Huo family Bajiquan 霍氏八极拳

Huo Family Bajiquan (Chinese: 霍氏八极拳) is a tradition of Bajiquan founded by Huo DianGe in the early 1900's (likely early 1920's) and stemming from LuoTong Bajiquan. Huo Bajiquan is mainly found in TianJin, Hebei and the three North-Eastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang.

## History

Huo's Bajiquan originated from Luotong Bajiquan, specifically Zhang Ke-Ming and Li Da-Zhong who had, in turn, learned from the Wu Family. Zhang's apprentice, Huang Sihai passed their teachings to his student, Li Shuwen, who eventually taught the founder of Huo Family Bajiquan, Huo Dian-Ge.

Following from Huo Dian-Ge, there are several groups of students:

* Those taught by Huo Dian-Ge
* Those taught by Huo Qing-Yun
* Those taught by Zhou Xinwu (because he was practicing Huo Diange’s Bajiquan, and some of them were later listed under Huo Diange’s school)

Huo had two daughters and two sons, the eldest son Huo Qingfeng, and the second son Huo Qingshan ; Huo Qingyun has two children, the eldest son Huo Wenbo, and the second son Huo Wenxue. These four people have their own family biography and are the main descendants of Huo's Bajiquan. They are called "old brothers and little brothers" in the family.

Huo Diange had a son in the middle age and regarded Huo Qingfeng and Huo Qingshan as jewels in his palm. The two have both inherited martial arts from the family, read and learned, and are versatile. After years of study and speculation, they have their own unique understanding of Huo's Bajiquan. After Huo Diange's death, the two brothers returned to their hometowns one after another. After liberation, he taught at the small set school in Cangzhou in his hometown, while continuing to study family martial arts.

## Characteristics

This tradition was famous for their extreme body skills such as Iron shirt (鐵衫), Iron Palm (铁掌功) and various other hard qigong and conditioning drills. This emphasis on building a strong body can be seen in the Huo forms, which may be percieved as "simplified" due to movements that are designed for someone whos limbs have been forged into weapons - without the advanced conditioning, there is not much the techniques are far less effective. It can be said that heavy focus on these types of skills were not unusual in previous generations, however, Huo Family Bajiquan seems to have retained this focus more than many other traditions of Bajiquan. Many stories exist of Huo Family masters who had conditioned their bodies through training their Hard Qi to the point that hitting them was described as being like hitting a solid wall, one such example being Huo QingYun(霍慶雲) who was nicknamed “Iron Form (鐵架子)” by his martial brothers.

## Techniques in Huo family Bajiquan

### 1. Warmups

* 溜穴 (liū xué) Slip the Cave
* 圈抱掌 (quān bào zhǎng) Hug the Palms
* 悠裆 (yōu dāng) Swing your Crotch
* 走行步 (zǒuxíng bù) Traveling Step
* 鹞子穿林 (yàozi chuān lín) Sparrow Pierces the Forest
* 压腿 (yā tuǐ) Stretch your Legs
* 踢腿 (tī tuǐ) Kick your Legs
* 溜腿 (liū tuǐ) Slip your Legs

### 2. Basic Techniques

In order of learning:

1. 闯步 (chuǎng bù)
2. 撑捶 (chēng chuí) (Also in Jingang Bashi)
3. 迎面掌 (yíngmiàn zhǎng) (Also in Jingang Bashi)
4. 怀抱婴儿 (huáibào yīng'ér) (First technique in Small Form)

### 3. Jin'gang Bashi (Eight Guardian Forms, 金刚八式)

In order of learning:

1. Cheng Chui (撑捶)
2. Ying'mian Zhang (迎面掌)
3. Xiang Long (降龙)
4. Fu Hu (伏虎)
5. Pi'shan Zhang (劈山掌)
6. Tan'ma Zhang (探马掌)
7. Quan'bao Zhang (圈抱掌)
8. Hu'bao (虎抱)

### 4. Liudakai (Badakai) (Six/Eight Wide Openings, 六大开 (八大开))

1. Ding'zhou (顶肘)
2. Bao'zhou (抱肘)
3. Dan Yang Da (单阳打)
4. Ti'zhou (提肘)
5. Kua'da (挎打)
6. Da'shuang Chan (大双缠)
7. Zhao'yang Shou (朝阳手)
8. Ba'wang Zhe Jiang (霸王折缰)

### 5. Taolu (Forms, 套路）

* Baji Xiaojiao (Small Form, 八极小架),
* Bajiquan (Big Form, 八极拳)
* Baji Duijie Quan (Paired Form, 八极对接拳)
* Baji Piguazhang (Piguazhang, 八极劈挂掌)
* Baji Yingshou Quan (八极应手拳)

### 6. Spear

1. Du'qiang (Directing the spear, 督枪)
2. Quan'qiang (Circling the spear, 圈枪)
3. Chuan'suo (Shuttle back and forth, 穿梭)
4. Lan Na Zha (Block, seize, prick, 拦拿扎)

