, but they are also gifts we can only give ourselves. Your teachers and comrades can help you along the
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way by opening the door to change, but it is up to each person to walk through the door and live their life the best they can.

How to Select a Good Kung Fu School? The question of how to look for a good teacher or school of Chinese martial arts? is possibly the most common, and the most difficult question asked by aspiring students. It is especially hard when considering the various interpretations teachers may have of the ancient philosophies and traditions underpinning their martial arts. This begs yet another question, of knowing who is on the right track, how can one truly know?. This is an important point to consider, and a serious practitioner should take the time to investigate these matters for themselves before making a decision. After all, getting involved with a teacher or school whose philosophy you are at odds with can have a negative effect on your whole life. While the Bagua Taiji Wellness and Martial Arts Association, doesnt presume to have all of the answers, our association does offer five fundamental components to help people to make the best decision for themselves. These five main criteria are the bottom line for a good practitioner or school, and they are: Positive Attitude Authentic Lineage A Complete System, and Knowledge Perseverance Appropriate Teaching Style

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Part II: Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang
Brief Introduction of Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang Ba Gua Zhang is renowned as one of the top three internal martial arts of China together with Tai Ji Quan and Xing Yi Quan. Ba Gua Zhang is also one of the most important styles of traditional Chinese martial arts and is favored by a large majority of martial arts enthusiasts. Ba Gua Zhang has been passed down for more than one hundred years since it was first established in the Qing dynasty by grand master Dong Haichuan. It has evolved into various styles through its adaptation by different masters. The content of this Manual, Eight Trigrams Supple Body Connected Palm, is passed down by Gao Yisheng, who studied Ba Gua Zhang from Cheng Tinghua. Its unique separation of the system into Pre-Heaven Palm and Post-Heaven Palm differs from other styles Ba Gua currently being practiced around the world, and so with its origin from Cheng Tinghua, it is named Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang. The uniqueness of the Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang is its distinctive way of practicing and unique concept of Pre-Heaven Palm is the resource of Post-Heaven Palm, and Post-Heaven Palm is application of Pre-Heaven Palm. The style focuses not only on physical health and body development, but also places much emphasis on effective fighting techniques. It is a traditional exercise which tightly integrates body development and fighting techniques, and is hence favored by many martial arts enthusiasts; Furthermore, thanks to the promotion and transmission by masters from generation to generation, the style currently has a large following in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, and America. The content of Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang comprises of various aspects including Pre-Heaven Eight Big Palms, Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms, weaponry, animal forms, and standing and dynamic meditations. Based on the exercise of circle walking, and incorporating the Pre-Heaven Ba Gua Twenty-Four Essential Principles, the Pre-Heaven Eight Big Palms represent the traditional method of changing forms while circling. Based on the mother palm, known as the Single Palm Change, eight body turning routes were derived, including Snake Form With Smooth Body Palm, Dragon Form With Piercing Hand Palm, Return Body With Striking Tiger Palm, Swallow Overturns With Covering Hand Palm, Turn Body With Reversing Backward Palm, Twist Body With Searching Out For The Horse Palm, Overturn Body With Inserting Backward Palm, Stop Body With Moving and Hooking Palm,
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with a concluding palm known as Black Dragon Waving Tail Palm. The main purpose of Pre-Heaven Palms is to practice with emphasis on the inside body in order to cultivate diverse body abilities. Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms is based on the Post-Heaven Palm Twenty-Four Essential Principles and on the Sixty-Four Solo Palms. All of the Post-Heaven Palms were derived from Pre-Heaven Palms. One Pre-Heaven Palm derives eight Post-Heaven forms, which in total, amounts to sixty-four, in order to follow the Ba Gua, or Eight Trigrams (Qian, Kun, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui). The names of the sixty-four set in relation to the Eight Trigrams include: Qian eight set: Open Palm, Uphold Palm, Yank Palm, Search Palm, Erect Palm, Uplift Palm, Cover Palm, and Entwine Palm. Kan eight set: Intercept Rib Palm, Hide Follower Palm, Chop Palm, Slice Palm, Two Sages Preaching the Way Palm, Tiger Pouncing Palm, Phoenix Taking Over the Nest Palm, and Link Ring Palm. Gen eight set: Pierce Rib Palm, Horizontal Moving Palm, Intercept Hand Palm, Block Hand Palm, Stop Body Palm, Overturn Hand Palm, Walk, and Spin Body Palm. Zhen eight set: Push the Mountain Into the Sea Palm, Lift a Thousand Kilograms Palm, Carry Hooking Palm, Lead Hand Palm, Adhere Lightly Hand Palm, Stepping Up Connect Palm, Follow Hand Palm, and Stick Hand Palm. Xun eight set: Squat Elbow, Coil Elbow, Drop Elbow, Gore Elbow, Horizontal Elbow, File Elbow, Stack Elbow, and Drill Elbow. Li eight set: Hasten Forward Leg, Back Stomp Leg, Outside Swing Leg, Inside Hanging Leg, Kick Upward Leg, Downward Intercept Leg, Side Hook Let, and Straight Ahead Impact Linking Leg. Kun eight set: Tuck-in Palm, Press Palm, Catch and Raise Palm, Abduct Palm, Crush Palm, Impact Palm, Slam Palm, and Move the Eyebrows Palm. Dui eight set: Draw Hand Palm, Lynx Beats the Heart Palm, Retract the Body Palm, Scoop Palm, Wave Body Palm, Evade Body Palm, Across Body Palm, and Body Pounce Palm. Pre-Heaven Palms are resources of Post-Heaven Palms, and Post-Heaven Palms are application of Pre-Heaven Palms. Each solo form of the Post-Heaven Palms has its own apparent applications that are used exactly as they are practiced. The main purpose of Post-Heaven Palms is to practice crossing arms with the opponents, and it follows four stages: Solo, Counter, Separation, and Change. One form can be practiced dually into six forms, which amounts to three hundred and eighty-four palms, in order to follow the three hundred and eight-four Yao variations of Ba Gua (Note: Yao is six lines for each hexagram of the I Ching). Gao Yisheng passed down five kinds of traditional weapons: Ba Gua Rolling Hand Broadsword, Ba Gua Sticking Body Spear, Ba Gua Continuous Sword, Ba Gua Zi Wu Duck Knives, and Ba Gua Cane. The first four listed are believed to be passed down by Dong Haichuan; whereas the Ba Gua Heart High
