Bagua Linked Palms [Paperback]

Shujin Wang (Author), Kent Howard (Translator), Hsiao-Yen Chen (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2009

Master Wang Shujin (1904—1981) was one of the world’s foremost exponents of Chinese internal martial arts, with legendary expertise in the disciplines of Bagua Zhang, Taiji Quan, and Xingyi Quan. This book offers a lucid translation of Master Wang’s seminal work on Bagua Zhang and includes expanded instruction by co-translator and noted Bagua Zhang expert Kent Howard. It also introduces readers to a rarely seen personal side of Wang Shujin, who was not only a fighter but also a teacher and spiritual leader.

Bagua Linked Palms includes a wealth of additional information useful to the practitioner of internal martial arts, including the story of Bagua Zhang’s development, the connection between the Bagua and the I Ching, and step-by-step instruction in the eight “changes” of Bagua Linked Palms, the first form in Master Wang’s style of Bagua Zhang. This comprehensive, richly annotated text makes it a must-have addition to every serious martial arts library.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I first met Kent Howard nearly twenty years ago, just after I started publishing the Pa Kua Chang Journal. Kent quickly became one of my most reliable and trusted resources, offering me sound and straightforward advice about the practice of Bagua Zhang, Chinese culture, and the Chinese language. Kent has brought all of that wisdom, and his decades of experience, to the writing of this wonderful book. He is the only person I know who could have presented this book with such insight and accuracy."
—Dan Miller, publisher and editor, Pa Kua Chang Journal

"Wang Shu Jin was one of China's authentic and truly talented ba gua and tai chi masters. Kent Howard’s book provides insight into Wang's wisdom and power as a martial artist."
—Bruce Frantzis, author of The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi

"Kent Howard not only has the experience in Bagua to write this, he also has the intelligence and discrimination to do the translation justice. I know of no better person in the English- or Chinese-speaking world for the task. I hope and expect this text to be the definitive one on Wang Shujin for many years to come."
—Allen Pittman, author of Walking the I Ching: The Linear Ba Gua of Gao Yi Sheng

"Here at last is the late master Wang Shujin's introduction to the sublime art of Bagua Zhang in English! We all owe a debt to Kent Howard for this valuable contribution to the martial arts archive."
—Marnix Wells, author of Scholar Boxer: Cháng Nâizhou's Theory of Internal Martial Arts and the Evolution of Taijiquan

"Wang Shujin’s Bagua Linked Palms ranks as one of the most influential Bagua training manuals ever written. This work is an outstanding addition to the historical scholarship concerning Wang Shujin and with its numerous clear photos, it is equally valuable for those seeking practical instruction in Wang’s Bagua.
—Brian L. Kennedy, author of Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey

“Howard has just published the first translation of and commentary on a 40-year-old Chinese text on bagua zhang, Bagua Linked Palms, by Master Wang Shujin…The book is a transmission of the teachings Howard has studied since 1973. With a B.A. degree in East Asian languages and cultures, Howard is fluent in Mandarin and well-known in the bagua community as a Taoist, martial artist, teacher, writer and translator.”
—NewsReview.com

“Kent Howard provides excellent commentary on Wang's original writing, and unlike some Bagua photo essays, the form is readable.”
—Dojo Rat

About the Author

Master Wang Shujin is considered one of the greatest martial artists of the twentieth century. Kent Howard is a nationally known writer, martial arts teacher, and former contributor to the esteemed Pa Kua Chang Journal. Chen Hsiao-Yen, his wife, is an artist, translator, and writer from Taiwan. The couple lives in Chico, CA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Blue Snake Books; annotated edition edition (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583942645
• ISBN-13: 978-1583942642
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.3 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Martial Arts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Essential... & Fantastic as Well!, September 22, 2009

By 

David A. Anselmi "taijidave" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bagua Linked Palms (Paperback)

I've been practicing Internal Martial Arts for twenty years now, & been teaching for 15, including taiji (Yang), bagua (Fu Chen-Sung), & hsing-i (mishmash). I've had this Manual in the original Chinese for nearly all that time-- & have found it absolutely Essential, even when I couldn't read a word. How is that? b/c with Wang, you can learn quite a bit just by studying his pictures(!!)

For example: [esp in the 'Palm Change' pictures, Chapter 8]:

Wang's energy is very whole-&-total, or what Sun Lu-Tang called the "I-Ch'i": there isn't a single picture where Wang's lacking energy in any limb. Further, his root is extraordinary; you can see how his legs extend at least 3' or more into the ground; esp. in the later palm-change postures, it's like looking at an iceberg: most of Wang is below the ground. Even better, he is physically demonstrating the internal principle Fu Zhongwen translates as "an intangible and lively energy lifts the crown of the head" (or in other words, his shen energy is located in his upper dan-tien, while his ch'i energy is coalesced in his lower dan-tien). And yes his eyes are very bright, but his energetic balance is sublime: he never 'emits' from his eyes more than he extends downwards, thru his root. That is very rare to see demonstrated in my experience from training with several different (famous) Teachers, & even more rare to see it published in photos like these. This is the kind of thing that was once very carefully guarded as an 'Inner Door Secret'; top practitioners showed that level of skill behind closed doors only, & definitely didn't let (just) anyone photograph them doing it...

But for me? My favorite part are his 'big hands'... many practitioners, esp those doing Iron Palm, are able to generate lots of energy in their palms... but that comes at the expense of other parts of their bodies, often their legs, etc. So you see 'big hands on a small body', or 'lollipop arms' if you will. But not Wang-- he has Big Hands connected to a Big Full body, with a Huge Root. Wow.

So you get ALL of that with the pictures... & now you get to read the actual text as well!!

Plus don't overlook the 'Basic Principles' section; similar ideas &/or 'Secrets' have been written in several other manuals, but this version has some very subtle distinctions which are crucial. For instance, the '6-Combinations' description is very elegant, and the 'pull-up anus' (ie 'ding') emphasizes "lightly contracting" (rather than forcibly exerting-- a very important distinction, helping you avoid lots of maladies...).

Incredible book, & now an incredible translation. We owe a massive debt to Kent Howard and Chen Hsiao-Yen. THANK-YOU, SO MUCH!!!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Material, November 26, 2009

By 

S. Bryant - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bagua Linked Palms (Paperback)

This small volume is really one of my new favorite works on Baguazhang. It has the qualities of being both brief and enjoyable. I think the best way I can express my enjoyment of the book is like this: it is short enough that I read the entire thing in Barnes and Noble, but interesting enough that I still bought a copy anyway.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wang Shujin's Bagua, September 11, 2009

By 

John Dougherty (Aurora, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bagua Linked Palms (Paperback)

All students and fans of the Chinese Internal Martial Arts will appreciate this fine book. Kent Howard has given us a great gift by sharing this work with all aficionados of the Internal Arts.

Anyone that may have come across Robert Smith's wonderful books on Chinese Boxing and its "Internal Arts" will know this man. Furthermore, those who already know of Baguazhang and special publications like Dan Miller's "Pa Kua Chang Journal" will enjoy this book. Check the blurbs by Dan Miller and Bruce "Kumar" Frantzis - you will not be disappointed - this is a scholarly work.