### "Eight Practices of Huo's Baji"

The exercises of a type of boxing include internal and external exercises. Forced exercises can also be called exercises. And what this section talks about is mainly physical exercises. Practicing oneself means using bare hands or using equipment, and using special methods to carry out intensive exercises that exceed the inherent conditions of one's own special ability. Some of these exercises must be practiced by all schools, such as force, resistance, etc.; some are special exercises that highlight the characteristics of boxing in order to make their skills more lethal, such as the finger strength of the Eagle Claw Gate and the Nanquan. Bridgeman and so on. This special technique must correspond to the technical characteristics of a certain type of boxing. In other words, "Without this special training, certain techniques of this type of boxing cannot be practical or used but the effect is not good."

    The characteristics of Bajiquan determine the importance of stakes, the ability to lean on the body, the ability to wrap arms and the ability to apply force. Therefore, many of the exercises of the Bajimen are designed to strengthen this. Design and training for one ability.

    The main exercises of Huo's Bajiquan can be summarized in eight words:

    Bow (sling force bow), handle (bamboo handle), ball (yellow mud ball), board (wood palm board), pile (living tree stump), bag (cloth sand bag), clothing (iron waistcoat), air (air port) .

    A bow.

    The bow, as the name implies, is like a bow that shoots arrows. It is used to practice external support, which can increase the breakthrough ability when attacking and the penetration ability of the clothes. There are two ways to practice the bow: one is to practice the upper limbs, and the other is to practice the whole body.

    In terms of practicing upper body kung fu, the most modern alternative to the bow is the tensioner. Its manufacturing methods are diverse, as long as it is a bow. But the place where the tensioner is worse than the bow is: the tensioner only has the front and back force, but not the force to pull the wrist. If the bow is longer, the exercises for wrist stability cannot be replaced by a tensioner. Putting the bow on the body can also practice some smashing and smashing techniques, which is also something that a rally device cannot afford.

    The elasticity of the bow differs from person to person, and from person's physical strength and skill.

    The bow training method is: the attacking hand grasps the back of the bow, the other hand grasps the bowstring, and both hands are in place and hold on at the same time. The principle is to loosen the hand when grasping, and then grasp it tightly when exerting force (Figure 223, 224). When practicing, the left and right sides should be interchanged, and the direction of the hands should not be fixed in the same position and direction. If you are practicing elbow force, the inner side of the bow should be concave, which is good for elbow support.

    As far as the overall skill is concerned, the bow is not simply a bow, but a pile. The specific method is: bury a log of pine in the ground, and cover the body of the log with thick cotton wool (wrapped in cloth). Then add a bow or bamboo pole to the back of the log (relative to the practitioner) to hold it horizontally and fix it. Pull the rope at both ends of the bow or pole, and pull it behind the practitioner to fix it so that the board will have Greater rebound force.

    The practice of exerting strength is not to do moves randomly, you must use standard **martial arts** techniques. If exercises and boxing are out of touch, then they lose meaning.

The principles and precautions of practice are discussed in detail in the previous article, and I hope scholars will pay special attention. The same is true for other exercises, so I won’t repeat them later.

    Two.

    The name of the handle is derived from the commonly used tool in the folk, that is, the part of the broom handle (Figure 225), which is used to practice the grip of the hand. It can enhance the ability to control the opponent during the process of confrontation, and it is also the key to enhancing the ability to capture.

    When doing it, tie it with thin bamboo, usually three iron belts, which are about two feet long, remove burrs, and practice twisting your hands. At the same time, it can be used for whole body slapping and pressing of forearm and calf bone.

    The work is not taught by Li Shuwen.

    The general principle of the exercise is to stretch both arms as far as possible and keep the meaning of external support. Bend your knees, keep your body upright, and keep your breath down. Grasping the other hand with one hand is a little looser than the gripping hand-it not only forms the resistance of both hands, but also ensures that the gripping hand can rotate hard.

    The training methods are generally divided into the following types:

    1. Hold both hands upright and twist them in opposite directions (Figure 226) until they reach the limit of movement. What must be pointed out here is: the real limit is not what everyone does casually, but the arms are crossed, the palms of both hands are facing the face of the practitioner-one is the left arm is inside and the right arm is outside, the other is the right. The arm is inside and the left arm is outside (Figure 227).

    2. Both hands hold back. The requirements are the same as above.

    3. The hand is holding the other hand in reverse. This kind of grip makes it difficult to cross the arms.

    4. When whipping the whole body, you must pay special attention to your ability to withstand it. The same is true when rolling the arms and legs with the bar (sometimes the arms and legs can be rolled at the same time, the method is to roll the arms and the legs).

    When hitting the body with bamboo handles, there must be breath coordination, followed by a detailed discussion, pay attention to read and taste. If your resistance is not enough, you must first use equipment that is not too hard and has no edges.

