龍德館

Yizong · Bath, UK

Post-Heaven Baguazhang

Sixty-four linear palms in eight lines — hardness within softness, from the Gao-style Yizong lineage of master Luo Dexiu.

Post Heaven Bagua Palms

The Post Heaven Palms are a set of singular 64 martial forms, separated into 8 lines, each consisting of 8 forms. Each line focuses on a specific skill such as striking techniques, skilful methods, subtle methods, elbows, kicking, footwork, and animal characteristics. Each line of Post Heaven Bagua is first practised separately with stance holding — the Sixty Four Entwining Palms.

Post-heaven Palm practice is based on hardness (gāng, 剛). Within hardness is softness. Emphasis is on cultivating methodology, force and structure, seeking to achieve its skill from within.

This practice urges the development of power and lengthens the hitting distance. It uses the foot to assist the body and the arm to assist the palm. During practice attend to the Three Extensions: extend awareness, extend power, and extend structure.

Ollie Smith in San Ti Shi (sān tǐ shì, 三體式) — post-heaven Baguazhang starting posture
Ollie Smith standing in San Ti Shi (<em>sān tǐ shì</em>, 三體式), post-heaven Baguazhang starting posture.

What are the key benefits of Post Heaven (Straight Line) Bagua?

  1. Learn to improve your complete structure whilst extending your posture
  2. Increase your internal and external strength
  3. Long practice helps you to become mentally calm and physically relaxed
  4. Helps the development of power and lengthens hitting distance
  5. Improves general coordination and timing
  6. Striking and kicking will be improved
  7. Unlocks movement without thinking
  8. Helps to cultivate energy

Special characteristics of each of the Post-heaven Palms

  • Line 1 – Guiding Principles
  • Line 2 – Hitting Methods
  • Line 3 – Clever Methods
  • Line 4 – Subtle methods
  • Line 5 – Elbow Methods
  • Line 6 – Leg Methods
  • Line 7 – Stepping Methods
  • Line 8 – Body Methods

After one’s skill is well developed, the Post heaven and Pre heaven Palms may unite as one. Upon interception one’s whole body may react with a natural entwining rhythm; one may regulate the interchange of hard and soft, empty and full. Assaults can be hard, fierce and violent or clever, slippery and cunning.

Pre-heaven Palms are externally round and internally square while Post-heaven Palms are externally square and internally round. Read the Pre-Heaven Baguazhang guide →

Post Heaven Line 1 — Foundation or Prototype

The Post Heaven line 1 is considered the foundation or prototype line — principles held within stand as a basis for all lines that follow. It contains all the principles seen in later Post Heaven Palms. Points to remember include: stepping should be clean, the body should be nimble, energy and power should be sufficient, and hand movements should be clear.

  1. 開掌 (kāi zhǎng) — Opening Palm
  2. 捧掌 (pěng zhǎng) — Upward Scooping Palm
  3. 扽掌 (dùn zhǎng) — Pulling Down Palm
  4. 探掌 (tàn zhǎng) — The Golden Dragon Puts Out Its Claws
  5. 立掌 (lì zhǎng) — Vertical Palm
  6. 挑掌 (tiǎo zhǎng) — Rising Palm
  7. 蓋掌 (gài zhǎng) — Covering Palm
  8. 纏掌 (chán zhǎng) — Entwining Palm
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 1 — foundation palms
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 1 — foundation or prototype.

Post Heaven Line 2 — Striking Techniques

Each of the forms displays a unique method of striking an opponent, combining palm and fist strikes with grabbing, pulling, chopping and cutting. The second line emphasises fighting principles and their application. The techniques should be practised until they become natural. Hands and eyes must be quick. When striking, the opponent cannot follow.

