Shaolin Hung Mei Theory
BODY MECHANICS REQUIRED TO GENERATE POWER
The generation of “Soft” and “Empty” powers is much more subtle than those of “Hard” power. As a result, they require a much higher degree of body awareness and concentration and are typically taught to more advanced students. Methods for generating Soft and Empty Powers will be discussed in later volumes.
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Reciprocating:
Refers to the action of retracting one arm concurrent with extending the other. The withdrawing arm is returned with exactly equal speed, force, intensity and intent as the opposite arm is propelled. The timing is the same. Just as the extending arm reaches its target, the other completes its motion. The action of reciprocating builds a torsional component about the centerline of the body maximizing the rate of acceleration of the extending arm. The higher the velocity at impact, the greater the energy imparted to the opponent. To help visualize “Reciprocating”, the student can imagine holding a rope in his/her retracting hand. The rope extends around a pulley positioned in front of the practitioner and is attached to the opposite hand. The student then imagines intently pulling the rope as the returning hand moves toward the body thereby causing the opposite hand to extend forward.
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Rotating:
Refers to rotating the body to propel the attacking limb. The foot of the rear leg must first be “connected” or “rooted” to the earth. Explosively contracting the musculature of the leg presses the foot on the ground. The act of pressing extends the knee which in turn rotates the hip. The hip rotates the torso. Rapid rotation of the torso impulses the shoulder. The impulse at the shoulder propels the arm forward. When trying to visualize the method of “Rotating”, consider a stone on the end of a string. The string is spun around and around, gathering speed. When the string is suddenly cut the stone is propelled forward at very high speed. The body acts as the string and the hand, the stone. Think of the hand at rest being connected to the body as the string connects to the stone. As the string is rotated, pressing the foot rotates the hips, torso and shoulder. Once the string is cut or the connection between the hand and body severed, the hand will be propelled forward.
The stone offers no resistance to its forward motion. The same needs to be true of the accelerating hand. Residual muscle tension in the arm will impede the rate at which the hand is propelled forward as would occur if the stone were somehow attached to the body by an elastic cord. While the stone would continue its forward progress, the tension in the elastic cord would slow its motion. The student must practice relaxing the musculature of the arm, allowing free acceleration. Often, it is difficult for beginners to do so. The newer student suffers from a natural inhibition to free limb acceleration. The body is instinctively concerned that it will suffer joint impact if the limb is freely accelerated without residual muscle tension/muscle control. Overcoming the body’s natural response requires practice and focus.
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Stomping:
Refers to the action of stamping the foot to the ground. “Stomping” is used when the center of gravity must be instantly moved to one leg in order to establish an alternate foundation from which a new technique can be executed. The motion required is lifting the foot, locating the body center over the foot, and explosively and vigorously contracting the leg muscles against the inertia of the body. The foot must be flat as it contacts the ground and the forces in line with the structure of the leg. Lightly “hopping” on to the support leg will not create the required foundation from which a new and powerful technique can be executed. The action must be swift and positive, creating a deep connection with the earth.
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Sinking:
Refers to the action of allowing the body to drop toward the earth. The body can only drop at the rate of gravitational acceleration and no faster. Residual muscle tension in the leg musculature will slow the rate of dropping. The body must be relaxed during Sinking yet control must be maintained. Control of the sinking body is achieved by a sudden contraction of the leg muscles, instantly stopping the descent at the optimal body position. The rapid rate of descent must be free and uninhibited, yet stopped instantly. The hip is rotated rearward (posterior hip rotation) - creating an arch in the lower back and locking the pelvis - at the same instant as the leg musculature is contracted. The more sudden the cessation of the descent, the greater will be the effect of Sinking. The greater the rate of deceleration — the goal being virtually instant cessation of the descent — the greater will be the newly established connection to the earth.
The momentum gained by Sinking can be used to pull an opponent off balance or execute a block against a powerful, incoming attack. The effect is much greater than pulling or blocking with arms alone. Rapid sinking of the body effectively increases its force on or connection to the earth. If standing on a scale used to measure body weight and then freely sinking, the value will suddenly jump indicating a much higher value than the weight of the static body. The student – at the instant of completed deceleration – will effectively weigh multiple times the actual body weight.
