Master Lin was taught his Ba Gua by Big Wang as well. He walked around the trees in the park in Taipei so often, they had paths worn around them. When a storm blew one of the trees down, one of the park gardeners jokingly accused him of wearing the tree out. He shared an experience: once while doing Ba Gua, he thought he’s been at it for 10 minutes or so. Actually, he had walked the circle for over an hour. For some time afterward, he said his sense of sight and smell were heightened, along with a sense of deep contentment – a very peak experience.
The Ba Gua training consisted solely of circle walking. In other words, there were not forms. The first 8 palm changes were the pre-natal, and the second were the post-natal changes. Like Tai Chi, the circle walking was a form if moving meditation.
Master Lin taught applications from both sets. Trying to hit him was like punching a cloud. Deflection was very subtly. His hands were very “heavy” and hurt a great deal, even with a light hit. Having said that, he had perfect control, and never hurt a student.
Of the three internal arts, he said Ba Gua, “Builds chi the fastest”.
