Song Changrong

Song Changrong (Song Chang Rong) (宋長榮) was a disciple of Dong Haichuan. Song was one of the first teachers of Gao Yisheng. His style of Baguazhang is extremely rare outside of Beijing.

Song Changrong style of baguazhang
The Song Changrong style of baguazhang is an inner door pre-heaven style.

What this means is that one will not learn any supplementary movements other than the "single palm change" for even three years of repetitive practice. Without a foundation being laid, further studies are not needed.

The applications and routines in such a style are unavailable to the practitioner without a solid neigong foundation, validated by the master.

For the student wanting to express mobility and outer changebility in external shapes and palms, frustration is inevitible, as well as departure from the style. For students having the resolve to obey with no restriction, the manifestations of the single palm become mysterious. If one has not the patience, one will search for more elongated bagua choreography.

In our commercial generation, it is difficult to comprehend that fighters remembered situations when they adapted successfully to particular combatitive contexts, and afterward shared them in sets for future generations.

However, with the plethora of solid neigong routines, one can eventually reinforce any choreographies with inner skill. With this awareness, we can see why Song Yongxiang bagua doesn't really leave Beijing.

Without the obedient contexts provided by traditional Chinese culture, most students find looped repetition redundant and boring. Boring is the essence of skill, and a trait in bagua.

This is why many masters faces look dull externally, but radiate energy from that glint in their eyes.