Ba Gua and Aikido
I was wondering if anyone has looked at any videos of Ba Gua (also referred to as Ba Gua Zhang or other variations of Ba Gua)? There appears to be alot of similarities between it and Aikido. It seems like it is Aikido with some extra movements and some strikes. Is it possible that there is some kind of connection between the two, or are they just two completely independent arts that were simply realizations of the same principles?
I had noticed some of that, though not from videos-- my teacher, in Chinese martial arts and body work TCM, Dr. Gareth Smith showed me some methods he called "inner hsing-yi" and "inner ba gua" which both had striking similarities to the ki development exercises (aka kihon forms) from the Ueshiba work I'd learned from Sensei Quang Van Tran -- I was never able to follow up deeply on the possible chinese connections - also noticable were other forms of both exoteric and esoteric chi-gung that have cropped up in aikido research over the years -- Ueshiba did have quite a bit of travel through China so this is a good bet that he had some "cross-training" though there is nothing explicit i have found. Another Likely source was that apparently there were also a variety of chi-gung activities that grew out of Omoto kyo religion as well (one of which is modern reiki practice) -- it also looks to me that Ueshiba practiced Kuji forms as well though I dont know from what tradition, maybe Omoto-kyo but maybe elsewhere... I know Kuji is preserverd in Katori Shinto as Okuden. Any how -- I have gone far afield
If you get to read John Painter's writings on internal martial arts of which I have reviewed 3 of his books he alludes to what Nick pointed out that the founder of aikido travelled to China and may have been influenced by the Ba Gua practices. The circle walk ,the shomenate, other strikes and throws, and circular generation of energy,all seem to be very closely related to aikido. Bagua is a very effective martial art which was used to guard the royal families in China and the bagua art which was the body guard art of choice for its direct effectiveness also carried with it a sacrifice for the practicioner. He had to offer his testicles and penis to the royal family in order to guard the concubines in the royal palace. I think I would rather pay monthly fees!!!!!
interesting book in "Water Boxing" form that you may enjoy entitled "Liuhebafa : Five Character Secrets" by Paul Dillon, published by YMAA
this is one video that shows some nice examples of the similar roots of aikido and bagua
