“The divine mechanics of the Bagua Zhang are infinitely profound, but it does not come from simply moving the palm; a tree has a single trunk, but its branches and leaves can be countless.”

「八卦神機妙無邊未從動於掌；樹是一本枝葉不知若干。」

- 張慶廉 ZhāngQìngLián -

What is Bagùa Zhǎng?
八卦掌是什麼？

BaguaZhang is one of the most recently created Chinese martial arts systems. Originally called 轉掌 Zhuǎn Zhǎng meaning ‘Rotating Palm’, the system was first developed and taught by 董海川 DǒngHǎiChuān in Beijing in the mid 1800’s. It incorporated a number to training methods Dong learned from various sources including Shaolin, Daoist and other folk martial arts but what made BaguaZhang quite unique was it’s circle walking practices which mimicked circle walking meditative techniques found in Daoism. Eventually generations later, practitioners of the art would make correlations between the training to the YiJing (Book of changes) and the manner which the visual organization of the 8 Gua and circular practices appeared to mirror each other leading to subsequent generations referring to the system as ‘BaguaZhang’.

How does Old Beijing Yin Style Bagùa Zhǎng differ from other lineages?
老北京尹派八卦與其他支流八卦有何不同？

‘Old Beijing Baguazhang’ is a term that refers to Baguazhang as it was originally practiced and taught in the capital where Dong HaiChuan originally shared his methods with his students. At the time the capital was called 北平 BěiPíng and ⽼北京 LǎoBěiJīng refers to the earlier 20th century and the late 19th century when Beijing was still called Beiping - the time when the first and second generations of Dong HaiChuan’s students would have been teaching. At that time there was an academy set up in the city to teach martial arts called 第三國術館 DìsSānGuóShùGuǎn (3rd National Martial Academy). One of the founders was a disciple of 尹富 YǐnFù named 李寶森 LǐBǎoSēn. There he taught Yin style BaguaZhang as taught to him by his teacher. This lineage of Yin Style would be passed down with it’s shaolin roots still intact and maintained the same usage over forms goals that were the rooted in the training methods of Dong HaiChuan and Yin Fu. Li BaoSen would teach a number of students at the academy including 張慶廉 ZhāngQìngLián who would eventually become the teacher of 徐世熙 XúShìXī the youngest and last surviving student of DiSanGuoShuGuan.

Xu Shifu would carry on the teachings from the academy referring to the older methods of training Baguazhang and the practices of the earlier generations as ‘Old Beijing Baguazhang’ or ‘Old Beijing Yin Style Bagua’. In his own life, he maintained the training practices of older Beijing generations, where development of the body and martial applicability were the foremost goal and forms practice was merely for cardio exercise, organizational memory and passing down of techniques. As some schools of Yin Style are known to rely heavily on piercing techniques other schools encompass many more strategies and methods and aren’t as strongly dedicated to that onemethod and develop layers of methods that can be used. This second manner of training was the practice of the DiSanGuoShuGuan and therefore what Xu learned and passed down. He spent much of his life dedicated to teaching correctly and clearly the ⼿眼身法步 (ShǒuYǎnShēnFǎBù - the skills and methods) of Baguazhang for creating a unified ⼋卦身體 ‘Bagua Body’ making a person both health wise and powerful in martial skills. These practices require a student to dedicate a significant amount of time to developing the strength, flexibility, softness and firmness required for power generation and functional techniques. Xu Shifu would often say ‘如果你練武術的話，練五⼗年但是沒練⼒量，五⼗年之後還沒有功夫’ - if you train martial arts and train for 50 years but never train (to develop) power, 50 years later you still have no gong fu (skills). How is this done? Through the 基本功 JīBěnGōng one will build a conditioned body which can perform Baguazhang in the ways it was intended to be used and trained - being effectively both martially and in health.

