Bagua — Martial Arts & MMA"

windwalker099

Master Black Belt

Interesting video, UFC Fighter Nakamura Tomoya exploring different methods


one of the comments

The fact that it doesn't weaken with age is a testament to the power of internal martial arts.It's a movement that can be used even with a blade
Once you make contact, they'll always try to disrupt your center of gravity from a safe blind spot, so modern martial artists who rely on reflexes won't be able to react in time.
 
Last edited:
Any chance you've got a good video going over the circle walking occurring around 8 minutes in, and potentially practical applications of it? Always found that interesting.
 
Any chance you've got a good video going over the circle walking occurring around 8 minutes in, and potentially practical applications of it? Always found that interesting.
In striking art, there are only 3 different principles.

1. Block and strike at the same time (1 move).
2. Dodge and strike (1, 2 move).
3. Switch hands (1, 2, 3 move).

Most of the Bagua techniques built on the "switch hands". In this video at 3.18-3.25, you can see:

- Right hand block opponent's forearm.
- Left hand block opponent's upper arm.
- Right hand strike opponent's face.

You can come up with as many techniques as you want by using this principle. Not sure "switch hands" is used in boxing or Karate. Some people think 1, 2, 3 is too slow to be effective.

 
The "switch hands" 1, 2, 3 move is used in wrestling such as "arm dragging".

- Right hand hold on the wrist.
- Left hand hold on the elbow.
- Right hand hold on the waist.

The 1, 2, 3 does not have speed issue in the wrestling art. In striking art, whether it can have the same value as the fast boxing jab, cross is debatable. There is a good reason that boxing doesn't use "switch hands".

When your right arm contacts my right forearm, if my right arm changes into a hook punch, I can totally interrupt your "switch hands" (Your left hand won't be able to touch my right upper arm).

 
In striking art, there are only 3 different principles.

1. Block and strike at the same time (1 move).
2. Dodge and strike (1, 2 move).
3. Switch hands (1, 2, 3 move).

Most of the Bagua techniques built on the "switch hands". In this video at 3.18-3.25, you can see:

- Right hand block opponent's forearm.
- Left hand block opponent's upper arm.
- Right hand strike opponent's face.

You can come up with as many techniques as you want by using this principle. Not sure "switch hands" is used in boxing or Karate. Some people think 1, 2, 3 is too slow to be effective.

In traditional karate switch hands are found in many of the “blocking” techniques
 
The "switch hands" 1, 2, 3 move is used in wrestling such as "arm dragging".

- Right hand hold on the wrist.
- Left hand hold on the elbow.
- Right hand hold on the waist.

The 1, 2, 3 does not have speed issue in the wrestling art. In striking art, whether it can have the same value as the fast boxing jab, cross is debatable. There is a good reason that boxing doesn't use "switch hands".

When your right arm contacts my right forearm, if my right arm changes into a hook punch, I can totally interrupt your "switch hands" (Your left hand won't be able to touch my right upper arm).

Traditional karate is not just strikes, in Okinawan karate there’s much defence against grabs and such. That’s why there is quite a lot of switch hand found in example the “blocking” techniques, however it’s getting lost. With modern sport oriented karate where fighting/sparring focus on striking
 
Do you know any Karate video for that?
No I have no video, I’ve got no access to YouTube, just the Chinese tubes, I could look around those though.

But I can say the Okinawan karate “push hand” exercise (Kakie) at advanced sparring level switch hand comes in play.

Also there’s another traditional partner exercise that use for example two uchi-uke(blocks) as switch hand technique agains a tzuki(strike)and finishing with a downward arm strike, there are variations to this exercise using elbow strike and parries/deflections rather than blocking for the switch hand technique
Don’t remember the name of this exercise, maybe ‘isshinryuronin” know ? But my little description is probably not very clear.
 
But I can say the Okinawan karate “push hand” exercise (Kakie) at advanced sparring level switch hand comes in play.
Kakie has similarities to push hand in that it's a circular or back and forth motion of the arms/wrist while maintaining contact to aid in sensing the opponent's motion. It differs, I think, in that greater pressure is used building shoulder endurance strength. Because of this pressure the friction on the (rotating) arms also results in a conditioning aspect.
Also there’s another traditional partner exercise that use for example two uchi-uke(blocks) as switch hand technique agains a tzuki(strike)and finishing with a downward arm strike
I believe you are referring to the exercise where the first block/parry deflects the punch (executed slowly with some tension providing resistance), the second hand engaging and grabbing the arm after which the first hand delivers a downward knife hand strike onto the forearm muscle. There are a couple of variations of blocking combos. It can also be done without the blocks and give only the conditioning benefit.

This also works the shoulder muscles, and the impact (can be brutal after a while) conditions the forearm. The blocking combo is also useful in practicing to set up and manipulate the opponent in close in fighting.

Don’t remember the name of this exercise
It is one of several common arm conditioning exercises called kote kitai.
 
I believe you are referring to the exercise where the first block/parry deflects the punch (executed slowly with some tension providing resistance), the second hand engaging and grabbing the arm after which the first hand delivers a downward knife hand strike onto the forearm muscle. There are a couple of variations of blocking combos. It can also be done without the blocks and give only the conditioning benefit.

This also works the shoulder muscles, and the impact (can be brutal after a while) conditions the forearm. The blocking combo is also useful in practicing to set up and manipulate the opponent in close in fighting.


It is one of several common arm conditioning exercises called kote kitai.
Patrick McCarthy developed(or was I part of what he learned?) som nice variation(s) of this exercise, in where one are at a more closer range, so instead of tzuki(punch) attack there is an elbow strike to head istead, and defense use open hand deflections, the exercise become very fluid and almost with constant contact, a little similar to Taiji and Xingyiquan partner exercises.

The Kakie(karate “push hand”) from my experience of Okinawan Gojuryu is eventually used as a bridging for free ly applying arm locks , takedowns and even throws, and so the exercise serve as a sensing drill much as similar exercises in CMA’s
 
Last edited:
Back
Top