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Cane originated with Cheng Tinghua Heart High Staff and was later redefined and renamed by Gao Yisheng. In addition, there are three other kinds of unique weapons that are commonly practiced and promoted amongst Gao Style Ba Gua disciples: First, is the Double Vine Sticks, which was one Gaos most famous skills and which originated from the Zi Chui School/Purple Hammer School. The second, originating from Shao Lin School, is the Night Fighting Broadsword, which is well-known for its tricky but practical moves that are most often practiced by two people simultaneously. It was a specialty of Liu Fengcai. Third, is the most highly respected Wu Dang Sword form, which was practiced by many of the students of Liu Fengcai. The Animal Forms of Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang consists of eight routes: Waving Lion, Twining Snake, Crouching Tiger, Dragon Form, Overturning Swallow, Pecking Eagle, Yanking Bear, and Monkey Form. These were uniquely invented and passed down by Gao and form one of the most important components of Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang. Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang has two types of meditations, Standing and Dynamic meditations. This book is based on written information passed down by Gao and supported further by other references of similar books published around the world, hence it includes the experience of practicing from the three generations of Gao Yisheng, Liu Fengcai, and Wang Shusheng. Due to the limitations of publishing, this book focuses significantly on the basic methods of practicing Pre-Heaven Palm and Post-Heaven Palm, and briefly introduces weaponry, animal forms, and applications. The editing of this book began in 1980 with Liu Fengcai, with the assistance of his disciple Wang Shusheng and Liu Shuhang. The process lasted for some period of ten years and four modifications to the original with support from the Beijing Ba Gua Zhang Association, Tianjin Nan Kai Martial Arts School, Tianjin Subway Management Union, and Tianjin Geologic Printing Co.; also help from several of our disciples: Liu Shaochen, An Shubao, Zhu Xiliang, Han Fengrui, Han Timing, Wang Fuling, Li Zongxun, Wang Yuting, Li Tingquan, Ge Shuxian, Ge Shuzhen, Ge Guoliang, Li Xueyi, Zhao Zengmin, Li Cang, and Shi Jitao. Thanks to the vice-president of Beijing Ba Gua Zhang Association, Kang Gewu, for the contribution to the book preface of The Formation of Gao Yisheng Ba Gua Zhang System. If any inaccuracies are noted by the reader, please do not hesitate to provide us with your comments. Editors 31th October 1990 at Tianjin
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Brief Biography of Grandmaster Gao Yisheng Gao Yisheng (), also known as Deyuan, was born in 1866 in Da village, Dashan area, Wuli, Shandong Province. He was a brother of my (Liu Fengcais) grandmother. Gao grew up in a poor family. When Gao was young, the family moved to Xiaogao village, Wuqing, Hebei province, and lived the rest of their lives in Aipu village. Since childhood, Gao studied his family martial arts, Shao Lin Da Hong Quan/Big Red Fist, and later on he learned Xing Yi Quan in which he had been instructed by the famous Xing Yi martial artist Li Cunyi. Gao was a third generation disciple of Ba Gua Zhang and the founder of Gao Style Ba Gua Zhang. At the age of thirty (1896), Gao met Zhou, Yuxiang, of Wafang village Wuqing, who was one of the top disciples of grandmaster Cheng Tinghua. Zhou had developed a very high level of Ba Gua Zhang art, and was especially skillful at fighting techniques. Using the palm in his main techniques, Zhou never lost to anyone, and hence he was called, Ultimate Palm. When Gao first met Zhou, they performed their respective forms and soon after crossed arms. After Zhou won three consecutive rounds, Gao immediately asked to be a disciple of Zhou, but was turned down due to their similarity of age (Zhou was older than Gao by only three years), and Zhou, still seeing good skills in Gao, insisted that they be martial art brothers. However, Zhou could not decline Gaos sincere request to learn what he had been taught, so therefore he took Gao to Beijing, and with his recommendation, Gao became a disciple of grandmaster Cheng Tinghua. Back at Wuqing, Zhou instructed Gao on behalf of Cheng, and Gao often traveled to Beijing to learn from Cheng. Three years later, Gao successfully finished the study of Chengs Ba Gua Zhang, which included: traditional eight big palms, broadsword, spear, sword, duck knives, and cane, as well as some fighting applications practiced as individual drills. From then on, Gao began his career as a Ba Gua Zhang instructor and taught it in the areas around Wuqing. More than a decade later, when Gao turned forty-five (1911), he returned to his native Shandong province, where there were Ba Shi Houses (martial arts house) in almost every village. Shao Lin Quan was practiced more commonly than other types of martial arts, hence the villagers were not familiar with Ba Gua Zhang. It was the tradition that returnees had to cross arms with practitioners in the village, so Gao obliged each in turn, first defeating a village