Eventually Marc Mastrandrea (無為) would begin studying with Xu Shifu and a few years later began to share the system with his martial brother Simon Lockett (有為). Marc eventually would move to Beijing and spend years training with Xu Shifu and flying back and forth to Japan to share with Simon. Eventually Simon would begin to make trips to Beijing to train with Xu ShiXi himself eventually becoming a senior student of Xu ShiXi. In 2018 Marc Mastrandrea was formally accepted as Xu’s 閉⾨弟⼦ (final disciple).

How does Bagùa Shú Work?
八卦塾怎麼運作？

Bagùa Shú operates similarly to an online university, like the University of Phoenix or NYU Online, with a proven effective training method. The program is subscription-based, offering both monthly and yearly billing options. Cohorts are organized into small groups of 10-20 students. Every week, at a designated time, a new pre-recorded lesson is made available for cohorts to stream and watch at their convenience. Each lesson lasts about 40-50 minutes and includes warm-ups, strength-building drills, lectures, forms, and applications.

At the end of each lesson, Shifu assigns training homework to the students. They then have one week to practice, record their homework using their phone or any recording device, and upload the videos to a privately shared Google Drive folder by the designated weekly deadline. Shifu reviews all submitted homework videos, takes notes, and provides personalized feedback through a short 5-10 minute video sent to the cohorts. This cycle repeats weekly.

There are several significant advantages to this training method compared to traditional teaching methods, whether in-person or through typical online training:

1. Flexible Time: Lessons are pre-recorded, allowing students to stream and watch at their convenience.

2. Self-Examination: By recording and reviewing their own homework videos, students can self-examine and correct mistakes, which is not achievable through traditional training methods or even by practicing in front of a mirror.

3. Frame-by-Frame Review: Shifu can review students' training homework frame by frame, a level of detail not possible in person. Some Shifu even take screenshots of the exact moment a mistake is made, providing valuable visual feedback for students.

4. Rewatch-ability: Unlike in-person teaching, where students may struggle to remember the material after class, streaming video lessons allow students to rewatch as many times as they wish.

八卦塾的運作方式類似於在線大學，例如鳳凰城大學或紐約大學在線，採用經過驗證過的有效訓練方法。該計劃採用訂閱制，提供每月和每年的計費選項。學員被分成10至20人的小組。每週在指定的時間，將有一個新的預錄課程供學員按需串流觀看。每節課持續約35至45分鐘，包括熱身、力量訓練、講解、套路和應用。

每節課結束時，師父會給學生布置訓練作業。學生需要在一週內練習，並使用手機或任何錄影設備錄製作業視頻，然後在指定的每週截止日期前將視頻上傳到私人共享的Google Drive雲端資料夾中。師父會審查所有提交的作業視頻，做筆記，並通過一個5至10分鐘的短視頻為學員提供個性化反饋。這個循環每週重複。

與傳統的教學方法相比，無論是面授還是典型的在線培訓，這種訓練方法有幾個顯著的優勢：

1. 靈活的時間安排：課程是預錄的，忙碌的現代人可以按自己的時間安排觀看。

2. 自我檢查：通過錄製和查看自己的作業視頻，學生可以自我檢查並糾正錯誤，這是傳統訓練方法甚至是在鏡子前練習所無法實現的。

3. 逐幀審查：師父可以逐幀審查學生的訓練作業，這在面對面教學中是無法做到的。有些老師甚至會截取視頻中錯誤發生的精確時刻的截圖，這對學生來說是非常有幫助的。

4. 重複觀看：與實體教學不同，學生在課後經常會難以記住所教的內容。通過串流視頻課程，學生可以無限次地重複觀看。

Marc Mastrandrea Laoshi
無為 老師簡介

Marc started his studies in Martial Arts when he was 4 years old with Goju Ryu Karate. However due to his family being very poor and him being much younger than the rest of the students his parents withdrew him from the school. However the martial arts bug had in that short time bit him and he became obsessed with all kinds of styles.

Growing up in the 1980s and 90s there were no shortage of movies and shows on tv to keep his interest going and being that he started reading at the age of 5 years old, he would spend hours in libraries reading martial arts books for kids starting in first grade. 