    In addition, using one end of the handle against the heart and the other end against the wall can also be used for resistance exercises.

    As long as the use of equipment conforms to the principles, you can take many methods, and it all depends on your understanding.

    Three balls.

    The ball mentioned here is not a standard very round sphere, but a bun-shaped one (Figure 228). Huo's Octopus exercises two balls, one for each hand, and one for each. It is to practice the overall coordination ability of the whole body in the presence of resistance, which can enhance the support of the upper limbs and prevent the upper limbs from being easily disintegrated when attacking. The exercise of the ball is focused on the upper limbs, but it is the kung fu of the whole body.

    When making, first stir evenly with loess and a hemp knife, then add water to make mud and make it into a trowel shape. While the ball is not dry, use the open five fingers (such as holding a steamed bun) to form five holes at the upper round end of the ball. Pay attention that you use your fingers to penetrate straight and not to grab the holes. After inserting it to the end, that is, after the palm of your hand is resting on the solid sphere, press your fingertips inward a little bit, but not too deeply. After all these are done, put it in the shade and dry it out of direct sunlight. At the beginning of the practice, it is generally appropriate to take four or five catties, and not to be greedy. Prepare another piece of well-stirred loess, and wipe it with three dollars a day. As long as you persist, your skill will naturally improve quickly. This set of exercises is a typical exercise of Huo's Baji, but it is not taught by the sharp gun Li Shuwen. I think Huo Diange always practiced this exercise secretly back then, for fear of being seen by Li Shuwen.

    Its inheritor was a man named Gao Xianyun (Gao Huchen), who was a prisoner of war of Tianjin Supervisor Li Jinglin (Li Fanghuan) at the time. Everyone called him Gao Lao Dao, but it is said that he came out of Shaolin Temple. It is said that there is a rule for practicing this exercise, that is, you can't beat each ball for less than 40 catties. According to my knowledge, Huo Wenbo's eldest son Hawking Ling and third son Hawking have trained for 40 kilograms.

    The reason why Diaoqiu is called Diaoqiu is that its basic skill is to make wrists (Figures 229 and 230), and it requires only wrist strength instead of arm strength.

Diaoqiu's practice has a routine, which can be combined or split, but in the final analysis, it must be split first. Because it is not easy to grasp the intention in complete training. Diaoqiu is an exercise with both hands to practice the overall strength of the whole body. Therefore, it must also follow the essential requirements of pile power.

The specific training methods are as follows:

Diao ball is passed from Gao Lao Dao, Huang Ni finger sticks straight and not concave.

The double balls are placed in the Promise style, and the body is relaxed and there is no wave.

Grab down and straighten up your flat arms, flex your arms and raise your wrists high.

After leaning over to support the crotch, he straightened up his waist.

The side points the ball with the arms flat, and the lift is divided into three strokes.

Open your arms and turn around to take the right ball, and turn your back to the right.

Turn around three times, turn your waist and bend your hands three times.

Raise the arm uninterrupted, and turn the fingers up and down three times.

Both arms are pinto and the ground is level.

Bring your arms together and be straight forward, leaning over to release the ball without being impatient.

The qi moves with the ball loosely, and you must be firm when riding a horse.

Keep increasing three dollars a day, don't be greedy for meritorious deeds.

    In addition to this set of exercises, there are some single exercises. Such as: catching the ball, sucking the ball, fanning the ball, etc. Catch the ball with a big ball, practice the finger grasping arm lift; suck the ball without inserting the finger, but lift the ball with the clasp of the palm; to make a flat ball and put it in a cloth bag, and add a loop cover on the bag Put it on the thumb, then flatten the arm with the palm edge.

    Four boards.

    It is a strong and flexible long plank. It is a special technique for practicing the strength of the palm of the fist, which can enhance the breakthrough ability of the cloth and the second attack ability of the palm. Because this exercise is mainly based on palm training, it is also called palm board.

    A long wooden plank, about 2 meters long, placed in a narrow trough, the length of the trough is about 50 cm, the width of the trough is appropriate to leave a space for the planks according to the thickness of the plank, on the back of the plank Hold it with the elastic rod (Figure 258). This kind of exercise is most suitable for practicing fists, palms, knees and elbows. If you hit them with your palms, you will not only practice the strength but also the strength of the pick, in order to knock people into the air.

    The palm board can also be arranged like a bow (Figure 259).

    For beginners, it should be based on a fixed distance to withstand the force. For those with certain skills, you can combine some live-step training methods, especially some sudden advancement and withdrawal techniques, to obtain the feeling of balancing the body when subjected to resistance, and also better exercise the sense of distance and clothing. The ability to exert force. This point is crucial for moving towards actual combat.

    The choice of wood board is very important. Do not use some particularly dry boards, because they are easy to break and have poor elasticity.

    Five piles.

