Bagua’s direction is circular, emphasising use of horizontal strength and the open palm. The core concepts involved in Bagua Zhang are undoubtedly ancient. ‘Zhang’ means Palm, and so in the context of martial arts and the circumstantial variations of the eight trigrams, means the use of the open hand rather than closed fist, combined with associated footwork.

Bagua Zhang is a martial art based on the concept of perpetual change and adjustment to circumstances, to enable the exponent to overcome the physical force of an opponent with skill.