the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

Both Baji and XingYi use the "compress (inhale) and release (exhale)" power generation method. As long as you can separate which part of the move is used for compressing - inhale, and which part of the move is used for releasing - exhale. If you coordinate all the compressing as 1 move, and coordinate all the releasing as the 2nd move. No matter how complicate a move may be, it can be as simple as just 2 moves.

Do you think this method can be apply in all CMA systems? Your thought?

I think the idea can be applied to CMA systems. I don't think that it's necessary to focus on whether one is inhaling or exhaling --in a fight. Um, instead, imo, the breathing should be as natural as appropriate. For ex., when facing a barrage of fast punches, it's not practical to think in terms of 1 - 2.

In the XYQ, Tongbeiquan and Taijiquan that I practice relaxed breathing comes natural from of the practice of the specific "visualizations" that is done, and that is not about thinking on breath in and out or compress an release

Trick wrote:In the XYQ, Tongbeiquan and Taijiquan that I practice relaxed breathing comes natural from of the practice of the specific "visualizations" that is done, and that is not about thinking on breath in and out or compress an release

In XingYi, you use "fast (short) inhale and slow (long) exhale" method. This is different from the natural breathing. It's like when you swim (or fight), the window that you can inhale is very short. You want to inhale as fast as you can. You then try to keep air in your lung as long as you can (like diving).

The breath patterns/intervals comes as an natural "byproduct" from the practice with the "correct" visualizations. Ideal would be that after let's say a practice of 1000 piquan the breath should be deep and relaxed, the puls might be high but not the breath

"...In XingYi, you use "fast (short) inhale and slow (long) exhale" method. This is different from the natural breathing. It's like when you swim (or fight), the window that you can inhale is very short. You want to inhale as fast as you can. You then try to keep air in your lung as long as you can (like diving)...."

is not connected with the system which you practicing` actually?
As I remember my old karate days - breathing pattern was kinda different - short breathing out with the punch,
you may add optional KIAI during exhalation.

Every inch of your body and posture has an effect on breath.
Air fuels movement.
I think it's better to unhitch the breath from the movement so as to enable a more constant supply of air.

Some times exhaling is good to add power.

In XYC in the beginning you observe the breath , using reverse breath on the intake[contract] and natural on the out[expand] Once the pattern is established I was taught to ignore the breath and let the mind expand or contract body[chest and abdominal cavities] I have taught this to other styles and Filipino stick practitioners, it works

In

- striking, your blocking is compress, your punch is release.
- throwing, your clinch is compress, your throw is release.

I do find this method has difficulty to apply on Chang/Yang Taiji. When I do cloud hand, it's difficult to separate which part is compress and which part is release.

johnwang wrote:In

- striking, your blocking is compress, your punch is release.
- throwing, your clinch is compress, your throw is release.

I do find this method has difficulty to apply on Chang/Yang Taiji. When I do cloud hand, it's difficult to separate which part is compress and which part is release.

Differentiating substantial and insubstantial is half the battle!

With cloud hands you've got both sides of the body doing different things. While some is compressing other is releasing. Every form in the form is like this to some degree in my opinion.

It's like coffee when you pour the cream before you stir it.

That's part of why always locking the breath to the movement is limiting imho. There's a time and place to use it but not all the time

Breath is a circulation not a coordination. The concept described here is basic and beginner level.

Trick wrote:In the XYQ, Tongbeiquan and Taijiquan that I practice relaxed breathing comes natural from of the practice of the specific "visualizations" that is done, and that is not about thinking on breath in and out or compress an release

Could you elaborate on the visualizations part? What exactly do you visualize and how does it relate to the movement and breathing?

In the following Zuan Quan, the 1st part is compress. The release part starts from his back foot slides next to his leading foot. He then steps that foot forward and punches out at the same time. He uses slow compress and fast release method here.

Some people believe that for

- combat training, you should use slow compress and fast release (as shown in the following clip).
- health training, you should use fast compress and slow release (I'm still not quite convinced on this yet).

johnwang wrote:In

- striking, your blocking is compress, your punch is release.
- throwing, your clinch is compress, your throw is release.

I do find this method has difficulty to apply on Chang/Yang Taiji. When I do cloud hand, it's difficult to separate which part is compress and which part is release.

that's because there is none. Cloud hands is a constant split energy. That means it is sort of like a high-power fan blade, an auger, a piece of farm equipment, a hydraulic shear. Like sticking your hand into a running machine. Then add life force, equals Chi , a living machine or a mechanically powered entity, like a squid with gears

Over time the breath develops from a piston firing combustion engine, to a high performance turbine. The force does not seek the breath, The force is the energy generated.