The full name of Ba Gua Zhang (Ba Gua Palm) is Flowing-body Ba Gua Chain Palms. Ba Gua Zhang is a fist fighting technique with changeful palm skills and mobile footwork based upon the theory of Ba Gua. In practicing Ba Gua Zhang, one moves around a circle made up of the radius of the length of the arm. The whole circle takes eight steps and eight palm moves. The whole drill work is very agile and unfixed. It combines the martial arts with Dao Yin and Tu Na (breathing control) to contain both the internal and external cultivation. Ba Gua Zhang is typified by practical functions in fighting, while unique effects on physical strengthening and fitness are also achieved.

The popularity of Ba Gua Zhang can be attributed to martial artist Dong Haichuan during the reign of the Emperor Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1851-1862). Ba Gua Zhang is composed of two primary schools. One is the Cheng School, represented by Cheng Tinghua’s Long Zhua Zhang (Dragon Claw Palm), and the other is the Yin School, represented by Yin Fu’s Niu She Zhang (Ox Tongue Palm).

The movements of Ba Gua Zhang are characterized by: 1) Zou (walk); 2) Shi (look); 3) Zuo (sit); and 4) Fan (flip, or turn). These characteristics provide the required training conditions for developing shortcuts for the skills of the body and hands, especially the power of the lower limbs. Ba Gua Zhang attaches great importance to the agility of body movements. It requires the practitioner to always walk in the inner circle so that he can change the distance and direction from the opponent, avoid direct attacks while reversing in a diagonal direction, and wait to deliver opportunistic attacks. The delivery of attacks demands to be adapted to changing circumstances to give play to palm strikes instead of punches and hooks for its flexibility and versatility.

Ba Gua Zhang categorizes its palm moves as Tui (push), Tuo (drag), Dai (bring), Ling (lead), Ban (move), Kou (clasp), Pi (chop), Jin (advance), Ye (tuck), Zhuang (hit), Xiao (pare) and Ta (collapse). In terms of power, it requires the integrated usage of the soft and the tough so as to stick and adhere, or twist to break free. Flexibility in circular motions is emphasized for the waist power to deliver inch-burst power. It is for this reason that Ba Gua Zhang is also known as the Rou Zhang Fa (Rubbing Palm Technique). The footwork emphasizes Tang Ni Bu (Muddy Walk) with special attention paid to the turn and lock in switching moves. In terms of leg work, it focuses on low stance, the stance style utilized and the use of hidden kicks. Its techniques focus on the skills of the body maneuver, diagonal-out and direct-in, as well as spin-off steps with sticky punch, coupled with shadow disengagement and back strikes. In terms of form, it dictates the practice of walking like a dragon, turning like a monkey, and changing moves like a hawk. These three forms combined will allow generous extending and stretching of the maneuver. The routine drill of the style utilizes eight major palm techniques as it basis, which are Dan Huan Palm (Single-change Palm), Shuang Huan Palm (Double-change Palm), Shun Shi Palm (Go-along Palm), Bei Shen Palm (Back-body Palm), Zhuan Shen Palm (Turn-around Palm), Mo Shen Palm (Body-grind Palm), Fan Shen Palm (Body-flip Palm), and the Hui Shen Palm (Body-return Palm). All the palm moves come in succession with inexhaustible changes.

Ba Gua Zhang has not only fist fighting techniques but also weapon techniques, such as the Chun Qiu Dao (Spring-autumn Blade), Zhan Shen Qiang (Warrior Body Spear), Lian Huan Jian (Chain Strike Sword), Lian Huan Chun Yang Jian (Chain-strike Pure-Yang Sword), Lian Huan Pan Long Gun (Chain-strike Dragon Staff), Wu Xing Bang (Five-element Cudgel), Kun Lun Chan (Kunlun Shovel), and Ba Gua Dao (Ba Gua Blade).