Jiang Style Baguazhang

Jiang Style Baguazhang (姜氏八卦掌) is the style of Baguazhang (八卦掌) taught by Jiang Rong Qiao (姜容樵) 1890-1974. Jiang Rong Qiao (also anglicized as Chiang Jung Ch’iao) was a student of both Zhang Zhaodong and Cheng Tinghua, both of who were formal students of Baguazhang founder Dong Haichuan (董海川). Jiang Rong Qiao's Neijia kung fu is one of the most widely practiced combined styles of Baguazhang and Xingyiquan in the world today. Jiang's Baguazhang is distinguished by emphasizing efficiency of movement and an ambidextrous approach.

Influences

Zhang Zhaodong appears to have been the dominant influence on this style, but Jiang Rong Qiao had many other influences. Jiang Rong Qiao started his training as a student of the Shaolin Kung Fu art of Mizongquan with his father, Jiang Fatai. Jiang Rong Qiao later studied more formally with his uncle, Chen Yushan. Jiang also studied Chen style Taijiquan. Eventually, Jiang Rong Qiao became a formal student of Zhang Zhaodong, who had studied with both Dong Haiquan and Liu Qilan. Jiang Rong Qiao also studied with Li Cunyi, a close associate of Zhang Zhaodong. Li Cunyi (also known as Single Saber Li) was also a student of Dong Haiquan and Liu Qilan. While Jiang Rong Qiao did not become a formal disciple of Li, Li Cunyi was clearly a significant influence on Jiang. Also, Jiang Rong Qiao studied Liuhebafa with Wu Yi Hui during his stay in Nanjing. Later when he became friends with Wu's disciple Chen Yi Ren, he further studied Liuhebafa in exchange for teaching his system to Chen. He personally wrote about his Liuhebafa study in Chen Yi Ren's 1969 published book entitled Liuhebafa Chuan.

System

Jiang's system of Bagua was kept simple. His concept was to focus developing the essence of Bagua and not over complicating it with more forms and movements. His version went through a drastic change though sometime during his life, which most say occurred perhaps when he lost his eyesight. His original system that he taught was simply called Lao Bagua, meaning "old or traditional bagua". Later on Jiang changed his concept and revised his whole system to what is generally seen today as Xin Bagua, meaning "new bagua". The material he taught included:

Jiang Style Bagua Literature

Jiang was a prolific writer of martial arts manuals during his time. Though most often the writings were of other styles he did write a manual on his own art entitled "Baguazhang Lianxifa (Bagua Palms Practice Method)".

References

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