Slowly he started to find some books which contained parts on philosophy and medicine and he became fascinated with those studies too. He began to study both traditional Chinese medicine texts and Taoist philosophy books separate from the martial arts wanting to understand more about how these things which appeared separate in the west, fit together in a cohesive whole. 

Eventually he would begin studying qi gong and principles of Baguazhang, Taijiquan and Xing Yi Quan with teachers who were willing to teach him for cheaper than average. it was at this point he found an affinity for baguazhang and it became a major pursuit in his life.

In time he would take up the study of modern Wushu and attend college at the University of Connecticut where he would study Biology and Physio-Neurobiology.

After graduating he would study Chinese Medicine at Swedish Institute in New York City graduating from there and then opening up a number of Chinese medicine clinics in New York and Connecticut. While living in New York he studied a few different marital arts systems but always being fond of baguazhang he continued to speak out teachers who taught it specifically.

It was at this time he would be part of online - kung fu forums where he befriended, Simon Lockett and the two would forge a friendship that would in time span the world.

This time in NY would eventually lead him to discover master - Xu Shi Xi, who he had previously seen on the internet but did not know who he was. Eventually through connections he would make contact with Xu Shifu and in the winter of 2013 he flew to Beijing to study with him. This experience made a very large impression on him and he decided to solely devote himself to studying with Xu Shifu.

Later when talking to Simon, Simon was excited to hear Marc was actively flying back and forth to Beijing to study with Xu and he said that was one of the people he had dreamed of studying with. He asked Marc if he would be willing on one of his trips to China to stop by Tokyo so they could formally meet and exchange martial knowledge.

In January of 2015 Marc stopped in Tokyo for 3 days and met Simon and his family and the two have been 兄弟 (Xiōngdì -brothers) ever since.

Eventually Marc would feel that with Xu Shifu getting older there was a window of time that he needed to be taken advantage of and the only way to learn the breadth and scope of the vast system of Baguazhang Xu taught was to move to Beijing and study full time with him. After much consideration he shut down his clinics in the US and 2016 moved to Beijing.

He and Xu trained nearly daily from 2 pm till after dark in Xu’s training area in the “temple of heaven”.

During this time he would regularly fly to Tokyo and train with Simon, sharing with him what he was learning in Beijing. In 2017 Simon flew to Beijing and Marc gave him an introduction with Xu and Simon became a formal student of Xu Shifu’s as well.

In 2018 Marc became Xu’s final disciple and it became Xu’s goal to impart an understanding of the entire system of Baguazhang he taught to Marc. Over the years Xu’s Baguazhang teacher’s daughter Zhang Rong Bao would come to visit and see Marc practicing with Xu year in and year out often just the two of them. 

She would eventually adopt him as her godson and pass on oral martial history of her father and their family. Eventually she and Xu would also pass down to Marc the handwritten text her father wrote outlining the system of Baguazhang he was taught and taught Xu.

Marc has devoted much time to becoming fluent in Mandarin so as to be able to understand Xu precisely and translate important books such as this into English. He feels it is important to have translations that capture the spirit of what was written from the pen of someone who is both a skilled practitioner of what they are translating and a person who is proficient in the language.

Xu and Marc’s godmother Zhang Bao Rong have requested that he produce a series of books outlining both Zhang Qing Lian’s teachings and Xu’s developments and teachings. He is working with Simon Lockett to do this and much more.

Simon Lockett Laoshi
有為 老師簡介

Simon’s first introduction to the martial arts began in Wellington, New Zealand with the study of Judo and Kyokushin Karate.

Simons other love and passion was skateboarding in which he picked up his first sponsorship when he was 14 years old and turned pro when he was 17. He made the big move to Japan as a sponsored professional to which he retired in 2005, where he has resided for the past 30 years. In Japan he first studied some, “Jeet Kune Do”, which led to studying the Guangping Taiji Quan system under, Dan Harrington.

In the early 2000’s Simon started studying (遊身連環八卦掌) swimming dragon, also known as swimming body Baguazhang under master (馮正宝) Feng Zhengbao who Simon stayed with him for up until his retirement as well as studying under, Paul Imperatrice, who was, master, Feng Zhengbao’s top student.

