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Changing in a Spinning World
Published Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 by Jason
Staring At The Hand
We gaze at one hand during circular Bagua forms. There are exceptions, but generally the hand is our focus. This seems like a fitting place for our gaze and intent, seeing as how Baguazhang translates to Eight Trigram Palms. Our palms are our weapons as well as an extension of our center.
Focusing our intent and gaze on our hands we direct our Qi to our palms. Our intent is realized through the palms. The relationship is somewhat indirect. Physically, our intent moves our waist which moves our palms. In the same way, our intent moves the qi from the dan tien to the palms. Why move the qi to the hands? Moving qi to the hands along with the way we hold the palms will help us develop Iron Palm. Iron palm is beyond the scope of this article, but the basic concept is that the hands have the appearance of cotton while on the inside they are like iron.
We only look at the palm in the circular form and any time we’re walking the circle. This is to bring energy to the palm…[for] Iron Palm…but we do not smash our palms into bricks etc. to make our hand hard and senseless like most do. It’s also an eagle vision training method, by looking at the palm we can’t look at what we’re meant to be hitting. —Eli Montaigue
In walking the circle, I hold the leading palm in the circle’s center so that I end up walking around it while it turns on the center point. This leads to moments of exhilaration and laughter in midst of a spinning world. While the world outside is seemingly spinning out of control, I maintain my center and focus. I reside in the peaceful eye of the storm.
Spinning Around Palms and Revolutionary Changes
During partner work, a funny thing happens. When the world starts spinning for both partners—there is simultaneous laughter and attacking. Sometimes it sucks when my partner attacks while the world is spinning, because I was enjoying the ride. Once the attack comes, I change, and it takes some work to get the world spinning again. Another option is to attack my partner and deliberately disrupt the equilibrium.
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