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Within the Spectrum of Boxing that is Bagua, there is a most formidable weapon developed by the fi rst generation practitioners.Known as the Ox Tongue palm (Niu-she Zhang), this anatomical weapon was the spe-cialty of Bagua Master Yin Fu and it galvanized his fi ghting reputation and the prowess of the Bagua system.

This deceptively simple palm method is easy to over look at fi rst glance, however when skill-fully applied it affords the Bagua practitioner with a fortifi ed method of offense that is direct and nearly unstoppable.

The Ox Tongue palm derives it’s name from the shape of the hand and direct path of deploy-ment in combat. The Ox Tongue palm in many ways is applied in linear stark contrast to the circular nature of Bagua Chang.

Striking is the Ox Tongue palm is the most fundamental way of developing power in Yin Style Baguazhang. It is introduced through the stationary drilling method, unaccompanied by footwork. It is intended to establish the harmo-ny between hand and waist that is necessary for generating power.

The Ox Tongue palm moving strike practices consist of:• One-step drilling method, of which there is the zig-zag stepping or dominating the side, straight stepping, or dominating the center, and closing or turning the back method.• Two-step, or square drilling, which consists of advance-back-step, advance-advance, or back-step-advance, and back-step back-step.• Three-step, or horizontal drilling method,which combines the stationary strike, advance step, and back-step.

by Sifu Tyson Derr