A part of the Cheng's Bagua Palm, the Bagua Spear is a renowned style of long-weapon Chinese martial arts. The spear moves in unison with the body – the spear head stabs as the shaft swings in sweeping motion.

There are multiple ways to wield the spear. It can even be used as a short weapon. Attack with the head and suppress with the shaft or do it the other way round, it has pretty flexible usage.

The Bagua Spear incorporates the flexibility of the moves in Bagua Palm – it allows striking while being on the move. It also embraces the power of the spear, mainly in blocking, grabbing, stabbing, lifting, hacking, jumping, rolling and sweeping. Every move requires the combination of the body and the spirit.

Yan Lili is the fifth-generation inheritor of the Cheng's Bagua Palm. She has been practicing wushu, Chinese martial arts, for over 40 years. She started as a child in the gymnastics team, selected by the wushu coach in the second or third grade of primary school. She trained after school every day.

In the 1980s, lots of movies and TV series would cast Yan Lili's wushu team. She was fortunate to be chosen as the heroine in a 30-episode TV series. All the fights were real. The series was broadcast nationwide.

She is almost 60 years old. Apart from teaching, she spends a lot of time studying on her own. She says she has learned from the ancestors, from the environment and herself.

The Bagua Spear requires excellent Bagua Palm techniques. All year round, she has to practice every single day. This martial art has become an essential part of her life. She used to practice for competitions, even some games and shows. She says the true meaning of wushu is that you don't do it for others, but to define yourself, to find yourself.