CHINESE YOGA

Chinese Yoga is an ancient art derived from Pa Kua knowledge. Through movements and meditation it teaches the student to harmonize body, mind, and spirit. The movements tone and strengthen the body, promoting lean and flexible muscle. Stretching exercises increase flexibility, protecting from injury and provide a greater range of motion, while the breathing exercises oxygenate the body and regulate both the heart rate and cardiovascular system. The student also learns techniques to relieve stress and achieve a sense of tranquility in the midst of the chaos of everyday life. Chinese Yoga is a way of studying ourselves through stretching, postures, breathing techniques, and cardiovascular exercises.

Through the study of the self we come to understand and synchronize with everything else. Once a state of syntony, or attunement, is achieved, we can adapt to any circumstance or environment, overcoming culture shock, language barriers, and regional differences, thus finding harmony everywhere. Chinese Yoga can be described as the harmonic interaction between ourselves and all other things.

MARTIAL ARTS

The most popular and commonly known part of Pa Kua is the martial art form called Pa Kua Chuan (Baguazhang). Many Martial Arts practitioners all over the world have been exposed to this form in one way or another. Pa Kua Chuan is easily recognized because of the circular form of walking and movement that dominates the form. Masters of various disciplines encourage their students to study Pa Kua Chuan to improve and increase the fluidity of movements in fighting techniques or in combat and sparring situations.

The Pa Kua Chuan techniques are just one aspect of the martial arts discipline practiced. There is also grappling, submissions, pressure points, sparring, self-defense, throws, escaping, rolling, falling, and others.

Pa Kua is a comprehensive martial art which brings the student to a sense of understanding of himself as well as his surroundings. Pa Kua stresses personal development over competition which allows people of all ages and abilities to practice toward the goal of self-improvement. It use the opponent’s momentum against him, and a thorough study of flips, rolls, falls, self defense and sparring techniques add confidence that will greatly benefit any student.

Pa Kua develops every part of the human anatomy by generating a proper flow of energy within the body. The movements are studied to provide an internal massage of the organs as well as develop an unparalleled coordination of movements coupled with improved mind/body communication. The training in slow forms nurtures harmony and growth of the spiritual and physical life force. Pa Kua is a complete art and gives its practitioner a better sense of self confidence, increased concentration, augmented coordination and improved flexibility. Pa Kua is an art practiced all types of people, regardless of age, injury, or ability.

ACROBATICS

Acrobatics is the study of powerful positions, combining balance and strength, done by more than one person together that strengthens our understanding of society and relationships while helping each person overcome past shocks. Each student will improve strength and balance through different slow exercises using their own weight and the weight of a partner. These exercises will also clean and repair the body and mind by filling all the muscles and cleaning them with new blood and oxygen.

Acrobatics is particularly good as a way to get to know and learn to work with others which makes it ideal for couples, families, and groups.

PA KUA RHYTHM (KICKBOXING)

The Pa Kua Rhythm classes are a combination of Martial Art and Music. In these classes the student will burn calories, at the same time learning self-defense in a non- structured but animated Martial Arts class. Through this class, the students will receive many benefits, such as stress relief, stretching, flexibility, improvement in breathing, and physical development, as well as finding the rhythm to their lives. Rhythm teaches a martial artists many combination which can be applied to sparring and fighting as well as the conditioning needed for extended practice. In Pa Kua Rhythm, the students also learn meditation and self-defense, helping to prevent cardio-respiratory problems.

REFLEXOLOGY

In order to correctly describe this art one would be better served by calling it Reflectology. This refers to the use of microbodies to heal and harmonize the whole body. Reflexology is taught in a class format that enables the student to perform treatments both on himself and on others. A class in Pa Kua reflexology is a treatment in itself and careful attention is paid to each student and to his or her individual needs. Through the study of one’s relationship with the universe one can seek to achieve harmony.

This millennia-old traditional study, based on the traditional Pa Kua symbol, is an internal Martial Art and is concentrated on the healing of the internal organs in order to increase their capacity. The movement exercises promote organ rejuvenation, and breathing exercises, meditation, and the massage of feet, hands, and ears generate further health benefits. Our feet, hands and ears actually contain a map of our bodies on them. By learning to access a certain part of the body through massage of the foot, hand, or ear, we can promote healing or prevent organ imbalances and even diseases.

