BaJiQuan Association
BaJiQuan was originally called “BaZiQuan”. Qi, Ji-Guang’s JiXiaoXinShu (book): “Yang’s spear method and BaZiQuan with stick are both famous today.” It can be seen that this boxing existed before the Ming Dynasty. Later generations changed the name to “BaJi” due to the vulgar name of “BaZi”.
BaJiQuan routines are divided into “XiaoBaJi” (小八極), “DaBaJi” (大八極), “LiuDaKai” (六大開), “BaJiLianHuan” (八極連環) and so on.
XiaoBaJi is a way to get started, and it is extremely important for laying the foundation. Next, learn the DaBaJi to master the strategy of offense and defense. At the end, you can learn the LiuDaKai to understand the extremely subtle moves of BaJiQuan. After studying in this order, repeat it twice or three times, and practice in several stages. So if you want to learn it, it will take many years. As for the routines of BaJiLianHuan, it was selected and compiled in modern times with reference to the ancient routines of XiaoBaJi, DaBaJi and LiuDaKai.
And the PiGuaZhang (劈掛掌) is like a thin-edged and light knife, agile and difficult to defend. The body method is rooted in the waist, and it is extremely swaying to strike for distance. If BaJiQuan combines PiGuaZhang together, it can be covered far and near striking. Therefore, in ancient times, there was a proverb that “BaJi merges PiGua, the gods and ghosts are afraid”.
In the early years of TongZhi in the Qing Dynasty, BaJiQuan spread around Cang County, Hebei Province. Mr. Li, Shu-Wen (李書文), a native of MengCun, Cang County, Hebei Province, is especially good at BaJiQuan and LiuHeDaQiang (Long Spear). As for his student, Mr. Liu, Yun-Qiao (劉雲樵), when he was ten years old, he greeted Mr. Li, Shu-Wen to teach martial art at home. He studied BaJiQuan and PiGuaZhang for ten years, and finally obtained the true teaching.
After Mr. Liu, Yun-Qiao came to Taiwan, he actively promoted the art of BaJiQuan. In order to facilitate the teaching of students, he established the BaJiQuan Committee in 1987.
History overview
The BaJiQuan Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan), formerly known as the “BaJiQuan Committee” under the National Martial Arts Association of the R.O.C, was established on November 29, 1987 under the chairmanship of Mr. Liu, Yun-Qiao, with the purpose of promoting “BaJiQuan”.
However, with the change of the times, in response to the trend and the expansion of the organizational level and structure, the reorganization began in 1999, and it was officially upgraded to the “BaJiQuan Association” on November 7 of the same year, and Wang, Jin-Zhong was elected to be the first chairman of the board.
With the efforts of Mr. Lin, Song-Xian, the second and third chairman, Mr. Wang, Zhi-Cai, the fourth and fifth chairman, Mr. Xu, Yong-Hong, the sixth chairman, and Mr. Liu, Ming-Zong, the seventh chairman, the association has entered the 12th session so far. Mr. Lin, Yao-Ching served as the chairman of the association.
Every year, a variety of activities such as the martial arts training of college in winter and summer, DaQiang competitions, martial arts gatherings, referee lectures, coaching lectures, and various martial arts studies are held regularly, in order to inherit and strengthen Mr. Liu, Yun-Qiao’s skills.
In order to promote BaJiQuan, the Association has set up branches, coaching fields, and various training classes in various places, so that those who are interested can have the opportunity to get in touch with this skill. It also provides healthy leisure activities for middle-aged and elderly people, so that children and teenagers can grow stronger through martial arts.
[The 2nd on the right is the founder of the association, Mr. Liu, Yun-Qiao]