Gao Bagua FAQ

Baguazhang (八卦掌, “eight trigram palm”) is one of the three great internal Chinese martial arts, alongside Xingyiquan and Taijiquan. The name refers to the eight trigrams of the I Ching. Training centres on change — controlling mind and body so you can move, turn, and strike while an opponent who cannot adapt falls behind.

At The Moral Dragon we teach Gao-style Baguazhang as a complete martial system: circle walking, palm changes, linear fighting forms, partner work, and body method — not stage performance or mysticism for its own sake.

Gao-style Baguazhang (高氏八卦掌) was organised by Gao Yisheng (高義盛, 1866–1951), a master of the Cheng Tinghua branch of Bagua. He arranged Cheng-style material into a clear, extensive syllabus now practised worldwide — especially in Tianjin, Taiwan, and among serious students in the West.

Gao style is known for its clear split into Pre-Heaven (circle walking and palm changes) and Post-Heaven (sixty-four linear palms), plus line work, weapons, and supplemental training. Read the full overview on our Gao-style Baguazhang page.

In this school, “internal” means training that develops structure, timing, relaxation under pressure, and whole-body power — not floppy forms or vague energy talk. Breath, posture, and intent matter because they change how you move and fight.

You still sweat, condition, and practise applications. The work is martial and physical; the method is precise rather than purely athletic.

All authentic Bagua shares circle walking and change. Gao style is distinctive for how systematically it pairs Pre-Heaven (round, continuous circle work) with a large Post-Heaven set of sixty-four linear fighting palms in eight lines, plus strong line-stepping methods that often feel close to Xingyiquan.

Different lineages emphasise different frames, weapons, and teaching orders. Ours follows the Taiwan Yizong transmission of Gao material through Zhang JunFeng, the Hong brothers, and Luo Dexiu.

The Moral Dragon teaches the three internal arts of the Yizong curriculum: Gao-style Baguazhang, Hebei Xingyiquan, and Chen Panling Taijiquan. They share body method ideas but feel very different in practice.

The weekly public group class is Baguazhang. Xingyi can be taught within in-person lessons or private tuition; there is currently no dedicated group Xingyi class. Ask if you want a clearer path across the arts.

Yizong (易宗) is the lineage created by Gao Yisheng (高義盛), founder of Gao-style Baguazhang. It was passed on through Zhang JunFeng, the Hong brothers (Hong Yixiang, Hong Yimian, and Hong Yiwen), master Luo Dexiu, and Ollie Smith (龍德館) in Bath — where we teach Gao-style Baguazhang, Hebei Xingyiquan, and Chen Panling Taijiquan from this line.

Read the full story on the Yizong lineage page and the profile of Luo Dexiu.

Classes are taught by Ollie Smith, who trains and teaches Gao-style Baguazhang (and the wider Yizong curriculum) in Bath under the Moral Dragon / 龍德館 name. Training is small-group and hands-on — direct correction, not a crowded drop-in gym model.

More background is on the About page.

The Moral Dragon is the English name of the school; the Chinese name is 龍德館. It marks this Bath school within the wider Yizong family of teachers and students — not a franchise brand or a generic kung fu club name.

Yes. Whether you are new to martial arts or coming from another system, you are welcome. Internal kung fu rewards patience and consistency more than raw athleticism. You will start with fundamentals and build from there.

You do not need to be an athlete to start. Classes include warm-up and conditioning, and intensity builds over time. If you have injuries or medical limits, tell the instructor before training so work can be adjusted sensibly.

Consistent practice improves fitness; you do not need to “get fit first” and then join.

Adults of a wide age range train internal arts successfully when the work is scaled to the body in front of us. If you are unsure whether the class suits you, describe your situation when you enquire — honesty about knees, backs, and recovery helps more than guessing from a website.

You will not find regular free sparring or Sanda training here. Fighting methods are practised, but applications are generally controlled and cooperative. The aim is clear technique, timing, and structure — not weekly hard sparring culture.

No coloured-belt grading system. Progress is shown in what you can do: circle walking, palm changes, Post-Heaven lines, partner work, and understanding. Traditional Chinese internal schools measure skill by practice, not by a belt ladder.

There is no finish line. You can learn useful fundamentals in months; a deep grasp of Pre-Heaven and Post-Heaven takes years of steady practice. Gao style is a large syllabus by design — that is a feature, not a sales pitch for endless beginner modules.

Show up, walk the circle, and keep refining. Speed of progress depends on attendance, attention, and how you practise between classes.

Expect a structured session with warm-up and conditioning, form practice (circle walking and/or palms), partner drills, and practical application where appropriate — following traditional syllabus progression in a small group with direct correction.

Details and ethos are summarised on the Classes page.

Comfortable training clothes you can move and squat in — track bottoms or martial arts trousers, a T-shirt, and flat-soled indoor training shoes or socks as directed for the space. Avoid jeans, restrictive fashion wear, and outdoor muddy shoes on the training floor.

If you already own a traditional training uniform, that is fine; it is not required for your first class.

Water, training clothes, and an open mind. If you wear glasses, consider a strap. Leave jewellery that can catch or scratch at home. No special equipment is required to start.