Baguazhang (Eight Diagram Palm/Eight Diagram Boxing) is a dynamic and fluid martial art that primarily utilizes spiral and circular power with turning and penetrating palms combined with continually changing footwork. This unique art adheres to the practical philosophy of ceaseless change and adaptation, and makes use of unorthodox guerrilla warfare-style tactics enabling a smaller force to overcome a larger power with greater confidence. This boxing art may be classed as a traditional form of mixed martial art, as it combines striking, trapping, throws and takedowns in its empty hands practice and numerous weapons training, all in the one system.  

The art of Eight Diagram Boxing employs unpredictable, changing strategies such as: 
dodge and strike, harass and run, outflank and contain the centre, evade left and right, sidestep and cut, duck and weave, move in and out, enter high and strike low, feign retreat & turn back suddenly, advance with wild intent then yield with sudden control, appear gentle and respond fiercely, wait in stillness and suddenly move, start calmly then strike with vicious force and so on.  All of these strategies combined with training in the concepts of ‘circle-walking,’ 
‘whole-body power,’ ‘single-thread energy’ and ‘internal strength’ form what is known as 
clever power.

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A Brief History of Baguazhang and the Liang Zhenpu Lineage

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Baguazhang is one of three main martial arts styles from China that are commonly referred to as ‘Internal Arts’ (Xingyiquan, Baguazhang and Taijiquan). The name Baguazhang is literally translated into English as ‘Eight Diagram Palm’. The eight diagrams symbolize the interplay of yin and yang, which are used to describe the cyclical nature of change manifested in the universe. They were first recorded in the Chinese classic known as the Yi Jing (Zhou Jing), or ‘the book of changes’ over 4000 years ago.

Baguazhang belongs to the superior fighting arts of China. It is classed as one of the last classical martial arts to be formed in China.  The founder of Baguazhang was Dong Hai Chuan. His original name was Dong Meng Kui. He was a stocky man with very long arms who studied martial arts diligently during his youth.  When his hometown suffered under poor harvests and natural disasters, Dong left home in search of better opportunities, and vowed not to return until he was crowned with success.
When he arrived in the capital (Beijing) he had many challenge matches, all of which he lost. He quickly discovered that he still had much to learn. From this he decided to embark on a journey around China to seek out masters of the martial arts everywhere and learn from them. Thus he changed his name from Dong Meng Kui to Dong Hai Chuan. In Chinese “Hai Chuan” means to “embrace the world”, which stood for his openness in learning.

Dong travelled extensively through Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi and Sichuan provinces, and learned much about the martial arts. After 30 years of learning and refining his arts, which included learning both Daoist and Buddhist gongfu, as well as spending some time living in a monastery with Daoist monks, in his 50’s he created his own style of martial arts called Zhuan Zhang (Turning Palms). This was a unique style that was completely new to the world of Chinese fighting arts, and became widely revered for its unorthodox guerrilla warfare strategies of constant movement and change, and its mysterious circle walking practices combining both martial and spiritual methods. 
From this point on Dong led a colourful life in Beijing taking on all comers and being undefeated in combat. He was even employed to work in the royal palace where he became head of security. From here his reputation grew to huge proportions and his martial exploits were many, all of which have been well documented. He was held in such high esteem among the world of martial artists that people spoke of his methods as being Divine and coming straight from Heaven. Truly they said his skills were not of this earth.

At some point he changed the name of his art from Zhuan Zhang to Baguazhang, after discovering that his theories and tactics aligned themselves perfectly with the theories of the Yi Jing (book of changes). And from then to the present day Dong Hai Chuan’s art was known as Baguazhang.
Dong had many great students who went on to become remarkable men themselves. One such man was Liang Zhenpu.

Liang Zhenpu was the youngest of Master Dong’s disciples, beginning his training with the master at 16 years of age, and was one of his favourite disciples because of this.
In 1899 Liang killed a few men during a political uprising in his hometown, and was subsequently arrested and imprisoned, only to escape from jail the following year.
Liang hid out in the country side and managed to open an armed escort service on the outskirts of Beijing and Baoding. After the change in government he was once again allowed to return to the city. He stopped his bodyguard service and began to teach martial arts in Tianjin and Hebei. During this time he also had the unique opportunity to teach his art in the cities’ high schools.
Upon his return to Beijing, Liang was able to further his studies with master Dong Hai Chuan, who was by then an old man.
Dong had further refined his skills and techniques, and he passed these on to Liang. During this time master Dong taught Liang, sword techniques and the seven star staff.
Liang also deepened his understanding of the art by studying with Dong’s most senior students, especially Shi Jilin (Shi Jidong). This is why Liang style and Shi style Baguazhang have many similarities and the same 8 Character Classic of: Push, lift, carry, lead, remove, cover, split and enter.