The subject of this research project, “Ba-Ji-Quan”, was mainly taken with reference to the “Wufong Martial Art Study Center”, which is located at Ping-an St., Sanchong Dist., New Taipei City.
“Wufong Martial Art Study Center”, founded by Master Chi-Wen Chen in 1992, was originally intended to gather some martial art fans and provide a place for them to practice. How time flies! It has been 20 years since its founding. Since then, the Center has fostered many talents, including national coaches and referees for martial arts and has promoted the “traditional martial art” in places. The members of Wufong comprise students from National Taiwan University of Arts, Jinwen University of Science and Technology, Ming Chuan University, Huafan University and Rixin Elementary School and various areas of the society. Anyone of any age who is devoted to the practice of “traditional martial art” can be a member of Wufong.
Teaching at is mainly in “Ba-Ji-Quan” and “Pi-gua-quan”, along with supplementary courses like Tang-lang-quan, Ba-gua-zhang, Chen’s Taiqi, Mi-zong-quan and various weapons. Wufong features the importance taken in “traditional martial art”, which requires the disciples at Wufong to respect their tutors, value the philosophy, be friendly to the alumni and respect other schools as well as observe “Benevolence, Righteousness, Etiquette, Wisdom, Creditability, Seriousness and Valiancy”, to be a person with integrity and do right.
About the
research project
This research project aims to explore “Ba-Ji-Quan” among Chinese martial arts. “Ba-Ji-Quan” is particular about eight human body areas, the head, the shoulders, the elbows, the hands, the hip, the groin, the knees and the feet, to remind the learners of the coordination of the body and the balance with the surrounding. The phrase “Ba-Ji” thus can be interpreted as constant vigilance and requires the practice on these areas to perfect to the extreme extent.
This research takes importantly the spirit of “martial virtues” which is highly valued in “Ba-Ji-Quan”, as the motto goes, “Among static arts, there is Taiqi that pacifies the all people, while among the martial arts, there is Ba-Ji that settle the world”. It is the soul of Ba-Ji School, which is about the equal importance of both martial virtues and the fist techniques, that keeps the School survive long with profundity. It is also the martial virtues, which link all the veins of Ba-Ji-Quan, that enable Ba-Ji School to pass on till date without ebbing.
“Martial virtues”, including “Benevolence, Righteousness, Etiquette, Wisdom, Creditability, Seriousness and Valiancy”, are not a slogan; rather, they are the norm which a martial art practitioner should observe. They are literally a concept and an attitude toward martial arts in living, and essential to being a “man”!
It is hoped, through the exploration of the research project, that the spirit of martial virtues would slowly influence the mind of practitioners and readers, to achieve the purpose of virtue cultivation.
Internet environment
The internet environment at the school:
There are two computer classrooms in the school equipped with the Windows XP system. A computer is in each class; every of the other subject-based classrooms is equipped with computer for surfing the internet. The school is connected via optic fiber to the server at Taipei City Government. The school also has Wi-Fi for administrative and teaching use.
The internet environment at home:
The members use ADSL at 12M/3M and optic fiber at 50M/5M to surf the internet at home.oth the teachers and the students use the platform of joint network center, which the teachers built with XOOPS, to enable the members to upload the gathered information at any time, participate in issue discussions and to grasp messages and work progress at all times.
Problems encountered
and overcome
We did not have a clue when first approaching Ba-Ji-Quan. The information gathered must be identified as whether correct or not; many terms could not be understood—they are in classical writing. Fortunately we had Master Chi-wen Chen explain on them, with motions complementing the description, by which we eventually felt through. With the preliminary understand of Ba-Ji-Quan, we were better at managing to screen the information as needed.
The first time we took photos, we took whomever with the fist drill and weapon, and we took a lot. But, we found none of the photos taken useful after sorting them out. There were even some shots missed; so, we went back again and again till all the photos were complete. Finally, we learned to plan on shooting and to picture in mind what they look like; we then discussed with Master Chen and shot as he instructed. It turned out much better.
At first, we wanted to make a video of the art; but, the file was too big in size. After discussion, we took the movements apart into several photos in fixed form in GIF format, which finally solved the problem of oversize of the file.
When we were organizing the interview materials, we forgot the name of some motions in the photos and were unable to link the photos to the article correctly. We had no other ways but to go back to the big brothers and sisters in Wufong for clarification. As with the tape recording of the interview, we had to listen to it repeatedly to type it out and reorganize it, which took much time. But, when, at last, it was finished, we all went with a big cheer of YA!
