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He Jinbao 狆瀥宝 (1955-present) – is the current lineage holder in Yin Style Baguazhang. He had an early interest in the martial arts, which led him to visit the home of Dr. Xie Peiqi, the highly respected Baguazhang practitioner and disciple of Men Baozhen. Dr. Xie was fifty years old at the time and the young He Jinbao was just fifteen. He approached the respected Doctor, who sat drinking tea, and asked to learn the martial arts. Xie asked, “What kind of strength do you have?” Xie rose from his seat and took a closer look at Jinbao, who admits that he was quite skinny at that time. The doctor felt of his arms and legs to check his muscularity and told him that he would study the Lion system. Xie, following the traditional harsh manner of student introduction, took him to the courtyard and demonstrated several full speed movements from the Lion System of Yin Style Baguazhang. He then ordered Jinbao to repeat them. The movements, which Xie had done in full speed, were beyond Jinbao’s ability to duplicate properly after having just seen them. Jinbao explained that he could not repeat them and did not even know what Baguazhang was. Xie repeated the movements in the same full speed manner and then waited for Jinbao to repeat. The young man attempted, but given the speed of the demonstration and being new to the art, the movements were less than acceptable. Jinbao then asked for further explanation on the moves. Xie, having watched the attempt in disgust, finally replied, “Why are you so stupid?” and then struck Jinbao several times using the very techniques that he had just demonstrated. Xie then returned inside his house to resume his tea, leaving the young Jinbao standing in the courtyard. Determined to understand the movements, he attempted to emulate them to the best of his ability. After some time, Xie called out to him, “How are the moves coming?” Jinbao replied, “OK,” and was then told by Xie to go home and practice.
He Jinbao was determined to make a better impression on his next lesson. He practiced the movements he was shown by Xie and additionally went to the park to learn from the Baguazhang practitioners that trained there. Little did he
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“The most important thing when studying the martial arts is not to be lazy. These skills are not easily attained. For them, one must endure a lot of suffering.”
He Jinbao
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know that they studied a different method of the art. On Sunday morning he returned for his second lesson. Upon arrival, Xie asked him if had practiced and Jinbao proudly claimed that he had. He then started walking the circle using “mud stepping” that he had learned from the practitioners in the park. After observing this stepping method, the surprised Xie asked, “Where did you learn that?” He Jinbao replied that he had learned from some practitioners at the park. Xie reprimanded Jinbao and almost sent him away for it. Xie then explained to Jinbao that there were different kinds of Bagua and that he taught Yin Style, which uses “natural stepping” on a smaller circle. This was when Jinbao understood that there were different methods of Baguazhang. The western student might be surprised by this story, but this harsh introduction into Yin Style Baguazhang had been used to test the resolve and determination of prospective students from the systems inception. His mentor, Men Baozhen, had treated Dr. Xie in much the same manner. Likewise, Men Baozhen was knocked out on his first meeting with Yin Fu, who had lost his two front teeth from a strike by Dong Haichuan in their initial meeting. A person had to prove their worthiness to learn Yin Style Baguazhang through bumps, bruises and harsh treatment. He Jinbao accepted the challenge.
The early years of his training were difficult. Jinbao practiced the various foundation
practices and improved his strength. Jinbao would later state that he trained the Lion System for seven years and that it is good at developing strength. Another statement that points to his personal commitment to the art concerns turning the circle. Jinbao said that when others were turning the circle for two hours that he would turn for two hours and forty-five minutes. He Jinbao has said, “The most important thing when studying the martial arts is not to be lazy. These skills are not easily attained. For them, one must endure a lot of suffering.” He Jinbao lived those words and he expects his students to follow the same path. Dr. Xie often ignored him in those days, but Jinbao would return every Sunday and train. His skills and strength developed, but at that time there was not a systematic manner in which the art was taught. One picked up and little here and a little there while attempting to piece it all together to figure out the big picture.
