This site is an attempt to present the skills, training methods, history, and theory of Ma Gui style, (through Liu Wanchuan to Li Baohua) baguazhang in an organized manner. I (Andrea Falk, director of the Ma Gui Ba Gua Association – North American and European Branch) hope to give people a clearer understanding of the system through this site. Photos and videos will gradually be added for each skill and training drill. Organizational and class information is also given so that anyone interested can become involved. The website of the International Ma Gui Ba Gua Association is www.maguibagua.com.
The most striking characteristic of Ma Gui baguazhang is the slow and stable circle-walking that develops lower leg strength, qi and blood flow, and whole body power. The body develops to resemble Dong Haichuan and Ma Gui - a thick trunk and back with well developed dantian, firm wrists and ankles, powerful legs and arms, rosy complexion, and calm expression. When practising techniques, footwork is clean and quick, always using koubu and baibu. The system also emphasizes horse stance training to develop useable whole body power in techniques, and specific fast stepping with techniques practices that develop the coordination for the application of this power. Training this system simultaneously develops your health and martial ability. It is not a performance or routine based style.
There is a training manual that reproduces this website (with some added details, integrated photos, and print friendly formatting) in e-book format. Four parts are available, separately, or as one file: Part One: circle-walking and the eight models, Part Two: Changes: Dragon Changes. Part Three: The 16 techniques, and Part Four: the 88 routine. Coming soon, part seven: History.
Check out the Ma Gui Ba Gua Asscociation – North American and European Branch website at www.maguibagua.org. The secretary, Philippe, runs it. It has a large members only section that includes a forum, news, photos, more videos, articles, and opinion polls. This is the official English language forum for the International Association as well.
We are organizing a seminar in Beijing in 2012, in August. For this seminar you should have done seminars with Andrea Falk or Li Baohua previously and be a member of the MGBGA-NAEB or IMBGA. Please let Andrea know if you plan to attend, to get on the email list.
Indoor location for Quebec City, Saturday mornings 9:00 to 10:15, 880 rue Père Marquette.
Wikipedia article on Ma Gui, written by Johnathan Hall.
Walk the circle one step at a time, in the footprints of the masters.
Li Baohua will be teaching Ma Gui baguazhang in Norway Feb.18th to 19th. People that want to attend have to register before January 26th. It is NOT possible to register after this date. Registration giving your name, age, and country, can be sent by e-mail : kilde@c2i.net
Last update to the site: January 23, 2012. Each page is individually dated so you can see when each page has been changed.
