In other words, the practitioner studies how an opponent will most likely respond or react to any given offensive or defensive move he is presented with. The study of cause and effect involves knowledge of predictable patterns in combat. One is understanding cause and effect (yin guo – 因果) and the other is knowing how to adapt and change with unknown factors (shu li – 數理). In developing skill and knowledge, Gong Bao Zhai teaches his students to understand two important concepts. These skills do not come from forms, but come from a knowledge of the human body, the principles of Ba Gua, and the patterns which facilitate change. In applying your defense, it is also an attack and in applying that attack, you lock out your opponent's opportunities for effective counterattack. However, in the study of Ba Gua we learn how to defend so that you can continue to change and your opponent cannot. Gong says that there are many ways to defend yourself against an attack like a throat grab. Superior knowledge includes the knowledge of how to defend yourself so that the defense is also an attack and the attack is executed in the such a manner that the opponent has little chance to counterattack. Most young people today are in too much of a hurry to see benefits. Gong firmly believes that refined skill and superior knowledge is more important than muscular strength. Having a sound strategy, knowing how to apply the strategy, and knowing where to apply the attack is what gives you the power over the opponent, not your muscle strength.

If a practitioner has a sound knowledge of point attacks, he does not need a lot of strength.

When using martial principle, the application of the correct principle, not strength, causes the force. He calls it wu li (武力 - martial strength) versus wu li (武理 - martial principle). He says that if the practitioner has clear concepts, it does not matter how physically strong they are. Gong Bao Zhai believes that the important part of the martial arts are the concepts behind the art, not the development of external strength. Observe minutely how your Bagua practice is like that of the 'skilled' butcher. 'Nevertheless, every time I come across joints, The blade is still like it's newly sharpened. 'I have used this knife for nineteen years.īut the blade is still like it's newly sharpened.Īpply this lack of thickness into the openings,

'A good cook goes through a knife in a year,Īn average cook goes through a knife in a month, 'Even places where tendons attach to bones The cook puts down the knife and answered: It harmonized with the Mulberry Woods Dance, 'A cook was butchering an ox for Duke Wen Hui.

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