    The stump is the thick stump of the bowl mouth (the two-handed tiger's mouth meets the ring), and you can practice various techniques in Bajiquan. It is vital that this pile be flexible. An inelastic pile not only hurts the body, but it is also impossible to practice the staring and thoroughness of a combined blow. The elasticity of the pile must not be at the root of the pile, but at the middle and upper part of the pile. Above the knee of the general public. This is very crucial for making effort.

    Stakes are mainly used to practice close-to-body wrestling. Of course, palm and foot techniques can also be practiced. If you wrap some soft things on the pile, you can also practice elbows and knees.

    Shuang Gong is the most important method of Bajiquan. Bajiquan's close-to-body throwing (note that it is throwing and not anything else) is a distinctive technique that is different from many types of boxing, and stubbing is the most scientific method to temper this core technique. The reason it is said to be scientific is that many common exercises ignore the characteristic of human foundation in the footsteps (such as sandbag exercises), while pile exercises are directed at this. Without the training of the stakes, the training of the Bajiquan technique is basically lost. Removing the stakes is equivalent to losing all the keys to winning the Baji. In view of this, there can also be other training methods for pile skills, such as pile piles (pictures 260-261), hit piles (pictures 262-265), kick piles, etc.

    Piling is not only a combination of techniques, but also a combination of breath. This should also be paid attention to. The quality of the pile is also very important. Good flexibility is one aspect, and the thickness should be moderate. It is best if it is a living tree.

The first practice of pile gong is "impact skill". Without a strong impact ability, the Bajiquan throwing method is difficult to work.

    Six packs.

    The bag is the sand bag that is hoisted and the sand bag is laid. The former practice hitting, throwing, lean on belt, picking, etc., while the latter practice iron palm (arm).

Training method of iron sand palm:

    1. Sand making bags. Sew a pillow-like canvas bag with double inside and outside. It contains iron sand, mung bean, pepper, bran. The amount of iron sand depends on your ability to adapt, and you must not be greedy. The role of mung bean and pepper is to disinfect and promote blood circulation.

    2. Practice parts. Focus on practicing the palm, back of the palm, the outer side of the thumb, the outer side of the little finger, and the four sides of the forearm. You can also practice finger strength. But under normal circumstances, practice refers to the force to be carried out in the bag or other container.

    3. Practice method. Practicing the basic movement of the iron sand palm, "slide the acupuncture point", just do not hit one's head bones or weakness when exerting force, but a sand bag. (Picture 266-270)

    4. Essentials. Relax the whole body, move naturally, and be proud.

    5. Practicing hand medicine. Using the secret recipe handed down by the sharp gun Li Shuwen, the author has used it many times for himself and for others, and the effect is very good. This medicine can penetrate into the muscles and bones due to the effect of Tougucao, and promptly remove the skin redness, swelling, congestion, and muscles and bones caused by Qi Gong. At the same time, the medicine has a new effect. It can be used daily. The natural metabolism of human tissues gradually changes the function and strengthens the bones. So some people say: "Iron palm is fed with medicine."

    Qiyi.

    Yi, also known as iron vest. The method is to make a waistcoat with cloth, sew clothes bags on the front and back, insert lead strips, iron blocks or iron sand in the bags, and practice with weights. The Huo family does not allow to practice sand leggings, because it implies to the legs that they must overcome the sinking force of the sandbag and cause the legs to push upwards. This is exactly the taboo of Baji Kungfu. It can avoid floating after removal. The iron waistcoat is not. It can support the exercises of Bajiquan and pull the strength, and can enhance the strength of the legs.

    Eight Qi.

    The breath is the breath mentioned many times before. As a kind of exercise method, it belongs to the combination of internal and external fighting skills. There are acupuncture points, backing, heart and mouth exercises.

    Slipping acupuncture points means slamming one's body with your hands; backing on the back of the mountain is hitting against the gable with your body; and practicing your heart's defense ability.

When practicing breathing, at the moment of hitting your own body, you should mobilize the qi in your body to the hit part and push it outwards. At the same time, you must tighten your muscles to increase your resistance and wake up. The process of mobilizing Qi is the process of intention. In all resistance training, the use of mind is very important, regardless of whether it is a human cavity or non-cavity. The purpose of training is to train the reaction speed of the human body, and any movement without speed will not work.

    The breath can be practiced by oneself or by another person. During mutual training, the coordinator must fully follow the victim's wishes to exert their strength. Also master the principle of moderation when practicing by yourself.

    In addition, Huo’s Baji also has eagle claw strength, diamond finger, etc. There are many exercises, and full practice is not required.

    The practice method of Diamond Finger:

    The power of the diamond finger is very powerful in the eight-pole attack, and it is also very helpful to the eagle claw power. It is a method of combining energy and strength.

    The first step: Use your thumb to imaginarily point to the wall, and use your mind to guide the qi in your body to be at your fingertips, with the intention of passing through the wall while breathing.

