The Eight-Trigrarn Boxing is characterized by changing positions of the palms and changing paces. Its fighting principle is the “combination of attack and defense”. It stresses the stratagem: “1 move before my opponent moves, halt before my opponent halts; when my opponent attacks, 1 defend; when my opponent exhausts himself, I keep energetic; when my opponent retreats, I advance; when my opponent moves, I watch my opponent while he is moving, and discover and make use of opportunities: when my opponent is near, I attack him; I extricate myself and then attack ray opponent, and while my opponent is not moving, 1 move.” The stratagem prefers sideways attack to frontal assail.

Taiji Boxing

Taiji Boxing, named after the term ~ ~ai ji” (supreme ultimate from the Book o[ Changes), was believed to be composed of by King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty. The term means that the universe was an entirety before it divided into heaven and earth. The Talji Boxing has been sourced from many forms of folk boxing, and has been improved on through several generations.

Taiji Boxing is characterized by the unification of mind, breath and motions (body), requiring concentration of mind and calmness of motions. Mind works as a commander and body a soldier. When in motion all of the body moves. When at rest, all of the body rests. Calmness is required for motion. Simple force is not preferred. breath is deep and controlled by the diaphragm. Be concentrated, gentle and natural. Be stable as a mountain when not moving, and be flowing as a river when moving. The moves are characterized by round/less, softness, slowness, stability and evenness. They are extended but very well coordinated, and all are an antithetical unity of Yin and Yang (negative and positive). These principles are the same for all schools of Taiji Boxing, though their types are different. There are mainly five types: Chen- Type, Yang-Type, Sun-Type, Wuu-Typo, and Wu-Type.