I've been doing Ba Gua for only a short time after studying arnis for many years. My question is; while walking the circle ,I began feeling dizzy,however upon consulting with my teacher,he said I should try focusing more on the center point of the circle rather than on my partner. This helped , but during one session it seemed as if my surroundings were spinning while I remained still. there were no feelings of vertigo or loss of balance. This felt VERY wierd and my teacher had never felt this and couldn't offer any explanation. Am I crazy or has anyone got some insight as to what was going on?

This is the first time I've heard of someone getting dizzy while cirlce walking. Here's my .02. Maybe you're walking too fast and/or not breathing correctly.

You mention a partner. I assume this partner is right across from you also walking the circle, right? If so I know exactly what you're talking about. We also do this exercise and I not only get dizzy I eventually get a headache if we go too long. The only thing I've found that helps is going REALLY slowly. It's also probably not a good idea to do too much of this exercise until you've walked the circle for a while by yourself. That was my mistake.

Thanks to Dave C And Abdullah. I think we were probally moving to fast and not regulating our breathing. Also we (with teachers encouragement)have been blending simple stick drills while circle walking. Has anyone else tried this ?

Brad,

Drills with a stick? nope, I haven't heard of that one. Sticking to the partner, yes- always.

I haven't had tons of experience with two man circle walking drills but my teacher recommends looking past the outside of your lead hand and keeping your eyes focused on your partners chest. This will cut down on your dizziness.

I'm sure Tim will have a more eloquent way of explaining this.

Brad,

As per Sum Guye's suggestion, you need to look at your opponent's body. The chest area preferably, using peripheral vision to take in the whole picture & not just his chest. Your intent needs to extend out to and through your opponent. Focusing on the center of the circle serves to cut off your intent. The dizzyness may come from trying to watch things go by as you walk. Hope this helps.

Lonny

Hey Brad,
You described my experience -- except that I was able to "shake off" the oncoming dizziness by concetrating on my lead hand/forefinger & not minding that all else is "whizzing" by in a streaked blur of colors. Keep practicing & know that such is OK (perhaps you'll eventually lose your dizziness).
Also, consider this: once (a few decades ago) an airport was bombed -- and people went "flying" willy-nilly without the benefit of an airplane. Of the survivors who were close enough to the blast to go "flying," only one could give an accurate account of what really happened. That individual was a circus-trained tumbler. My point is this: practice until it's as natural as walking in a "regular" way is to you now.
Practicing my rolling used to make me both dizzy & ill to my stomach (downright naw-shush even). Years later (& many hours of practice later) I rarely ever get dizzy & I roll fairly well (& when I get dizzy, it's 'cause I'm not relaxed & BREATHING).
Take care -- hope this message finds you & encourages you to continue to PRACTICE. {:o)

I haven't practiced circle walking w/stick drills, but I did practice some stick drills, THEN added the circle walking. I started Bagua before eskrima and the similarities are uncanny. I had fun mixing the two.

Greetings !
I have continued to practice regularly and the above advice has all been helpful.I'm also having lots of fun mixing bagua and arnis (yes, the similarities are uncanny)I have also done lots of rolling and should have remembered the way I got better was to relax and control the breath (and realize that gravity is my buddy!)

Hi,
when circle walking I was always taught to unwind at the end of each practice. In other words walk your circle in the oppossite direction.
This will greatly help with dizzyness as well as other illness that might arise.

Do you walk the circle backwards?

In all the Ba Gua I've seen you walk the circle in one direction, do a form, which changes your direction, and you walk the circle in that direction till you do another form- again changing direction.

If you're getting dizzy- relax, walk a larger circle and keep your attention on the center of the circle.

If your teacher is telling you to 'unwind' by walking the circle backwards- panic and find a new teacher.

I've never gotten dizzy walking the circle. Being thrown head over heels several times, sure, but not walking the circle. Sometimes we 'unwind' by standing in Wu-Ji posture for a minute or two... but it aint cause anybody is dizzy... that's just crazy. CRAZY I TELL YA.

Speaking of crazy.. what "other illnesses" may arise? Planter's Worts?

Sum Guye,

I think you misunderstood. I think that poster meant to change and walk the other direction to unwind. In any case, there is nothing wrong with walking backwards. It is an ESSENTIAL part of training for fight. To the original question, after alot of practice you will not get dizzy. As has been said already, walk slowly at first, breath, and focus more on the palm (index finger is a good starting point). I have observed the surroundings moving faster by looking at past your opponent instead of your palm, I can't believe your teacher never felt this. Anyway, dizziness is caused by an imbalance of the inner ear. Maybe you are moving up and down to much instead of maintaining one level and focusing.

I call, and add my 2 cents to the pot...

Why not walk the circle backwards? Is there something wrong with that?

I spend some months experimenting walking backwards using a natural step. Later went to a smaller circle just going around a marker on the floor. Later realized this stepping was the same as a back pivot and was quite practical.

quick note: backwards and opposite direction don't mean the same thing.

I didn't make my post clear. I don't think there is anything wrong with walking the circle backwards. I've done it a few times to test my own balance. I do, however, think it is insane for someone to suggest walking the circle backwards to 'unwind' after walking the circle regularly (meaning: forwards.. in both directions).

I also think it would take a psycho teacher (like Bob #2) to tell students to walk the circle backwards to avoid illnesses that may arise from walking the circle forwards.

After learning the 108 Yang Tai Ji form- I did it backwards sometimes just for fun. I often write backwards, upside down and backwards. I frequently alternate which hand I shave my face with just because I like doing things 'backwards'. (As a matter of fact, today I wore my belt backwards, try it sometime.) But I don't think I'm unwinding... nor avoiding any illnesses... I still think that's just crazy talk.

Gotcha!

Brad instead of trying to focus on one point in the room try to accept the room. Some people try to train this by looking 20 feet ahead or by trying to look behind(metaphorically). Once you accept the room it will stop spinning. You don't want to force Intent or Chi to any area (causes stiff chi).

Shea Shea

Please accept my humble answer to dizziness.
You are to focus on your lead hand as it can be the center of the circle,Hal insrtucted me to
focus my intent there/eyesight to eliminate the
chance of dizziness.This is like looking down an
gunsight at your target as it were.Your hand's a lot closer and easier to focus upon as you
circle/change palms.This point of refence may
be just the ticket you seek.

Peace and Love

I recommend using the lead hand as a gunsight,
but focusing your intent WAY beyond it toward the
center of the circle (if you focus on the gunsite
you'll miss your target... instead, you line up
the site on the target using peripheral vision)... then again,I was never much of a marksman.

I've only gotten dizzy being thrown repeatedly.
Dizziness on the circle has never been an issue for me.

Try doing rolls forewards/backwards/sidewards
to help acclimate to the motion to stop dizziness.