About Bajiquan

If you ever read manga Kenji by Ryuuchi Masuda, or play Akira Yuki from Virtua Fighter game (I though, now there is many game character besides virtua fighter, that using this style) you must be know about this style. :)
this style is widely known about it is explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes.

The Traditional Chinese spelling of this style is: 八極拳, pinyin spelling: Bājíquán, literally "eight extremes fist", Japanese: 八極拳, Japanese Romaji: hakkyokuken. 
Direct translation: Eight Extremes Fist, is a much respected traditional Chinese boxing schools. Another name for this style is kaimen baji quan (開門八極拳; open-door eight extremes boxing), The word "kaimen" ("opening the door") is used because the sense of technique is six methods of opening ("liu da kai" - "six big openings"), intended for break down the defense ("the doors") of enemy. This style is also referred to as "Yueshan baji quan" ("Yueshan's Fist of Eight Limits"). The word "Yueshan" refers to Yueshan temple of Jiaozuo county of Henan province (a place of origin attributed to this style). In the past, "bajiquan" was also known as "bazi quan" ("Fist of Targets"), "bazi quan" ("Fist of Hieroglyph `Eight'") and "bazi quan" (巴子拳 or 鈀子拳; "rake fist"). 
During the Qing dynasty, bajiquan was popular in Cang county of Hebei (Chinese: 河北; pinyin: Héběi; Wade-Giles: Ho-pei; Postal map spelling: Hopeh) province and in the neighboring counties of Yanshan (沧州市), Nanpi (沧州市) and Ningjin (邢台市). 

History

Baji quan was originally called bazi quan or "rake fist" due to the fact that the fist, held loosely and slightly open, are used to strike downwards in a rake-like fashion. The name was considered to be rather crude in its native tongue, so it was changed to baji quan. The term baji comes from the Daoist classic, the Yijing (I-Ching), and signifies an "extension of all directions". In this case, it means "including everything" or "the universe."
The first recorded baji quan teacher was Wu Zhong (1712-1802). Famous teachers that promoted the style included Wu Xiufeng and Li Shuwen (1864-1934). 
The latter was from Cangzhou, Hebei, and earned himself the nickname "God of Spear Li". A Peking opera Wu Shen (martial male character) by training, he was also an expert fighter. His most famous quote is, "I do not know what it's like to hit a man twice." (Because he just need one strike to kill or defeat his enemy, incredible isn't?). 
Li Shuwen's students included Huo Dian Ge (bodyguard to Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China), Li Chenwu (bodyguard to Mao Zedong), and Liu Yun Qiao (secret agent for the nationalist Kuomintang and instructor of the bodyguards of Chiang Kai Shek). Baji quan has since acquired a reputation as the "bodyguard style". Ma Feng Tu and Ma Yin Tu introduced baji into the Central Guoshu Institute (Nanjing Guoshu Guan) where it is required for all students.
Baji quan shares roots with another Hebei martial art, Piguazhang. It is said that Wu Zhong, the oldest traceable master in the baji lineage, taught both arts together as an integrated fighting system. They eventually split apart, only to be recombined by Li Shuwen in the late 18th to early 19th century. As a testament to the complementary nature of these two styles, there is a proverb that goes: "When pigua is added to baji, gods and demons will all be terrified. When baji is added to pigua, heroes will sigh knowing they are no match against it".
Today there are several families of baji quan, including Han, Huo, Li, Wu and the Wu-Tan branch from master Liu Yunqiao. There are some differences in the training between the variants, but the core is the same. The lineage holder of Wu family baji quan in China is Wu Lian Zhi. Through more than 50 years of training, he collected material and records which were passed down from generation to generation.

Philosophy

Baji is a term used in the ancient Taoist book, 'Huainanzi' (淮南子, Book of the Prince of Huai Nan by Liu An c. 140 BC). The book states that between the Heavens and the Earth there are nine 'Jio' (regions) and eight 'Ji' (spaces); beyond the eight 'Ji' there are eight 'Yan' (stretching or extensions into the far distance); beyond the eight 'Yan' there are eight 'Hong' (breadth or limits). Baji was said to be something which spreads and extends out to infinity. Also, in the "Huainanzi", it says: "Big roads stretch far, reach eight limits". These concept is then applied to the practice and training of this style. For example, the use of force is explosive pushing outwards in all directions. Example of this philosophy can be illustrated in the horse stance and the bow and arrow stance. Baji practitioner take advantage of both the force of gravity (重力) and torque (旋力) to generate the applied force of sinking jing (沉坠劲) and crossing jing (十字劲). 

Practice

Baji tries to train the student to be efficient in close quarter combat. The stance training and stepping exercises develops quick and continuous attacks. The movements are laconic using both long and short body movements that starts sharp and concise and often finish with an elbow and at the same time keeping the lower part of body stable. Baji Quan training occurs in several stages:

1. Stance training
2. Stepping
   
3. Forms
   
4. Applications
   
5. Two man forms
   
6. Weapons

Baji Stances

Baji stances are low and wide compare to Shaolin stances. Stationary training focus on four stances: horse stance (弓步,mabu), the bow and arrow stance (马步), half horse stance (半马步) and the empty stance (虚步). The horse stance is slightly wider to allow more movement in delivering a front punch. The bow and arrow stance (马步) is similar to the Shaolin stance with 60 percent of the weight on the front leg but the power issuing from the back leg during the change from horse stance to bow and arrow stance. In the half horse stance, the weight distribution (60%) is shifted to the back leg. In the empty stance, almost all the weight (90%) is distributed on the back leg. Stance training focus initially the weight distribution but are later training will incorporate hand techniques and their potential applications. For example, from horse stance the student can practice the various palm and elbow techniques.

