Bafaquan

Ba Fa, or Eight Methods, is a martial art developed by Li De Mao (李德茂) during the Qing dynasty. He combined the techniques of Fanziquan (翻子), Paochui (炮捶), Tantui (弹腿), Tongbeiquan (劈挂) and Xingyiquan (形意) into a new style based on the theory of eight methods ( 八法). [Wu Shijun (武世俊 ),(2001), "Bafa Quan, Bafa Qiang" (八法拳·八法枪 ), 人民体育出版社, ISBN - 7500920571 ] [Wu Shijun (武世俊 ),(2006), "Bafa Quan", Guangzhou Beauty Culture Communication Co.Ltd, ASIN B000LP525C ] . The eight methods are: outer trap, inner trap and stab, flick, support, shake, chop and reel. ('攔、拿、扎、崩、托、抖、劈、纏') This style includes both single forms, pair training [Wu Shijun,(2006), "Pair Practice of Bafa Quan" (八法拳实战对练), Guangzhou Beauty Culture Communication Co.Ltd, ASIN B000LP523Y] , as well as weapon training such as spear, saber and sword. Eight Methods Big Spear (Da Qiang, 大枪), also known as the Big Pole, is a specialty of this style. This technique first appear in 1906, just before the Revolution of 1911. It combines the methods of the Yue-family spear (岳家槍), Pear-flower Spear (梨花槍) and Liuhe Spear (六合槍) with principles of the eight methods. It is also design to work on foot or on horse back. [Wu Shijun,(2006), "Eight Technique Big Spear and Its Combat Skills", Guangzhou Beauty Culture Communication Co.Ltd, ASIN B000LP5252]

Ba Fa Quan is popular in regions such as Shanxi (山西), Datong (大同), Inner Mongolia (Nei Menggu 内蒙古) and Yuencheng City. [Wu Bin, Li xingdong and Yu Gongbao(1992), "Essentials of Chinese Wushu", Foreign Language Press, Beijin, ISBN 7-119-01477-3 ]

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