Baguazhang Self-Defense: Fighting Applications of the Cheng Style Eight Main Palms Form

With 380 photos and detailed descriptions of internal body mechanics, Sifu Ken Gullette guides you through 150 self-defense techniques hidden within the Cheng style Baguazhang form known as the "Eight Main Palms." Bagua (also spelled "Pa Kua") is one of the three internal arts of Chinese Kung-Fu. It is a powerful self-defense art designed to be used against multiple opponents. A Bagua fighter sometimes seems to disappear in front of his opponent, ending up behind the opponent, who suddenly finds himself in a vulnerable position. Three key goals for Bagua self-defense are to uproot, unbalance, and control your opponent's center. From there, a variety of techniques are used, including palm strikes, punches, elbow and shoulder strikes, kicks, knee strokes, joint locks, sweeps, throws and takedowns. These goals and techniques are achieved by using internal body mechanics that give you relaxed power, using the ground path, peng jin, silk-reeling energy, whole-body movement, Dan T'ien rotation, and proper use of the kua. In the pages of this book, with clear photos and descriptions, Ken takes you through all types of applications based on the movements in the eight sections of the form. The eight sections are: Single Change Palm, Double Change Palm, Following Posture Palm, Back Body Palm, Turning Body Palm, Grinding Body Palm, Overturning Body Palm, and Returning Body Palm. Ken has more than 40 years experience in martial arts and has studied the internal arts (Taiji, Xingyi and Bagua) since 1987. He is a tournament champion and instructor with some of the most popular instructional DVDs and ebooks created for the internal arts. Ken also has a membership instructional website with members around the world who study nearly 700 video lessons and other material he has created. Ken breaks down complex, often abstract internal concepts to show that real internal skill is physical, not mystical or metaphysical. There are no supernatural powers -- just skill that comes through hard work, practice, and following proper internal body mechanics. This book will take your understanding of Bagua self-defense to a higher level, giving you insights into the application of movements that will spark your own creativity and help you take one more step on your own personal journey through the amazing art of Baguazhang.