Liang Zhenpu

Liang Zhenpu (梁振蒲) (1863 -1932) was born in Beihaojia Village in Ji County in Hebei province on May 20th, 1863 during the Qing Dynasty under the rule of Emperor Tongzhi, and died on August 13th at the age of 69 due to illness. He trained in Tan Tui and Biaozhang during his early childhood.^[1] At the age of 13, he moved to Beijing to apprentice at his father's second hand clothing store. At this time he had the nickname "Second Hand Clothing Liang."^[2] It was during this period in 1877 that he became a direct disciple of Baguazhang creator Dong Haichuan. He studied with Dong for about five years and was well liked by all of Dong's students. He had the fortune of not only learning from Dong Haichuan but also from Dong's other students including Cheng Tinghua, Yin Fu, Shi Jidong, and Liu Fengchun.^[3]

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Throughout his life he always sought justice by aiding the oppressed and punishing the wicked. In Ji County he defeated the four "Batian" gangs. On April 20th in the 25th year of Emperor Guangxu (1899), he saw that there were many injustices being committed by local criminals and single handedly fought over 200 gangsters, killing and wounding over 70.^[4] He was subsequently imprisoned. When the Eight-Nation Alliance army invaded Beijing to crush the Boxer Rebellion his prison was heavily damaged and he managed to escape.

Since he had little martial arts training before meeting Dong, his Baguazhang was arguably the purest, with little influence from other styles. One example of this is the fact that his Baguazhang forms are the most circular in nature among the Baguazhang variants. Every one of his sets are taught in a circle, unlike versions from earlier students (for example, Yin Style Baguazhang) which have many linear segments.^[5]

Liang Zhen Pu style Baguazhang is known to include the following elements:^[6]

 1. Wei Gong Ba Zhang (Fighting When Surrounded Eight Palm)
 2. Lao Ba Zhang (Old Eight Palm)
 3. Single Movement Practice
 4. 64 Movement Linked Circle Walking
 5. 64 Movement Straight Line Form
 6. Bagua Chin Na (Grappling)
 7. Yin and Yang Throwing Techniques
 8. Two Man Sparring Forms
 9. Long and Short Weapons
  a.Bagua Big Broadsword
  b.Chicken-Headed Hooks
  c. Deer Horn Knives
  d.Bagua Straight Sword
  e.Kun Lun Fan
  f.Yin Yang Pen Brush
  g.Steel "Yo-Yo" Meteors
  h.Wind and Fire Wheels
10. Dian Xue (Pressure Point Fighting)

One of Liang's most famous students was Li Ziming (1902-1993) who eventually became head of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association and spread Liang's style around the world. Liang Zhen Pu is the only student of Dong Haichuan to be buried next to his tomb.^[7]

References

• Gongcheng, Li. "Baguazhuangzhang Jijishu". Beijing Physical Education University Press, Beijing, 1994.
• Jilin Province Wushu Association Baguazhang Branch website
• Beijingbagua.com website

Notes

1. ^ Jilin Province Wushu Association Baguazhang Branch website
2. ^ Gongcheng, Li (1994). Baguazhuangzhang Jijishu. Beijing Physical Education University Press. 
3. ^ BeijingBagua.com website
4. ^ Gongcheng, Li (1994). Baguazhuangzhang Jijishu. Beijing Physical Education University Press. 
5. ^ BeijingBagua.com website
6. ^ BeijingBagua.com website
7. ^ BeijingBagua.com website