  1. 截肋掌 (jié lèi zhǎng) — Intercepting at the Ribs Palm
  2. 葉下藏花掌 (yè xià cáng huā zhǎng) — Flower Hidden Beneath The Leaf Palm
  3. 內砍掌 (nèi kǎn zhǎng) — Chopping from the Inside Palm
  4. 外削掌 (wài xuē zhǎng) — Cutting from the Outside Palm
  5. 二仙傳道 (èr xiān chuán dào) — Two Immortals Teach the Way Palm
  6. 惡虎撲羊 (è hǔ pū yáng) — Ferocious Tiger Pounces on Sheep Palm
  7. 鳳凰奪窩 (fèng huáng duó wō) — Phoenix Robs the Nest Palm
  8. 進退連環 (jìn tuì lián huán) — Continuously Advancing and Retreating Palm
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 2 — striking techniques
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 2 — striking techniques.

Post Heaven Line 3 — Skilful Methods

As line three of the Post Heaven Bagua system focuses on skill, you will only start learning it once you have mastered the first two lines. It practices internal power, making the entire body sensitive and receptive. Like the grass that sways in the wind, once there is contact, there should be an immediate response. Palms strike with tremendous power, with no wasted movement.

  1. 穿肋掌 (chuān lèi zhǎng) — Piercing the Ribs Palm
  2. 橫搬掌 (héng bān zhǎng) — Horizontal Moving Palm
  3. 截手掌 (jié shǒu zhǎng) — Intercepting Palm
  4. 攔手掌 (lán shǒu zhǎng) — Blocking Palm
  5. 停身掌 (tíng shēn zhǎng) — Stopping the Body Palm
  6. 翻手掌 (fān shǒu zhǎng) — Overturning Palm
  7. 走行步 (zǒu xíng bù) — Going Away Palm
  8. 轉身掌 (zhuǎn shēn zhǎng) — Turning the Body Palm
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 3 — skilful methods
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 3 — skilful methods.

Post Heaven Line 4 — Subtle Methods

The first four forms of line 4 require issuing power, whilst the remaining four need to embody a softer flexibility and skill. This line practices fājìn (發勁, explosive power) and is divided into four hard and four soft movements. These eight movements contain hidden and skilful principles. They look out for chances and change accordingly. Once the mind moves, the hands and feet respond. When eyes and spirit see a chance, the mind is already prepared.

  1. 推山入海 (tuī shān rù hǎi) — Push the Mountain into the Sea
  2. 力托千斤掌 (lì tuō qiān jīn zhǎng) — Upward Lifting Palm
  3. 帶扣掌 (dài kòu zhǎng) — Pulling and Fastening Palm
  4. 外領掌 (wài lǐng zhǎng) — Lead to the Outside Palm
  5. 沾手掌 (zhān shǒu zhǎng) — Adhering Hands Palm
  6. 黏手掌 (nián shǒu zhǎng) — Sticky Hands Palm
  7. 連手掌 (lián shǒu zhǎng) — Continuous Hands Palm
  8. 隨手掌 (suí shǒu zhǎng) — Following Hands Palm
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 4 — subtle methods
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 4 — subtle methods.

Post Heaven Line 5 — Elbows

There is no secret with the elbow line — it is about striking with the elbows. These techniques are extremely dangerous when applied in fighting. The fifth line teaches pressure point attacks and the disruption of sinews. The emphasis is on elbow techniques and rapid, ruthless movement used in close-quarter fighting.

  1. 墩肘 (dūn zhǒu) — Back Elbow
  2. 盤肘 (pán zhǒu) — Rolling Elbow
  3. 墜肘 (zhuì zhǒu) — Sinking Elbow
  4. 頂肘 (dǐng zhǒu) — Upwards Elbow
  5. 橫肘 (héng zhǒu) — Horizontal Elbow
  6. 挫肘 (cuò zhǒu) — Filing the Elbow
  7. 疊肘 (dié zhǒu) — Folding Elbow
  8. 鑽肘 (zuān zhǒu) — Drilling Elbow
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 5 — elbow methods
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 5 — elbow methods.

Post Heaven Line 6 — Kicking

All kicks are practised whilst firmly rooted to the ground — you won’t find any jumping here. The sixth line teaches kicking methods. Legs kick on three levels: high, mid-level, and low. So the 8 kicks learned in this line become 24.

