Miro wrote:...(because as old principle says: Jin has root in the feet, goes through legs, is directed by yao and expressed by hands and figers...). We do it naturally with legs because we stand on the ground (or sit on the chair etc.). So actually it starts in dantian (also because everything starts in dantian) but if you say that it starts in feet, the answer is correct too (reminding me the old question "What is the difference between yes and no?").
However, it is possible to do it also directly from dantian straight up to the fingers, but that is much more difficult and if someone can do it, it is quite high level. It is similar like what cat does when falling on the back - it can turn its body without "grounding" so that it lands on legs. That is where groundpath theory is incorrect, otherwise it is correct too.
That passage was written by 李亦畬 Li Yiyu and while it may be true for Li Style Taijiquan it's incorrect as far as I'm concerned.
The Classic Taijiquan texts attributed to 武禹襄 Wu Yuxiang are what I've found to be accurate and Li Yiyu's writings actually contradict Wu Yuxiang's.
Starting from the premise that
"Jin Begin's at the foot's root,..." is self-limiting. How could one ever advanced past the basics and move onto higher levels of skill?
In our style of Baguazhang we start learning from the beginning that "The mind (xin) is the commander and the waist is the banner (used to signal the troops)"
The Waist/ Dantian is the root and origin of all movement in Baguazhang. The legs have to be doing their own thing because they're almost always striking the opponent's legs. "Legs strike 70%, the arms strike 30%."
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Here's something I had written previously and ultimately most of the CMAs want to have and use 振動力 - Zhen Dongli (Shocking Force) when they're striking:
There are some Basic ways of looking at Force in the Chinese Martial Systems. Which also represent a natural progression or order that they're learned in so that one fully develops the skills.
1. 衝擊力 Chōngjī Lì (Impact or Thrusting Force) a.k.a. 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Hitting; Colliding Force) is the standard way that all the worlds martial artists punch and strike. It's like hitting a nail with a hammer. When we speak of Forces or adding in forces this is the 1st force. This is the initial contact of fist to body.
2. 螺旋力 Luoxuan Li (Spiraling; Drilling Force) or 自轉力 Zìzhuàn Li (Rotating Force) is when one physically twists, drills, and rotates the fist, bones of the forearm, and shoulder as the strike is landing or the arm is bridging.
3. 發力 'Fa Li' is another mechanical movement or 'force' that can be done in addition to the 衝擊力 Chōngjī Lì force and adds in a 2nd movement and a following force to the initial strike. This is done through a quick movement of the spine, coordinated with the movement of the arms and legs. Storing up (蓄 xù) then releasing (發 fa) and the secondary force travels out through the arms. There's a term in Chinese Arts called the 五弓 Wu Gong (5 Bows -as in 'bow & arrow') meaning the 1- spinal column, 2&3 - the two arms, 4&5 - the two legs. The movements in the CMAs are said to start at the 'root and not the tip' - the root of the arm is the shoulder, the root of the leg is the hip, and the root of the spine is the tailbone or sacrum and tucking the tailbone under with a fast quick movement is how we 發力 Fa Li / 發勁 Fa jin, which is also called 波浪勁 Bo Lang Jin (Wave Power a.k.a. "Spinal Wave").
Learning to 發力 'Fa Li' is a precursor to learning the following 2 Forces:
4. 爆破力 Baopo Li (Exploding Force) a.k.a. 寸力 Cùn Li (Inch Force) is the ability to generate force in a very short space. After one first learns to 'Fa Li' with the spine then they can begin to learn this force where you need to store up (蓄 xù) very quickly and efficiently, or rather the storing up part needs to also be done within a short or confined space and then release the force (發 fa) in an equally as quick manner, like a quick pulse rather than a wave, and this could be a short movement or long movement of the arm with the quick pulse at the end.
and
5. 振動力 - Zhen Dongli (Shocking Force) a.k.a. 抖勁 Dǒujìn (trembling; shaking energy). This is quick sudden variations in the 肌肉 jīròu (muscles and flesh) and a shifting between 鬆 sōng (relaxation) and 緊 jǐn (tension). The goal of this force is that it 透勁 tòujìn (penetrates; passes through) and into the internal organs of the opponent, damaging them. It's also used in quick succession to take the slack out of the opponent's limbs and joints and thereby being able to affect their spinal column and whole body, primarily to aid in throwing but the shaking/shocking can itself cause soft tissue damage to the limbs and body, and even whiplash or injure the neck. The power and force that comes from the 發力 'Fa Li' where the movement of the sacrum moves the Dantian and the force that comes from this jolting of the Dantian moves 'omnidirectionally', or expanding outward in all directions, so a good portion of the power is also going down to the foot and this is the reason for the rule of "The hand and foot arriving at the same time." or timing the landing of the foot with the hand hitting the opponent so that most of the force goes into the opponent. If the foot lands before the hand then most of the force is dissipated into the ground. We take advantage of this force traveling to the leg and the 振動力 - Zhen Dongli (Shocking Force) is actually a 3rd outgoing force into the opponent, arriving just after the 1st (衝擊力 Chōngjī Lì/ Zhuangji Li) and the 2nd (發力 'Fa Li' ). So this 振 Zhèn (Shocking force) comes from using some of our Intent (意 'Yi') to 發 'Fa' into the feet while the upper body is relaxed and then a delayed force comes back up from the ground and adds in a 3rd dispersive or explosive force to the initial strike.
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