Customer Reviews

Pa-kua: Eight-Trigram Boxing (Chinese Martial Arts Library)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First published in 1967, this book was the first English-language text about Pa-Kua Chuan ("eight trigram boxing," also spelled Baguazhang), a comprehensive system of self-defense from China. It is one of the three nei-chia or "internal" systems of martial arts, the other two being Hsing-I Chuan and the more familiar T'ai-Chi Chuan.

Mr. Smith, now retired, was a CIA analyst specializing in the Chinese economy and is also a leading scholar of Asian fighting arts. ["Asian Fighting Arts," which he co-authored with Donn Draeger, remains the single best comprehensive description of the entire range of Asian martial arts.] Mr. Smith moved to Taiwan with his wife Alice in the late 1950s to study the internal and external arts with their leading exponents, nearly all of whom had left China in 1949. [He relates many of his interesting experiences in another excellent book, "Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods."] He was thus among the first Americans to study these arts with teachers who traced their lineages back to the teachers who codified them in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

This text presents much of the material Mr. Smith brought back from Taiwan, including a brief history of the art and an illustrated description of much of the art's basic material as taught by Mr. Smith's primary teachers, Hung I-hsiang and Kuo Feng-sh'ih. The material covered includes eighteen basic exercises, twenty of the sixty-four linear forms, and the basic circling exercises. The book is thus an indispensable aid for anyone undertaking a serious study of Pa Kua, and also a very interesting and useful text for anyone engaged in almost any kind of serious physical discipline.

No-one has done as much to bring the Chinese internal arts into the awareness of Western martial artists as R.W. Smith.It is reassuring to see that his student, Allan Pittman apparently intends to continue this process.There is nothing superfluous in this book. Aside from basic guidelines of practice, the main focus is on one complete Pa Kua form.This form is demonstrated by Mr. Pittman and the photographs are of such clarity that anyone with a background in one or other movement or martial art should be able to learn from them.As any martial artist worth his salt knows, the basics are everything and the basic practice of Pa Kua is the circle walking, single palm change and the form. This book does an excellent job of illustrating these basics. The rest is up to the reader.

Smith and Pittman have done a wonderful job in condensing vast knowledge in a short,concise and easy to refer book.Diligent practise of the presented forms answers many questions and insights which continue from where the text has left off,a natural way to learn and comprehend any Neijia system(from an eastern teaching point of veiw).It will not be helpful however to someone who is used to being "spoon-fed".Practise correctly and diligently and the system will reveal itself to you.

I've read this book several times, trying to figure out exactly what in it appeals so readily to certain martial artists. In the end, the only thing I can think of is that the demonstration of the form is rather decent.

Other than that, there are no applications shown, no good philosophy work shown, no integration of qigong shown, etc.

Perhaps Mr. Smith is a good practioner of Baguazhang. However, his book has no real depth behind it.

Still, it's better than nothing.

Better reading can be found in *Emei Baguazhang*, that massive tome by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming and Mr. Liang, Shou-Yu.

The best Baguazhang books written in English are by Sifu Park Bok Nam and Dan Miller: "The Fundamentals of Pa Kua Zhang." There are two volumes. The first is a must-read, regardless of your Baguazhang background. If you can comprehend the content of the first volume, then second becomes a necessary addition to your library.

Robert Smith, in 94 pages, introduces us to philosophy, lineage, concepts and the internal power of bagua masters. There are no martial applications described in the book but there is an excellent presentation of a standard intermediate bagua form set. This type of set is usually done after learning to walk the circle with the eight mother palms. This book recommends walking the circle using the basic dragon palms.

This book is an easy, economical way to begin an exploration of Pagua without being ovewhelmed. It should be in everyone's Pakua library.

Clearly written, includes the history, basics; and a well described--complete--Pa Kua Chang solo exercise!

This is a reprint of the now over 30 year old classic that was the first book written by a westerner on this still obscure art. Pa Kua, or the "art of overkill," as it's sometimes called, is still much less known than its sister arts tai chi and hsing i.

After a brief into, some taoist philosophy (such as a brief explanation of the I Ching, and how it relates to pa kua), Smith gives a brief account of the history of the art before getting into the actual techniques. The introduction also includes some delightful stories about the adventures and exploits of some of the most famous masters.

