XIANTIAN BAGUAZHANG / pre-heaven palm changes : Yoga Like Forms for Rebalancing Internal Energy, Increasing Agility and Devolping Martial Skill

XIANTIAN BAGUAZHANG
pre-heaven palm changes
Yoga Like Forms for Rebalancing Internal Energy,
Increasing Agility and Devolping Martial Skill

8 Forms for Developing Nimbleness, Elasticity, Internal Strength and Core Self-Defense Skills

Reconnects You with Celestial Energies and Helps Synchronize You with Heaven's Natural Flow

Opens the Body and Builds and Stores Internal Power Using Martially Based Forms

Snake Smooth Force Palm, one of eight pre-heaven palm changes (short yoga-like forms that twists and coils the whole body in a synchronized way) from the Gao Yi Sheng baguazhang system. Medicinally, the snake palm form is used for eliminating excess fire energy from the heart, helping to settle the emotions. Physically, this form opens the body and joints, helping to regain elasticity and suppleness. Martially, the snake palm change form develops the necessary strength and skill to efficiently throw an opponent.

Pre-Heaven Palm Changes , sometimes collectively referred to as "xiantians," are usually 8 short forms that function as a catalog of specific martial arts techniques and fighting applications, based upon the actual battlefield experiences of ancient and modern-day warriors, and the principles and philosophy of the 64 energy changes and cycles contained within the I Ching (Sacred Book of Changes and Divinations).

Pre-heaven principle has these specific aspects and qualities of YANG CHI (heaven energy): fullness, expansiveness, structuredness, orderliness, righteousness, calmness, evenness, detachedness, lightness, interconnectedness and oneness. Thus, the xiantian/pre-heaven palm change forms focus more on the qigong aspects of baguazhang; they build the subtle life force from the inside out and lay down the foundations for developing martial skill.

Training in baguazhang pre-heaven palm changes helps to reset one’s original essence back to a more integrated and natural state. Regular practice develops a type of functional flexibility, where you learn to unify your Qi or Chi (life-force/breath/bioelectric energy) and extend power evenly to all parts of the body, even while moving continuously. The pre-heaven palm changes are baguazhang's core vehicles for building basic self-defense capacity.