BA DUAN JING(Eight Pieces of Brocade)

TCM Wellness

Introduction

BA DUAN JING (Eight Pieces of Brocade) is one of the traditional Chinese martial arts practices. There are many reasons that this art has been popular and well-loved throughout the ages. It has been compared to elegant silk brocade, thus the name "Eight Pieces of Brocade".

Piece One: Upholding Heaven to Recuperate the Triple Burner (Heaven-upholding posture)

Piece One: Upholding Heaven to Recuperate the Triple Burner (Heaven-upholding posture)

Effect: to increase the capacity of the chest and abdominal cavities; this has the function of raising qi movement and regulating the triple burner. And to contribute to the descent of the qi movement. Lifting and lowering helps to balance and harmonize qi movement.

Piece Two: Drawing the Bow as Shooting at Hawk(Bow-shotting posture)

Piece Two: Drawing the Bow as Shooting at Hawk(Bow-shotting posture)

Effect : The movements in this piece widen the chest area, operating primarily on the upper burner. Because of the expansion and contraction of the lungs, the heart is also directly compressed and massaged, increasing the heart's functionality. At the same time, this piece can strengthen the muscles of the chest, upper back, shoulders and thighs.

Piece Three: Lifting hand to Recuperate Spleen and Stomach (Hand-lifting posture)

Piece Three: Lifting hand to Recuperate Spleen and Stomach (Hand-lifting posture)

Effect : The movements in this piece stretch and extend the muscles, meridians and internal organs, especially the liver, gall bladder, spleen and stomach. This strengthens digestion and the peristaltic movement of the intestines.

Piece Four: Turning and Glancing Behind to Relieve the Exhaustions and Injuries (Behind-glancing posture)

Piece Four: Turning and Glancing Behind to Relieve the Exhaustions and Injuries

(Behind-glancing posture)

Effect : The movements has a rather clear effect on promoting blood flow in the head, strengthening the neck muscles and improving the mobility of the cervical vertebrae. It also has a beneficial effect on getting rid of brain exhaustion and physiological functional disorders, so it can be used to prevent pathology of the cervical vertebrae, high blood pressure, etc.

Piece Five: Turning Head and Twisting Tail to Expel Heart Fire (Head-turning posture)

Piece Five: Turning Head and Twisting Tail to Expel Heart Fire (Head-turning posture)

Effect: The lumbar spine movement of swinging the head and buttocks and twisting the lower back and hips affects the entire body. It reduces the excitability of the central nervous system to bring about the effects of clearing the heart, purging fire and calming the heart-spirit.

Piece Six: Grasping Feet to Make Kidney and Waist Strong (Feet-grasping posture)

Effect: The movements in this piece can improve the pliability and toughness of the waist and legs, protecting against muscle strain, sciatica, and other disease patterns.

Piece Six: Embracing Feet to Make Kidney and Waist Strong(Feet-grasping posture)

Piece Seven: Punching Fist and Glaring to Cultivate Energy(Fist-punching posture)

Piece Seven: Punching Fist and Glaring to Cultivate Energy (Fist-punching posture)

Effect: This piece primarily exercises liver function. When liver blood is plentiful, the meridian vessels receive nourishment, in turn strengthening the tendons and bones. Long-term practice of 'tight fist' will redouble qi energy. 'Fierce eyes' displays the 'free coursing' function of the liver.

Piece Eight: Seven Heel-Strikes to Expel Diseases(Seven heel-striking posture)

Piece Eight: Seven Heel-Strikes to Expel Diseases(Seven heel-striking posture)

Effect: The continuous up and down vibration moves the muscles, internal organs and spine in a relaxed way. The light vibration of the heels striking the ground causes the organs and systems described above to be integrated and rectified, achieving a relaxing organizing effect.