Simon started communicating with, Marc Mastrandrea, which led to a link up in Tokyo. (If anyone is interested in Simon and Marc’s history, then feel free to visit: Byron Jacob’s “Drunken Podcast #008”

The Drunken Boxing Podcast #008 - Simon Lockett & Marc Mastrandrea

Simon, was accepted as a senior student of master, Xu Shi Xi, in 2017. Simon still resides in Tokyo, where he has operated his business for the past 22 years and where he teaches, Baguazhang and Lian Gong Shibafa currently from, Inokashira park. Simon is fluent in both Japanese and Mandarin Chinese and has trained professionally as a Sichuan chef for 9 years and runs a Youtube channel “Wok-drop” where he helps educate people in traditional, Sichuanese. cuisine.

Condensed program
濃縮訓練

Traditionally, Bagùa Zhǎng training would take at a decade or longer to developed decent Bagùa Zhǎng skills. In the modern days, the martial scene is no longer the same as the old days. It is rare and difficult for general martial arts enthusiasts (non-professionals) to dedicate 10+ years of time to follow the traditional training procedures under a master... We carefully examine the traditional curriculums and training methods, combined with modern training mindset. We designed an optimized curriculum that only teaches the “real stuff”(in which are usually the hard and not so fun stuff) within a condensed training timeline. With the goal to pass down the correct knowledge of authentic traditional Bagùa Zhǎng,

傳統上，八卦掌的訓練需要十年甚至更長時間才能培養出像樣的八卦掌技能。然而，在現代，武術界已經與過去大不相同。對於一般的武術愛好者（非專業人士）來說，很難再像過去那樣，花費十年以上的時間在師父的指導下遵循傳統的訓練程序。我們仔細研究了傳統教材和訓練方法，結合現代的訓練理念，設計出一套優化的課程，僅教授“真材實料”（通常是艱難且不那麼有趣的內容），並在縮短的訓練時間內完成。目標是傳承正宗傳統八卦掌的正確知識。

Who is Bagùa Shú for?
什麼人適合加入八卦塾？

Basically anyone who has a passion in TCMA, for all ages and gender. Bagùa Zhǎng’s biomechanics is complementary to other styles and even sports and dance arts. However, training is intensive on the lower body strength development, especially on the knees. If you have previous knee injuries, please notify Tsáng Wǔ Gé admin before begin lessons.

基本上，任何對中國傳統武術（TCMA）有熱情的人，無論年齡和性別，都可以參與。八卦掌的運動力學可以與其他武術流派、甚至是運動和舞蹈藝術相輔相成。然而，八卦掌訓練對下肢力量的發展要求很高，特別是對膝蓋。如果您有過膝蓋受傷的經歷，請在開始課程前通知藏武閣的管理人員。

Is Bagùa Zhǎng practical?
八卦掌能實戰嗎？

It depends on the lineage of Bagùa Zhǎng and how it is being studied and taught. While a number of teachers pride themselves on ranks conferred by a board or governmental body this most of the time does not demonstrate a proficiency in skills. Xu Shifu was adamant on repetitious practice of the basics and the development of power through these basics to produce real Gong Fu (skills) in all aspects of Bagùa Zhǎng practice including striking, kicking, grappling, throwing, joint locks, footwork, body method, weapons, health cultivation and even meditative abilities. Bagùa Zhǎng if trained ardently with consistent regular discipline should result in actual combat situations.

這取決於八卦掌的傳承以及它的學習和教學方式。雖然許多教師以由委員會或政府機構授予的等級為榮，但這在大多數情況下並不能證明其技能的熟練程度。徐師父堅持通過重複練習基本功，並通過這些基本功來發展力量，以在八卦掌的各個方面（包括打擊、踢腿、擒拿、摔跤、關節鎖、步法、身法、武器、健康養生，甚至冥想能力）培養真正的功夫（技能）。如果以堅定的態度和持續的規律訓練八卦掌，應該能在實際戰鬥情境中展現成果。

What to expect at the end of the program?
八卦塾課程上完預期成果

天地⼈三才 Heaven, Earth, Man the three skills (or abilities)

Curriculums: over the 3 year process the student will gain a subsequent deeper understanding and skills related to the practice of Bagùa Zhǎng and traditional kung fu in general.

