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The basic hand-form - 'rake fist' (钯子拳)

Bajiquan - the art of moving like a bear and striking like a tiger. The 1^st thing to learn is the 熊步 Bear Step, in which one slowly walks in a low crouch. At any one time our body weight should be almost totally on the leg in front, and our spines upright. Sway your hands lightly as you move, as if you're a bear.

It can also be practiced in a diagonal stepping manner. Both of these exercises is for building up your foundation for power issuing.

The next thing to learn is the 虎膀 Tiger Arm, where one punches with both hands stretched out. The trick is use your hip and shoulder instead of the arm power to strike while stepping forward. Both arms should remain relaxed and slightly bend at all times.

The sharper one can twist the hip and stretch the shoulder when punching, the sharper will be the power issuing. The Bear Step & Tiger Arm should be practiced for at least half a year.  

The 2 most important basic stances of Baji, the horse 弓步 and the bow 马步 stance. These 2 stance training are the stationary variants of the above Bear step/Tiger Arm. Less popular, but more effective. In the horse stance one's feet should be parallel and the knees should crouch to around the angle shown in the left picture. Keep the spine straight, stretch out the arms but keep the shoulder relaxed and elbows sunk. Breathe deeply in your abdomen and imagine that your lower body is turning solid. Weight distribution should be equal on both legs. Endure till your legs tremble, then rest and do it again, and again and again...

In the bow stance one's feet should still be parallel, but turned 45 degrees. The front leg should be cocked, the back leg straightened tautly, like a bowstring. Put most of your weight onto the front leg. Keep the hands by the hip and twist the hip back until it can turn no more - as in the right diagram. Again, breathe deeply and imagine that your legs are becoming solid.

Following the same principles, you need not proceed any further until you build up a strong foundation through these 2 stances. Usually it takes about half to one year - practicing only these 2 fundamentals and nothing else. Many people can't take the misery and boredom of this initial stage of development. However, if you persevere, under proper guidance, the following stages would be easy enough for you. You'll immediately realize the rewards of those previous efforts.  

This diagram shows the powerful bodily forces at work when one performs techniques in the above 2 basic stances. There are 2 kinds, namely gravity 重力 and torque 螺旋力 In terms of power issuing they are called 沉坠劲,十字劲 (sinking & cross jing). They can be combined to deadly effect even against much bigger and stronger opponents; provided if your body fully understands them. 

Two of the most important techniques, the 顶心肘 center gate elbow strike, and the 侧门顶肘 outer gate elbow strike In the initial stage, when the hand is still not conditioned, the elbow is our most effective weapon due to its natural hardness. Thus there is an emphasis on elbow strikes. However remember also that Baji means the 8 extremes, & one should develop all 8 parts of the body (head, shoulder, back, elbow, fist, palm, knee & feet) to their maximum. The 2 elbow techniques above are very simple and utilize the horse stance. Baji techniques are mostly accompanied by heavy stomping on the leg stepping forward as well as torso twisting. These are natural actions of issuing sinking + cross jing. 

Another 2 important basic techniques, the 崩拳 forward middle punch and 冲拳 reverse high punch. The above principles apply, but the reverse punch utilizes the bow stance. Again, there'll the characteristic heavy stomping, torso twisting, and striking all in one unified movement.

When you feel that you are very comfortable and stable with the horse and the bow stances you can progress to try out the 半马步 half horse stance and the 虚步 empty stance. Take a month or 2 to feel and understand these stances before going any further. The weight distribution for the half horse stance should be 60% on the back leg and 40% in front. For the empty stance, the weight should be 90% behind and only 10% in front. They should be practiced along with the horse and bow stances. There is altogether eight fundamental stances in Baji.

Two very powerful palm techniques are developed from the stances above 猛虎硬爬山 and 虎扑 (forward palm thrust and double palm strike). They will be 2 of the most destructive techniques if the power you've accumulated from all the 4 stances is enough; (better if you have conditioned your palms) but there's much more to learn in order to master Bajiquan. Once you have made up your mind, seek out the nearest qualified Teacher.

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