Ba Zi Jie Xi = A Talk on Rake Fist

About the Book

Ba Zi (Rake) or Ba Ji (Eight Extremes) Quan (fist) is known to be straightforward and powerful.  However, not a lot of books were written about the style.  In author’s previous book, the technical fighting methods (Ji Fa) were discussed.  There are Ding (Push), Bao (Enclose), Ti (Rise), Dang (Single strike), Kua (Hip) and Chan (Entanglement).  The eight methods of hand techniques (Shou Fa) (Recitation or Kou Jue) were mentioned.  They are Yi Cun (Inch), Er Guo (Wrap), San Ti (Rise), Si Kua (Hip), Wu Chuo (Stab), Liu Luo (Grab and pull), Qi Yin (Hardness) and Ba Shuai (Throw).  In this book, the basic forms (Xing) and stances (Bu) are explained.  The methods (Fa) of using the hand (Shou), wrist (Wan), elbow (Zhou), hip (Kua), knee (Xi) and foot (Jiao) are illustrated with some examples.  Some of the classical moves of the style are explained and illustrated with over 60 images.  The concept of a posture (Shi) or a sequence of moves is also explained.  For people that is new to the style.  This book will be a good introduction book to start.  For people that are learning or practicing the style for some time, this book is a good source for review and note taking.  It is recommended that the reader also consult the previous book on the style.  “The Treasure Book of Chinese Martial Arts Vol. I”  Ba Ji means the attacks coming from the 4 fronts and 4 corners or all directions.  There are attacks from the high, mid and low levels or San Pan Lian Ji.  This book is a good guide to appreciate why and how to do attacks from 3 levels and all directions.  And of course, how to defend against these moves are also explained.  Have fun in study and practice with the teacher.   

About the Author

Ba Zi or Ba Ji was one of my favorite Wushu, when I was a young boy.  The most difficult things are the body method (Shen Fa) and the power generation method (Fa Jin).  The Horse Stance is with knees tugged in and feet in parallel.  The Empty stance is with the feet flatly on the ground.  I was so used to other styles.  So it took me a while to begin to appreciate the mechanism of the body method.  And I also realized that if I learn the preparatory moves well (Xu Jin) then the power issuing or emitting (Fa Jin) would be made easier.  Ba Zi is known to be straightforward and direct.  However, to learn to do everything right would still take a long time.  In this book, we share some of my notes on the key features of some of the classical or representative moves in the style.  The first time I saw Ba Zi was performed in the park, I fell in love with the style ever since.  Even though I did not know much about it at that time, however, I saw the strikes were so direct and apparent.  It is like a beauty of stealness (Kang) with a lot of explosiveness and yet there are also a lot of gentleness or softness (Ruo).  It is like drawing a bow slowly and releasing or shooting the arrow.  The style captivated me and encouraged me to study and practice more styles later on.