Liang Zhen Pu (1863-1932) was Dong Haichuan’s youngest student. He studied Tan Tui (a kicking style) from age 7 to 14. Then, in 1877, he became Dong Haichuan’s student. He studied with Dong for about five years and was well liked by all of Dong’s students. He had the fortune of not only learning from Dong Haichuan but also from Dong’s other students including Cheng Ting Hua , Yin Fu, Shih Chi Tung, and Liu Feng Chun.
Since he had little martial arts training before meeting Dong, his Bagua was arguably the purest , with little influence from other styles. One example of this is the fact that his Bagua forms are the most circular in nature among the Bagua variants. Every one of his sets are taught in a circle, unlike versions from earlier students (for example, Yin Fu’s Bagua) which have many linear segments.
Liang Zhen Pu style Baguazhang is known to include the following elements:
- Wei Gong Ba Zhang (Fighting When Surrounded Eight Palm)
- Lao Ba Zhang (Old Eight Palm)
- Single Movement Practice
- 64 Movement Linked Circle Walking
- 64 Movement Straight Line Form
- Bagua Chin Na (Grappling)
- Yin and Yang Throwing Techniques
- Two Man Sparring Forms
- Long and Short Weapons
- Bagua Big Broadsword
- Chicken-Headed Hooks
- Deer Horn Knives
- Bagua Straight Sword
- Kun Lun Fan
- Yin Yang Pen Brush
- Steel “Yo-Yo” Meteors
- Wind and Fire Wheels
- Dian Xue (Pressure Point Fighting)
One of Liang’s most famous students was Li Ziming (1902-1993) who eventually became head of the Beijing Baguazhang Association and spread Liang’s style around the world. Liang Zhen Pu is the only student of Dong Haichuan to be buried next to his tomb.