Baguazhang & Tai Chi
Internal martial arts with fifth-generation Yin Family Baguazhang lineage holder Lin Yang.
Internal Martial Arts in Utah
Baguazhang is one of China's three major internal martial arts, alongside Tai Chi and Xingyi. It's built around circle walking — continuous, meditative movement in a circular path — combined with rapid directional changes and open-palm techniques. It looks different from what most people picture when they think of martial arts. There's no punching a bag. The practice is fluid, spiraling, and deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy.
Lin Yang is a fifth-generation successor of Yin Family Baguazhang, founder of the "One Water Sky" breathing method, and a classically trained artist with an MA from Tokyo Gakugei University. Her teaching spans both Baguazhang and Tai Chi, which share the same internal principles — relaxed movement, internal awareness, breath coordination — in different forms.
Baguazhang workshops run every Saturday afternoon at the Visual Art Institute in South Salt Lake. Open to complete beginners.
Baguazhang Workshop
When: Saturdays, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Where: Visual Art Institute, South Salt Lake
Level: All levels welcome
Drop-ins: Welcome
Tai Chi
Where: Visual Art Institute, South Salt Lake
Level: Beginner-friendly
Schedule: Contact us for current times
Your Instructor
Lin Yang
Lin Yang trained for decades under recognized Baguazhang masters before moving to Utah. As a fifth-generation lineage holder of Yin Family Baguazhang, she carries a direct, unbroken teaching line that goes back to the art's 19th-century origins.
Her teaching style is patient and detail-oriented. She breaks down complex movements into their component parts, explains the martial application behind each technique, and emphasizes the internal aspects — breath, intention, and structural alignment — that distinguish internal martial arts from external styles.
Lin also teaches Tai Chi, bringing the same depth of knowledge to a practice that's accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. She is the founder of the "One Water Sky" breathing method, a columnist for Utah's Chinese Newspaper, and an annual lecturer on traditional Asian culture.
What You'll Practice
Circle Walking
The foundation of Baguazhang. Continuous walking in a circle develops balance, leg strength, and the ability to change direction instantly. It's also deeply meditative.
Palm Changes
The eight mother palms — directional changes that form the core techniques of Baguazhang. Each palm change contains multiple applications for self-defense and body conditioning.
Tai Chi Forms
Flowing sequences that coordinate breath with movement. Tai Chi shares the internal foundations of Baguazhang in a slower, accessible form — balance, flexibility, and calm focus through moving meditation.