There are two main basic technique sections, one presenting 18 basic movements, and a Forms and Functions chapter of 20 techniques shown with a partner that demostrate the applications. These include hand and foot strikes, traps, takedowns, and throws.

Smith then provides an excellent commentary on how to practice and some do's and don'ts. They're detailed, and at a high level of sophistication in terms of the theory, including much practical advice such as how to relax, how to breathe, how to prepare your mind, and so on. Another important point is that the pa kua techniques are not so much techniques in the traditional sense so much as concepts that manifest change according to the principles of the I Ching. If you understand these and internalize them then your progress will be great. The comments in this section are worth the price of the book by themselves.

Finally, the unique classical circling exercise is presented with a couple of variations thrown in the good measure. These are shown by Paul Kuo, one of Smith's teachers in Taiwan and a famous pa kua master who I had heard of for some years before I saw him demonstrating the form in this book.

I had just one or two final comments about this unique art. The evasive and circling skills of a true pa kua master are formidable and I once had the opportunity to spar with one and see them for myself. I being an advanced karate practitioner, and very big, strong, and fast at the time and the pa kua master being 20 years older and much smaller, I felt he was no match for me in terms of strength and that I had the advantage as far as "duking it out" and trading punches and kicks went.

However, I never got the chance to do that. The master would quickly disappear behind me as soon as I moved toward him. His evasive skills were truly a delight to see and I came away with a new respect and appreciation for this unusual art which is still rarely seen even in China.

This book presents the first descriptions in English of bagua methods transmitted by Zhang Juen-feng to the Hung family of Taipei. The Hung school became renouned and feared for their fighting prowess, so I agree fully with the previous 5-star reviews. Although such forms are posited on a line, there are many spirals and circles inherent to the movements as well, and the system does include a related set of circle walking and circular changes passed down from Zhang. So bagua is circular - true enough - and the author takes things to that level, as exemplified in the circling method of Paul Guo (along with footnotes on Wang Shu-chin, another peerless fighter; just ask the Japanese who met him). Mr Guo was a municipal police officer, also skilled in xing-yi, whose bagua was based on that of Sun Lu-tang. The book does not provide details on the many fighting functions inherent to the circular changes for reasons of time and space and those given by the author himself (i.e., linear methods more easy to grasp for Westerners at the time). Think about it. Given his vast experience, it is unlikely that the author would take the time to learn and publish a method that was devoid of fighting applications. In fact, he showed many of them in his regular classes, and importantly, also taught principles on how to look for other applications. Times being what they are today, it should be no problem for the uninitiated and perplexed to find someone also skilled at the circling methods in order to lend a convincing hand. But first, give the book a fair shake, try some of the methods, and then go out and find a teacher to help you along. Respectfully, even if you are an undefeated mixed-martial arts champion, a thorough study of these practices will surely improve your skill level and definitely change your outlook on these arts.

Mr. Smith presents the first ever English book on the linear Baguazhang of the notorious Gao Yiseng as taught by Hong Yixiang in Taiwan during the 1950's. Smith's teacher Hong was famous for his no hold's barred fighting skills, and was feared during a time when all out street fights were a common event and popular pastime. Many of his students went on to become expert bagua and xingyiquan practitioners and continue to teach today.

Mr. Smith never claimed to have attained his master's skill, but he did do his best to present the art for the benefit of those in the West unable to witness this extraordinary martial art first hand.

This volume inspired many to travel to Asia and many more to seek out teachers of the internal arts. You too will find lots of interesting instructional advice, history and presentation of classical linear and circular forms to enjoy.

Unfortunately there are a few ignorant souls among us who don't understand very much about the history and development of Bagua. This is understandable as there are many different branches.

I advise the innocent to go out and find a teacher of Gao style Baguazhang who can swiftly show you that the linear Bagua forms are very useful. When you recover consciousness you can begin to study them. In the process you will hopefully learn to keep your mouth shut about things you know so little about.

Sincerely, a fellow student

As a relatively new student of Pa-Kua, I found Mr. Smith's book to be a good introductory text to this wonderful and complex internal style. While he does offer a very good history of Pa-Kua, my only criticism would be that he has a bit too many pictures and not quite enough explanatory text for a book of this size. I would like to know more about the purpose of each movement and less images, since I don't think one can actually learn a martial art via a book alone,but I do think that one can glean valuable insights form the author's experience, and that knowledge, combined with a good teacher, can help one learn this fascinating art more efficiently.