Gao Style Baguazhang

Gao Style Baguazhang
(高氏八卦掌)
Also known as	Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang
Hardness	Internal (neijia)
Country of origin	China
Creator	Gao Yisheng
Famous practitioners	Hong Yixiang,; Luo Dexiu,; He Kecai (founder of Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang)
Parenthood	Baguazhang (Song & Cheng Style Baguazhang), Xingyiquan, Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan, Dachengquan
Descendant arts	Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang
Olympic sport	No

Gao Style Baguazhang (高氏八卦掌) is the style of Baguazhang (八卦掌) descended from Gao Yisheng (高義盛), a student of Cheng Tinghua, who founded one of the two main branches of Baguazhang.^[2] Gao is alternatively said to have originally studied with Song Changrong (宋長榮) or Yin Fu (尹福), later (or alternatively previously) studying with one of Cheng's students, . Gao style is one of the most widely practiced Baguazhang styles in the West; there are also many practitioners in Tianjin and Taiwan. It has many variations held within various lineages, some which are given below:

Dong Haichuan
- Cheng Tinghua
  - Zhou Yuxiang
    - Gao Yisheng
      - Wu Huaishan
      - Wang Shusheng
        
        Liu Shuhang
        
        Chen Baozhen
        
        Han Fangrui
      - Cheung Sing Tang (C. S. Tang)
      - Hong Yixiang
        Luo Dexiu^[3]
        
        Su Dongchen
        
        Hong Yiwen
        
        Hong Yimien
        Allen Pittman
      - Wu Min'an
        
        Bi Tianzuo
      - Bi Tianzuo

The Gao style system is referred to as the Gao Yisheng branch of the Cheng Tinghua system of Baguazhang.^[2] Essentially, Gao Style Bagua is a unique subsystem. The Gao style system, because of Gao's own martial progression over time, can be found to have a number of different permutations, represented in these various lingages. All are valid examples of Gao style Bagua because they all represent Gao Yisheng’s progression as a martial artist. Gao was refining and creating sets until he died. He changed his straight line, pre-heaven and weapons sets more than once in his life but at its core it is a complete Baguazhang system.

Gao style explicitly divides training into two categories: pre-heaven (先天) and post-heaven (後天). Pre-heaven training includes walking the circle and practicing changing palms on the circle; this material is similar to that found in the other Cheng styles. Post-heaven training consists of 64 linear palms (六十四掌) is said by Gao Yisheng to be passed down by a man known as Song Yiren (宋益仁) (i.e., Song Yiren (送藝人), or "person who gives arts"); these palms are unique to the Gao system.^[2]

Many Gao style practitioners can be found in Tianjin (lineage of Liu Fengcai and others), Taiwan (lineage of Zhang Junfeng), and Hong Kong (lineage of He Kecai).

References[]

^ Gao Jiwu & Nigel Sutton (2009). The 64 Hands of Bagua Zhang: Fighting Techniques of Liu Dekuan. Blue Snake Books. ISBN 15-839-4237-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gao Yisheng (2013). Liu Fengcai (ed.). The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual: Gao Yisheng's Bagua Twisting-Body Connected Palm. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 15-839-4622-5.
^ Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Volume 15. Via Media Publishing Company. 2006.

External links[]

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[1] Gao Jiwu & Nigel Sutton (2009). The 64 Hands of Bagua Zhang: Fighting Techniques of Liu Dekuan. Blue Snake Books. ISBN 15-839-4237-8.

[TCSGSBM-2] Gao Yisheng (2013). Liu Fengcai (ed.). The Cheng School Gao Style Baguazhang Manual: Gao Yisheng's Bagua Twisting-Body Connected Palm. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 15-839-4622-5.

[3] Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Volume 15. Via Media Publishing Company. 2006.

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