Tom had posted an article that had a theory that 'Ming Jin' = equals Lightning traveling through the bones of the body.
edit ~ [
http://cattanga.typepad.com/ ]
I was taught that the concept of the 'Ming Jin Stage' in Xingyiquan is to use large, obvious movements in order to learn the 波浪劲 'Bolang Jin'
* (Crashing Wave Movement/ Power) which is an intricate movement of the spine in order to 發力 Fa Li / 發勁 Fa jin (Issuing; Emitting; Sending out Force), which is like a secondary force that's added into the initial 衝擊力 Chōngjīlì (impact) of a strike or throw.
Also, after learning to use the mechanical movement of the spine to add a 'Ming Jin' (easily felt, obvious power/force) and effect on the opponent, where they're moved by it, or they move to get away from it, then one can begin to practice to refine the movements of their spine and the 'Bolang Jin' and do it in a more relaxed manner where it can then start to have more of a 振動力 Zhen Dongli (Shocking Force) as well, which is a kind of third force or wave happening inside the initial 'Impact' that can feel like kind of like a jolt or other strange or damaging effects on an opponent. This learning phase is still obvious as to what you're doing but as it becomes smoother and more fluid is where you actually start to cross-over or transition into the 'An (Hidden) Jin (Movement/ Power) because the 振動力 Zhen Dongli (Shocking Force) can inflict damage but without a large mechanical movement and this also then requires another level of tactics to accompany the change in mechanics as the opponent is no longer being physically moved away by the strike so the footwork and movement in relation to the opponent needs to be changed.
So I don't think 'Ming Jin' should be translated to actually mean the 振動力 Zhen Dongli (Shocking Force) as it is what it is: Ming (Clear to see; Obvious) Jin (martial movement).
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Some quick translations I'd done from Chinese texts:
懂劲的三个阶段 明劲、暗劲、化劲。
1.明劲 要做到劲整形齐,舒展其力,使劲力通、透、穿、贴、松、悍、合、坚,成为抖绝劲、爆炸劲,一绝无有不绝。在平时练习基本拳法时,手磨外五行、肘磨内五行,进退如曲腿蹚泥,又如“泥犁行”,此谓明劲阶段。
2.暗劲 在掌握明劲阶段的基础上,再进一步,使劲含而不露、蓄而不发,蓄意蓄劲、待而不发,以尽《山西六合心意拳》以静制动、后发制人之妙用。此谓“履薄冰”暗劲阶段。
3.化劲 此谓《山西六合心意拳》的高级阶段。在掌握明劲、暗劲的基础上,在与人较技中,切记舍己从人,沾连粘随;处处虚无不着力,整体浑元不弹簧,日久功深达到人不知我,我独知人,一触即发、发则必中之高超之境。应敌犹如“水中游”,此谓化劲阶段。
{Understanding [Xin-Yi/ Xingyiquan's] 3 stages (jieduan) of Ming Jin, An Jin, and Hua Jin.
1 - Ming (Clear to see) Jin - The strength and form must be strong, precise, and clear. Extend outward with force. When putting out force it must pass through, penetrate, pierce, connect, be pliant, ferocious, round, firm, have a shaking cutting strength, and deliver explosive force. Practice and drill the hand techniques developing the external 5-Elements and the elbows to develop the internal 5-Elements. Advancing and retreating with bent legs as if wading through mud (tang ni) like "walking while plowing through mud". This is the stage of Ming Jin.
2- An (hidden) Jin - You must have already grasped and have a strong foundation in the Mingjin stage then you can start on the second stage. Now when using strength you contain it and don't reveal it on the outside. Store up (xu) but don't emit (fa). Deliberately store up your Jin. The power to 'fa' emit is held back but not released, to the opponent this feels very powerful and strange and then you can emit. This is called "Treading on thin Ice" [And the feeling is like when walking on an iced-over lake and never knowing when, or if, you're going to break through the ice.]. This is the stage of Anjin.
3- Hua (transforming) Jin - This is considered the highest stage of practice. You must have already grasped the stages of Mingjin and Anjin and have a very strong foundation in them. You should have a lot of experience in fighting as you must know that this stage is 'Sheji Cong Ren' [same as the Taijiquan] Give up yourself and comply with the opponent. Use 'Zhan, Lian, Nian, and Sui' (sticky, link, adhering, and complying). Everywhere you need to be empty and not exerting strength. The whole body must be blending and smooth (hunyuan) and not starting and stopping. The skill of 'The opponent does not know me, I alone know the opponent.' At any time, place, or moment you can emit (fa) but only emitting force at the precise moment. This is the Hua Jing stage.}
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* ~ 波浪劲 (Bolang Jin) ·翻浪劲”体用功法精义解
作者:马国兴
或问曰:心意拳和形意拳,都强调攻防较技之施招用手、施手用招的“波浪劲”和“翻浪劲”的用法。但是,什么是“波浪劲”、“翻浪劲”的法式呢?在攻防较技中施手用招、施招用手中“波浪劲”和“翻浪劲”确实有什么优势吗?这是为什么?“波浪劲”和“翻浪劲”功夫容易修炼成功吗?这些问题敬请您老不吝赐教!
答曰:是的!心意拳和形意拳都是遵从“意气君来骨肉臣”的内家拳法宗旨修炼、至用的拳种,这一点从拳谱中就可以明确的看得出来。
懂劲:
意拳是内功拳之一种,其气沉丹田,着意蓄发内劲,不论横,竖、斜、缠、松、悍、合、坚等劲,均得成为周身一体之整劲,富有弹力之抖绝打击,对方即会腾空跌出,达到学以致用之目的。否则,徒具优美之姿势和理解应用之方法,但敌人不为所动,而失去攻防艺术的价值,这就是不懂劲之缘故。
从这段懂劲的认识之论述中就可以清楚的看出来了,心意拳、形意拳都是极为重视内劲修炼、运用方法的。而“波浪劲、翻浪劲”只不过是内劲运用中的两种方法的名称而已。
“波浪劲、翻浪劲”名称的来源及运用方法
为什么名曰:“波浪劲、翻浪劲”呢?