    Step 2: Use your thumb to imaginary point on the wall and apply a little force. The rest is the same as above.

    Step 3: Point the thumb firmly on the wall, apply force, and limit the endurance of the finger. The rest is the same as above.

    Step 4: Touch the wall with your thumb and move your feet back to make the body and the wall have an angle so that the person is no longer upright and parallel to the wall to increase the pressure on the fingers. The rest is the same as above. With the increase of skill, the inclination of the body should gradually increase.

    This exercise involves practicing the thumb first and then the other fingers. You can also practice with five fingers.

    As a kind of exercise, it is called Jingang Zhigong; for the practice of a single finger, it is called practicing gold acupuncture. The golden needle finger is reflected in the "Yi Jin Jing" and "Ying Shou Quan".

-"Eight Practices of Huo's Baji"

### The Mudball Training method

The mud ball training of Huo's Bajiquan is also called Diaoqiu. Generally, two mud balls are practiced, one for each hand, and one for each hand. It is to practice the overall coordination ability of the whole body in the presence of resistance, which can enhance the support of the upper limbs and prevent the upper limbs from being easily disintegrated when attacking. The exercise of the ball is focused on the upper limbs, but it is the kung fu of the whole body. Let's introduce the method of making and training mud balls.

　　1. Making of Mud Ball 一、泥球的制作

　　When making a mud ball, first mix it with loess and a hemp knife, then add water to make the mud and make it into a trowel shape. While the ball is not dry, use the open five fingers (such as holding a steamed bun) to form five holes at the upper round end of the ball. Pay attention that you use your fingers to penetrate straight and not to grab the holes. After inserting it to the end, that is, after the palm of your hand is resting on the solid sphere, press your fingertips inward a little bit, but not too deeply. After all these are done, put it in the shade and dry it out of direct sunlight. At the beginning of the practice, it is generally appropriate to take four or five catties, and not to be greedy. Prepare another piece of well-stirred loess, and wipe it with three dollars a day. As long as you persist, your skill will naturally improve quickly.

　　2. Mud ball training method 二、泥球训练方法

　　The reason why Diaoqiu is called Diaoqiu is that its basic skill is to make use of the wrist. It requires only wrist strength and not arm strength.

　　Diaoqiu's practice has a routine, which can be combined or split, but in the final analysis, it must be split first. Because it is not easy to grasp the intention in complete training. Diaoqiu is an exercise with both hands to practice the overall strength of the whole body. Therefore, it must also follow the essential requirements of pile power.

　　The specific training methods of Diaoqiu are as follows:

　　Diao ball is passed from Gao Dao,

　　The yellow mud fingers are straight and not concave.

　　Double balls are placed side by side,

　　The body is relaxed and there is no wave.

　　Grab down and straighten up your flat arms,

　　The arms are bent and the ball is raised high.

　　After leaning over the crotch,

　　Straighten up and straighten up.

　　The side points the ball with the arms flat,

　　The joint exercise was divided into three times.

　　Open the arm and turn around to take the right ball,

　　Raise your head and turn your waist to the right.

　　Turn three times with one smooth and one back,

　　Turn around and bend your hands to make trouble.

　　Raise the arm uninterrupted,

　　The left and right three change fingers upturned.

　　Pinto and ground level with arms,

　　Don't drop the ball suddenly.

　　Bring your arms together and go straight forward,

　　Leaning over to put the ball is not impatient.

　　Qi moves with the ball loosely,

　　Riding a horse must be fast.

　　Continue to increase three dollars a day,

　　Don't be greedy for meritorious deeds.

　 刁球具体练法如下：

　　刁球传自高老道，

　　黄泥指插直不凹。

　　双球并放无极式，

　　身拨体松气无涛。

　　俯抓直起平臂刁，

　　屈臂刁球腕挑高。

　　俯身反托送裆后，

　　直刁高举挺直腰。

　　侧分托球双臂平，

　　合举再分走三遭。

　　开臂转身出右球，

　　仰首向右拨转腰。

　　一顺一背转三回，

　　转腰俯手刁十遭。

　　仰起旋臂不间断，

　　左右三换指上翘。

　　双臂平托与地平，

　　突变俯刁球莫掉。

　　双臂并拢前直刁，

　　俯身放球不急躁。

　　气随球走体松沉，

　　骑马蹲裆步要牢。

　　不辍每日增三钱，

　　不可贪功使命糟。

　　In addition to this set of exercises, there are some single exercises. Such as: catching the ball, sucking the ball, fanning the ball, etc. Catch the ball with a big ball, practice the finger grasping arm lift; suck the ball without inserting the finger, but lift the ball with the clasp of the palm; to make a flat ball and put it in a cloth bag, and add a loop cover on the bag Put it on the thumb, then flatten the arm with the palm edge.

