Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by Wen Dasheng
Translated from Chinese and edited by Jarek Szymanski; photos - Jarek Szymanski and courtesy of Mr.
Wen Dasheng; © J.Szymanski 1999
Inner Circle Baguazhang does not have fixed routines, but, everytime it is practiced it becomes a natural
routine. However, since Fan Zhiyong practiced external boxing prior to Bagua studies, there are fixed weapons
and empty hands routines in his style.
Beginners should first practice basic exercises like “Zhuang Gong” (Standing Pole Method) and “Dan Cao Zhang”
(Single Technique Palm). Then, after a year of two, the teacher takes them to a room where they first pay
respect to the pictures of Da Mo (Boddhidarma) and Dong Haichuan, and then the teacher leads them through
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exercise (this method is similar to that used in Qigong practice with the exception that in Qigong there are only
few movements, while Fan family method has palm and fist techniques, body movements, footwork). The
essentials for this method are: sincerity during practice, Intention guides all the movements, being natural.
Length of practice depends on the basic skill of practitioner and his Wuxing (power of understanding).
Since Fan Family Baguazhang has exceptional teaching methods, therefore the teacher is very careful about
choosing students and teaches them very strictly. For this reason there were only few practitioners of this style.
Fan Zhiyong taught Wang Zhi, Ning Hongliang, Li Ziyan, Za Lifen, Ao Qinghua, Tao Yongfu, Fan Fenglan, Shi
Qingsheng and others. However, most of them did not inherit the art, only Fan Fenglan and Shi Qingsheng
passed it to few disciples.
Fan Fenglan (Fan "Dagu"), Fan
Zhiyong's daughter
FAN FENGLAN
Fan Fenglan (1884-1967) was Fan Zhiyong’s only daughter. She enjoyed
high prestige in martial arts circles, especially among Baguazhang
practitioners. She was one of Three Elders of Beijing Bagua circles in the
sixties (along with Guo Gumin, Liang Zhenpu’s disciple; and Cheng
Youxin, Cheng Tinghua’s son). Since she was very honest, sincere and
kind person, people called her with respect Fan “Dagu” – Fan Old Aunt.
Fan Fenglan learnt from her father since early age and, as she was a
bright and diligent student, received true transmission from him and
became inheritor of the complete art of Baguazhang. Her most famous
disciples were Yi Shilin, Zhao Zhihai, Wang Zengku, Wang Yuan, Wang
Gang and Wen Dasheng.
Wen Dasheng started his Fan Family Baguazhang practice at the age of
fifteen. Since Fan Fenglan, when already old, realized that the art would
vanish if taught according to traditional methods, she was teaching him
using many examples, with all the details and explanations. In this way
Wen was able to master Fan Family Old Palms and weapons routines. In
the seventies Wen decided to systematize the style, and his first article
on “The Eight Forms of Fan Family Bagua Rotating Palm for Beginners”
was published in 1984. Later Wen Dasheng also published articles on
Collapsing Palm of Fan Family Bagua, Eight Methods Linked Palms, Jin
Gang (Vajra) Great Strength Method, Linked Broadsword Form, etc.
Besides, Wen summarized Twenty Four Essentials (twenty four
characters) of Fan’s Baguazhang.
PRACTICE CURRICULUM
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2. The fist routines include: Ben Zi Quan (Form on the pattern of character “Ben” – Root), Wu Xing Baguaquan
(Five Elements Eight Trigram Fist), Ba Fa Lianhuan Zhang (Eight Methods Linked Palms), etc.
3. Weapons routines include: Xuan Huan Dao (Revolving Broadsword), Chuan Yun Jian (Cloud Piercing Sword),
Bagua Dao (Bagua Broadsword), Zhong Zi Qiang (Spear on the pattern of character “Zhong” – Middle),
Duan Hun Qiang (Soul Breaking Spear), Chun Qiu Dao (Spring and Autumn Hallebard), Zhuang Yuan Bi
(First Scholar’s Pen), Bagua Chui (Bagua Hammer), Ba Fa Xiaozigun (Eight Methods Flail), Lian Huan
Shuang Dao (Linked Double Broadswords), Wu Ji Shuang Jian (Wu Ji Double Sword), etc.
4. Practice Methods (Gong Fa) include: Wu Ji Zhuang (Wu Ji Standing Pole), Jin Gang Da Li Fa (Vajra Great
Strength Method), Kao Zi (Shoulder Striking), Chuan Shou (Piercing Hands), etc.
5. Supplementary exercises include: Dou Daqiang (Long Spear Shaking), Ning Bangzi (Cudgel Twisting), Da
Shadai (Sandbag Striking), etc.
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