Baguazhang: Emei Baguazhang Theory and Applications (Chinese Internal Martial Arts)

YMAA asked me to review this book based on my almost 30 years in the martial arts. It's taken me a while to get this review out because I've had knee surgery and I don't like to talk about a book I can't walk, literally in this case...I wanted to be able to see if the instructions given were a brain puzzle that made no sense or clear and simple to follow. This is one of those rare books in the martial arts that really does do it all. Most books are great on techniques and hope somewhere along the line you pick up the theory. Master Yiang and Dr. Yang have turned out an incredibly detailed book that every martialist should have on his shelf as a serious reference. This isn't a book...it's about 5 books under one cover.

The first section of the book takes up about 150 pages and discusses with great detail and clear words the theory of baguazhang. Don't worry if you have no clue what that means or what chi is, because it's all explained thoroughly in the book. The best part of this section of the book is that hard or impossible to find teachings are rendered into English and explained. You get back the price of the book in the first two sections!

The second section is a book on bagua qigong with a step by step program that is simple to follow assuming you've read the book up to this point. There are also basic moves, steps and turns, which are isolated and practiced as basic training. This is an enormous help to the learner and the instructor as these key repetitive moves would get lost if you tried to go right to the complete moves. Practicing these foundation moves are something you can do again as a stand alone even if you never read the rest of the book. There's also a section on physical training and although I saw nothing new here it did add to the completeness of the book's purpose.

The next 3 books on Basic 8 Palm, "Swimming Body" and advanced bagua practice and bagua "deer hook" applications have great clear, large, sequential photos as well as necessary close ups when called for. In Basic 8 and Swimming Body you learn not only the individual moves but also the martial applications...something I liked about Dr. Yang's book on Tai Chi as well.

If you are at all interested in the internal martial arts this book is a must have not only as a reference but as a step by step training guide. Like all great martial arts books get it while you can. The only draw back and this is a personal fetish of mine is that I believer any book over 200 pages automatically ought to come in a hard binding. At over 500 pages and given the nature of the book you'll wear the binding out quickly through use. If you've read my other reviews I tell it like it is. This book is one fantastic find.

As usual, another great book by Yang Jwing Ming, co-written by masters Liang, and Wu Wen-Ching. Useful historical background, and in-depth translation of the poems and songs, with clear interpritation of each. This section of the book alone is worth the cover price.

My only quarrel is with the diagrams. The photographs are black and white, with a dark background. The directional arrows are pitch black, and can be almost indiscernible against the background, causing quite a bit of confusion. The text provided for the diagrams saves that particular section of the book from being completely confusing.

While my practice experience is primarily in taijiquan, I find this text very useful. As other reviewers have mentioned, as a reference, it has much to offer. Broad in scope, it covers historical lineage, basic concepts, training fundamentals, and basic forms - much in significant detail.

One observation - some of the conditioning exercises appear relatively high risk (eg, bricks on end), and safety could be improved with modification/moderization.

Overall, a good addition to the serious student's library.

Never write reviews, don't have the time, but this book was simply outstanding. I have practiced Wudang Tai Chi Chuan for over 10 years, & have fought in the san shou circuits throughout Europe; basically I have a bit of an interest in martial arts. As a fighter I loathe the way many Nei Jia Arts have been watered down to appeal to the lazy new age group.
This book is complete with the Bagua classics, a great compliment to the Tai Chi Chuan classics. A commentary follows each verse from the classics, that explains in a clear fashion the principles and practicalities being conveyed by the passages.
The book's explanations on conditioning, Gung training and applications are direct and practical, devoid of any flowery mystical approach, i.e. the authors know what they are talking about. I have rarely heard of Ba Gua Practitioners walking the circle on up turned bricks with blocks supported on their arms. Yet I have often heard them speak of sure footedness and balance, and using the arm as a platform for locking throws. The authors here demonstrate these gung practice methods and their benefits are immediately obvious to anyone who has seriously trained in the Nei Jia Arts.
Many books on Nei Jia leave me disappointed; this on the other hand was a breath of fresh air.
Inspirational!!

Absolutely THE BEST book (AND DVD) on the market on the subject of Emei style Baguazhang. I study under Mr. Wen-Ching Wu at The Way of The Dragon in Rhode Island and believe me he knows exactly what he is doing when it comes to Chinese Martial Arts. I rate this book a BEST BUY if you are interested in Baguazhang!!!!!!!