Mr_Wood wrote:Great explanation, thanks
jjy5016 wrote:. Even when one knows the theory of the correct method and trains to use the six bows, opening and closing the spine and correct turning of the waist it is very difficult to get them to all work together in an instant.
Bao wrote:jjy5016 wrote:. Even when one knows the theory of the correct method and trains to use the six bows, opening and closing the spine and correct turning of the waist it is very difficult to get them to all work together in an instant.
Yes, here is the rub. The components must all work together in an instant. Creating an exploding force when everything works together at the same time is much harder than creating a whip like power. The quality where all force vectors combine in one single movement is harder than stringing them up one after one. It's much more powerful and the quality of movement. Fajing is an instantaneous realease of stored up movement. There should be no time delay between the different body parts.
It's good to work with a more compact frame where you can feel all the components working at the same time. If you only work with more whip-like movement, you might not get to the point where you can connect all of the parts instantaneous in one single movement, or release all of the movement in a fraction of a second.
jjy5016 wrote:Thank you for the excellent topic and writing D. This is not an easy method to obtain by any means. Even when one knows the theory of the correct method and trains to use the six bows, opening and closing the spine and correct turning of the waist it is very difficult to get them to all work together in an instant.
One thing I would add is that is that this process may be reversed where the closing action may be the "Storing-Up Power" phase and the opening can the release. A bit harder but just as powerful depending on the technique one is applying it to.
In the Chinese Martial Arts the body consists of Six Bows (六弓 Liu Gong) - The 2 arms, 2 legs, and, because of the larger amount of muscles and articulations, the greater bows (大弓 Da Gong) of the Chest and Lower back.
Here's texts from 武禹襄 Wu Yuxiang (1812–1880) - Who was a student of 楊露禪 Yáng Lùchán and 陳清平 Chen Qingping (1795 - 1868) - a 7th generation teacher of Chen Family Taijiquan:
五弓合一訣
{The Secrets of Harmonizing the Five Bows Into One}
身是弓身勁是箭 粘隨引進走螺旋
{The body is like a bow, the body's strength is the arrow. Sticking, complying, leading, and advancing all move in spirals.}
踢打拿跌不鬥力 離弦莫叫與穴偏
{Kicking, striking, grasping, and throwing must not become a contest of strength. When releasing the bowstring it must be on target.}
內外相合管中線 上下左右中氣先
{Inside and outside mutually working together in order to control the center line. Up, down, left, right, the center moves first.}
一身五弓備蓄發 敷蓋對吞細鑽研
{The whole body is equipped with Five Bows to Store (蓄 xù) and Release (發 fā). Spreading, Covering, Meeting, and Taking must be meticulously studied.}
***
The most important part in the learning to Coordinate the Five Bows [of the body] Into One (五弓合一 Wu Gong He Yi) is the training required to unite/ harmonize the 2 bows of the torso into a single bow that can Store (蓄 xù) and Release (發 fā) as one movement.
This movement of the spine then has 2 functions which can be used in application:
1) to attack outward, on an exhale of the breath, using what is called 波浪勁 Bo Lang Jin (Crashing/ Breaking Wave Power).
or the opposite movement
2) to attack or defend, done on an inhale, (to make the opponent 'Stick' 粘 Zhan), using what is called 翻浪勁 Fan Lang Jin (Reversing/ Overturning Wave Power).
somatai wrote:The distinction from A to B is very important. It is something I am currently playing with, moving back from b to a and it is very interesting indeed
The way that everyone naturally punches/ strikes and executes a throw is called 衝擊力 Chōngjī Lì (Impact or Thrusting Force) or 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Hitting; Colliding Force). It's like hitting the head of a nail with a hammer.
Young children, amateur and professional Boxers, MMA combatants, Olympic Wrestlers, etc. are all using [Category A] 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Colliding Force) when they fight. Which can used in all manner of varieties: relaxed or solid, like a women's slap across the face, or like the young Mike Tyson's whole body knockout punches.
Practitioners of Xingyiquan, Bajiquan, Baguazhang, etc. also use the 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Colliding Force) in all of their movements. In a lot of cases this is the only force that is used. Which is fine because in reaction to an attack, it's instinctual and is the most appropriate way to defend oneself.
The Chinese styles though have taken the manner in which the whole body, (or spinal column in conjunction with the arms), moves when thrusting a large, heavy spear forward. This is called [Category B] 波浪勁 Bo Lang Jin (Crashing Wave Power a.k.a. the Spinal Wave). And they've incorporated this movement into the empty-hand side of the arts. It's a completely different body-mechanic from the way one naturally fights using the 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Colliding Force).
Once you learn it, either from training it in empty-hand movements or by developing it from training with a large spear, you can then choose whether to 發 'Fa' (Release; Issue) the 波浪勁 Bo Lang Jin (Power contained in the Spinal Column, or rather the muscles of the whole torso that move the ribs and spine) and add that extra power, or second force into your initial 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Colliding Force).
In practice one tries to keep their body in a constant state of being able to 發 'Fa' (Release; Issue) at any moment, because one is constantly learning and refining the movements and in order to get the most benefit out of the time spent practicing we need to follow certain rules: Movement starts at the root not the tips (The root of the hand is the shoulder, the root of the shoulder is the waist and tailbone.); Coordinate the arrival of the hand with the landing of the foot; etc.
In actual fighting there are no rules. Responding to and having a quick reaction to thwart the opponent's attacks is crucial. Your body has to move in it's more natural state of using 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Colliding Force). If you've spent enough time training and refining your 波浪勁 Bo Lang Jin and it's smooth release (發 'Fa') from root of the spine (tailbone) out to the tip of your hand. Then in a blink of an eye, or with just a thought, and the opportunity arises - you've gained the initiative - then you can 發 'Fa' (Issue Power) from any position and add it to your 撞擊力 Zhuàngjī Li (Colliding Force) or not release it all but begin to move in a different manner - moving from the roots, not the tips. In the same blink of an eye you could switch back to moving from the tips, with root chasing the tip. Whatever the situation demands.
jjy5016 wrote:I was never given all of these different names of jins that you are posting D. I learned bo lang jin first and then fan lang jin a few years later so I appreciate your logic on learning the latter method later. Why do you feel that you've revealed too much about fa lang jin? Do you think others will hurt themselves trying it unsupervised?
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