There are eight models which give eight different postures that can be taken in the circle-walk: bear, dragon, snake (double headed snake, single hook), lion, eagle, crab, point to the sky and plunge into the earth (spear), and yin-yang fish. These are the eight 'animals' that represent eight shapes, eight models, eight structures, and eight feelings. The circle is walked in each of these shapes, with their special feeling. If a model feels different or makes you uncomfortable when you circle-walk in it, it is informing you of some problem in your body. You do not need to work out what the problem is, you just need to allow the posture to change your body. Once the posture feels the same as the others, the problem has been worked out.
Each model or posture develops the ability of the best available martial arts that use that type of posture. The changes of each animal model represent the best way in which you can move and apply the abilties of that model.
The bear, dragon, lion, crab are xing. This means the structure or posture of the animals are sought.
The single hook, stab heaven and earth, and yinyang fish are shi. This means their types of movement or style are sought.
The eagle is shi. This means that the essence, the being, what makes the eagle an eagle is sought.
Most circle-walking is done in the bear posture to develop a solid dantian and good qi/blood circulation. If you find that you hunch forward in the bear posture, and if your back is fine, you should walk more in the dragon posture. The other models each develop another aspect of health and power. Remember that the goal of circle-walking is to change the body. The models facilitate this – do them as perfectly as you can with full focus and spirit to give them a chance to change you.
The Palm Changes
The fundamental skills of baguazhang are traditionally organized around the eight animals. Each of the eight models has eight mother changes. Each of those mother changes has up to eight variations, which gives sixty-four main palm changes for each model (with the possibility of another 448). This is a potential of 512 changes, but there aren’t that many, as not all changes have the full 64 variations. The point of the changes is to learn and develop the ability to ‘change’. The point is not to memorize hundreds of changes, so the actual number is not important. The variations develop a movement vocabulary, an ease of movement, and a full understanding of the possibilities of eight distinct styles of combat.
When the footwork and bodywork are perfect then the hand techniques will be natural. So the changes must be done perfectly, very accurately, very strictly. Although there are hundreds of changes, the footwork and bodywork are always the same – turning with koubu and baibu. All the techniques grow out of these. The eight mother changes go in all 8 directions, so you learn to turn and use footwork to handle any situation.
When training the changes never just do the moves or go through them just to remember. Pay attention to changes in the body, spirit, and understanding. This will also improve your understanding of the applications. In this way you will improve even if the moves don’t necessarily look better yet.
Every requirement of circle-walking is the essence of baguazhang, so applies to all palm changes, just with bigger movements. Do not be controlled by your movements. The movements are not done for their own sake – you are doing the movements for your qi and blood. When the qi and blood is full and moves smoothly, then tendons can change. Concentrate always on the tendons and the full body. If your body is full your step with naturally be solid. Concentrate on the body and the hand movements will be natural.
Techniques
Each shape may also have its special own way of performing the individual skills of baguazhang, which enriches the techniques.
Each following page describes the qualities sought in the model and how to circle-walk in it, and a further connected page describes its palm changes.
