Classes Archives: The Ba Duan Jin
These recordings, from the Ba Duan Jin classes are now available on-demand. They can also be used as an added asset to our live classes and the on-demand course. In these classes we gradually work at a deeper level and explore the finer details of these Qigong.
Each lesson costs £5.00 and you have unlimited access so you can keep going over them. Blocks of three can be purchased for £10.00
If you are new to Qigong please do our Qigong for Beginners course before joining these classes.
There are many variations of the Ba Duan Jin set being taught today and that is not really surprising given their age. They date back at least to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) so they have had in the region of 800 years and a countless number of lineages for those variations to develop. Having variations is not really an issue as long as the principles of true Qigong are present. Those are exactly the same principles of Daoyin, or of Neigong. The problem today, and it is a huge problem for those who wish to learn the Ba Duan Jin, is that the majority of the teaching does not include the Internal and these exercises are then reduced to being of a physical nature only.
It is said that Chinese folk hero General Yue Fei created these exercises but as this “history” never appeared until the nineteenth century it should be taken with a pinch of salt. The Silk Qigong predated this and the Ba Duan Jin have a very close resemblance to the first set of the Silk Qigong.
Along with the Silk Qigong, there are other sets that have exercises with similar names and similar external movements to those in the Ba Duan Jin, aka the Eight Strands of Brocade. The Ten Fundamental Treasures is another of them. This similarity in names and physical movement causes confusion and there is often a misconception that they are the same exercises collected together as sets that differ in name only. They are different, completely different, Internally. The focus, Qi guidance and effect/benefit is not the same.
Our Ba Duan Jin classes
Here we are working Internally, working with the Qi and practicing these exercises as true Qigong. The Ba Duan Jin need to adhere to that underlying precepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine because without this they are no longer Qigong.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.01.19
- Intro to the history of the Ba Duan Jin.
- Wuji stance – brief instruction.
- Lifting The Sky.
- Pull The Bow To Shoot The Eagle.
- Holding Up A Single Hand.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys.
- Punching With Intent.
- Raise The Heels.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.01.26
- Wuji stance – brief instruction.
- Lifting The Sky.
- Pull The Bow To Shoot The Eagle.
- Holding Up A Single Hand.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail (focusing on the Hip Kua and Cervical Kua).
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys (including an alternative breathing pattern).
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.02.02
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle.
- Lifting the Sky.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail.
- Holding Up A Single Hand.
- Raise The Heels.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys.
- Punching With Intent.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.02.09
- Lifting the Sky: Working with the San Jiao.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Working with coordination of breath and posture.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Spleen and Stomach meridians.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Awareness of Lung meridian.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: The Kua – Hip, Sacral, Spinal and Cervical.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: Bladder meridian.
- Punching with Intent: Metal.
- Raise the Heels: Raising the Shen and sinking the Qi.
Five Elements to bring balance.
- Change the Sinews (from the Ten Fundamental Treasures)
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.02.16
- Lifting the Sky: Focus on the San Jiao and Chong Mai.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Focus on co-ordination of breath and movement.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Focus on Stomach and Spleen meridians.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Focusing on Lung meridian, then Lung and Large Intestine.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: Working with the Kua.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: Mingmen, the Kidney Shu Points and Bladder meridian.
- Punching with Intent: Lung as Primary meridian, Liver as Secondary.
- Raise the Heels: Keeping Kidney 1 connected.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.02.23
- Lifting the Sky: Increased awareness of Triple Warmer.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Focus on Lung meridian. Co-ordination of breath and movement.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Focus on Stomach Mu Point and Spleen 20 & 21.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Focusing on Lung & Large Intestine meridians.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: Working with the Hip, Sacral, Spinal & Cervical Kua.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: Mingmen, the Kidney Shu Points and Bladder meridian.
- Punching with Intent: Lung as Primary meridian, Liver as Secondary.
- Raise the Heels: Keeping Kidney 1 connected. Keeping Du Mai connected. Awareness of the Ankle Kua.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.03.23
Comparing some of the Ba Duan Jin with the Ten Fundamental Treasures
- Lifting the Sky – BDJ.
Uphold the Heavens (10 FT). - Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle.
- Holding up a Single Hand.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Lu & LI.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: The Kua.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys (BDJ).
Hold the Toes to Strengthen the Kidneys (10 FT). - Punching with Intent (BDJ): Metal.
- Raise the Heels (BDJ).
Spring with the Toes (10 FT).
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.04.06
Comparing some of the Ba Duan Jin with the Ten Fundamental Treasures
- Lifting the Sky: Awareness of the connection between the heavens and the earth. Earth
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle (BDJ): Metal.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Proper focus: Earth.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Hawk (10 FT): Wood.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Metal.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: Focus on the Kua.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: Mingmen & Bladder meridian.
- Hold the Toes to Strengthen the Kidneys: Mingmen and Kidney meridian.