EDGE WEAPONS

As an integral part of Pa Kua, the study of ancient weapons is critical to martial art development. Coordination, precision, and discipline are some of the numerous benefits of studying the art of combat with ancient weapons. The art of combat with one of these weapons was very often developed out of necessity, using common ordinary items. The stick that accompanied a traveler on his journey turned into a weapon and its use eventually evolved into an art. The common household item used to carry water back from the well was used as a weapon in case of emergency. Other ancient weapons are actual weapons of war. Their study is accompanied by a study of the warrior’s discipline, which helps us today in our daily battles of life. The discipline of mind and body acquired during the study of any of these weapons from the past is an invaluable tool for us today. Some of the ancient weapons taught in Pa Kua are a variety of Swords, Long Stick, Short Sticks, Boken, Shinai, Jian, Articulated Double Sticks (Nunchakus), Three Articulated Sticks, Throwing Knives, and Night Stick.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ARCHERY

Traditional Chinese Archery is a discipline where we search for our mind. The bow and arrow have been considered by many great philosophers to be the ultimate weapon. The relationship between the bow and the energy of our mind is stronger than with any other weapon. When an arrow is shot, the archer can see any small variation in their mind manifested by the flight of the arrow and where it strikes.

Traditional archery is a martial skill as well and there are a large variety of techniques. Many of them are meditations and many of them are combat related. Learn to shoot while on the move, while running, or while in hiding or ambush. Shoot targets that move, and hold arrows in your hands while firing.

The classes are taught at the Pa Kua Studio, so they are easily accessible to all students and practitioners. All equipment provided.

ENERGY – CHI STUDIES

The world is full of energy, passing through us in the air we breathe, the things we eat, the time of day, time of year, and temperature all play a big part in understanding the life energy or chi. The study of chi is the study of the energy flow in the body (meridians or energy pathways) and how the change and move as the year and day progress. Learn massage, movements, and nutrition for each of the 12 major energy ways and learn how to harmonize and balance your daily and yearly activities and diet.

Even the health-oriented amongst us, those of us who do not care too much for the fast-paced, pill-popping society we live in, are still influenced by our surroundings and our eating habits. Vitamins and supplements fill the health shop shelves and we have a feeling of furthering our preventive approach when we swallow, with our breakfast, a series of vitamins in form of pills. The expression “expensive urine” is often heard and serves as an accurate description of what happens to many vitamins as they pass through our bodies. The Pa Kua approach to nutrition is one that enables the body to receive the right amount of vitamins and vital nutrients through the processing of regular food intake. Eating the right food, in the right quantity and in the right amounts will supply the body with all it needs in order to maintain proper harmony and vitality in all of its daily activities. Once again, the philosophy of helping the body deal with its daily tasks, rather than taking over its job, comes into action.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Master Kyle Billingsley is not just a small business owner. As a father of 2 young boys, he understands both the practical need for child care as well as that nurturing desire to offer them something enriching, something more. The after school program at Burbank Pa Kua was born from that inspiration. This special program offers not just child care but also a place to practice so many of the enriching life skills that we all want for our kids: respect for their physical fitness, responsibility for their actions, confident communication, mindfulness, and the many other skills that martial arts has to offer. All of these skills are at the heart of the fun, kid-centered program designed to instill a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Alonglide class, we will have homework time and open mat time to fill up the 2-3 hours the students will spend at Burbank Pa Kua.

1st-8th grade.

KIDS CAMPS

Burbank Pa Kua is offering spring break camp March 19th-23th 2018. Campers will spend time practicing and learning many different martial arts skills including archery & weapons. These skills develop focus, discipline, strength, coordination, and self confidence all while having fun.

The camp is available for ages 6-13 and will include all the needed equipment, shirts, uniforms, and weapons. There will be healthy snacks and drinks for the campers to enjoy, lunch should be brought by each student (pizza party Friday on us!). The camp will last each day from 8:45am-3pm, with extended hours available (7:30am-9am, + $20, 3pm-6pm, + $30). There is a one-time $30 registration fee, which is waived if you sign up before 2/15/18 or if you are a current member. All of the classes take place indoors, in an air-conditioned martial arts school. All classes will be lead by Master Kyle Billingsley who has been teaching since 2005 and is registered in the TrustLine system (ask for drivers license number to search database).