Lineage Disciples

An authentic lineage relationship between the master of a tradition and disciple is a special status that is rarely given. Only a handful of instructors will ever be granted lineage into the inner sanctum of an Art. The granting of lineage predates the development of any formal method of ranking. To become "lineage holder" means literally to "pass through the door," a term that delineates a change in the initiate's status from a regular student to a disciple.

In some martial arts, the practice of continuing to pass unbroken lineage from master to disciple is perceived as archaic. In other cases false lineages are declared or awarded, and in some cases lineages are sold for two or three thousand dollars. However, Master John Bracy and for the instructors and students of the Hsing Chen and Chi Arts Association authentic lineage traditions are maintained. In our case the lineage preserves the original intention of the founder and lineage line: to make a life long commitment to the Art and preserve the developments and insights of the preceding masters.

One martial form that has a well-documented line of lineage is Ba Gua Zhang.

In 1988, through formal Confucian ceremony, John Bracy was granted formal fifth generation lineage as a disciple of Master Liu Xing-Han. This represented a continuation a formal Ba Gua Zhang line that was brought by Master Bracy to the West. In California studios and at teaching locations throughout the world, John continues to spread the teachings of Master Liu and the other teachers before him.

Few practitioners can claim formal lineage. Currently there are at only four 6th generation disciples of this art’s line in the United States. The transferring of lineage, and accepting of a disciple by the represents the continuation of an unbroken line of disciples from the founder to the new disciples.

Zack Gelbaum and Dr. Don Crone shortly after being accepted as Lineage Disciples ot the Art of BA GUA ZHANG in 2003
(Click here to see Zack’s Ba Gua demo from the time of his lineage on the streaming video page)

Master Bracy has accepted four disciples of Ba Gua Zhang, they are:

Unbroken Ba Gua Lineage at Hsing Chen

IN STILLNESS LIKE A MOUNTAIN, IN MOVEMENT LIKE A RIVER
Click here to view streaming video of Lineage disciple Chris Gulbrandson practicing advanced Ba Gua in China.

Authorized & Licensed Instructors

Since their inception, John Bracy and the senior teachers of the Hsing Chen and Chi Arts associations have been extremely concerned about maintaining the highest possible standards for instructors. Thus, we have made instructor requirements in our organization extremely challenging. However, we are also concerned with maintaining instructor quality for those who graduate and decide to teach the art to others. To help ensure that the Hsing Chen standards are maintained and correctly passed to future generations, an instructor who represents our program to others must annually be approved and authorized to teach.

An Instructor certificate of rank indicates that at the time that the rank was granted that the candidate met the arduous training requirement for a specific rank level and program. However, to preserve the standard of the art, those who choose to represent our arts to others in our name must receive an annual authorization to teach.

An authentic instructor of Hsing Chen methods in Ba Gua, Hsing I, or other programs holds two separate qualifications:

To maintain permission to teach the Hsing Chen arts, depending on the specific circumstance and type of program, those who continue to represent the art to the public continue to research their areas of concentration and develop themselves as comprehensive martial artists-most importantly, they keep up to date with the newest and latest methods to train others. Those authorized to teach typically attend organizational meetings once year in the same manner that many professionals such as attorneys and health care providers are required to attend annual training to maintain their license.

In addition there are also two Instructor Tier Levels. First tier instructors are those who have made a commitment to preserve or research a specific area of the art.

Authorized Instructors of the Hsing Chen and/or Chi Arts Association

First Tier Instructors
(Those representing the most current and highest level of active research and knowledge of the art- each individual listed here has personal responsibility to preserve one or more specific areas of study):

Second Tier Instructors
(Those who have received instructor ranks and update their knowledge on the latest research and development on at least an annual basis):

Assistant Instructors with Permission to Teach

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A H.C. INSTRUCTOR RANK AND WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BE LISTED HERE, SEND E-MAIL TO admin@chi-arts.com