The breath must be controlled during Sinking. As Sinking is initiated, the breath is taken, expanding the lower abdominal region and filling the Dan Tian with Qi. Just as the Sinking is controlled and pelvis locked, the breath is expulsed, contracting the lower abdominals. The Qi will flow down the legs through the Yongquan (Bubbling Well) point of the foot and connect to the ground. The act of expulsing the air and contracting the abdominals are components of creating a proper foundation from which various techniques can be executed.
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Locking:
Refers to the action of making the body rigid against reaction energy when attacking or blocking. If the body is not prepared, it will absorb rather than deliver energy to the opponent. To lock, the hip must be appropriately engaged for the specific stance, commensurate with the technique applied. For “Zuo Ma” (“Horse Stance”), the hip is pushed back, for “Qian Ma” (“Front Stance”) the hip is fully rotated into the leading leg. Also, the breath is released at the moment of Locking. At the instant of the release, the abdominal and leg muscles are contracted, the toes are curled as if grasping sand on the beach and the arm tensed. The spine is meant to support forces along its axis but flex against forces perpendicular to its length. A spine that flexes will absorb rather than support the projection of energy. The intent of an attack or block is to deliver force to the opponent. Locking, exhaling and tensing of the abdominal musculature will support the spine. The body becomes granite rock at the moment of impact.
Think of Newton’s Cradle, the desk game consisting of five steel balls that are suspended on a support stand and used to demonstrate the principle of conservation of energy and momentum. The ball at one end is lifted and allowed to drop against the next ball in the queue. Since all of the balls are made of steel, a high percentage of the energy of impact is transferred from one to the next. Now imagine the center ball being made of rubber. The first would hit the second and transfer its energy. The second would deliver its energy to the third or rubber ball which would flex, absorbing the incoming power. It would not be able to transfer energy to the next ball. When making contact with the opponent, the student must be like the steel ball if he/she is to optimize the effect of the applied technique.
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Snapping/Whipping:
Refers to the action of extending the arm or the leg. With proper technique, the tip of the whip moves exponentially faster than the handle. The energy wave imparted to the handle by the sudden snap of the wrist travels up and accelerates as it moves toward the tip. So it is with the body. When punching, the rotation of the body must be explosive and sudden sending energy up through the torso creating an impulse at the shoulder. The arm will then be propelled forward. Just like the length of the whip, the arm must be able to accelerate freely without resistance. Residual tension in the arm will inhibit its explosiveness just as an object would interfere with the wave traveling the length of the whip when the handle is snapped.
When kicking, the leg is accelerated by a small, yet rapid movement of the hip and a powerful contraction of the front leg (Quadriceps) muscles. The lower leg must not be tensed so that it can freely accelerate. The muscles in the rear of the leg (Hamstrings) must suddenly engage just before the leg reaches full extension, returning the lower leg as quickly as it was extended. The rapid reciprocation will impart a deep penetrating force to the opponent through the contact point of the foot.
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Centering or Balancing:
Refers to sensing and controlling the spatial position of one’s center. If the body’s center is not properly positioned with respect to practitioner’s foundation (“Bu” or stance), there can be no balance. Without balance, there can be no connection established with the ground.
Envision a baseball pitcher in the windup before throwing the ball. Typically, he will have one leg in the air while the other is planted on the ground against the mound. Further, imagine if his center was not over his support leg during this phase of the delivery. Inevitably, he would be falling forward rather than have the opportunity to powerfully push off of the mound gaining the tremendous explosive energy required to maximize the acceleration of the ball. Balance is a prerequisite to the execution of technique.
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Rooting:
Refers to the action of establishing a connection with the earth. Without such a foundation, the reaction force experienced when completing a full power technique will upset the student’s balance resulting in energy being absorbed rather imparted to the opponent. The student’s Qi must drop through the Yongquan (Bubbling Well) point of the foot and sink into the ground. It will then return through the rotation of the body and be projected through the extending limb. There is a proverb that says, “The tree is only as strong as the depth of its roots. If the roots are not deep, the tree will fall”. Thus, the deeper the “roots” of the “tree” - in this case the student’s ability to connect to the earth - the greater the force delivered to the opponent.
Students of Kung Fu need to understand that separating the generation of power into eight methods is simply a tool created to aid in developing understanding, and is completely artificial. In true application, these methods cannot be separated or developed in isolation. One true measure of the Kung Fu practitioner is his/her ability to integrate these methods and execute technique smoothly and efficiently using the body in full synergy.