天 Heaven

The first year will be dedicated to developing and understanding of and ability to perform the most basic requirements and skills for Baguazhang. The student will learn to build a foundation of strength and flexibility in the sinews and joints of the body, connect the legs with the back, shoulders, arms and hands, develop an awareness of one’s center, produce firm rooted stances and stable footwork. The training in this level will teach a student basic skills including Tang Ni Bu (Mud Wading Step), Kou Bu/Bai Bu, Horse Stance and other traditional stances for developing flexibility in the hips and legs, basic kicking drills for opening up the legs and creating power and flexibility, basic strikes designed to create a power development chain in the entire body and more.

地 Earth

The second year will be dedicated to advancing a student’s footwork skills in combination with hand techniques. The body methods taught in this level will challenge a person to develop the power to hold the body at angles that can be used for dodging, striking, and grappling with an opponent.

The training will include 5 types of stepping methods beyond Tang Ni Bu designed for developing kicking and sweeping methods, more advanced kicking techniques that develop more flexibility and power in the hips, groin and waist. The student will also begin to learn how to join the upper and lower body in circle walking and apply the fixed postures of BaguaZhang’s 定式 Dìng Shì into moving methods and techniques of the 動式 DòngShì. They will also be introduced to the foundational Shaolin form of Yin Style Baguazhang - 四平拳 SìPíngQuán. This form will build power and stamina and contains many techniques further seen later in the Baguazhang practice.

⼈ Man

By the third year the student should now have developed a strong flexible body - one that can move with softness and firmness - a body that in one second can feel like vulcanized rubber and instantly transform into something soft and supple. The student’s understand of how to walk a circle and how to generate power from footwork should be able to allow them to, in the 3rd year, begin to understand how to apply

these concepts in more advanced applications such as grinding body methods, sticking body methods and twist body methods. They will also learn to walk quicker tighter steps so that their circle can progressively become smaller and smaller with less

stops eventually resulting in stable continuous circle walking and footwork that produces flowing powerful movement that crashes like waves and can still stop on a dime with stability and root.

The third year will complete the basic study of SiPingQuan and teach the student more complex circle walking basics. The student will also learn to understand how fixed postures relate to martial strategy and how they can take any fixed posture and apply it to learn particular skill methods.

“ShíBaFǎ”
「十八法」

Marc and Simon teaches a dedicated Zoom class on the 十八法 ShíBaFǎ, Eighteen Methods. While some of the ShíBaFǎ movements and drills are being integrated into Bagùa Shú’s lesson materials, if you want to learn the complete eighteen methods, you can join at the link below.

Sign Up Here

What is Tsáng Wǔ Gé?
藏武閣是什麼？

Are you concerned about the potential extinction of quality traditional Chinese martial arts? We need your support to help preserve this beautiful art form. Please read on:

The decline of traditional martial arts, along with the mutual disdain and backbiting between different schools, has resulted in a highly fragmented martial arts community despite the many enthusiasts. Those who are dedicated can only teach and pass on their knowledge on their own. As a traditional martial artist, I suddenly felt a strong sense of mission. I decided to use my years of experience in running a marketing company to extend the successful operational model of BajiShu to other excellent martial arts styles. By collaborating with top-notch young traditional martial arts instructors and leveraging the advantages of our generation—technology—we aim to establish a sustainable framework for the transmission of traditional martial arts.

Thus, "Tsáng Wǔ Gé" (The Vault for Martial Arts) is based on the concept of the Central Guoshu Institute of the past, bringing together the best martial artists in a united effort. Our goal is to recreate a sustainable martial arts society(WûLín), one without mutual slander, secrecy among masters, or the "ten years to master one move" mentality. We envision an organized, professionally managed, and modernized WûLín.

