About This Course

The Small Circle Dragon Mantis Bagua is a Tao Style Baguazhang form that serves as core foundation Baguazhang training in the Tao Institute curriculum.  This form, called "Dragon Mantis" for short, contains all of the essential techniques and concepts of Traditional Baguazhang in a flowing, continuous and circular framework – making it a wonderful foundation for more advanced traditional and Tao style Baguazhang training.

The Dragon Mantis form contains two sections.  The first focuses on the 8 Mother Palms of Baguazhang in application, and the second is inspired by the methods of the Bagua Old 8 Palms and Single & Double Palm Changes.  Throughout the form circular footwork, waist rotation, praying mantis hands and the classical hand techniques of Baguazhang are incorporated into a seamless flow which can be performed at slow and more natural speeds.  Students will gain an understanding of the martial technique inside Baguazhang and develop smooth, flowing footwork.  Baguazhang training cultivates a flexible mind and body through its emphasis on the principles of change.

Included in this course is a full step-by-step breakdown of the form by Mela and a follow along walkthrough video that you can practice with once the course is complete.

This form is ideally practiced along with Baguazhang Basics and Qigong Foundation training.  It is highly recommended to include this earlier course work in your daily practice as you incorporate this form.  In addition, we strongly encourage all students also learn Dragon Qigong, Praying Mantis Qigong & Snake Qigong before embarking on this course, as these fundamentals will greatly support your understanding.

This course is currently in progress.  Lessons are posted as they are completed. All lessons will be live by the end of July.

Small Circle Dragon Mantis Bagua

Overview and Demonstration

About Baguazhang, Dragon Mantis, and Tao Style

Tao Style is Sifu Paolillo’s personally developed style of Internal Kung Fu.  Tao Style combines all of Sifu’s fighting skills, traditional training, study, and personal transmissions into a unique set of forms and methods that are incorporated into our curriculum at every level.

Tao Style is the essence of the Tao Institute system.  It features fluid, natural movement with continuous circularity and connected, free flowing techniques.  Tao Style represents Sifu Paolillo’s continued refinement in his creative cultivation of the martial arts, and every form is designed according to the energetic principles of the Tao.  He considers his work to fall under the category of “Martial Qigong” — as it always incorporates detailed and complex fighting application, as well as energetic methods.

The Small Circle Dragon Mantis Bagua form currently stands as our introductory Baguazhang training.  Bagua footwork and principles are a major cornerstone of Tao Style, and the Tao Institute system contains many Bagua based forms, including our Traditional Dragon Style Baguazhang, and the vast majority of our more advanced Tao Style curriculum including:  Entering the Forest, Mysterious Gate, Praying Mantis Embraces the Tao, Purple Star, 5 Element Weapons Form, and many others.  Each of these forms works develops different aspects of footwork, technique, application, Tao and light body work.

Baguazhang is a style whose essential principle is change.  From the beginning of its proliferation through the famous and important master, Dong Haichuan, Baguazhang has been an art based on principle and basic core Taoist concepts over larger, overarching stylistic frameworks.  Under Dong Haichuan's tutelage, each master was taught to conform their Bagua understanding to their pre-existing systems.  Thus, each main lineage of Bagua and all of the branches which extend from them are highly unique.  Tao style very much follows this tradition – drawing from classical core concepts and incorporating them into form in a way which is most suitable to our style.  In Sifu Paolillo’s approach we focus on cleanliness of technique and continuous, seamless circle, becoming flexible in mind and body through a strong foundation of footwork, hand technique and internal body development.

As we continue to develop our online curriculum and strengthen our online students, we hope to share more of these deeper studies to all who are sincerely interested in learning.


Benefits of the Dragon Mantis Form

  • Develops fluid whole body connection
  • Develops mind intent
  • Trains rooting and spiral power work
  • Trains flexibility and spontaneity in martial art footwork
  • Strengthens the legs
  • Smooths out Qi and Blood – improving circulation and flow
  • Increases suppleness and sensitivity
  • Increases internal awareness
  • Excellent for health & longevity
  • Strengthens vital energy and by keeping energy flowing 
  • Nourishes the internal organs
  • Greater calmness in daily life
  • Increased mental clarity, intuition & creativity
  • Deepens relationship with your spirit and the Tao



Pre-Requisite training

We strongly recommend taking these courses before taking Snake Qigong

The above courses are highly recommended before learning the Small Circle Dragon Mantis Bagua.  These courses provide the basic concepts, techniques and exercises necessary to dive into this form.  Our curriculum is progressive in nature, and these building blocks are very important for a full understanding.

All of these courses are included in enrollment to the Online Resource Membership program of which this Small Circle Dragon Mantis Bagua course is a part — so you don’t have to worry about purchasing an additional course if you are enrolled in the program.  You will have access to all courses on the membership program as long as you are subscribed to the website. 

Whether you join the membership or purchase this course a la carte, it is highly recommended that you also take the the other courses or you may find this course confusing.

Course curriculum

    1. Introduction to Small Circle Dragon Mantis Bagua

    2. This course is IN PROGRESS

About this course

  • 2 lessons
  • 0 hours of video content

Which option is right for me?

Many of our courses & online resources are available to access either through the Online Resource Membership, or as a single course purchase option.  Here is how this works:


Online Resource Membership:

The Online Resource Membership is a monthly subscription that grants you access to the many resources currently available in our online library.  This library continues to expand and grow as time goes on.  Membership includes early access to courses as well as exclusive content that is not available in the "a la carte" section.  Currently there are two Tier options for membership.  Please visit the Online Resource Membership page to learn more.


Purchasing the Course:

Purchasing a course will give you continuous access to a single course.  There is no monthly fee after the initial purchase.  At this time, all courses are only accessible via our website and are not downloadable.

Instructor

Mela Carreira

Instructor

Mela is a dedicated student and instructor under Sifu Paolillo. A martial arts practitioner since 2001, Mela was called to the internal arts and Asheville area in 2011, where she first began training at Tao Institute. Over the course of her training, Mela has come to understand, live by and deeply respect the philosophies of the martial arts and Tao in every day life. Mela teaches the entry level classes at Tao Institute and is the main instructor under the direct supervision of Sifu Paolillo in classes throughout the curriculum.