Bao wrote:I've always found my Pao stronger and more solid than my Beng. It's like Wayne explained, the shape of the rear arm and rear side of the body pushes (or shoots) out the punching hand. Otherwise, I prefer Tai Chi straight fist before the XY beng I've learned. I get the body better behind the fist and use more body and waist turning. XY mechanics tend to keep the center more straight forward.
So this seems to clash with my understanding of both fists.
In both beng and pao, regarding the upper body, the movements are partially powered by the turning of the waist.
In beng, one arm "punches" and the other "pulls" as the waist turns.
In pao, one arm "punches" and the other "blocks" upward as the waist turns.
In quotes because this is VAST oversimplification.
But in both cases, the centerline of the navel turns with the waist, as it does in every fist of the five elements.
My beng is exactly as powerful as my pao because I'm doing the same thing in both.
The footwork is a little different, but not regarding power so much.