Hachidankin (baduanjin) exercise has been in existence for more that eight hundred years.
Because of its effectiveness for keeping fit it was accepted by the Shaolin monks as one of the basic entering exercises for Shaolin Wushu.
Unlike Shaolin Hard kung fu and the rest of Shaolin style for combat, the eight section brocade is a form of soft qi gong.
The eight section brocade is an ideal life time exercise for most people.
It is especially recommended for people who work at desks and or with computers every day.
Regular practice of this exercise can strengthen one's internal organs as well as one's muscles and tendons.
Effectiveness for keeping fit, ease in learning and economy of exercising time are the main features of the exercise.
Rather than emphasing special muscles, every part of your organism can take part in the exercise.
The characteristic of the exercise is self stretching, with breathing coordinated to the body movements.
As one is practicing the exercise, both the breathing and the body movement.
Relax Posture
beginning
Lift the ground and
hold the sky
Separating
Heaven and Earth
Draw the bow
to the left
Press the
floating board
Stand on your toes
Punching with
Angry Gaza
Touch your toes
and slowly straighten up
Relax Posture
end
Hachidankin
revised symmetric form.
Illustrations: Rinus Schulz
This form developed over the years, the main change is performing the postures symmetric left end right. Press the floating board changed to lifting the heavy table.
Hachidankin
"Hachidankin (baduanjin) is non-strenuous and can be done by anyone of any age.
It will regulate your digestion and metabolism, thus helping with weight loss.
It takes less than 10 minutes a day to perform.
It is very easy to learn...no matter how uncoordinated you are.
It will stretch and tone all of your muscles, thus increasing your flexibility.
It will help relieve neck, back, and shoulder pain.
It will make your muscles (especially your legs) stronger.
It will stimulate your lymphatic system and help detoxify the body of environmental poisons.
It will develop a calm, focused mind.
It helps relieve depression and anxiety.
It requires no special equipment and can be done anywhere, anytime.
It will harmonize and stimulate all of your acupuncture meridians.
Comments on the Sequence and names of the movements in the Hachidankin
There is no universal agreement as to the sequence and the names of the movements in the Hachidankin. The illustrations show the sequences we use in our training.