Baji Association is organising a Bian Gan seminar to explore the techniques and movements of the traditional Chinese bian gan (biāngān, 鞭竿) — the whip staff — under the guidance of Master Lü Baochun and his long-term student Harri Eskelinen. The seminar will take place outdoors at the courtyard of Hertsikka Primary School on 12–13 September 2026.
WHAT IS BIAN GAN?
The bian gan, or whip staff, is a traditional Chinese martial arts weapon and hybrid polearm. Roughly 13 hand-widths long (the ideal length reaches from your toes to your sternum), it merges the fluid, continuous mechanics of the staff (gun), the piercing thrusts of the spear (qiang), and the close‑quarters cutting or chopping leverage of a two‑handed saber or sword (jian).
In this seminar, we will teach the whip staff form as well as applications for the movements within the form. Training takes place outdoors in the courtyard of Hertsikka Primary School, with rain cover available if needed. Wear anything comfortable that allows you to move freely.
The seminar is suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.
PRICE
One day €60 Full weekend €100
LOCATION
Hertsikka Primary School courtyard Hillerikuja 4, 00800 Helsinki
SCHEDULE Saturday & Sunday 10:00–12:00 Practice 12:00–13:00 Lunch 13:00–16:00 Practice
Summer, with all its events, is now almost behind us, and the autumn training season begins already next week.
The autumn season starts on 31 August 2026. To celebrate the first day, we’re hosting an open house, where you’re welcome to invite your friends to come watch and try out our different arts. If you haven’t signed up yet for the autumn courses, now’s the perfect time!
Our autumn season opening picnic will take place on 5 September 2026 at the Talin siirtolapuutarha, (Metsäpolku 32/Pitäjänmäentie 32), starting from 12:00 onwards. Entry is free for members — please bring your own food to grill and drinks to enjoy.
The Bian Gan seminar will be held on12–13 September 2026 in the yard of Hertsikan ala-aste. Please sign up no later than 5 September 2026.
In October–November we are planning Tuishou and Qinna seminars. We will share more information once the dates and locations are confirmed.
Our autumn meeting and holiday gathering will take place on 12 December 2026. More details will follow closer to the date.
Warm and inspiring autumn greetings, Baji Association’s board
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who joined in Master Lü’s 70th birthday and the associations 25th anniversary! The warm atmosphere and the appreciation shown for Master Lü made the occasion truly special and brought joy to everyone.
The summer intensives will be led by Master Lü and held in the courtyard of Hertsikan ala-aste. The summer schedule is as follows:
The intensives will be held each day at 6 PM – 8 PM. The fee for a single intensive session is 25€. Alternatively, you can purchase a summer pass for 150€, which covers all intensives throughout the summer. Payment is made on site. No advance registration is required. A more detailed description of the intensives can be found on the intensives tab. The first intensive week (week 29) will be livestreamed. The fee for a single online intensive is 15€. Alternatively, you can purchase a whole week pass for 40€. Registration is required for the online intensives in order to receive the access link.
The summer season’s free outdoor training will continue on Wednesday evenings at the usual spot in Hesperia Park, by the wall of the old sugar factory.
The autumn season begins on 31st August 2026. Feel free to let your friends know that we will celebrate the start of the season with open training evening. More information about the autumn season can be found on the schedule tab. The registration is open and we recommend registering early rather than waiting until the last minute.
It doesn’t get any better than this for a summer programme!
The spring term continues until 13 May 2026 while waiting for summer. We will celebrate on May 6th the final “Pizza Wednesday” of the season after training at Restaurant Siilinpesä, enjoying some pizza together. People who train on other days are also welcome to this informal get-together. 🍕
The summer season’s free outdoor training will continue on Wednesday evenings at the usual spot in Hesperia Park, by the wall of the old sugar factory. We’ll also be there on Helsinki Day, 12 June 2026, with opportunities to people try different arts.
The Spring Meeting and the summer kick-off picnic will be held on May 31st of 2026, at the Tali siirtolapuutarha, address Metsäpolku 32. Meeting will be held at 5 PM and the picnic starts at 6 PM.
