New Book
This clear, step-by-step guide to the fundamentals of Bagua Zhang lays out the principles, practices, and underlying philosophy of this cerebral and sophisticated Chinese internal martial art. Leading readers from the most basic precepts of Bagua Zhang practice to advanced techniques, Kent Howard draws on his deep understanding of the art and his decades of teaching to set students on a path toward mastery. While Bagua Zhang is often perceived as a complex martial art that is difficult to learn, Howard breaks it down into clear and easily absorbed principles and exercises that beginners can master and incorporate into higher levels of practice at their own pace. Numerous easy-to-follow photographs illustrate core practices such as circle-walking, post standing, and palm changes, as well as foundandational techniques of posture and alignment, fluid motion, generating whole-body power, absorbing and redirecting energy, striking while in motion, and much more. In addition to providing a solid foundation for a lifetime practice, Bagua Zhang Fundamentals also offers more advanced practitioners valuable tips on how to increase their knowledge and understanding of this multifaceted martial art.
About the Author:
Kent Howard is a nationally known writer and martial arts teacher. He has a degree in East Asian Languages and spent over twenty years directing English as a Second Language schools in Asia and the United States. Kent has been practicing Chinese martial arts for more than thirty years and is considered an authority on Bagua Zhang and Taoism. He studied internal martial arts under Taoist master Huang Jinsheng in Taiwan, a close disciple of Wang Shujin. Kent is the author of numerous articles on Chinese martial arts and philosophy, and was a former contributor to the esteemed Pa Kua Chang Journal. His newest book is Bagua Swimming Body Palms, and he previously translated Wang Shujin’s first book, Bagua Linked Palms (also published by Blue Snake Books). His latest project for North Atlantic Books (Blue Snake) is a book on Bagua Zhang Fundamentals.
Kent Howard “Introduction to Baguazhang” STANDING POSTURES
Introduction to Baguazhang by Kent Howard Reviews:
“Useful, functional Bagua training for real students who are willing to work. Straightforward, reasonable presentation of authentic material. Beginning students as well as more advanced practitioners will find it very useful.”—Phillip Starr, chairman of the Yiliquan Martial Arts Association and author of Baguazhang: Fundamentals, Applications, and Footwork
“While being deeply rooted in his own venerable lineage, Kent Howard has given us a Bagua ‘operator’s manual’ that will be of lasting bene t for internal martial artists and Bagua practitioners regardless of their own particular style, from beginner to advanced. His synthesis of traditional materials with modern experimental and behavioral psychology is unique and invaluable. This is a wonderful book!”—Douglas Phillips, PhD, clinical psychologist, Zen teacher, senior instructor in nonviolent self-defense (retired), and 40-year practitioner of Tai Chi and Bagua
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