OUR FAMILY STYLES
General
Our main styles are Ma (Weiqi) style Baguazhang (马派八卦掌) (1), Cheng style Baguazhang (程派八卦掌), and Yang style Taijiquan (杨派太極拳). We do not distinguish between Baguazhang (八卦掌), Taijiquan (太極拳) and Xingyiquan (形意拳). All three arts are of the internal martial arts family (Neijiaquan 內家拳) and contain the same principles. Cross-training among Neijia practitioners of the past has furthered this assimilation. Our line's forefathers inherited Yang Taiji and cross-trained Xingyi.
Ma style Baguazhang
The Ma style is quite rare. Since Ma Weiqi (馬維棋) died at a relatively early age, few of his disciples were sufficiently accomplished to continue his style. After his death, many became disciples under Ma's martial brother, Cheng Ting Hua (程廷华). The forefathers of our family have also cross-trained Cheng Bagua.
Ma Weiqi is well-reputed as a fearsome fighter and one of the best and most favoured disciples of the Bagua ancestral father Dong Hai Chuan (董海川). An old saying from those days goes: “‘煤马’功夫胜程，尹”, i.e. "Coal Ma's skill surpasses those of Cheng (Tinghua) and Yin (Fu) (尹福)." In his time, Ma was considered Lao Yi (老一 Old 'First'), while Cheng was Lao Er (老二 Old 'Second') and Yin was Lao San (老三 Old 'Three'). Thus, when Ma passed, many of his disciples went to learn under Cheng.
Our Ma style System
Reflecting Ma, our family's system is combat-oriented. We do not choose to emphasize health benefits, metaphysical theory or other aspects which may be considered peripheral to martial training.
Despite this, we recognise the more recent trend of practising Neijia arts - most often Taiji - for their health benefits. We are not against such a positive development that has benefited many. As a school, we also have programmes catered to those more interested in the health aspects of training. However, we hold the belief that all practice must have deference to the art's combat origins. If not, the art is lost, and with it goes the inherent health benefits sought after.
Notes
(1) This is as distinguished from Ma Gui style Baguazhang. Ma Gui was a martial brother of Ma Weiqi under Dong Hai Chuan.
(2) Though some sources erroneously put Ma's death at age 28 (due to a work of fiction popular several decades ago), he actually passed at 38 and our forefather had trained with him for 10 years.
(3) The Chinese language chart is as photographed from the banner at the gym. The English language one is translated from the Chinese.