Pi Gua Zhang (literally meaning splitting hanging palm) is one of the most unique martial arts of Hebei province, relatively unknown to the west.
The historical sources of Pi Gua Zhang are quite obscure, but can be generally traced to the Hebei province, somewhere in the 18th century. It is believed that it started as a way of fighting while wearing armor.
The historical sources of Pi Gua Zhang are quite obscure, but can be generally traced to the Hebei province, somewhere in the 18th century. It is believed that it started as a way of fighting while wearing armor.
Its next important appearance in recorded history is in 1928, When the National Wushu Institute was founded in Nanjing, and Pi Gua Zhang specialist Ma Ying Tu was put in charge of the marital arts department of the Institute. He invited the famous Pi Gua Zhang and Tong Bi master Guo Chang Sheng from Hebei to lecture. The two of them delved into the style adjusting the moves but keeping the essentials and adding speed and explosive power as well as the skills from the 24 forms Tong Bi Quan, and thus creating the more common version of Pi Gua today.Our line of Pi Gua comes down directly from Guo Chang Sheng, and not from the revised version. As being also an expert of the Tong Bi 24 forms, influences of this style can still be found in our Pi Gua.
Pi Gua Zhang Characteristics
The classical writings of Pi Gua describe the art with the following verses:
"Big opening, big closing"- meaning, the contrary movements of opening (Kai) and closing (He) are following each other and are done as long as possible.
"Fierce rising, hard falling"- again, contrary movements that follow each other, and are done swiftly, using all the body mass.
"Overturning and rolling like a pearl spinning in a jar" – the power manifestation should be like a continuous flowing motion the same as a pearl spinning in a jar
"The torso is opening and closing like a bow ,the chest and back swallow and spit like a string which sends out the power like an arrow without a shadow”- a description of the characteristic movement of the torso, and the way it helps to issue power.
"Its movement is swift and violent, but agile and fierce"
"Big splitting, big hanging"- Pi and Gua powers are issued with long movements.
"Rising and falling"
"Searching and tracing"- the hands are constantly striving for contact with the enemy.
"Relaxed long reach power"
"Big opening, big closing"- meaning, the contrary movements of opening (Kai) and closing (He) are following each other and are done as long as possible.
"Fierce rising, hard falling"- again, contrary movements that follow each other, and are done swiftly, using all the body mass.
"Overturning and rolling like a pearl spinning in a jar" – the power manifestation should be like a continuous flowing motion the same as a pearl spinning in a jar
"The torso is opening and closing like a bow ,the chest and back swallow and spit like a string which sends out the power like an arrow without a shadow”- a description of the characteristic movement of the torso, and the way it helps to issue power.
"Its movement is swift and violent, but agile and fierce"
"Big splitting, big hanging"- Pi and Gua powers are issued with long movements.
"Rising and falling"
"Searching and tracing"- the hands are constantly striving for contact with the enemy.
"Relaxed long reach power"