**Introduction to the mud ball exercises of Huo's Bajiquan**

　　In the skill training of Huo’s Bajiquan, mud ball is a very important practice method, which is unique to Huo’s Bajiquan and can also be said to be the most representative exercise method of Huo’s Bajiquan. The mud ball was not taught by Li Shuwen. It was borrowed by Huo Diange from Gao Xianyun Dao's strengths when he was in Tianjin. It has a very obvious effect on increasing the overall skill of the whole body. It is said that senior Huo Diange practiced clay ball secretly, for fear of being seen by Li Shuwen.

　　The mud ball is made of yellow mud and hemp knife ash, like a steamed bun, and the left and right hands are practiced at the same time. To practice mud ball, you must have a foundation in boxing and master the essentials of correct bodywork. The initial practice should be about four to five kilograms. Use lunges and horse stances to practice wrist turning and wrist turning...! There is also a special routine for mud ball, but the usual practice should still be single-handed. Qi runs through the dantian on the limbs, breathing naturally and slowly, body and footwork should be flexible, not stiff, especially pay attention to shoulders and elbows. Don't hold your breath intentionally or use brute force.

　　The weight of the mud ball must be gradually increased according to the size of the individual's skill and the adaptability of the body. Don't be greedy for more weight, so as not to hurt your body. You need to know that the mud ball is used to train your skills, not to show it to others, so don't blindly compare the weight with others. Seeing that others are practicing 20 pounds, I must practice 30 pounds. If you just think of mud balls as a way to build muscle strength, isn't it more appropriate to use dumbbells and barbells? Therefore, practice should be moderate.

#### Eight Meanings of Huo Style 内存八意，外具八形，动用八面

1. The memory has eight meanings, the outside has eight shapes, and the eight sides are used

　　　What is the eight meanings? That is, panic, panic, cruel, poison, fierce, fierce, god, and anxious. The Bajiquan proverb goes: “Writing has Taiji for peace, and Wu has Baji for the world.” The meaning is: Taijiquan is steady and good at defense, and Bajiquan is strong and good at attack. Bajiquan is strong and strong, but too strong is easy to break. This requires practitioners of Bajiquan to be strong and strong, but also to emphasize the yin and yang frustration, and the strength to penetrate. The inner strength is to practice qi alone, and the outer is to practice hard and strengthen the muscles and bones. In the offensive and defensive combat, there must be a tiger's might, and the strength (explosive force) is the main force. It moves like a bow, like a thunder, it moves like a lightning bolt. When you do it, raise your hand without giving in, and do it without mercy.

　　What is the eight shape? That is, dragon, tiger, bear, monkey, swallow, harrier, eagle, chicken. Although there are not many moves to imitate each animal, they vividly show their characteristics. But it is not a mechanical imitation, but the most representative look and characteristics of each animal are refined. After being "humanized", it takes its meaning from its form. The beauty lies in the similarity and the dissimilarity.

　　The essence of the eight shapes: the dragon’s search for bones and clouds; the tiger’s leaning and feeding; the bear’s elbow falling and swaying; the monkey’s contraction and leaping; the swallow’s copying water and piercing the sky; the harrier’s walking through the forest, Turn over; the eagle's eyes and claws; the chicken's wings and independence.

　　This requires that when practicing Bajiquan, it is necessary to understand the essentials of the corresponding movements according to the image characteristics of the eight animals, so as to promote the growth of kung fu and the effect of practical application. For example: in offensive and defensive combat, there must be a tiger's might and a bear's calmness. Practitioners like this can have a detailed experience in the practice.

　　What is eight-sided? Eight-sided means eight directions. Han 9 9 Liu An "Huainan Zi 9 9 Terrain Training" said: "Nine states and eight poles between heaven and earth." And "outside the nine states there are eight funerals, and beyond the eight funerals there are eight humerals, and the eight humerals There are eight poles outside.” Gao You’s note: “Funeral is still far away. Brachial, Weiye, and Weiluo are the expressions of the world, so it is called Brachio.” Eight-sided means eight directions, and eight-pole boxing means boxing. Send to all directions, reaching the extreme. Therefore, those who practice Baji martial arts should train according to the meaning of the eight directions, and the strength of the practice is extended to all directions, which is consistent with the meaning of the farthest of the eight directions. At the same time, this training emphasizes the use of the eight parts of head, shoulders, elbows, hands, tail, hips, knees, and feet to remind learners to always concentrate, so that the offensive and defensive skills of these eight parts are refined and proficient.

　　After understanding the above requirements, when practicing boxing, you should focus on the coordination and smoothness of the whole body. The internal movement must be externally formed, and the external movement must be internally. Activating blood with qi, nourishing strength with blood, stimulating strength with breath, and energizing with strength; when moving is divided, when static is combined; there is no movement when there is no movement, and there is no static when there is stillness.

