SCHOOLS

The Tiger Claw School of Self-Defence is the largest, oldest and finest kwoon in Canada, teaching bagwa for over 42 years. Its main goal is to train individuals to defend themselves, effectively, with an assortment of attackers and predicaments. Classes are structured from beginners to the senior class thus incorporating a full training program. Sikung Pat Gallagher, the chief instructor, trained mainly under Gong Bao T'sien of the Yin Fu lineage (along with others). Four classes daily, private/group instruction, summer training camps (or boot camps called by some) along beautiful Lake Winnipeg, special police classes, special TaiChi classes, children's classes, weapons classes, equipment, books and videos are available. This school also features "The Fujow," a bi-monthly, informative newsletter. The school is located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Shouyu Liang is no stranger to the bagwa community. In fact, he is well known throughout the world for his excellent work. He is also an author, having been published many times over in both English and Chinese. His profound knowledge and expertise in the internal martial arts and teaching skills are unmatched, and the bagwa classes incorporate a fine mix of forms, exercises and partner training. Master Liang's prices are also very reasonable. His school is located in Vancouver, Canada at 220 Jackson Street (2nd floor of the Buddist Temple). For class information call: (604) 255-5149 or (604) 273-9648.

Adam Hsu's Kung Fu School is located in Palo Alto, California. An excellent bagwa teacher with excellent credentials, having trained under Liu Yun Chiao of the Yin Fu lineage. Traditional (mainly for self-defense), step-by-step, progressive training is offered. He aslo teaches one of the two, best 2-person bagwa sets I've ever seen. Adam Hsu is a published author both in Chinese and English. Training videos are available. Adam Hsu is probably the finest bagwa instructor in the United States today. The contact phone number is: (650) 326-8253.

Jason Tsou Kung Fu Academy is located in Monterey Park, California. Jason, is one great bagwa teacher, having trained under many famous masters such as Liu Yun Chiao of the Yin Fu lineage. Click here for their other site. Jason is also a good friend and colleague of Adam Hsu. Master Tsou's classes entail traditional, indepth training, and in my opinion, is one of the best bagwa schools in the US. I've seen some video taped classes, sent to me by one of his senior students, and was highly impressed. For futher information about this school, contact Mike Hitchcock.

Hiryu Bushido Kai Martial Arts & Wellness Centre is located in Port Perry, Ontario. To date, they offer 3 lineages: Cheng, via a seminar system with Sifu John Bracey, Liang Zhen Pu (Li Zi Ming) on Wednesday evening classes, and Chang Dong Chao in day classes. Their intent is to adhere with the classical format, thus ensuring combat effectiveness and health benefits. Students are encouraged to select a lineage and complete its foundation before moving on...studying more than one style deepens understanding of the art. Note that these lineages are taught by specialized instructors. This school supports all Bagua Zhang interests, and will encourage outreach to everyone. Contact Fred Walker for further info.

Black Taoist is a bagua school from Yin Fu's lineage, located in the New York City area. Their website is quite interesting and entertaining with lots of video clips. Be prepared for flash/sound and a blunt to the point type of writing style. For contact information, click on the link.

Michael Babin has been studying taijiquan and the Chinese martial arts for almost three decades. He has taught Yang-style taiji for nineteen years and baguazhang for almost a decade in Ottawa, Ontario. He is currently learning and focusing on the Sun-style of taijiquan in his own training. Michael is the author of over a hundred articles on the martial arts and taiji as well as four books, two of which are on the Yang-style, one of them co-authored with Erle Montaigue. Michael's most recent book is on bagua and is available as a free download through his website

Denis Shink owns and runs an established school in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; teaching bagwa along with the other major Chinese internal styles. He is a long time practitioner and an experienced teacher, and his programs offer more than the usual. Check him out. His e-mail address is: sifushink@institutdenisshink.com

East-West Bagua Zhang, is located in Vancouver, with head instructors, Steven Petersson and Chaco Chiswell. Steven studied Fu Style bagua with Fu Sheng Lung and Cheng Style bagua with Yang Guo Tai, and emphasizes 2-person exercises and martial applications. Chaco is an Exercise Scientist who has studied with Yang Guo Tai and B.K. Frantzis. He combines his knowledge of Eastern Qi Development with Western Exercise Science, emphasising qi gong (qi/energy work), nei gong (power work), and the study of forms. Students work cooperatively with each other to improve their level of ability. Students do not fight each other nor are they trained to fight in tournaments. Instead, they are taught to gauge their self-defense response to the danger of the threat, and what is permitted under Canadian law. East-West Bagua offers small, inexpensive classes in a clean, first-rate training facility: mats, mirrors, supplementary training equipment, showers and lockers. Contact Steven Petersson for further details or check out their website.

INSTRUCTORS

Yang Guo Tai is a 6th generation bagwa master, training and teaching daily from his home in Vancouver, Canada. His emphasis entails a training regime with the full compliment of the art, from the ground up: "mud walking," basic exercising, breathing, partner training and a solo form. He is a meticulous instructor dedicated to presision of the movements, leading to a good root and internal strength. His lineage, I am told, is the same as the well known US master, George Xu: Cheng Ting Hua...Liu Bian...Wan Wen Kuea...Tsu Bin Byo & Master Yang Gua Tai. Master Yang insists his students take a minimum of 2 classes a week, at $40.00 CAN. per class. Each lesson lasts for 2 & 1/2 hours under Master Yang's "watchful eye" and includes a full meal and green tea after training. He can be reached at (604) 216-0106.

