BaGua circle-walking clip, is it good or bad?

[Dirty Rooster]

I'd like to know from BaGua peeps. is this clip on YouTube ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf0YtbzuvoI
good or bad?

I've never seen any first-hand, just this guy seems
totally wobbly, weak and feeble... or is that normal?

[socratic]

On closer examination, he's not sinking enough at all. He's practically standing upright, and maybe even leaning forwards too much at the hips when going through the forms at lower heights. He hopped around a lot between steps and lacked flow a bit in that aspect.

I'm not an expert on Bagua, so there's probably more complaints.

[Locu5]

Really? ... because I thought it was not very good at all. I did not think there was good hip integration, sinking of the weight, body structure, etc.

[Nestorius]

I dunno. Only been learning for a few months, but that twisty snake stuff is more or less what the 'Taiwanese-style' Pa Kua in my class looks like. YouTube comments on this video look interesting. Apparently he is of Liu Yun Qiao's lineage and may or may not be Adam Hsu. The mainlander guys seem to be the one's flaming him in the YouTube comments, and the links to their videos seem to show something a little stiffer and more crisp... wushu?

[dwhomp]

Bagua is a fucking mystery to me. I dont get it

[Scott Larson]

Even though its from a movie, I thought this was a good example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajaonqHRwLQ

[Guizzy]

Have you got any idea what movie that is from? (EDIT: Nevermind; sometimes, the answer is just a comment box away! ;) )

As far as training scenes in kung fu movies go, I'd say it's very nice!

It does explain the point of bagua, although personally I'd be more interested in seeing what a real bagua practitionner really is able to do.

I also liked the bit demonstrating (although exagerately) short power.

And the Iron Palm, though again exagerated.

[dwhomp]

I have had 4 instructors in what I do. All of them try to teach me their Bagua (although they are not big fans of it either). Everytime it is given up in favor of the XY.

Personally, I dont get, dont think I ever will. this leads me to question if there is anything To get that cant be obtained from more....easily understood means

[Scott Larson]

I think Xing Yi is just better for you personally. People have different affinities with different styles. It probably made a difference that your teachers weren't too fond of Bagua either.

[KidSpatula]

Bagua circle? I don't wanna be doin' no geometry, I just wanna be playin' some GAMES.

[dwhomp]

I think Xing Yi is just better for you personally. People have different affinities with different styles. It probably made a difference that your teachers weren't too fond of Bagua either.

I am sure that is true as well.

I can think of 3 or 4 guys I have sparred that did nothing but Bagua. They sucked hard. Tried to do all this snakey shit as they were getting leveled.

Usually that is where I get my opinions from. I am ok with something if it makes no sense BUT can be used to fight, for example the Tai Chi guy that schooled my ass everytime we fought. But thus far, Bagua for me is a mystery plus everyone who claimed it sucked at fighting. I would love to fight that guy who was a bagua only guy and was a good fighter to boot.

(Once again, I am not a billy-bad ass and get my ass handed to me as well)

[EmetShamash]

The Honor of Dong Fang Xu is an awesome movie btw. Definitely worth a watch for those into old-school kung fu movies.

[Supaman]

Well, I can tell ya that's not Adam Hsu. It seems to be one of his students, though.

[Supaman]

For what it's worth I trained bagua with another guy from Li Yun Jiao's lineage years ago. It's a great style but almost no Americans can use it. Jason Tsou, who was my instructor's teacher, was a really good shuai jiao practioner and coach, so we focused alot on throws and set-ups for the throw.

I got a rude awakening when I met other bagua peopel for the first time.