- Holding the Fists Tightly and Staring with Glaring Eyes (10 FT): Wood.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.04.13
The entire set
- Working with different breathing patterns.
- Awareness of Chong Mai in Lifting the Sky.
- Qi awareness with each of the exercises.
- Letting go so that the awareness increases.
- Qi leading the physical movement.
- The Bubbling Well……..
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.08.24
Back to basics
- Lifting The Sky.
- Pull The Bow To Shoot The Eagle.
- Holding Up A Single Hand.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys.
- Raise The Heels.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.08.31
Full set
- Lifting the Sky – focus on the San Jiao.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle – the breath.
- Holding up a Single Hand – Mu Point & SP21.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward – LU1 & LU11.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail – rooting.
- Hold the Feet and Strengthen the Kidneys – Shu Points
- Punching with Intent – correct focus.
- Raise the Heels – alignment and awareness.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.09.07
A question of breathing
Using the same physical movements with different breathing and focus
- Connecting Heaven and Earth.
- Separating Heaven and Earth.
Ba Duan Jin – focus on breath
- Holding up a Single Hand.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle.
- Lifting the Sky.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
- Hold the Toes to Strengthen the Kidneys.
- Raise the Heels.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.09.14
- Lifting the Sky: San Jiao. Extending to the heavens and the earth.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Transitions, breath and focus.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Spleen and Stomach.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Focus on Lung meridian.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: The Kua – Hip, Sacral, Spinal and Cervical.
- Punching with Intent: Metal and Wood.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: KD Shu Points and KD1.
- Raise the Heels: Awareness of the Qi at KD1.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.09.21
- Lifting the Sky: Awareness of the effects in Triple Warmer meridian.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Co-ordination of breath and movement.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Awareness of the effect on Stomach meridian.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: Sinking, not pushing.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: Importance of Mingmen and the Kidney Shu Points.
- Raise the Heels: Awareness of the quality of the Qi at KD1.
- Punching with Intent: Proper focus for Metal controlling Wood.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.09.28
- Classical (TCM) functions of Triple Warmer (San Jiao).
- Lifting the Sky – San Jiao and alignment.
- Pull the Bow – refining the steps.
- Holding up a Single Hand – Focus on ST Mu Point and SP 21.
- The Wise Owl – Focus on LU & LI.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys (from the Ba Duan Jin).
- Hold the Toes to Strengthen the Kidneys (from the Ten Fundamental Treasures).
- Punching with Intent.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.10.05
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle – focus on weight transitions.
- Lifting the Sky – focus on maintaining posture.
- Holding Up A Single Hand – focus on the points.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward – Lung & Large Intestine meridians.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail – focus on weight transitions.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys – focus on posture.
- Raise The Heels – awareness of the Bubbling Spring.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.10.12
Ba Duan Jin – focus
- Lifting the Sky.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle.
- Holding up a Single Hand.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail.
- Hold the Feet to strengthen the Kidneys.
- Raise the Heels.
- Punching with Intent.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.10.19
- What changes a physical exercise into a Qigong exercise. Using the Wise Owl, from the Ba Duan Jin, as an example.
- Lifting the Sky – raising the Shen and sinking the Qi.
- Holding up a Single Hand – harmonizing the Qi in Stomach and Spleen.
- Punching with Intent – using the Ko Cycle.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.10.26
Ba Duan Jin effects on the Five Elements
- Lifting the Sky: Awareness of the effect on Secondary Fire.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Transitions and focus. Awareness of the effect on Metal.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Awareness of the effect on Earth.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Awareness of the effect on Metal.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: Awareness of the effect on all the Kua.
- Raise the Heels: Working Internally.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.11.02
- Exploring the Ba Duan Jin – deep beneath the surface
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys – the effect on the Bubbling Spring.
- Raise the Heels – the effect on the Bubbling Spring.
- Lifting the Sky – the effect on the Bubbling Spring and the Hundred Meetings.
- Connecting with the heavens and the earth.
- Awareness of the “shape” of your Qi body.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle (Metal and Wood).
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward (Metal and Wood).
- Awareness of the Metal meridians.
- Holding up a Single Hand (balancing the Qi in Stomach and Spleen).
- Awareness of both meridians. Awareness of individual points.
- Awareness of the direction of flow and its impact on the physical.
Ba Duan Jin class – 2022.11.09
- Lifting the Sky: Awareness Du Mai 20 and KD 1.
- Lifting the Sky: Awareness Triple Warmer meridian.
- Pull the Bow to Shoot the Eagle: Focus and awareness of Metal and Wood.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Awareness of both meridians.
- Holding up a Single Hand: Awareness of the interaction between the hands.
- The Wise Owl Looks Backward: Building awareness of Lung meridian.
- Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: Upper back Kua.
- Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys: Mingmen and the Kidney Shu points.
- Raise the Heels: Enhanced awareness of the Bubbling Spring.
- Punching with Intent: Focus and awareness of Metal and Wood.