so I learned and practiced mantis and tong bei first.
when I learned Ba Ji, I had very tough time due to the influence of mantis and tong bei.
“original” Ba Ji may be with very heavy steps. however, if ba ji + pi gua, then the movements are like pi gua and only end with Ba Ji postures. this is a huge debate among ba ji practitioners in China,
after some standing in postures and breathing exercises.
I focused on practicing downward sinking jin and inch power. meaning relaxed all the way (tong bei) only tense an inch before the end posture.
I posted some practice vid’s.
some like it, and yet most people were shocked.
I was practicing slowly as if Tai Chi, my body was totally relaxed as in tong bei and pi gua.
people complained that it is too slow, my body is too laxed, do you still call this Ba Ji? might as well practice Tai Chi.
a few people knew it. they said I was totally laxed and slow, true, however, when I landed my lead foot, suddenly I expressed focused power on the fist or elbow and my feet was rooted at the same split second, and yet the rest of my body was totally relaxed.
Previously my training consisted primarily of shaolin, longfist, nanquan, and some minor wing chun training.
Out of those external styles, I still practice the shaolin on a constant basis. Still do some southern drills, and some long fist drills. Dropped the wing chun except for a few concepts/methods.
Now I have a lot of fun incorporating what I learn from my Chen Sifu into my Shaolin.
On a side note, I still have many habits from my Shaolin practice. Since I am still actively (and i dont plan to stop) training the Shaolin material, this creeps into my Taiji in subtle ways. I am interested to see how my Taiji develops in light of what I actively persue outside of Taiji.
My Taiji Sifu also teaches southern mantis, which at some point I plan on learning as well.
When it comes to baji quan, I think some people worry more about looking strong and powerful to impress people or feel cool, rather than practicing for personal benefit. If you think practicing a form more like taiji quan will improve your practice, then I think you should do it regardless of whether your form loses it’s well known “baji flavor” in its appearance. Honesty in your practice and consistent improvement is more important than how other people view what you do. Yes, the baji explosive power is an important part of the system, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something different once in awhile to gain other benefits, even if it’s something as simple as using the form for relaxation and meditation, or improving your health in some other way.
people complained that it is too slow, my body is too laxed, do you still call this Ba Ji? might as well practice Tai Chi.
Most of the best Baji people I’ve seen always use a type of relaxed power in their forms practice. Most people will only see the forceful end of each technique though and miss the rest, mistaking baji for a “hard” style like they see in a typical karate/tae kwon do class
most of my contact and friends are from Kuo Shu circles in Taiwan.
even thou I moved and resided in the US for almost 20 years. I did not quit my practice and study of CMA.
to write CMA books is not a easy job. b/c the study and practice of CMA are both deep and wide.
I was quite flattered that I have a readership or followers from China, too. yes there are some criticisms but for the most part, there are a lot of praises.
there are even poems about me.
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my new book is almost ready to roll out. I have 20 copies to give away.
please post away whatever is on your mind on your practice.
