Bagua Zhang Seminars

Bagua Zhang, that unique method of martial and meditative practices, is considered to be one of the last traditional arts of its kind to emerge from China. Incorporating health, exercise and self-defense, exquisitely, Bagua’s round and twisting movements create an unparalleled method for building strength, increasing flexibility, harmonizing mind and body, and engaging the practitioner in a unique and fascinating art.

All classes taught by Ted Mancuso, director of the Academy. Please see bottom of page for more about Mr Mancuso.

We offer four different Bagua Seminars at the Academy:

• Core Concepts of Bagua For Health: 3 hour workshop
• Introduction to Bagua’s Eight Animals: 4 hours workshop
• Four Corners of the Circle: Bagua’s Foundational Moves
• Bagua’s Eight Animals and Bagua Principles
• Bagua Nei Gong

See below for descriptions of each.
————————————————————————————————

Bagua’s Eight Animals and Bagua Principles,
6 Week Class

This class emphasizes the all-important fundamentals of Bagua Zhang. You will learn a complete routine containing all the essentials for self-practice. No experience is necessary to attend this classic and relatively simple introduction to this great Art.

• A unique stepping method for “moving meditation;”
• Eight Animal postures for focusing mind and movement;
• Unique traditional arm and leg patterns to train spirit;
• Fundamental principles and theories for Qigong;
• Key methods for individual and partner practice.

This class is particularly open to those wishing to pursue study of Bagua Zhang at The Academy. It will provide a self-contained course, easily affordinga year’s worth of self-study, and will allow students with this experience to join the Academy’s ongoing Bagua Zhang class.

Date: Six Wednesdays, Starts September 5

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Where: Academy of Martial and Internal Arts,
1570 Soquel Dr, SC
(across from Dominican Hospital)

Fee: $90

 

————————————————————————————————

Bagua: Four Corners of the Circle
4 week  Class

If you ask a Bagua practitioner about the style, the first thing you might hear is that Bagua walks a circle. This is the basic pattern of Bagua practice. A circle is ever-changing, and one of the most distinctive traits about Bagua is that it is an art of change: there are no straight lines, just as in nature. And this rotation, known in Chinese as Chan Su Jin (or, in English, as reeling silk energy) is its treasure.

This unique class will introduce the foundational moves and core principles of Bagua. In 4 weeks, students will learn to move in the Bagua manner. The benefits of this training are limitless: building health, strength, core structure, tone, and self-defense techniques.

Next date to be determined; CLICK HERE and we will contact you with next date.
Taught by Ted Mancuso

Fee: $65
Location: Academy of Martial & Internal Arts
1570 Soquel Dr (directly across from Dominican)
475-1429

————————————————————————————————

Bagua Nei Gong
4 Week Class

Bagua Zhang is one of the most treasured traditional martial arts. Like its sister style, Tai Chi Chuan, it brilliantly combines qigong and martial practice to create a complete art. What this means, in Chinese terms, is that both the body and the mind (intent) are engaged for the benefit of the whole person, whether for self-defense of a martial nature, or self-defense for health and well-being.

Its Nei Gong (“internal practice”) is not widely taught, and is one of the secrets of the style. Both standing and walking techniques are incorporated to create lively exercises that can be an aid to both a first time student looking for a health regimen, or a more experienced Bagua player who wants to deepen her or his practice.

This 4 week class will teach a number of different Bagua Nei Gong regimens, such as Taoist Walking, Qigong, Animal postural integration and partner practices.

This class has ended. Click HERE if you would like to know when the next one is scheduled.
Taught by Ted Mancuso

Fee: $55
Location: Academy of Martial & Internal Arts
1570 Soquel Dr (directly across from Dominican)
475-1429

Registration required, no experience necessary.

————————————————————————————————

Core Concepts of Bagua For Health,
 2 hour workshop

Bagua Zhang is a traditional Chinese martial art that exquisitely incorporates movements for both health and self-defense. 

This two hour seminar will introduce you to Bagua’s intriguing practice, which exquisitely incorporates health, self-defense and art. Its round, twisting actions create an unparalleled system for building strength and increasing flexibility.Starting with the basics of stepping and walking, you will learn fundamental movements, postures and exercises that make up this distinctive practice.

This class has ended. Click HERE if you would like to know when the next one is scheduled.

Location:
Academy of Martial & Internal Arts
1570 Soquel Dr (directly across from Dominican)
475-1429

Registration required, no experience necessary.

————————————————————————————————

Introduction to Bagua’s Eight Animals,
4 hour workshop

 

This workshop on Bagua’s Eight Animals is a classic and relatively simple introduction to this great Art. In the course of one afternoon, you will learn

• “Walking the circle,” using Bagua’s unique stepping methods;
• Eight Animal postures, both stationery and moving;
• Arm and leg patterns of practice;
• Single Palm Changes for each of the Eight Animals.

This course also includes a profusely illustrated book, which reviews the taught patterns, plus gives additional information on Bagua Zhang’s nature and philosophy.

This workshop is particularly open to those wishing to pursue study of Bagua Zhang at The Academy. It will provide a self-contained course, easily affording several months of self-study for the price of just one month’s tuition, and will allow students with this experience to join the Academy’s ongoing Bagua Zhang class.

Instructor Ted Mancuso is the director of The Academy of Martial and Internal Arts, Santa Cruz’s oldest traditional Kung Fu school, with over 45 years teaching experience. He is also the director of Plum Publications, a site devoted to the promotion and preservation of these traditional Arts. He has published widely in the field, including the DVD series, “Bagua: The Art of Change,” and has recently written the book “Learning Bagua Zhang,” which has received top reviews.

Workshop details:
When: Please contact us for next date
Where: Academy of Martial and Internal Arts, 1570 Soquel Dr, SC
(across from Dominican Hospital)
Fee: $85.00, which includes the textbook
Contact: 831 475-1429; or click HERE

The Academy of Martial and Internal Arts is Santa Cruz’s oldest traditional Kung Fu school. Instructor Ted Mancuso, the Academy’s director and author of several books and DVDs on Bagua Zhang, has over 45 years experience teaching Chinese Martial Arts and Qigong methods. He also directs a site devoted to the promotion and preservation of these traditional Arts known as Plum Publications. He has published widely in the field, including the DVD series, “Bagua: The Art of Change,” and his two books “Learning Bagua Zhang,” and “Eight Animals of Bagua Chang.”