12/12/2025
The Bear, not just any bear, but The Bear. Brought to you by Yin Style Baguazhang of the Yin Fu, Men Baozhen, Dr. Xie Peiqi, He Jinbao lineage.
The gua that represents the Bear system is one solid line on top with two broken lines on the bottom. In one aspect this represents a bowl turned over on a table. Imagine the bowl rolling on its edges. How does the weight shift, what are the points of contact, what happens differently when the bowl oscillates faster and higher vs slower and lower as at the end of a spinning cycle? Great questions, ponder these as you study and think deeply about the system.
The Bear's footwork is considered ponderous and in real life bears do seem to be very clumsy and slow because of their great weight. If you have ever watched two male bears squalling, you have seen differently. The Bear's footwork in our system of YSB is know as a treading step. The stepping adds to the waist, hips, and legs power aspect "crushes like an iceberg".
Keep in mind the use of force, stepping, your body requirements and usage, points of contact and issuance of power while training. Along with all the other requirements of the animal system and the YSB system as a whole. We aren't special, Yin Style Baguazhang is Special.
Training-
Warm Up with Big Saber- 5 minute rounds both sides 3 sets with 20 seconds rest between sets.
Stroking the Saber, Single Chopping and Double Chopping.
Standing Bear Representative Posture- 2.5 minutes per side with shake out during the transitions, 3 rounds. 3 minutes standing recovery. remember your body checks, the 8 animal requirements.
Turning Bear Representative Posture- 5 minutes per side using all three basic direction changes, 3 rounds. 3 minutes standing recovery. Remember the requirements of the Bear system for your body as well.
Strike Training- Withdrawing Strikes - Using the U shaped and Forward/Backward stepping methods as a basis.
Moves 1,2,and 3 from the Bear Withdrawing Enfolding form
Moves 4,5 from the Bear Withdrawing Moving with the Force form.
Moves 5/5a,6 from the Bear Withdrawing Lying Step form.
3 x 5 minute rounds each with 2 minutes standing recovery between different forms. Worked from Learning Speed to With Power to Flowing the Moves (don't go crazy here, you have to stay in control, start with aroun75% speed and power. Don't get sloppy.)
The Bear's force is short, blunt and penetrating. The upper body should land like an avalanche but also has the aspect of the spinning bowl. Consider this while training and how you are using force, your body, your intent, and keeping your spirit raised and focused.
Forms Work- Withdrawing Moving with the Force Form.
Remember that the main goal of this session was the use of the stepping and how it affects the issuance of power, the use of the body (in whole, as two halves and just focusing on the feet and their placement, changes and use.)
Worked both sides in 5 minutes rounds for 4 rounds moving from Learning Speed, to With Power x 2, to Flowing the Moves.
Cool Down- Turning in Holding the Saber position both sides, high stance, no tension outside of the differentiation of the weight of the saber causing a slight lifting of the side of the body facing the center of the circle and a slight pressing down on the opposite side of the body. 4 minutes, using a common stepping pattern to change sides.
Servant Serves the Tea- Very relaxed, sort of like yoga, remembering to engage the joint, ligaments and tendons while massaging the internal organs and lymphatic system with the muscles engaged as elastic bands as opposed to driving pistons. 4 minutes both sides.
Turning in Hand at Side with Bear shaped hands, high posture, minimal resistance. Still keeping the 8 Body Requirements. Concentrating on returning to a normal state and allowing my mind and body to be very aware of each other.