　　　Second, the power is precious, the middle is flat, the body is precious and the integrity

　　 　When practicing Bajiquan, you should focus on the middle and flat frame, and after hard practice, you should also take into account the low and flat frame, that is, the low frame. When opening a fist, it means that the sky is blue above the head, the feet are tied to the ground, the chest is pulled out, the shoulders are loosened and the hips are cut, the breath runs through the pubic area, the upper body is upright, the knees do not go over the toes, the crotch is rounded, follow the step, go through all directions, not biased Only one corner can be stable, and only a thick frame can beat others. It has eight shapes and eight meanings, and the purpose is "extreme".

　　　Three, on Liuhe, on breathing

　　 　Bajiquan requires natural breathing, with qi coming from the nose, and pressing on the dantian, with the force coming from the qi, so as to achieve internal and external harmony. To achieve this, the first thing to do is to make the outer triad, that is, the hands and feet, elbows and knees, shoulders and hips. Achieving this triad is a Hinayana Kungfu. Then pursue the effect of the inner triple, that is, the eyes and the heart, the heart and the Qi, and the Qi and the force. This internal and external three-in-one is the six-in-one of Bajiquan's strength, which is to achieve the purpose of Liuhe when practicing boxing. After some people practice a set of boxing, others say: "He has a very good level of strength." This shows that he has reached a certain level according to the requirements of Liuhe.

　　 Four, spirit and three discs

　　 The so-called eight poles are divided into inner four poles and outer four poles, which are combined into eight poles. The inner four poles have eyes, mind, energy, and strength, and the outer four poles have head, body, hands, and feet. The human body is divided into upper, lower, left, right, middle, front, and back parts. All parts must be combined during practice, and the combination is one pole.

　　Humans have three treasures-Jing, Qi, and Shen. You must have energy and energy when practicing martial arts. Listlessness is not enough. At the same time, three sets must be correct. Three discs usually refer to the upper disc for the head, the middle disc for the trunk, and the lower disc for the legs and feet. When clearly dividing, the upper limbs and above the shoulders are the upper plate; the upper limbs, below the shoulders, and the above the knees are the middle plate; the knees are the lower plate.

　　This requires that when we practice boxing, we must be correct in three sets, practice well, and have energy, so that we can punch correctly.

　　Fifth, the strength and the softness, the virtual and the real

　　The Bajiquan we practice is purely rigid and flexible, soft first and then rigid. Every beginner should start with softness and then rigidity. The practitioners should be treated differently according to their innate physique and be taught according to each individual. If you are a strong person, you must vent your rigidity, and then exchange your strength. In the case of frail people, you should be rigid first and then soft, but you should do what you can, don't use strong force, and gradually work harder.

　　6. Ming rule, distinguish three knots, know roots and leaves, pass meridians, pass strength

　　The whole body moves, the eyes are the vanguard and you can see the four directions, the feet are the horse masters standing and the hands are the soldiers as the attacking generals, you must move your eyes and move with ease. Three quarters need to be clear, the first quarter is unclear and the hands are too busy; the middle section is unknown and the whole body is lost; the next quarter is unclear and the feet fall. The head is the leaf, the body is the branch, and the foot is the root. If the feet are not rooted, they will be unstable. To consolidate their roots, they should often practice riding the crouching pose to have a stable and solid frame. The strength of the upper section reaches the fingers from the shoulders through the elbows, the legs of the lower section push the mountains through the knees and reach to the toes. To be natural, but also consistent, flexible, flexible, steady and changeable, can be handy.

　　 7. Steady footwork and subtle technique

　　The footwork of Huo's Bajiquan includes: rubbing step, stomping step, riding step, four or six steps, lunge step, wu step, etc. The foot step is empty, the body is empty, and the footwork is unsteady and unstable. Footwork is the source of strength. The strength starts from the heel (root), from the waist, and runs through the fingertips (tips). The force is vomiting and containing, swallowing like iron invisible, but vomiting like an arrow, pierces forward, moves the armpit, and slightly flexes the arm. The shot is not too high for the eyes, but not low for the knees. When comparing with other people, breath out from the pubic field, pay all attention to the palm, press the real force, breathe out, make a sound, press the three-character to spit out. Jin, most avoid sticky long Jin.

　　 Eight, the six phrases of boxing

　　 Bajimen often say: "Although martial arts are not true, they have exhausted their minds." There are six sentences in martial arts: feet to nose, elbows to knees, shoulders and hips. Hands and feet are not separated, moving up to the waist, soothing muscles and bones.

　　Foot-to-nose-The toes of the forefoot and the tip of the nose are in a straight line up and down. Using the method of foot-to-nose, the crotch is naturally gathered to better adjust the body shape. Elbow-to-knee-When doing movements, the elbows and knees should be coordinated. Raise your feet first and raise your knees, shake your hands ten elbows, one elbow with one knee, and one knee with one elbow.

　　Shoulder to crotch-Shoulder and crotch should work closely together, and there must be no mistakes. Shoulders follow the hips, and the hips follow the shoulders. The order should be mastered.

