Butterfly Pa Kua Chang can be Learned in Three Months!

The first thing you are going to have to learn is that it doesn't take a lifetime to learn an art such as Tai Chi Chuan or Pa Kua Chang or Aikido. Look, the army makes soldiers in under six months, and that includes some pretty high tech stuff! And, when you add up the actual hours spent studying on that college course, it doesn't take that long to learn how to use a computer or become a teacher. The idea that it takes immense amounts of time is something that has been foisted on us by people who want to make money. After all, the longer somebody studies, the longer they pay the fees for that cultural dojo box, the...do you get the idea. So get over the idea that it takes time, and get used to learning fast! Now, to learn an art such as pa kua chang you need to draw a circle about six feet across, and which takes exactly eight steps to step around. You need to situate the circle so it is squarely in the room, which means that if you straightened up every two steps you would face a wall. Now you need to schedule a three day weekend to master this thing. The first rule in walking the circle is to keep the hips low to the floor and move them at a slow and even rate of speed. The second rule is to breath at an even rate and harmonize the movements of your hands and feet so they move at the same slow rate of speed, starting and finishing techniques at the same time. The third rule is to be willing to separate yourself from the regular universe, let your attention slide off the the trees and fences, the tables and chairs, as you walk in a circle. Now, you need to have basics that actually function. Examine an art such as karate for basic blocks, and curve those limbs so they will fit the circularity of Pa Kua Chang. Things can get complex pretty quickly, so you might consider taking the four basic blocks, hi, low, in and out, and spending a lot of time with each one. Now take a step and do a block, searching for the largest circles you can make with a basic block. Though you have only taken one step, let your body turn to the maximum. When you reach the end of the turn, reverse your turn and start a second block. Take a step with that second block, and, again, overturn to the max. Keep the hips tucked to avoid injury to the lower spine, place the feet flat, as if trying to be stable in a field of mud, and search for grace. Be a deadly ballet dancer, slowly whirling and spinning, exploring the limits of your body. Ignore any self-doubts, and let a few hours expose Pa Kua to you. The last thing is to search for function, because if it doesn't work, you shouldn't be doing it. So have a friend strike slowly at you, and walk a small circle around him, letting your block encircle his limb, and you will find all sorts of stuff. Now, I know this all sounds simple, but let me make a point...this is exactly how such arts as Tai Chi, Pa Kua and Aikido were discovered in the first place!