因为古拳谱《易筋经·贯气诀·点气论》中有:
似梦地着惊,似悟道忽省,似皮肤无意然火星,似寒侵骨髓打战悚,想情景,疾快猛,原来是真气泓浓。震雷迅发,离火焰烘,洪水波涌。欲学不悟个中窍,丢却别寻哪得醒?
文中的“洪水波涌”之说法,就蕴含着“波浪劲、翻浪劲”修炼和至用的方法。犹如海水波浪向海边撞击的方向,称之为“波浪劲”;海水撞击海岸反向大海方向形成的回浪,称之为“翻浪劲”。
以身中劲势的用法为例,内劲由会阴起向后背运动的劲势名之曰“波浪劲”,乃从“打人全凭盖势取”的意思而得名;内劲由会阴起向前胸运动的劲势名之曰“翻浪劲”,乃从“探马势顺势揭掀”的意思而得名。
其实,就“波浪劲、翻浪劲”的得名因由的方法中,已经清楚的说明了“波浪劲、翻浪劲”的基本运用方法了
{Understanding the Underlying Methods and the Required Training Practices of Bolang Jin (Crashing Wave Power) & Fanlang Jin (Returning Wave Power)
{By: Ma Guoxing
{Some questions people might ask: Xin-Yi Quan and Xingyiquan both emphasize the skills of attack and defense using the arms and hands. In order to have skill in the arms it requires the use of "Bolang Jin" (BLJ) & "Fanlang Jin" (FLJ). But what is BLJ, FLJ and how do they work? Inside attacking and defending is the usage of the hands and arms. Inside the usage of the hands and arms is BLJ and FLJ. So what is the advantage and why are they used? Do BLJ and FLJ require Daoist Cultivation practices to be good?
{Answer: Yes!
{Xin-Yi Quan and Xingyiquan both follow the idea that "Intent (Yi) and 'Qi' are the lords while the bones and flesh are their servants." and the key to Internal Family Boxing is Daoist Cultivation practices and from the Cultivation practices one will gain better fighting skills. This is pointed out in the handed down 'Quan Pu' that once this is understood than real skill will arrive.
{To understand power: Intention (Yi) expressed outward in fighting, needs to be the same as it's happening inside the body. 'Qi' is sunk down to 'Dantian'. Movement/ Action begins as the Intent (Yi) Stores-up (蓄 xù) then Issues (發 fā) internal power (内劲 nèijìn). It doesn't matter if it's Horizontal, Vertical, Slanted, Winding, Relaxed, Ferocious, Harmonizing, or a Strong type of power as they're all equal when it comes to the whole-body, integrated as-one, power. It's Elastic, Trembling, and Short when it strikes. The other person will rise up and fall when it goes out. To obtain this one has to study diligently and apply it regularly. If not then the student will only have graceful movements, maybe a decent understanding of it, but is still not be able to affect the opponent, then they lose the true value of the martial art and have an incomplete understanding of the way power is used.} [In other words, in the beginning these practices need to be raw, violent, and powerful and won't look graceful or clean so that one can first find the raw mechanical skill in their own body, and then later, when it does look skillful and crisp, there is actual power that makes it a martial art.]
{The second part to understanding power: Xin-Yi Quan and Xingyiquan both put great emphasis on the Internal Cultivation of Power and that there is a clear method to achieve it. BLJ and FLJ are really nothing more than a way to bring Internal Power out/ put it to use and both cultivate and grow the internal power of the body but are only just a given name to describe the process.
{As they're really only a name given to discern the methods, then why do we call them: "BLJ and FLJ"?
{Because in the Ancient Boxing textbook "The Yi Jin Jing; Secrets of Moving Qi; and Theory of Qi Points" there is: [...several esoteric things I'm just gonna skip over...,] and returning back to one's original state where 'True Energy' (Zhen Qi) pools and concentrates. When the 'Zhen Trigram's' Thunder quickly Issues (發 fā), then the 'Li Trigram's' Fire blazes and heats, causing the Water to Surge Upward (洪水波涌 Hongshui Bo Yong). So the ancients in their quest to understand everything about the human body asked, since this is a natural function, how can we intentionally awaken it?
{In the classic writings of China, "洪水波涌 Hongshui Bo Yong", is another way to describe what happens in "BLJ and FLJ" and the Daoist Cultivation practices that go along with the methods. Since it's similar to the way the ocean waves crash and collide into the beach and as it's coming out from the body of water we call this method "BLJ"; After the wave has crashed into the coastline, is retreating back out to the sea, and forming the shape that makes a 'Returning Wave' (Hui Lang) we call this direction of 'returning to the body of water' the method of "FLJ".
{When using the middle of the body to generate Power and force - where the power comes up from the perineum (Huiyin Point) and around the back of the spine, we call this "BLJ",which is also called "Striking the enemy from over the top and putting a lid over their power", which isn't really the actual application, just a name; When power comes up from the perineum (Huiyin Point) and around the front of the chest, we call this "FLJ" and is also called "The Knight moves with the opponent's force and flips up the lid, exposing their insides", which again isn't really an application but just a name.
{In actuality "BLJ and FLJ" are just names for the methods of using the middle of the body [the torso] and only have meaning if one already has a basic understanding of their physical functions and usage as the names themselves don't really contain the instructions.}
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