131. Baguazhang Spirit Jaguars & Ghost Tigers (☰/☴)

During the 1990's and the first decade of the second millennium, martial arts as a whole saw a massive resurgence around the world, thanks to better movies and in particular the internet. For those of us, who started Baguazhang as a lonely niche style, we are pleased to be able to finally connect with other practitioners of the style around the world. While not all connections have been pleasant, it has allowed us all to compare notes and in the process allow for the updating of stagnant ideas and experiences. Thereby renewing the martial arts pledge to remain relevant to the art. And relevant to the times we live in. It has proven through numerous medium to be more than a museum relic of a by-gone era. And in fact, many Baguazhang concepts have shown themselves to remain consistent with current scientific findings. However Baguazhang has found a weakness in the lack of masters able to translate what the original masters discovered into a simple language, by which the modern man can understand without rejecting everything they hear, see, and read as mumbo-jumbo woo-woo. For Baguazhang has gone international and now lies beyond the confines of Chinese sensibilities: For a Baguazhang master in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, couldn't care less about what happens in Wudang Shan. His Baguazhang deals more with Spirit Jaguars than Ghost Tigers. By working to update the collective storehouse that is Baguazhang, we are even as a group helping to rebuild up what was lost during the Chinese Cultural Revolution of the late 1960's and early 1970's. Bringing back to China a way of life that to many there and abroad is only known as fiction. While the agreed upon five orthodox styles remain and continue to grow, the trend around the world is to create new Baguazhang styles that directly answer the needs and circumstances of the master in question; however outlandish or mundane they may be. Master Dong Hai Chuan be proud!... Liked what you heard & want to connect with me? Join me at… linkedin.com/in/peterhainzl/