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instructor, Wu Huishan; then instructor Ma Yuanbiao, who used to be called the Tiger of Dashan street; and then instructor Li Xuewu, who was also known as Mr. Iron Palm. Gaos name spread immediately and he soon attracted martial artists from at least ten neighboring villages asking to become his disciples. Gao not only studied martial arts, but could also perform traditional medicine. Lead by Wu Huishan, Gaos disciples raised funds to establish a Chinese medicine clinic at Dashan area for Gao to manage while he also taught his Ba Gua Zhang. In the book Gao eventually wrote, he mentioned that during his stay in Dashan area, a beggar-like man visited him but refused to tell his name. When asked, the man only sang Dont ask where Im from, were family. Practicing without an ending, just call me Song Yiren. Learn the complete system; pass it down to everyone in the world. Dont keep secrets when instructing in order to truly help practitioners. Hence, Gao called this man Yiren (Unique person). Gao discussed martial arts happily with Yiren and afterwards they became very close. Yiren told Gao What you learned from Zhou and Cheng is the Pre-Heaven Ba Gua Zhang; what I know is the Post-Heaven Ba Gua Zhang. Therefore Gao went out of his way to ask Yiren to teach him and later on integrated what he learnt with the solo moves he learned from Zhou and Cheng. This was how the Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms were derived. In 1918, Gao turned fifty-two and left Shandong for Wuqing and taught Ba Gua Zhang at Yang village. At around sixty years of age, when Gao returned to Shandong again for personal matters, he was invited by Liu Fengcai, who was then nineteen years old, to stay in the Dashan area at the Huanglong Liu family village. Liu and Gao were actually close relatives. Since Liu was nine years old, he had been studying Bagua Zhang with his fourth uncle. Gao realized that Liu was very talented and clever, and had very good basics, and hence he accepted Liu immediately as his disciple. Gao frequently stayed at Lius place passing down his skills carefully and in great detail for a period of nine years. At around seventy years of age (1936), Gao was invited by friends in Tianjin to teach Ba Gua Zhang at Tianjin Stadium (now called Shinhua Road Stadium). He then returned to Wuqing in his early eighties where he taught until he passed away in winter 1951 at the age of eighty-five. Gaos skills were becoming more perfect and complete after many years of practice. His fighting techniques improved dramatically after he created the Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms. He had crossed arms with various famous martial artists around the areas of Tianjin, Shandong, and Wuqing, and had always taken victories by his skills of changing. In Tianjin Stadium at that time, there was a person who called himself the Thunderbolt Storm Wind and told Gao he practiced God Tai Ji which was invented to beat Ba Gua Zhang.
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One day, this person visited Gaos place asking for a challenge. Gao flung him to the ground using Search Palm. The man became depressed as a result and never showed himself again. Other famous martial artists who had also been defeated by Gao included Yan Dehua and Wu Xueliang (Mengxia). Wu immediately asked to be Gaos disciple upon being defeated, and became the first disciple of Gao in Tianjin. Zhou had also crossed arms with Gao when they encountered in Wuqing after Gao had created the Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms. It was a tough fight for Zhou. Zhou continuously threw double palm strikes at Gao but all were deflected. Upon Zhous third strike, he was counter-attacked by Gao with a Reverse Open Palm. Owing to this, Zhou complimented Gao on his Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms and said he hoped to meet Song Yiren, himself but was unable to because there was no longer any trace of Song. Gao dedicated himself to practicing, researching, developing, and passing down Ba Gua Zhang. He wielded spectaculars skills, and hence had numerous followers, many of whom had studied other styles previously, but decided to change after experiencing Gaos skills. Some of Gaos disciples who became famous include Wu Huishan, Wu Hongshan, Wu Xiudong, Quan Yunfa, Gao Fangming, Zhang Yufeng, An Jihai, Li Yunzhang, Zhang Junfeng, Xu Mingqiao, Liu Fengcai, Qu Kezhang, Yan Peilin, Wu Mengxia, Zhao Baichuan, Du Shaotang, He Kecai, Yu Yixian, Liu Boyong, and Li Zhuangfei. Most of them obtained good skills and became important disciples spreading Ba Gua Zhang around the world. From 1911 (when Gao was forty-five) until 1926, Gao's practice in Ba Gua Zhang integrated his experience systematically and so he drafted his "Ba Gua Zhang Manuscript". In 1932, the copy was re-edited with the assistance from his son, Gao Fengming. Four years later, Gao finalized it and wrote the introduction, and appointed his disciple Liu Boyong to hand-write into six volumes in order to pass it on to key disciples. Gao named the book Ba Gua Rou Shen Lian Huan Zhang/Eight Trigrams Supple Body Connected Palm. Around 1948, this hand-written manuscript was passed down to Liu Fengcai. In the manuscript, Gao concluded his decades of experience and introduced all aspects of Ba Gua Zhang practice. Based on Cheng Tinghua's basics, Gao organized his learning from Song yiren as the Post-Heaven Sixty-Four Palms, and the traditional practice as Pre-Heaven Palms. He emphasized that Pre-Heaven Palms are the resource of Post-Heaven Palms, and Post-Heaven Palms are the applications of Pre-Heaven Palms; without Pre-Heaven Palms, Ba Gua Zhang would have no root, but without Post-Heaven Palms, Ba Gua Zhang is incomplete; and stated that "Pre-Heaven Palms are a treasure for improving health and fitness, and strengthening and cultivating body; whereas Post-Heaven Palms are clever methods of application,
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self-defense and fighting." Hence, Gao established his own style of Cheng's Ba Gua Zhang, in which Gao had enriched the traditional Ba Gua Zhang, both in theory and practice, which represents a great and outstanding contribution to the history, development, and subsequent transmission of Ba Gua Zhang. Disciple: Liu Fengcai April 1985 at Binzhou City, Shangdong Re-edited by Liu Shuhang October 2000

