Bagua Supplemental Training?

[ParryPerson]

Hi guys, I started taking Fu style Bagua, and am wondering what are some things that would be good to do outside of the bagua training itself? I'm fit for the most part, but I do have a slight "gut" or stomach, my legs are fine, arms might be a tad on the weaker side (well, the muscles aren't HUGE). I'm guessing some form of cardio, but was wondering if anyone had any kind of it they liked to do that helped.

Thanks.

[JAB]

BJJ or Sambo is great as a supplement!
Jake

[shawnsegler]

Yeah, anything where you're supporting your body weight with your upper body is great like that...wrasslin, some sort of gymnastics...whateva.

Best,

S

[ParryPerson]

I didn't mean other fighting arts, I meant to "supplement" the bagua. Some kind of exercise?

[middleway]

kettlebells ...

[shawnsegler]

I didn't mean other fighting arts, I meant to "supplement" the bagua. Some kind of exercise?

Bagua's primary focus is on the lower body, so anything where you are supporting your body with your upper body will be good supplemental training....fighting art or not.

If fighting is your thing, there's nothing wrong with getting some crosstraining in from some other art, but if you don't want to learn another fighting art, then anyone of those other things is great. Try googling "five tibetans" or some of these here exercises.



That they are from BJJ is irrelevant to my mind. Exercise is exercise in this case.

Best,

S.

p.s. or capoeira, or yoga or parkour or....calisthenics...i've heard they are pretty good for you.

[C.J.Wang]

Bagua is a good form of aerobic exercise by itself and the basic training will certainly strengthen the lower body. There's really no need to seek extra workout outside of the system (for a beginner). It's also been my experience that doing conventional cardio such as running/jogging can actually hinder your progress in Bagua.

As for upper body training, having big, well-definied muscle is not nearly as important as developing resilient structure and full-body connection.

It's better to think about IMA training from head to toe rather than seperating various parts of the body.

[qiphlow]

zhan zhuang.

[JAB]

All good suggestions, but BJJ will be best for you. Cardio. Technique. Realistic practice of actual techniques you will use possibly someday. Win - Win situation IMO.
Jake

[Fubo]

Bag work would be a good supplement for strength and cardio (if it's not already in the bagua class). I'd also 2nd kettle bells, but would start out with ones that are not too heavy to not get in the way of developing bagua shen fa.

[Bob]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iSISHpmqjuo&feature=related



http://youtube.com/watch?v=ywxByilVmA4&feature=user




Think of rings, weighted wrap around vests, bricks, ankle wraps--I would get the bagua conditioning done first and then explore supplementary systems.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vvQcpq1PIWU&feature=related

[gasmaster]

dude, you've had one week of class, don't do anything yet. When you've been taught some stuff, drill it into the ground. Don't look to suppliment till you've drilled the basics for a year or three. You need to use this enthusiasm to drill the hell out of your bagua to start to develop your shen fa. It won't be there forever.

[shawnsegler]

You need to use this enthusiasm to drill the hell out of your bagua to start to develop your shen fa. It won't be there forever.

qft

You gots to get on that shenfa thing.

S

[shawnsegler]

well-definied muscle is not nearly as important as developing resilient structure and full-body connection.

Sure, but there comes a point when you realize something like full body connection when the need to really start channeling that into balancing the body strengthwise should just happen.

Once the body is open and strong and supple, the next natural adjunct is going to be to move towards a state of equilibrium on all sorts of levels. I find my body has started to seek where I'm feeling weak and to try and alleviate that imbalance in general in all walks of my life at this point. My whole day is like a series of miniworkouts over the course of the day like that.

S

[Chris Fleming]

Kettlebells. They will make anyone stronger in anything they do.