Master Lü’s 70th birthday and the associations 25th anniversary will be celebrated on June 27th 2026 at Lemmenhotelli in Lauttasaari. There will be food, a program, and of course plenty of enjoyable time together. Don’t worry—more details will follow.
The summer intensives got plenty of enthusiastic votes! The program has been adjusted based on the voting results. They’ll be held on weeks 29, 31 and 33. More info can be found in the Intensives-tab.
Good idea to stick these in your calendar already!
The Easter Camp is approaching! The dates are April 3–6, 2026, and the location is, as usual, the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja. Please register by March 18, 2026.
What are the Five Steps of Taiji?
Master Lü’s Taiji Easter Camp is open to all practitioners regardless of level, style, or tradition. The camp curriculum follows the “Five Steps of Taiji” developed by Master Lü Baochun, where training progresses step by step from external practice toward internal practice.
There are two groups at the camp: Basics and Advanced. The Basics group is intended for everyone from beginners to more experienced practitioners. Instruction in the Basics group is given in Finnish and English by Joona. The Advanced group is intended for practitioners who have a strong foundation in the external principles of Taiji and their applications, and who are ready for internal practice taught by master Lü. Instruction in the Advanced group is in English.
The camp fee includes 25 hours of training, accommodation, meals, a Sunday sauna evening, and a Baji T‑shirt. Accommodation is in 1–2 person rooms (single/double). Two room categories are available (institute/hotel).
Prices Basics – double institute 514€ / double hotel 535€ / single institute 589€ / single hotel 610€ / no accommodation 398€ Advanced – double institute 584€ / double hotel 605€ / single institute 659€ / single hotel 680€ / no accommodation 468€
Accommodation is in 1–2 person rooms (single/double), and you may choose either institute‑level or hotel‑level rooms. It is also possible to attend the camp without accommodation (reduced meals – Fri: dinner; Sat & Sun: breakfast, lunch, dinner; Mon: no meals). The camp is held at the Kisakallio Sports Institute in Lohja, www.kisakallio.fi Carpooling is arranged from Helsinki, the harbor, and the airport.
Payment details Recipient: Baji ry IBAN: FI96 4108 0013 1692 17 BIC: ITELFIHH Message: Easter Camp, basics/advanced, hotel/institute, double/single/no accommodation Due date: March 18, 2026
The camp begins on Friday, April 3, 2026 at 12:00. Room arrangement requests should be submitted by March 18, 2026. Additional information and carpool coordination: heikki.poussa [ a ] gmail.com.
Master Lü Baochun is a living legend of traditional Chinese martial arts. He has practiced martial arts his entire life and Taiji for over 40 years. His deep knowledge of Taiji’s internal power, meditative aspects, and martial applications—combined with his fluent English and approachable presence—ensures steady progress for all participants. Master Lü emphasizes the importance of students’ questions and provides personal guidance to every practitioner. Joona Sillanpää has trained Taiji under Master Lü for over 20 years and teaches Taiji courses for Baji ry. Joona practices qigong and both Yang and Chen styles of Taiji. He has developed strong expertise in both the external and internal principles of Taiji. Each morning begins with a 1‑hour qigong session for the whole group. Participants are encouraged to freely ask personal questions about training and philosophy during classes. Weather permitting, we will also train outdoors. On Sunday, we will enjoy a shared sauna evening and social gathering at the lakeside sauna..
Schedule
Friday, April 3, 2026 12:00 Arrival 12:00–13:30 Lunch 13:30–17:00 Training 17:00–19:00 Dinner 19:00–21:00 Training 21:00–21:30 Evening snack
Saturday, April 4, 2026 08:00–09:00 Qigong 09:00–10:30 Breakfast 10:30–13:00 Training 13:00–15:00 Lunch 15:00–17:30 Training 17:30–19:00 Dinner 19:00–21:00 Training 21:00–22:00 Evening snack
Sunday, April 5, 2026 08:00–09:00 Qigong 09:00–10:30 Breakfast 10:30–13:00 Training 13:00–14:30 Lunch 14:30–17:00 Training 17:00–18:30 Dinner 18:30–20:00 Training 20:00– Evening snack & sauna (sauna 20:00–22:00) & afterparty
Monday, April 6, 2026 08:00–09:00 Qigong (independent practice) 09:00–10:00 Breakfast Check‑out must be completed before training
11:00–14:00 Training 14:00–15:00 Lunch 15:00– End of Easter Camp
Wishing everyone a rewarding Easter! See you at the camp!
