Tag: Lynnwood

Forge Ahead — No Going Back! We’re Moving 🐉

Forge Ahead — No Going Back! 🐉 

While going over martial applications practice earlier this year, one of my students asked a good question: do we step backwards in Bagua Zhang?

Technically and strategically, the answer is no — in Bagua Zhang, we learn how to pivot around oncoming attacks, turn aside or around to flank and generate turning force, then continue flowing and moving forward.

Circular Stepping in Bagua Zhang solo forms practice starts counter-clockwise, then changes to clockwise, changing back and forth, mirroring cycles of transformation in nature.

But Bagua doesn’t go backwards. Why?

Several martial arts systems incorporate backwards stepping and movements to draw an opponent off balance. While this tactic can be effective, it is always risky to give an opponent your ground. In combat, when one of the combatants is stepping backwards, it’s often because they’re injured, reeling and trying to disengage — this is usually the beginning of the end of the fight.

But in Bagua Zhang training, the concept is to adapt to situations and challenges and keep moving on, going with the flow, taking ground without hesitation or breaking momentum or strength.

Whirling Step 

In our branch of Bagua Zhang, we practice a rare stepping method called Whirling Step, which utilizes wrapping and sweeping techniques when turning and changing directions — then continuing to forge ahead to take ground and new opportunities.

 

This applies to more than just self-defense and combat strategy.

 

Like cycles of seasons, patterns repeat, but time keeps moving forward, as our planet Earth keeps spinning forward, around the Sun, as our solar system spins along the outer rim of the Milky Way Galaxy…
🌎💫🌌

 

The past is a memory, the future is a dream, but the present is a gift. 🎁

 

If we think about the past too much, be it from grief, trauma, or longing for glory days, we stay stuck in the past, and stagnate. Reflecting on our experiences is necessary to learn from them, especially with our traumas and losses — yet to heal and grow, we must stay present to face our challenges, embrace opportunities and forge ahead. 🐉

We’re Moving! 🐉 

Speaking of forging ahead, we are moving!

After 3 years in Shoreline, our family has sought opportunities further North, and we are in the process of moving into our new home in Everett, WA.

I will be taking time off from teaching over the next month to rebuild our WuGuan at our new home.  There’s a lot to do!

Starting in January 2022, Bagua Zhang classes will be resume at

Towns at Riverfront
(Please register for classes for address)
Everett, WA
United States

Stay tuned for updates and class start dates!

 

At Mace Martial Arts, we value the sanctity of all life, celebrate diversity, cultivate peace and justice, and accept students who are interested in learning how to improve and protect themselves. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and will reject any potential or current student who bullies or discriminates against others based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or gender/orientation. 

With the Grace of the Phoenix

Happy New Year ~ 2017!

Martial Totem - Phoenix, Hawk 19
We’ve all faced many challenges over the last year. It’s been a chaotic and unpredictable ride for me personally, with tragic lows and exhilarating joys, shocking surprises and wonderful new changes. You can probably relate, as I have witnessed similar experiences for many of my family, friends and students, and have seen the same extremes on national and global levels as well.
May we embrace our struggles as lessons for our growth and celebrate our triumphs.
May we leave behind disappointments as ashes from the past and embrace the blessings as we rise like the Phoenix, and soar forward into this New Year with gratitude and grace!

January 2017

There are 5 Sundays this coming month,
I will be holding a bonus Bagua class tomorrow to ring in the New Year together with a renewing practice at Wilcox Park!

Please RSVP if you are able to join us!

I am currently teaching Bagua Zhang classes on Sundays from 11am-12:30pm at Wilcox Park in Lynnwood, and offering private lessons as well.
I’m seeking another indoor facility in the Lynnwood/Edmonds/Mountlake Terrace area
to teach, that would include regular Bagua Zhang and Taiji Quan (Tai Chi) classes.
If you know of a good place, I’m open to suggestions!
Referral Bonus: $20 Discount off 1 Month’s Membership Tuition fees for referring a new student to enroll in classes, and a $20 Discount to the new Student that you refer for their first month!