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Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang Lineage Hai-Chuan, Dong Yi-Ren, Song Ting Hua Cheng

Yi-Sheng, Gao

Yu-Xiang, Xhou

Yu-Gong, Cheng

Fong-Shi, Liu

Ji-Sheng, Xie

Bo-Wei, Wang

Shu-Hang, Liu

Shu-Sheng, Wang

Guo-Liang, Ge

Xue-Yi, Li

Shi-Po, Chang

Qin-Sun Ding

Yu-Kai, Chang

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Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang System 1. Standing Meditation Static Meditation Moving Meditation / Eight Mother Palms () 2. Pre-Heaven Palms Eight Big Palms Second Pre-Heaven Palms 3. Post-Heaven Palms/Post Heaven Linear Sixty-Four Palms / 4. Weapons BaGau Zi Wu Deer Hook BaGua Rolling Hand Broadsword BaGua Linking Sword BaGua Sticking Body Spear BaGua Heart High Cane Wu Dang Sword first form Wu Dang Sword second form Double Vine Stick
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Night Fighting Broadsword 5. Eight Animal Forms 6. Extra Single Palms Wu Ji Standing Meditation Tai Ji Hand Two Poles Palm Three Force Fist (Heaven, Earth, Human) Four Corner Legs Seven Star Hands Twelve Animal Single Form 7. Internal Chi Gong/Internal Meditation Thirteen Hooligan/Body Guard Hard Qi Gong Dragon Style Internal Qi Gong