With the primary goal of establishing correct knowledge and training methods for traditional martial arts. The promotional approach of Tsáng Wǔ Gé does not conflict with the efforts of traditional instructors; it will only help to preserve more martial arts talent and expand the market potential of traditional martial arts. This year, we have collaborated with Master Han Jixiang of "Han Men Martial Arts Group" to launch the "Cháng Quán Shú,”(Long Fist Academy) enabling enthusiasts around the globe to systematically learn authentic traditional Cháng Quán. This is not the exaggerated movements seen in martial arts performances or just a basic training routine; it is a profound traditional martial art with real combat value. Following the launch of the Cháng Quán Shú, we will work with top traditional martial arts instructors to successively introduce academies for Shuai Jiao, Wing Chun, Mantis, Xing Yi, Bagua, Hong Gar, JookLum, DaQiang, and other excellent traditional Chinese martial arts systems. We will also offer many related elective courses such as "Herbal Hall," "Acupuncture Hall," and "Martial Arts Language Hall," which will complement the training at each academy.

Tsáng Wǔ Gé is a significant project that requires initial funding to support its operation from the pre-production stage through the first six months. If you, esteemed martial arts seniors and fellow enthusiasts, resonate with the concept of Tsáng Wǔ Gé, we kindly ask for your generous support, no matter how small. Every little bit helps! We also welcome any suggestions and connections you might offer. Thank you!

For more detailed project information and donation methods, please visit the following link:

www.tsangwuge.com

你喜歡傳統武術嗎？你覺得傳統武術正在慢慢的走入歷史嗎？

由於傳統武術的勢微及門派間的互相鄙視和扯後腿現象，即便熱愛武術的人雖多，但「武林」卻無法團結，導致力量分散，各家老師教練們只能各自默默教學傳授。身為傳武人的我，感受到一股使命感，利用我多年經營行銷公司的經驗，將八極塾的成功運作模式複製到其他優良拳種；與頂尖的傳武老師合作，利用我們這個世代的科技優勢來為傳武的傳承設立一個永續框架。

「藏武閣」因此而誕生！

藏武閣以當年「中央國術館」的概念為基礎，萬眾一心，將各家高手齊聚一堂。藏武閣的目標是重新創建一個能永續發展的「武林」，一個沒有相互謾罵、師父拿藝、十年練一劍的「武林」，一個有組織性、有品牌經營手法、一個能跟時代接軌的「武林」！

藏武閣從網路開始，以建立正確傳武訓練的方法及觀念認知為基本目標。「藏武閣」的推廣方式志在儲備更多傳武的人才資源，拓展傳武的市場潛力，並不會與傳統的傳授模式產生重疊或衝突，只會相互助益。

今年我們與「韓門武集」的韓基祥老師合作推出「長拳塾」，讓全世界能有系統地學習正統的「長拳」。這不是武術表演中動作誇張的長拳，也不是只能當作初級練習套路的長拳；而是有深度、有技擊價值的優良傳統武術。繼「長拳塾」推出之後，我們將會陸續與各家頂尖傳武老師合作，推出「摔跤塾」、「詠春塾」、「螳螂塾」、「形意塾」、「八卦塾」、「洪拳塾」、「竹林塾」、「槍道塾」等優良傳統國術拳種體系。除此之外，藏武閣也會提供許多相關選修課程，如：「本草堂」、「針灸堂」、「武語堂」等。這些選修課將與各「塾」的研習相輔相成，進而達到「藏武閣」傳承傳統武術及推廣文化的終極目標！

我相信「藏武閣」將會是改變武林生態的轉淚點。我們的團隊需要一筆啟動資金來支持前期準備到六個月的運作資金。如果各位武林前輩和同好武友認同「藏武閣」的理念，請慷慨解囊。無論多少，只望積少成多！我們也歡迎各種意見和人脈介紹，感謝大家的支持！

以下的連結網站有更詳細的企劃說明影片與捐款方式：

www.tsangwuge.com

For any questions, email TsandWuGe administrator at: admin_vmei@tsangwuge.com