Baguazhang (Pakua Chang)
The practice of Baguazhang is fundamentally organized as a collection of "Eight Palms." The basic practice of these is called the Mother Palms. These palms are then joined in a more complex set, combining both a polar and cyclical set of energies known as the "Old Eight Palms." This application example comes from the Jiang Rong Qiao Style of Baguazhang.
Essentially the palm shape for Water is characterized as a palm (or palms) in which the palms diverge, rise, and twist as if "spiraling like a falling snowflake." Energetically, the Water Palm is often associated with the season of mid-winter, which can produce extremely cold days filled with extreme forms of precipitation such as freezing rain and heavy snow. Cold can help the body to slow down and take a much needed break from the activities associated with the other seasons, but excessive exposure to cold could cause the muscles, organs and skin to overly contract and cause high fevers and retard circulation.
Therefore, with a balanced diet of oxtail soup or what some Chinese refer to as "Russia soup" (composed of ginger, potatoes, tomatoes, and beef), as well as equal amounts of hydration and subtle, lithe movements, the Water Palm, as well as the eighth palm of the Old Eight Palms, can be utilized to optimize the flow of "chi" and gently stoke and store the fire within.
Introduction to Baguazhang
Overview of Pa Kua Chang
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