Yizong · The Moral Dragon · Bath, UK
Yizong syllabus
Long De Guan (龍德館) — Baguazhang and Xingyiquan training methods taught at The Moral Dragon in Bath.
This is the Yizong Long De Guan syllabus taught at The Moral Dragon. Monday group classes centre on Gao-style Baguazhang. Foundational methods — basic hands, Eight Brocades, Heavenly Stems, and standing — support the Pre-Heaven and Post-Heaven forms. Xingyiquan is available by private tuition.
Class times & fees → · Gao-style Baguazhang → · Hebei Xingyiquan →
Basic hand methods
Exercises used to warm the body and limbs for deeper training. Traditional drills that train whole-body movement, coordination, and timing, whilst unifying mind and body.
- Piercing
- Opening
- Chopping
- Push
- Palm strike
- Overturning backfist
- Rising
- Lifting
- Separating
- Flinging
- Opening & closing
Eight Brocades
A teaching series of dynamic exercises focused on movement with breathing. These develop lung capacity and flexibility, and prepare the body for longer Bagua and Xingyi work.
Heavenly Stems
Traditional exercises for stretching and strengthening the tendons and muscles. In our lineage these are practised very low and long, combined with breathing in and out.
Standing postures
Standing practice with a qigong focus — extending to the fingertips and building endurance in the legs and shoulders.
Pre-Heaven Baguazhang
Sixteen separate forms, divided into eight large-frame and eight small-frame palm changes, plus foundational mother-palm work. Pre-Heaven is based on circle walking: palm changes are first learnt statically, then practised whilst walking the circle. The work emphasises throwing methods and whole-body power.
- Single Palm Change Mother palm / foundation for changing direction on the circle
- Palm 1 — Smooth Body Palm Eliminates heart fire
- Palm 2 — Piercing Body Palm Regulates the three burners
- Palm 3 — Returning Body Palm Soothes the liver & lungs
- Palm 4 — Overturning Body Palm Strengthens kidneys & waist
- Palm 5 — Turning Body Palm Increases strength
- Palm 6 — Twisting Body Palm Regulates the spleen & stomach
- Palm 7 — Behind the Back Palm Strengthens bone & sinew
- Palm 8 — Spinning Body Palm Rids all that ails you
- Black Dragon Swings Its Tail Closing sequence — the dragon’s tail
Post-Heaven Baguazhang
Sixty-four separate palms in eight lines of eight. These are the straight-line forms: striking, entry, and continuous progressive attacks. Once individual palms are learnt, each line links into a form. Every line has a particular focus such as footwork, striking, or kicks.
- Line 1 Circular motion, foundation training, prototype line
- Line 2 Striking techniques
- Line 3 Skilful methods
- Line 4 Subtle methods
- Line 5 Elbows
- Line 6 Kicks
- Line 7 Footwork
- Line 8 Eight animal characteristics
Bagua weapons
Traditional weapons training within the Gao-style Bagua syllabus.
- Two-headed staff
- Double-edged sword
Xingyiquan
Hebei Xingyiquan from the Yizong curriculum. Available by private tuition or by arrangement — there is currently no dedicated weekly Xingyi group class.
- Five Element Fists Splitting, drilling, crushing, exploding, crossing
- Linking Five Elements
- Entering and Retreating Fist
- Twelve Animal Fists Dragon, tiger, monkey, horse, alligator, rooster, sparrow hawk, swallow, snake, eagle, bear, vulture (Tai Bird)
- Bashi — eight postures
- Bazi — eight words
- Xingyi sword
- Xingyi staff