Baji Stepping

Baji stepping can be described as moving like a bear with the spirit of the tiger. During stepping training, the practitioner learn how to shift their center of gravity quickly and effectively while covering distance and executing a technique.  The following couplet captures the essence of this training:

取熊虎之形于神
以八极之意御气

which is translated as :

Merging the forms of the Bear and the Tiger into the Spirit
Harnessing the Eight Extreme forces of the Earth as Energy

Bear step ( 熊步 ) requires the student to slowly walks in a low crouch. The body weight should always be on the front leg. The spine should be straight and the up body relaxed in a natural manner. This is known as the "Bear" stance because as you move to sway your hands lightly as you move and try to capture the image of a bear. The movement can also be performed by stepping diagonally. The practitioner moves from side to side but maintains the same weight distribution and body posture as in the bear posture.

Tiger Arm ( 虎膀 ) requires the practitioner to execute a punch with both hands stretched out while lunging forward. The technique requires the power to issue from the twisting of the hip and the stretching of the shoulder rather than the arm. During practice, both arms should remain relaxed and slightly bend at all times. Additional stepping techniques require the student to switch between the basic stances while moving. For example, from bear stepping to bow and arrow stance while executing a punch. 

Baji Forms

In practicing the various forms, the general rule is to "keep the body straight and use spine as an axis". Each form incorporates movements that involves the shoulders, back, elbows, pelvis. All the Sets are short but rich and try to teach the students to understand the combat principles of

• da (hit), shuai (throw arm like wheep),
  
• na (grasp, catch) and
•  tui (push).
  

Each of the forms and application builds on the following concepts:

• Ai (push through)
  
• Bang (arm lean)
  
• Beng (collapse)
  
• Chuo (thrust in)
  
• Chuankunjing (force of winding round and tie)
  
• Han (shake) * Ji (hit,hand quick push)
  
• Jian (shouldering) * Kao (lean on),
• Kua (hip twist) for colliding.
  
• Kwa (push using body weight)
• Tu (break through)
  
• Xi (kneeing)
  
• Zhou (elbowing)
• Zhuangkaojing (force of pushing and leaning)
  

In addition, there are also grappling, wrestling and chi kung techniques and therefore Baji is considered to be a complete style.

In traditional training, there forms for Baji are

Ba Ji Xiao Jia (Ba Ji Short Form)

This form is consider to the the fundamental form.  This form requires the student to be stable and firm in his stance while training their grappling and striking abilities. According to oral instructions:

"The 10 toes grab the earth, the head firmly supports heaven: arms like holding a baby, elbows like a mountain peak."

This means to sink both shoulders, hollow the chest is "swallowed", raised the back, round the the knees and crotch and straighten the the coccyx.  There is also focus on the six harmonies and the three internal harmonies. 

• Liuzhoutou ("6 ends of elbows")
  
• Jin Gang Ba Shi (gold-steal eight forms) is the basic routine
  
• Dai Ba Ji(Ba Ji Long form)trains footwork to be quick and easily maneuverable. While at the same time learns about how a hard step could increase power of a move dramatically. This would allow the practitioner to learn how to draw power from the whole body into one technique. The main offensive moves used in this routine is predominantly wrestling ones.
  
• Baji duijie is a two-man sparring routine which explains application of some of the techniques
  
• Liudakai ("6 big openings" or "making 6 holes") - means ding (thrust by elbow or knee), bao (embrace), dan (carry on the pole or yoke), ti (hold, carry), kua (step over) and chan (wind round)
  
• Badaizhou ("8 big methods") are advanced forms that contains more specialized techniques pertaining to this style.
  
• Yingshouquan ("fist of answering hands", contains 48 big blocks and 64 hand methods)
  
• Gonggong baji ("bajiquan of steel working")
  
• Baji shuanggui ("2 ruts of bajiquan")
  

Weapon sets includes:

• yezhan dao ("broadsword of night fighting")
  
•  ti liu piaoyao dao ("carring the broadsword of fluttering willow")
  
• liuhe daqiang ("big spear of six coordinations")
  
• liuhe huaqiang ("blossom spear of six coordinations")
  
• lianhuan jian ("continuous sword")
  
• jiugong chunyan jian ("sword og nine palaces of pure yang")
• danzhi gou ("sole hook")
  
• baji jian ("sword of baji")
  

2-men weapon sets includes:

• duizha daliuheqiang ("mutual thrusts by big spears of six coordinations")
• yezhan jiumen shisan daodian ("thrusts of 13 broadswords of 9 gates of night fighting").

Until now, I still want to learn this style even it is just one or two elbow techniques. >_<
I hope someday, there is a miracle that will bring me to learn this style. :( 
(because it is hard to find Bajiquan Sifu in my country).