Gao Baguazhang Kungfu in Murfreesboro - 高八卦掌广华哲宗同易派

Baguazhang Classics

The "Mud-Wading Step" of Gao Bagua Zhang
by Mr. Bi Tianzuo - 3rd generation of Gao style Baguazhang

translated by Yang Yusen (student)

The key to martial art practice is the issuing of power. Even with perfect posture, our
martial art practice will not be effective if one cannot get the power out. Issuing power
when and as it is needed requires correct practice. The Baguazhang passed down by
Gao Yisheng, contains two large divisions, the Xiantian and the Houtian. "The Houtian is
built on the Xiantian and is how the Xiantian practices are used in combat". In order to
properly practice martial art, one must first build up the body. This will get us the power
that will be needed later. This Xiantien practice is what will build the foundation for the
Houtian practices.

In Gao style bagua there are ten movements for the Xian Tian practice. They are: the single
palm change, the four animal changes, the four body changes and the “Five Dragons Wave
Their Tails.” Nine out of ten of these movements must use the mud wading step. Stepping is
considered the foundation of this martial art. It is only after mastering the stepping that one
can really get the Jing or martial power.
The "Mud Wading step" is like walking in a muddy pond. To walk through it requires wading
through the mud. The "mud wading" we refer to here has two meanings. The first is for the
back foot and is that of Deng or pushing. The second meaning relates to the front foot. The
front foot must have Tang or sliding and Cai or stepping down. The Deng must be solid in full
power. It is based on the front foot's Tang and Cai. If the front foot is not stable, then the
back foot cannot perform the powerful pushing or Deng. After the front foot performs the
Tang or sliding and the Cai or stepping down, it then becomes the back foot, the back foot
should tighten slightly when stepping forward, as if walking in a muddy pond and pushing/wading
through the “mud” along the ground. When walking, one needs to raise the knee and wrap the
hips (Kua) , sticking the belly forward. The word Tang (sliding) has a meaning of rushing forward.
At the moment the front foot touches the ground, it should rush forward for a distance of
about one foot. When the heel of the foot touches the ground, use the full body power to step
down (Cai) solidly. Some styles of Bagua use the ball of the front foot to touch the ground.
This will result the slight raising of the heel, which will decrease the front foot's forward rushing
power. Because the front foot is thus not as stable, the back foot will not be able to push with
full power. This, in turn, will reduce the efficiency of Fa Li or issuing of the power. We prefer to
touch the ground with the heel of the front foot to concentrate the energy. That will make it
possible for the back foot to release the pushing power thoroughly.

In martial art there is a saying, “power starts from root section and is released at the end section".
Power starts from the heel and then transfers to the hands. There shouldn't be any loose sections
in between. The body should be in a solid structure to transfer the power. The power is multiplied if
the root and end sections are coordinated through the middle section, which is the waist.

Another thing that needs to be clarified is that Gao style Bagua's XianTian should be practiced in two
stages. The first stage is the first nine movements, which are the single palm change, the four animal
changes, and the four body changes. The second stage is the five dragons palm. The first stage is
practiced to get the Gang, which is hard or solid power. Every movement should be done with full
power and in a hard way, also need to get the twisting and wrapping power. The whole body's
tendons and bones need to be stretched to get the Gang power. The stepping method in this stage
is the "mud wading step,” executed with powerful pushing (Deng) and solid stepping (Cai). The
second stage is for practice of the soft power (Rou), which is based on practicing the Gang (hard power).
We prefer not to practice soft before hard power in that it will be then be difficult to get the solid hard
power. Practicing only the hard way will result in some side effects, such as power that is not smooth
or continuous. If one fights under this condition, the movements are sure to be slow, hard to change,
and unable to issue power at will. We therefore need the second stage, which is soft (Rou) practice.
This is the purpose of the five dragons wave tail palms. The stepping in this stage needs to be fast
and have the strong ability to change directions. Although the steps are not done in the hard stepping
way, they are built on the hard practices and have some factors of the Deng and Tang steps. Power
will be immediately available when needed. The body is like a swimming dragon dancing; turning around
and full of changes; smooth without any breaking points. Gradually softening the hard power developed
in the first stage. It is like making dough. When water is first added, the dough is kind of hard. After
kneading it for a while, it will become soft and elastic and can be pulled without breaking or sloppy.
With a certain amount of practice, one can use it at will and can change without being noticed. At the
same time one also can get the issue the shocking power, therefore getting to the high level stage.

Another point is that we prefer not to mix the two stages of the XianTain practices together. When
we practice the hard power, we only practice it in hard way. Don't use the soft way to train the four
animal changes and the four body changes. Otherwise it will ruin the hard power training, Gang(hard)
will not be true Gang, Rou(soft) will not be true Rou.

Bi Tianzuo
Feb.18th 2010 Beijing