—————————— With warm spring-time greetings, The Board of Baji ry
The spring season continues and runs to May 13th of 2026. Monday classes will exceptionally be held at Roihuvuori School. Any other exceptions to course dates can be found on the website.
Pizza Wednesday is always on the first Wednesday of the month. After training, we’ll head to Restaurant Siilinpesä to enjoy some pizza together. Persons who train on other days are also welcome to this informal get-together.
AQinna seminarregistration is now open! The seminar will be held on Saturday, March 7th of 2026, from 12PM to 6PM at the Arabia Youth Center. The day will consist of both theory and practice. Guided by Master Lü, participants will explore Qinna (Chin Na) techniques—locking and controlling techniques that are part of Taiji and other chinese martial arts. The seminar will cover everything from understanding and internalizing the basics all the way to finding, mastering, and applying movement. The seminar fee is €60. The seminar is suitable for practitioners of all levels, as the content will be tailored to the participants. Partner exercises will be practiced, and suitable training partners will be available for everyone on site.
TheEaster camp is approaching! It will take place from April 2nd to 6th of 2026 at Lohjan Kisakallio as usual.A more detailed description of the camp and the registration link will be published on March 1st of 2026.
The Spring Meeting and the summer kick-off picnic will be held on May 31st of 2026, at the Tali siirtolapuutarha, address Metsäpolku 32.
The summer intensives are approaching as well! Voting on their content is now open.
The spring season runs from January 5th to May 13th of 2026. Registration for courses is now open on the association’s website. No classes will be held on public holidays, Maundy Thursday, or May Day Eve. Any exceptions to course dates can also be found on the website.
ATaiji Qinna seminar will be held on Saturday March 7th of 2026, from 12PM to 6PM at the Arabia Youth Center. The day will consist of both theory and practice. Guided by Master Lü, participants will explore Taiji Qinna (Chin Na) techniques—locking and controlling techniques that are part of Taiji. The seminar will cover everything from understanding and internalizing the basics all the way to finding, mastering, and applying movement. The seminar fee is €60. The seminar is suitable for practitioners of all levels, as the content will be tailored to the participants. Partner exercises will be practiced, and suitable training partners will be available for everyone on site.
TheChinese New Year on February 17th of 2026, will be celebrated from 7PM to 9PM with open training sessions in the Grundskolan Norsen. The day falls on a Tuesday, so in addition to Taiji there will be demonstrations from other disciplines and opportunities to try different arts. It’s a good idea to tell friends to mark that date in their calendars already!
TheEaster camp is expected to take place as usual this year as well. The dates are April 2nd to 6th of 2026. A more detailed description of the camp will be published later in the spring.
The Spring Meeting and the summer kick-off picnic will be held on May 31st of 2026, at the Tali siirtolapuutarha, address Metsäpolku 32.
Wishing you a radiant New Year 🎉 Baji Association Board
BAJI RY:n Autumn Meeting & Christmas Party 13th of December 2025
Greetings!
It’s time again to get together to relax and feast at our association’s Christmas party. We’ll be gathering at the new for us Chinese restaurant Golden Leaf (Leiviskäpolku 4, 00440 Helsinki).
We’ll start on Saturday 13.12.2025 at 6PM with the Christmas party! The evening is going to be full of nice food, drinks as well as awesome people! The price will be 25€ per person and you pay it when you come in. Drinks you can buy directly from the bar.
Time 13th of Dec 2025 Autumn meeting 17:00 Christmas Party 18:00
Please sign up for the Christmas party from the following link, be sure to sign up because space is limited (let us know if you’re bringing an avec too). Our maximum capacity is 36 people and every year we’ve had 32-35 people attend. So remember to sign up no later than 08.12.2025 to reserve your spot!