Sacred Spirals, Classes Reduced

Sacred Spirals

Five Elements (五大 Wŭ Dà or Go Dai) Earth ~ 地 Chi (Dì) - North - Spring - Green Water ~ 水 Sui (Shuǐ ) - West - Summer - Blue Fire ~ 火 Ka (Huǒ) - South - Autumn - Red Earth ~ 風 Fū (Fēng) - East - Winter - Yellow Aether ~ 空 Kū (Kōng) - Center - Year - White/Black

Throughout the Universe, energy tends to move in spirals, naturally forming matter into spheres.

The polarity of opposites creates vortexes throughout nature — from galaxies, the movement of solar systems and the gravitational fields that create planets, hurricanes and typhoons, tornadoes, are also seen in the eddies in the currents of wind and waves. Reflected even in the growth of plants, DNA strands, and in molecular and atomic structures, the swirling patterns of the Golden Mean and Fibonacci’s Curve are omnipresent throughout the universe.

Taoist sages recognized these patterns as well, and these universal truths are reflected in Bagua Zhang, the “Eight Trigrams Palm“, a refined and formidable martial art founded on an ancient practice of meditative circle walking. The goal of this ancient circle walking practice was to increase vital energy and find attunement with the energy of the universe and enlightenment.

The Sacred Spiral is reflected not only on molecular and cosmic levels, but also in the structure of our muscles as they dynamically curve around our bones, and even in the muscle fibers themselves, like rope, or cable. Bagua Zhang systematically uses these structures in our bodies to naturally develop strength, health and maximize expression of power. Bagua Zhang emphasizes circularity and the principles of spiraling and the dynamic sphere more than any other martial art, for:

  • structure and fluid expression of force,
  • health and strength development,
  • strategies and principles of application in self defense, and
  • energetic dynamics for alchemical internal cultivation.

Moving Meditation - Bagua Zhang: The Circular Art of Transformation

More specifically, in Bagua Zhang training, the Spherical Structure is expressed in each of its foundational principles:

  • Moving from Center – with gyroscopic Centrifugal and Centripetal Force, going with the flow with continuity and non-resistance.
  • Opposite but Complimentary Force and Movement – this unifies the whole body, for maximum expression of power. Bagua is the most ambidextrous martial arts system, emphasizing training both sides of the body bilaterally.
  • Maintaining bows and curves in the body and limbs – stretching open like the arches in bridges, and bows in archery, it also applies to powerful stances and footwork, and efficient expression of force through the body, arms and hands.
  • In striking along straight lines, the force spirals like drilling.
  • In circular strikes and kicks, the hands and feet cut in elliptical arcs from one’s center.
  • In grappling, the arms & legs coil and wrap the opponent’s to counter, lock and sweep.
  • In throwing, body and hands spiral in elliptical arcs to disrupt balance of the opponent.

Energy flows in a torus spiraling around the body, as in all magnetic and gravitational fields. The Intrinsic Life-Force Energy (Qi) naturally flows to and from spherical, spiraling fields, or centers in the body – expanding (reeling outward) and contracting (reeling inward) vortexes — understanding this dynamic maximizes efficient force with minimal effort – conserving strength by utilizing the power of spherical structure and stability. Bagua Zhang’s emphasis on these coils and spirals naturally increases the practitioner’s vitality. The rigorous and balanced training stimulates the mind, increases strength, flexibility and dexterity, while also cleansing impurities, and promotes healing on physical, emotional and spiritual levels.

Bagua Zhang is truly a profound, life-changing holistic method of self-cultivation and self-defense, and why I am so passionate about sharing this amazing, life transforming practice with as many people as I can.

 

Bagua Zhang Group Classes will be held on

Saturdays 11am – 12:30pm,

Sundays 11am-12:30pm,

Thursdays 7pm-8pm,

 at:

1108 NW 200th St,
Shoreline, WA 98177

 

Please RSVP to all classes you plan to attend.

 

 

This new schedule will provide us the opportunity to create more instructional video and written reference material of the Mace Martial Arts curriculum for my students. We are also seeking a more stable indoor location for our classes. Stay tuned for more details!

This will also free up time for private lessons —
Private lessons now $80 per hour, and $240 for a package 4 private lessons
— please *Contact me* to schedule times to continue your training.

 

Register for Private Classes here!

 

Family and and referral discounts available — for the referring student and the new students — spread the word about our Bagua Zhang classes!