Park Bok Nam is located in Richmond, VA. He has been teaching old school bagwa for many years. He is also an author of bagwa books and instructional video tapes. His website is: www.pa-kua.com

Doug Gauld teaches authentic bagwa in Victoria, British Columbia at the YMCA. Doug used to be one of my bagwa instructors during my early years of struggle. He was also an active full-contact tournament fighter who won all his bouts. Today he never misses an opportunity for a good friendly challange. If you're in Victoria and looking for a great instructor, you just found him. He can be reached via e-mail: Doug Gauld

Murry Parsons teaches bagwa in Calgary, Alberta at Dragon's Den (owned by Donald Boswell). He's been an instructor for well over 30 years. Murry also used to be a tournament fighter and never lost. Murry is a nice guy and an excellent teacher. His experience is rich so if you live in Calgary, look him up. His contact phone number is: (403) 228-3823. E-mail: dragonsden@telusplanet.net Check the Dragon's Den website for books, gear, special products and upcoming events: www.dragonsden.net

Tony Yang was a disciple of Liu Yun Qiao and spent 8 years with Liu on an everyday basis---Liu told him to train in the mornings with bagua for energy and train in the afternoon with baji/pigua for power. Contact e-mail www.wutangcenter.com

Bill Hsi was also a disciple of Liu and has studied his bagua fairly intensely. His calligraphy is very good and I hear he is a nice guy. Here is Bill Hsi's website is www.psycorps.com/kungfu

I Liq Ch'uan is a combined hsing yi - bagwa style, based solely on physical sensitivity and sensual mind awareness. To the trained observer, this unique system looks like taichi though much more circular. The emphasis is on soft partner training - and lots of it. Located in New York and with branches in Malaysia, Australia and Russia, the style seems to be gaining in popularity. The founder is Chin Lik Kenng, Sam F.S. Chin is in charge of US operations. Contact R. Vespa at (914) 666-2787 for information.

Gravity and Grace EDMONTON AREA BAGWA - Sunday morning 10:15 - 11:30. Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club, 205A Carnegie Drive, St. Albert, Alberta. To register or for details visit the website. Instructor William Tucker lived and trained in Taiwan for many years, having trained under Luo Dexiu. He has helped Dan Miller (publisher of Pa Kua Chang Journal) with translations at some of the interviews in China and Taiwan.

U-Bauguazhang is "Utah’s Source for the Devastating, Circular, Palm-Changing Martial Art." (Located in Salt Lake City.) Your instructor is Steven Smith. Check out his new website. Although new, I like what I'm seeing there.

ORGANIZATIONS

Traditional Wushu Association is a non-profit organization located in Palo Alto, California. You could even join and receive discounts. They give members discounts on tapes, seminars, shirts, etc. You can also submit articles in the quarterly journal. Contact Marie Anthony for membership information. (Marie is the Editor of the journal and runs the classes while Adam is in Taiwan. She does a lot of the photo and membership work as well.) I would consider joining if you can. It's not that expensive.

8 PALM BOOKS

Ryukyu Imports, Inc. was founded and operated by martial artists since 1969, "specializing in books in the martial arts and also contributors to American First Books (books about and for Americans as America was intended)." They have one fine selection of books! To go directly to the bagwa book section, click on this link. Mailing address: Ryukyu Imports, Inc., PO Box 535, Olathe, KS, USA, 66203. Their phone number is: (913) 384-3345. E-mail: Ryukyu Imports, Inc.

Karate-mart is another on-line source for your bagwa book orders.

Hey! Check this out: http:/www.martialarm.com. This looks like a very useful home-training tool.

Novell G. Bell has a book on realistic training methods and combat applications of Yin BaGuaZhang. It is available for $32.80. You can also download it for $25.00 here.

Smiling Tiger Martial Arts is Joseph Crandall's site for bagwa books and great instructional videos. Mr. Crandall has also translated a number of Chinese bagwa classics and can be found here. I would like to add that both Joseph Crandall, and his bagwa colleague, Jerry Alan Johnson have been and continue to be a driving force in promoting and making available some great pragmatic bagwa information. Nobody has done more today for the bagwa art than they. Sifu Crandall's mailing address: Joseph Crandall, Smiling Tiger Martial Arts, PMB 110, 1564 A Fitzgerald Drive, Pinole, CA, USA, 94564. His phone number is: (510) 223-9336. E-mail: Smiling Tiger Martial Arts.

TAI CHI CHUAN

QiChen Guo is an excellent Chen teacher who trained with 3 of the 4 Tigers of Chen Village plus other notable Chen teachers! www.chen-taiji-la.com Master Guo is a twelfth-generation direct-lineage disciple of Chen-Style Taijiquan (taichi). He has practiced Taijiquan for more than 22 years, and studied with renowned Chen-style taijiquan grandmasters, including Chen Xiao-wang, Chen Zheng-Lei, Zhang Mao-Zhen, and Zhang Zhi-Jun Master Guo currently teaches Chen-Style Taijiquan both for health and martial applications in Los Angeles, California, in small groups and private one-on-one lessons. His phone number is: (626) 297-8730. E-mail: qichenguo@netzero.net.

Gord Muir is located in Victoria, British Columbia. He teaches old school Chen Style taichichuan. I've known Gord for over 30 years, and he's been training and teaching for a lot longer than that. He has quite the credentials as well as years of full contact experience as a tournament fighter. winning all his bouts (early 1970's). Gord is always up to the challenge. His teachers were among the best, so do visit his website here: www.chentaichi.org/about.php

www.chenzhonghua.com is located in Edmonton, Alberta. They teach authentic old school Chen Style taichichuan. My colleges tell me their Sifu (head instructor) is bar none.

EVENTS & SEMINARS