Jinbao started to feel comfortable with his training after five years under Dr. Xie. He started training at the park among the other martial artists. One day in 1976, just after he finished training in the park, an unimpressive man approached him and asked if he was training in Yin Style Baguazhang. Jinbao was surprised that someone recognized the method and more surprised when the man inquired if he trained with Dr. Xie. He then stated that Jinbao was practicing incorrectly and that he would never be able to use his Bagua if he continued practicing in that manner. The man introduced himself as Liu Fang. Jinbao had heard of him and knew he was Xie’s top disciple. He asked if he could train with Liu Fang, but was reminded that he was a student of Dr. Xie. Jinbao happened to have some friends that knew Liu Fang and they accompanied him to Liu’s house. Again, Liu Fang turned down Jinbao’s request to train with him. This did not stop Jinbao and he eventually asked Dr. Xie if he objected to him receiving help from Liu Fang. Xie stated that he didn’t care.
On his first lesson with Liu Fang, the top student of Xie Peiqi, he ordered Jinbao to practice some of his Bagua in order to observe. He then asked him a series of questions, which Jinbao answered poorly according to Liu. He told Jinbao that though he practiced Bagua that he did not know anything. That he should not practice stupidly and should give thought to what he was doing. Li Fang
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“.... skills come through practice. If you cheat your practice - your practice will cheat you.”
He Jinbao
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was an accomplished martial artist and had studied Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, and Paochui for ten years each. He ordered Jinbao to execute a Lion System sweeping strike to his arm. Jinbao, wanting to be polite, did so, but with hardly any force. Liu then chastised him for not having any power and ordered him to do it again. Jinbao did, but not wanting to offend Liu Fang, held back yet again. “You have nothing!” said Liu and ordered Jinbao to do it once more. This time Jinbao swung his arm with all his power, but just before making contact, Liu turned his arm slightly. A shocking pain shot through Jinbao’s arm and a welt appeared instantly. Liu then complimented him as being the first person willing to put real force into a strike aimed at him. Liu Fang told him to continue to study the Lion System with Dr. Xie, but agreed to “show him some stuff.” From that point, Jinbao would train with Dr. Xie on Sunday morning and would train with Liu Fang in the afternoon. Jinbao states that Liu Fang was well educated and was a meticulous teacher that helped him to understand the finer points of the art. He helped Jinbao in developing force by striking into empty space rather than by striking objects.
Liu Fang became a major influence in the martial development of Jinbao. He must have seen the drive and commitment that was necessary in learning the system in the young man. Eventually, he financially help Jinbao to allow him to devote himself to learning Yin Style Baguazhang. Dr. Xie had chosen Liu to be the inheritor of the system and trained him in all aspects of the art. Unfortunately, Liu Fang died in an automobile accident in 1985 and Dr. Xie lost his successor. He Jinbao, on the other hand, lost a father figure and a teacher.
He Jinbao was initially considered a junior student of Xie Peiqi. This was probably due to his age and Jinbao’s relationship with Liu Fang, but that is speculation. It would not be until the death of Xie’s second successor, Wang Lihai, that He Jinbao would be chosen to carry on the art. Realizing that he was nearing the last years of his life and fearing that Yin Style Baguazhang could be lost, Xie accelerated the training of He Jinbao. From the early 1990’s to his death in 2003, Xie transmitted his full knowledge of the martial side of Yin Style Baguazhang to He Jinbao. He was taught the various animal systems and absorbed them into his ever expanding Bagua knowledge base. Today, He Jinbao stands in the line of Yin Style Baguazhang as the current lineage holder to the system. His knowledge is immense and his martial ability is frightening in its intensity and depth. Unlike the late Dr. Xie, who was small framed and thin, He Jinbao is built like a football linebacker. He is thick, solid and powerfully built, but is surprisingly fast in the execution of his techniques. Those that are fortunate enough to study under him are constantly amazed at his abilities. He carries on the tradition that was started by the late Dr. Xie and openly teaches Yin Style Baguazhang to students in Beijing and abroad.
We are fortunate in having the opportunity to learn Yin Style Baguazhang, an extremely effective martial system with historically verifiable roots and lineage. History, which is an important aspect of an art, is no substitute for effectiveness and Yin Style Baguazhang stands as a shining example. He Jinbao now stands in the historic line of great practitioners, but more importantly he is the epitome of a fully capable and truly incredible martial artist.
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