　　Hands and feet are not separated-the four limbs echo, which gives a sense of beauty. The foot is followed by the hand, and the hand is followed by the foot. This is the basic law of hand-foot coordination. When hitting with one stroke and one palm, the bottom must be followed by a leg. Sometimes for the purpose of training palms or punches, the legs are in a certain position and the upper limbs move more frequently, but the lower limbs must be supported firmly. This is also the limbs Cooperating does not mean that the lower limbs must be moved mechanically.

　　Move your waist—upward—when practicing boxing, your body should be centered and centered on the waist. With every movement, the whole body does not move, but the axis of movement is the waist. The upper and lower body of a person is like a wheel, and the waist is the axle. Any movement must start from the waist to make the upper and lower body movements comfortable and natural.

　　Relieve the muscles and bones in one breath-It is required to relax the muscles and bones, and the air is even and soft. The tricks to soothe the bones are all in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and feet. To move the bladder, first send the strength to the shoulder, then to the elbow, and then to the wrist. When using the legs, start in the order of hips, knees, and feet. The strength of the shoulders and hips, the movement of the elbows and knees, and the stopping of the wrists and feet must be connected to each other and go through. Uniformity of breath, gentle force, is a small "breath", to give people the feeling of a breath, do not hold your breath, choke your breath, or stop your breath. This trick is all in the inner triad. You must know it in your mind (eyes and minds are combined), and then move the qi to your feet (hearts and qi), and then force it out (qi and power). The internal three-in-one reality L is to be clear-sighted and do what you can.

　　 Nine, unique strength, both light and dark

　　 When practicing Bajiquan, there are distinctions between bright and dark strength, and the difference between sinking strength, cross strength and Wangsijin. To practice Bajiquan, the first thing to be clear is the issue of strength. Neijiaquan pays attention to form and meaning, and uses dark energy; Waijiaquan pays attention to hands, eyes, body, method, and steps, and uses bright energy. Bajiquan uses dark energy to cultivate strength and long kung fu during practice, laying the foundation for bright energy. Therefore, Bajiquan is a combination of internal and external practice, and has the common characteristics of right internal and external.

　　Dark power is soft; bright power is rigid. The combination of light, strong and dark, is actually the combination of rigidity and softness, which makes the movements have a sense of rhythm. There is only screaming and no dark energy, just like having bones and no meat, so tired. There is only dark energy without bright energy, just like having meat and no bones, it makes people feel dizzy. An Jin holds the Ming Jin, and Ming Jin carries the dark energy. It cannot be separated, otherwise it becomes a machine. You must first go dark and then light, and use the dark energy to draw the light energy out to get home.

　　The combination of Mingjin and Anjin is not half a catty to Baliang. Sometimes Anjin stretches longer, and even sets of boxing movements are practiced with Anjin; sometimes Mingjin is used a lot, such as Bajiquan and Yingshou. Fist and so on, you must be "slacking", some must be crisp, some must be fierce, and some must be ruthless. It varies by application and is not static.

　　In the practice of Shen Chuijing, you must sink your dantian with qi, sink your shoulders and elbows, so that the qi is pierced down, and you can't lift the qi to prevent the sky from being empty. For beginners, you must pay attention to loose shoulders and upright body. This sinking strength not only makes the body stable and standing like a mountain.

　　Cross-strength, also known as all-round strength. When practicing, you should hold the ground with ten toes against the blue sky, and prop up on both elbows. It means: its movements are up, down, left, and right, and stretch like a cross. It means to expand the strength condensed in the sinking strength to reach the extreme and depth, so the growth of strength is unlimited.

　　Chuangsijin is the force that turns the cross-jin around and rolls into it. This jin does not go back and forth, and it must circulate and penetrate the whole body. This jin is a deliberate jin that travels all over the body, and the jin can't be interrupted, it should be continuous, come out with the situation, and feel it. Usually we use our mind to spin around and get under our feet. Some people think that this kind of strength is not easy to practice. As long as they practice hard, the effort will pay off, and it will produce unexpected effects.

## Active teachers:

Li Shudong (李树栋), Beijing

Chen Xianfeng (陈先锋), Guangzhou, Guangdong

Kong Weijun (孔维军), Lijiang, Yunnan

## References

1. ↑ /u/MiikaW on Huo QingYun(霍慶雲)(1905-1987) [JAP - Can anyone translate/summarise?] - Reddit
2. ↑ 八极拳教程：霍氏八极拳传统训练方法揭秘 by 李树栋 (ISBN:978-7-5009-3526-1), 第一章 八极拳概述, 第五节 霍氏八极拳的习练内容
3. ↑ http://www.baji.cc/bencandy.php?fid=59&id=950
4. ↑ http://www.baji.cc/bencandy.php?fid=59&id=987
5. ↑ http://www.baji.cc/bencandy.php?fid=59&id=994