To guarantee the quality of teaching, only qualified members may teach. There is a system of exams on theoretical and practical knowledge and performance. Qualified coaches must pass both aspects, and are only qualified to teach to students under their level. For example, a level one coach may teach students of up to three years experience, and a level two coach may teach students of up to six years experience.
There are four levels of coach. After someone passes the fourth level, they are considered a teacher rather than a coach.
There is another level for developing coaches, the 'grassroots assistant coach'. This level is for places that do not have a qualified coach, and as such this level is in effect outside of China and Japan. The grassroots assistant coach is appointed by a qualified coach, and their teaching content is determined by the coach. Their purpose is to start people out and maintain group training in between seminars by the coach. Grassroots assistant coaches must be very careful to stay within their abilities to maintain the level of instruction of the system - with seminars only twice a year in some places, they play an important role in getting and keeping people in the system.
The judges committee: the judges committee for the coaching test will be made up of at least four coaches, at least one of these will be from a different region than the applicant, and at least one will be a high level coach. A certain number of students should be in attendence at the practical test.
Preparation for testing and definition of terms are as follows:
Seminar participation: Must attend a certain number of seminars, including theory and group practises. Only through class attendence can someone properly understand and master the theories and requirements of baguazhang and prepare a solid foundation for proper technique.
Coaching sessions participation: Once the basic requirements are correct, the applicant must have coaching to correct errors in performance and understanding.
Number of years of training: This is the number of years of training after obtaining the basics of MaGui baguazhang.
Training intensity: This is the number of times per week that the applicant should practise. The applicant should keep records of training sessions in blocks of 40 minutes. So if you have any interest in one day becoming a coach, start a training record now.
Theory: Theory of health enhancement qi and blood, tendons and bones, internal growth, outer reinforcement.
Theory of combat: Theory of baguazhang’s footwork, power release, sticking hands and self defense, sparring.
Techniques: Circle-walking of the eight postures.
Palms: Required moves and optional moves.
Routines: 88 form routine, 128 form routine and self-selected weapons routines.
Partner training: Required drills and optional drills.
Writings: A coach must have a certain understanding of the work of spreading MaGui baguazhang and a certain depth of understanding of the training, so should write at least one article about what they have learned during their training. The article does not need to be published, though this would be great. It should be posted to the international MaGui Bagua website.
