Dear Tim,

I come from a strict Hebei background, however since i moved away from home, i've fallen in with the wrong crowd and developed a few bad habits.., nothing serious; until now that is.

When i was checking out my form in the mirror this morning i noticed, with both shock and horror that i'd developed a forward lean, not just a slight one either, but of the back heel, rear leg, hips, spine, shoulders and head on the same line kind.

I don't know how it happened; sure i had a couple of shanxi manuals hidden under my pillow (doesn't everybody?), and a couple of Wang Ji Wu and Bu Xuekuan posters in my locker, but i only ever looked.. honest.

My worry is that when i return, i will be rejected by my bible-toting and touting brothers, my newfound leanings posing a threat to their morally upright world-view.

With this in mind, should i correct my blasphemous ways, or accept what i have become, in the process risking the rejection of my clan, and maybe plan a trip to Taigu?

Yours sin cerely,
Chris

Chris,
Isn't it amazing how these things just sort of creep up on you. You start off perfectly upright, you start to lean (just a little) now and then and one day you wake up to discover you are a full on forward leaning sinner. I say, accept yourself for what you are, besides, you can always make new friends.

Chris may have to change his name, and go into the XingYIquan protection program.

Best Regards,

RickMatz

Sorry, understand joke, but make false picture Hebei style.

Hebei XY strong Eagle/Bear.

Go http://www.marlowsonthekenai.com/mat75.htm

Bear regularly lean forward when fight and play, but Bear is symbol of "upright". Meaning of upright depend on situtation.

Bear lean forward for PURPOSE. Same Hebei style. Say straight up bible tote, say lean bible tote, say APPROPRIATE not bible tote.

Bible tote is from teacher, not style. Real teacher is nature. Human should respect her. She has no bible tote. Style is just experience of some past person - Xing is more important than style.

I can see you know it, but inexperienced person reading your comment may get wrong idea.

FS,
Did anyone ever tell you that you talk like Tonto?

Tim, Your post is somewhat reassuring, but where will it all end? Will i keep on going until i eventually end up in a bow stance and enter into the Dai/Moslem Xinyi Liuhe Quan realm?

The Shanxi/Hebei thing i can deal with, but the Dai and Xinyi Liuhe Quan connection seems to be stretching it a bit. Or is this just the beginning of starting to understand where my true roots lie, some sort of de/re-evolving?

Once you get into the bow stance, your journey to the Liuhequan side will be complete. And there will be no turning back. The next step after it is TAE BO...sorry, friend.

Chris,

No need to be concerned about a little forward lean.

After all,you've falling on you face...too many times to count.

Felipe is right, then you will discover that Billy Blanks is your father.

Yeah..., but, once i master the dead cat bounce...

I had a friend who attended Billy Blank's classes before he named it Tae Bo.... at the time, he called it "Karobics"

All kidding aside...there are some styles within Pa Qua that have taken the forward trunk flexion within certain accompanying forms to the almost endlessly ridiculous.

Like a bull running through a matadors cape,these styles and their instructors are going to incorporate 64 lines of movement,come Sorcerer,Shaman or Roman Catholic Ritual.

After all 8x8 = 64...DUH...by the time one is finished with this type of training they very well may not be able to recall why they chose to study Ba Qua in the first place.

Show me a Pa Qua teacher who teaches 3,17 or perhaps even 63 lines,and one very well might have a teacher who is not a slave to the contrived.

CoolHandLuke,

I read that the founder of Ba-Gua (er, Overturning Palm) taught 3 (along the lines of Single, Double, & Snake/Oblique Palm Changes). My understanding is that any other contrived or spontaneous variation is essentially based upon one (or perhaps more) of these original three (because the original three cover horizontal, vertical, & diagonal planes -- what else is there?).

Miguel,

As usual,you make some great points/observations.

Don't get me wrong,much of the straight line stuff is of immense instructional value...teaches in a practical step by step manner,how to apply the horizonta,vertical,diagnol,et al that you mention.

Just that some of the "forms collectors"..seem to blindly belabor in fullfilling the 64 dogma.

CoolHandLuke,

Agreed!