A Bagua Moment
To me there is a set of triplet sisters in the Chinese internal martial arts systems. They are: Tai Chi Châuan (太極æ³), Ba Gua Zhang (å «å¦æ), and Xing Yi Quan (å½¢ææ³). From my understanding, what I have developed over my time training is that Tai Chi Châuan can signify the center of the circle/sphere, Ba Gua Zhang is the circle/sphere and Xing Yi Quan is the line through the circle/sphere. I bring these forms up because I will speak on Ba Gua Zhang (å «å¦æ), the Eight Trigram Palm, during our Tai Chi Wednesday sessions.
This hopefully will bring light to subjects from a different angle. There are terms used in Tai Chi Châuan that are similar to terms that are used in Ba Gua Zhang; however, because of the attitude of the forms one can derive many different meanings when using the forms as filters for the word. Find different Tai Chi and Ba Gua martial artist and say these four words: Opening, Closing, Expanding, and Contracting. You are going to get a wonderful array of answers. Some will group the words as Opening and Closing vs. Expanding and Contracting. Some will equate Opening with Expanding and Closing with Contracting. Some with have 8 complete different definition four for the Tai Chi Châuan martial artists and four for the Ba Gua Zhang martial artists.
So, lesson one form this Ba Gua Moment: Something to one can be similar to or completely different to another.
Make sure that when you walk the circle of your day, and you encounter the many peoples and situations of your day, that you comprehend that your actions can be viewed differently depending on who interoperates them. You can ask one person a question, and what may happen is that they believe that you are harassing them, you believe that you are openly and genuinely looking to be educated on a matter, and a third person that is not a direct part of the conversation as you two flirting. Note what you say, when you say it and why you say it. Think before you speak, not only of your words. Think of all of the ways what you say can be taken because of connotation and context. Thank of others and how they are before you speak to them. Iâve never understood my people would logically tell someone that is being vehemently hysterical to clam-down. Sure it is meant to calm them down; however, is that really correct change that needs to happen? Maybe they are calming down and they just need a moment to release. One of the last things one should to is interrupt someone when they are accessing their true feelings. Also, note I stated that it is one of the last things not that it shouldnât be done.
In Ba Gua Zhang there is a practice of holding a posture and walking in a circle while holding that posture. This is called âWalking Circleâ. When walking circle one thing to note are all of the angles that are passed while walking and how the body (yours and/or and interlocutorâs) acts when at certain angles and in certain states. I believe that we should endeavor to mentally walk circle to understand different situation before they happen. Note possible outcomes without worry and without haste. Always trying to positively grow our sphere of understanding so that when situations do arrive that we are prepared to change and cut the appropriate angles to grace fully guided ourselves, and possibly others, to a positive and fruitful outcome.
For more information Winstonâs his martial arts academy please visit Internal Magnification.
Winston Price, Executive Producer, has over a decade and a half of marketing, advertising and public relations experience. He began his business career in 1995 and is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington. Winston also is a master martial artist and personal trainer with over 2 decades of knowledge and experience. Winston runs his own school, Internal Magnification Martial Arts, where he focuses on helping people reach their personal goals of health and fitness via At-Home personal training with martial foci of Taekwondo, Tai Chi Châuan, Hapkido and Ba Gua Zhang. As an executive producer for VoiceAmerica, Winston utilizes his skills in business and personal training to help new and existing hosts maximize their opportunity with the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network by supporting his hosts with the business and personal aspects of creating and developing their show. Winston believes that each host brings their own flavor to the Network. By properly coaching and motivating his hosts, they are able to produce THEIR show with THEIR style and THEIR passion being at the forefront of every broadcast.