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Part III: Context for the Seminar
Ba Gua Zhang Animal Forms The Animal forms are derived from animal characteristics. They were created by Gao and are a unique component of Gao Style of Cheng School Ba Gua Zhang. There are eight routes, each representing a characteristic and fighting techniques of a different animal. According to the order of the Eight Trigrams: Qian is the Waving Lion, Kan is the Twining Snake, Gen is the Crouching Tiger, Zhen is the Dragon Form, Xun is the Overturning Swallow, Li is the Pecking Eagle, Kun is the Yanking Bear, and Dui is the Monkey Form. Gao and Liu called them the Internal Ba Gua: lion belongs to heaven and is connected to the brain; snake belongs to water and is connected to the kidneys; tiger belongs to mountain and is connected to the large intestine; dragon belongs to wood and is connected to the liver; swallow belongs to wind and is connected to the small intestine; eagle belongs to fire and is connected to the heart; bear belongs to earth and is connected to the spleen; and monkey belongs to the lake and is connected to the lungs. Ba Gua Zhang Animal Forms are beautiful and dynamic. The first four routes contain the Pre-Heaven Palms; whereas the last four routes contain the Post-Heaven Palms and Kicks. They are the essences of the Pre-Heaven and Post-Heaven Palms from Gao style of Cheng school Ba Gua Zhang. Not only do they benefit health and improve practical applications, they also are useful as a short means of demonstrating the system as a type of performance for beholder to appreciate due to the balanced solidness and softness and the clear rhythm of Ying and Yang. The followings are in accordance with master Lius direct teaching and are for the reference of practitioners.

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Pecking Eagle Start with the Post-Heaven Opening Posture with the left arm and leg in the front. 1. Tercel Spreading its Wings (Post-Heaven Hooking by the Teeth Palm). Left lead, take a right step up, right pierce and uplift then reverse abduct. Step up and left shock (Hook by the Teeth). Left uplift, step up and right cover. 2. Post-Heaven Linking Palm. 3. Reverse Pull. Left lead and take a right step up, right grab the leg and reverse pull. Left Heart-Pouncing Palm then right punch. Take a left step up, left pierce and uplift then right Single Impact Palm. 4. Turn around and take a left step up, pierce the right hand with the left, turn back and Double Impact Palm with the left foot in the front. 5. Upper Kick. Right abduct then right upper kick to the back of the head. Left abduct then left upper kick to the face. Right turn around and right stomp. 6. Tercel Catching the Chicken. Right foot lands, right abduct, take a left step up and left grab the arm. Step up, right choke and left punch in Smooth Body Step. 7. Open Palm and Intercept the Ribs. Turn around with the right foot in the front. Step up and Open Palm. Right abduct, take a left step up and left Intercept the Ribs. 8. Downward Intercepting Leg. Right pierce, raise the right foot then intercept down. Left pierce, raise the left foot and intercept down. Hook the left foot and turn back then right stomp. 9. Tercel Catching the Chicken. Right abduct, take a left step up and left grab the arm. Step up, right choke and left punch in Smooth Body Step. 10. Turn around with the right foot and arm in the front. Repeat 1-9 on the opposite side and return to right foot in the front. 11. Turn around with the right foot in the front. Eagle Peck. (Two Moving the Eyebrow Palm) Left outside lead, take a right step up and right Moving the Eyebrow Palm. Take a left step up and Double Impact Palm. Turn around, take a left step up and pierce the right hand with the left. Turn back, right outside lead, take a left step up and left Moving the Eyebrow Palm. Take a right step up and Double Impact Palm. 12. Smooth Body Step and Snap Kick. Turn around with the left foot in the front. Left block down and twine up, right snap kick and right punch. Land, right block down and twine up, left snap kick and left punch. 13. Yellow Eagle Showing its Wings. Left foot lands, left outside lead, take a
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right step up and lift the arm. Hook the left foot, hook the left palm, turn over the body and yank with both hands. With the right foot in the front, step up and Impact Palm. 14. Turn around and Return to Original Position.

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