Baji Association is organising a Tuishou seminar to introduce the principles of Tuishou under the guidance of Master Lü Baochun. The seminar will take place in Arabian nuorisotalo on the 5th and 12th of October 2025.
WHY TUISHOU?
Tuishou, or push hands, is an exercise in which the fundamentals of movement are explored with a partner. It is suitable for a wide range of practitioners of oriental arts, regardless of tradition. This seminar is also suitable to those who have no previous experience on push hands or whose interest is not in martial arts. Master Lü’s principles in push hands is that these techniques can be practised from understanding and internalising the basics all the way to discovering, mastering and introducing inner movement. The aim is to learn high level control of yourself through contact with your partner. The seminar is thus not a competition to win your partner, but a practice method to help each other to find that control inside. The seminar is structured according to the student so that everyone can participate, regardless of their starting level.
Under Master Lü’s guidance, this seminar is sure to have something to offer for everyone, whether you are an experienced practitioner or a newcomer! So please join us, and bring a friend!
PRICE
One day 60€ Two days 100€
PLACE
Arabianpolku 1 A, 00560 Helsinki
SCHEDULE
Sunday 5th of October 2025 09:00-11:30 Practice 11:30-12:30 Lunch 12:30-15:00 Practice
Sunday 12th of October 2025 10:00-12:30 Practice 12:30-13:30 Lunch 13:30-16:00 Practice
REGISTRATION
To register for the seminar, please use this registration form. Please remember to register as soon as possible to secure your place at this great seminar. Last date for registration is 3.10.2025.
Once you’ve received the confirmation email, you can pay the course fee to Baji ry account FI96 4108 0013 1692 17. Write “Tuishou Seminar” in the message. You can also pay for the seminar at the location by card or sports vouchers.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
For more information about the seminar, please email: baji ( ät ) baji.info .
Baji Association organized a combined training and holiday trip to China in June 2025 under the leadership of Master Lü Baochun. Master Lü considered the trip a success because participants were satisfied—and they truly were! The trip had a great atmosphere: the travelers enjoyed seeing new places and spending time with their training companions. According to the master, the goal of the trip—to show the Chinese that people elsewhere also know how to train—was realized superbly.
The journey began in Guangzhou. The party included Master Lü’s martial brother Tian Zhang Shan, his student Liu Yuan Min, master Lü’s wife Qin Lanju, as well as members of Baji Ry from Finland, and friends of the association from Sweden and Macao. On the very first day, local practitioners of taiji and other kung fu styles were training in a park next to our accommodation, and association members trained alongside them. In Guangzhou, we explored both the traditional and modern sides of the city, dining on everything from street food delights to upscale Michelin-starred restaurants. However, most agreed that the best meals were at a street kitchen on the corner of our lodging, where we enjoyed skewers every evening, chatting by the roadside and sipping beer.
The next stage of the trip was Guilin, where the group spent a week. They held training sessions every morning and evening, exploring the city and its surroundings in between. The master’s student Liu also led some of the sessions. A particularly memorable experience was a river cruise through Guilin’s exceptionally dramatic karst landscape.
It was also, in Master Lü’s opinion, the most unforgettable tourist experience of the trip. As a funny memory, he recalls how when a sudden downpour struck the cruise guests dashed between the ship’s interior and the deck, trying on one hand to stay dry and on the other to take in the views. In the end, the mist rising around the mountains won out, and getting soaked on deck was worth it for the breathtaking scenery. The trip culminated in Master Lü’s birthday celebration, where he particularly cherished the birthday song sung in five languages.
After Guangzhou, the group dispersed. Master Lü returned to Beijing. Part of the group moved back to Hong Kong, where they trained kung fu under Jeran (YouTube/Instagram: @kungfuronin). Many found this opportunity especially interesting, as they learned new exercises from the skilled young kung fu teacher. Some students brought exercises learned from Jeran back to Finland as souvenirs, which they have since incorporated into their own training regimens.
