Hundred Schools of Thought, Martial Arts

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Through your training at Hundred Schools of Thought Martial Arts, your Baguazhang training will be rooted in a few practices of Baguazhang which Instructor Michael A. Vollero has practiced. The majority of this training is based in the Yin Style--including the forms, drilling methods, and overall approach--with influence from other Baguazhang systems and various Taijiquan systems for the approach to combat Instructor Vollero subscribes to. Because all forms of Baguazhang are so vastly different, it is important to understand the undertaking this course will put you through.


The first step is to understand what is meant by the Zhen Trigram. This specifically is the one of the 8 Trigrams from the Bagua which the style embodies in principle. This style is also represented by the Dragon, as each trigram has a particular animal it connects to. Some people spend their training time learning each of these 8 animals/trigrams, but Michael A. has been dedicated to only one for years, as to find the deepest and highest levels of this systems. This is in no way better or worse than how other people approach their studies of course. It is similar to building a tower or digging a whole. The more time you spend focusing your energy at one, the deeper it is. You may choose to dig many shallow holes, or in the same amount of time, one very deep hole.

Once a student chooses a trigram (in this case, Zhen), then the next we find that each system is made up of 8 striking methods. Each striking method is comprehensive and has their own strengthening postures, drilling methods, and variations which must be trained into the body's muscle memory. These are all of the basic strikes, while students will eventually find many more ideas of how to develop these strikes.

The idea of Turning the Circle is introduced while the 8 striking methods are being developed. This is the practice of walking in a circle. Many Baguazhang system apply a flat-foot stepping method where the foot pushes forward directly before making contact with the ground. Applied here at HSOT-MA and in some Yin Style schools, the stepping method being done is "heel to toe" as in Taijiquan. As a student develops, they will see how this affects the method of Baguazhang application taught here. This transfer of weight is important with the concepts of turning and changing force, as this system is rooted in listening at every moment, and is never too dominating.

Once achieving proficiency in the basic striking methods and Turning the Circle, a student begins the forms for each striking method. Each striking method (Pushing, Lifting, Carrying, Leading, Moving, Capturing, Chopping, & Entering) has a 7~step form to match each of the other seven animals. This means that the Dragon's Pushing Strike has seven various mentalities as to how one can apply it in combat. Only by understanding these seven forms, can one grasp what is the Dragon Palm variation truly is. Therefor, this Dragon Palm Pushing Strike is made up of a Dragon Palm Pushing Strike Interlocking Palm (Lion) Form, a Dragon Palm Pushing Strike Moving With the Force Palm (Snake) Form, etc. until learning all 7. Only then does a student move onto the second striking method's forms.

This vastness of forms shows the longevity of the system's growth for a student, but also can come off a bit daunting for those looking for a quick fix martial art. If your study is specifically for learning forms, or looking for performance or external play, this system is not for you! Training in HSOT-MA's Baguazhang program is only for those who are serious about committing to this art, and are willing to put in the time necessary for blossoming in it. Not to say a student cannot go light and simply enjoy the training. But this is not a style of Baguazhang where a student studies a form, and extracts the principles from it as in many Chinese martial arts.

If you are interested in trying out or would like to discuss training in this system, please contact Instructor Vollero at MichaelA@HundredSchools.org or call (407) 279 - 1533.