BA DUAN JIN – THE EIGHT ROLLS OF SILK/THE EIGHT BROCADES

This Version Created by Professor Zhang Guangde

This page gives an introduction to the set. Use the links below to go to a particular exercise.

Preparation
Brocade 1
Brocade 2 and 3
Brocade 4
Brocade 5
Brocade 6
Brocade 7

Brocade 8

The “Brocades” have 900 years of history; they have been known since the time of the SONG dynasty
Over so many years of practice, this sequence of Ba Duan Jin has had several modifications and has been gradually supplemented.

Based on the tradition of this method, combined with certain characteristics of Qi Gong, Dao Yin, Wu shu, Tai Ji Quan, and exercise according to the principal theory of Chinese traditional medicine, Professor Zhang recently created a new version of the Ba Duan Jin which has the following characteristics.

First:
The sequence begins with the head and the neck.

Second:
When inhaling, contract qu dao (the anus) and the perineum; when exhaling, relax the abdomen.

Third:
The movements are soft, slow and rounded, and follow one another in a smooth flow.

Fourth:
Be naturally calm and relaxed in order to promote breathing in the Dantian

This breathing has the following advantages:

It increases the rise and fall movement of the diaphragm which provides a dynamic massage on the spleen, the stomach, the liver, the gall bladder and the intestines.

It increases the peristaltic force to stimulate the movement of the stomach and the intestines towards the anus

It stimulates the secretion of the gastric juices which prevents and treats digestive disorders, pains in the stomach, constipation, haemorrhoids etc..

Fine, regular, deep and long abdominal breathing helps to eliminate stagnation in the liver, stimulates the drainage of bile which helps to treat cirrhosis of the liver and gall stones.

This breathing can also regulate and calm the emotions and the mind; it can make people softer, more stable, calmer and less easily angered.

N.B. These notes do not contain detailed instructions on the movements, as they are aimed at those who attended the recent Hertfordshire course on this exercise.

N.B. When inhaling, raise the toes and contract the anus and pelvic floor. When exhaling, grip with the toes and relax the anus and the pelvic floor. Always try to co-ordinate the breathing with the movement