Ba Fa, or Eight Methods, is a Chinese martial art developed by Li De Mao (李德茂) during the Qing dynasty.[1] He combined the techniques of Fanziquan (翻子), Paochui (炮捶), Tantui (弹腿), Tongbeiquan (劈挂) and Xingyiquan (形意) into a new style based on the theory of eight methods (八法).[2][3] The eight methods are: outer trap, inner trap and stab, flick, support, shake, chop and reel. (攔、拿、扎、崩、托、抖、劈、纏) This style includes both single forms, pair training,[4] as well as weapon training such as spear, saber and sword. Eight Methods Big Spear (Da Qiang, 大枪), also known as the Big Pole, is a specialty of this style. This technique first appeared in 1906, just before the Revolution of 1911. It combines the methods of the Yue-family spear (岳家槍), Pear-flower Spear (梨花槍) and Liuhe Spear (六合槍) with principles of the eight methods. It is also designed to work on foot or on horseback.[5]
^Guido Sieverling (2015). Das Lexikon des Kämpfens: Begriffe und Erklärungen aus Kampfsport, Kampfkunst und Selbstverteidigung. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN978-38-370-3558-2.