  1. 前趨腿 (qián qū tuǐ) — Front Shin Kick
  2. 後踹腿 (hòu chuài tuǐ) — Rear Kick / Backward Stamping Kick
  3. 外擺腿 (wài bǎi tuǐ) — Outside Crescent Kick
  4. 內掛腿 (nèi guà tuǐ) — Inside Hooking Kick
  5. 上踢腿 (shàng tī tuǐ) — High Kick
  6. 下截腿 (xià jié tuǐ) — Downward Cutting Kick
  7. 斜掃腿 (xié sǎo tuǐ) — Diagonal Sweeping Kick
  8. 正撞腿 (zhèng zhuàng tuǐ) — Straight Jamming Kick
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 6 — kicking methods
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 6 — kicking methods.

Post Heaven Line 7 — Footwork

While the footwork in Post Heaven line 7 should be familiar, you can begin to practise the form by moving more swiftly. This line teaches sticking and adhering techniques. The main focus lies on stepping methods. One’s hands are ever unpredictable and always changing. Hands and eyes move together; body and feet move as one.

  1. 掖掌 (yè zhǎng) — Tucked-In Palm
  2. 擠掌 (jǐ zhǎng) — Pressing Palm
  3. 刁手 (diāo shǒu) — Hook Hand Palm
  4. 摟手 (lǒu shǒu) — Embracing Body Palm
  5. 崩打 (bēng dǎ) — Jabbing Strike
  6. 撞掌 (zhuàng zhǎng) — Crashing Palm
  7. 扣掌 (kòu zhǎng) — Hooking the Face Palm
  8. 搬掌 (bān zhǎng) — Moving Palm
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 7 — footwork
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 7 — footwork.

Post Heaven Line 8 — Body Methods

Body methods in the Post Heaven Forms possess animal characteristics: dragon, tiger, bear, monkey, snake, cat, eagle and leopard. The eighth line teaches internal structure and the use of different states of mind. Body movement should be quick; eyes and hands correspondingly fast. Within the body are changes between yin and yang and modulations between stillness and motion.

  1. 猿猴擣把 (yuán hóu dǎo bǎ) — Pounding and Grabbing
  2. 狸虎敲心 (lí hǔ qiāo xīn) — Mongoose, Striking to the Heart
  3. 吸身掌 (xī shēn zhǎng) — Drawing In The Body Palm
  4. 伏身撈胯 (fú shēn lāo kuà) — Lean Over the Body, Scoop the Leg
  5. 搖身掌 (yáo shēn zhǎng) — Swaying Body Palm
  6. 閃身掌 (shǎn shēn zhǎng) — Evasive Body Palm
  7. 橫撞掌 (héng zhuàng zhǎng) — Horizontal Crashing Palm
  8. 猛虎躥山 (měng hǔ cuān shān) — The Fierce Tiger Leaps Forward
Ollie Smith practising Post-Heaven Bagua Line 8 — body methods
Post-Heaven Bagua Line 8 — body methods.

Nine Character Formula

  1. Smooth: Move naturally.
  2. Brave: Being firm and resolute.
  3. Straightforward: Being heavy when executing techniques.
  4. Clever: Using the opponent’s force against him.
  5. Subtle: Being able to react with all parts of the body; the hands are unpredictable.
  6. Continuous: Sticking, adhering, linking, following; continuously executing techniques.
  7. Ruthless: No hesitation — be ruthless when moving.
  8. Rapid: Once there is contact, move fast.
  9. Skill: Internal and outer skill.

How we train at The Moral Dragon

Monday classes in Bath focus on the traditional Gao-style syllabus: structured warm-up and conditioning, circle walking, palm changes, partner drills, and fighting application — including post-heaven linear palms as skill develops. Groups are small; correction is direct. Progress follows ability, not grades or belts.

Whether you are new to martial arts or bringing experience from another system, the requirement is the same: patience, consistency, and a willingness to work.

View class times and details → · Enquire about joining → · Gao-style Baguazhang → · Pre-Heaven Bagua →