Friday, June 29, 2012

Fourth Secret Song (歌訣四) from the The Thirty-Six Songs of Baguazhang (八卦掌三十六歌)

歌訣四

一勢單邊不足奇,
左右迴圈乃為宜。
左換右兮右換左,
抽身倒步自合機。
"A single sided practice is odd and not worth,
Revolving in circles to both sides is therefore appropriate.
Change from left to right and from right to left,
Draw out the body and step backward to create an opportunity."

Based on the translations by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) and Liang Shou You (梁守渝) in "Baguazhang - Theory and Applications" (峨嵋八卦掌) and by Frank Allen and Tina Chunna Zhang in "The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang"

Friday, June 15, 2012

The Complete Secret of Applications (全體大用訣) by Yáng​ Bān​hóu​ (楊班侯)

全體大用訣

太極拳法妙無窮,掤捋擠按雀尾生。
斜走單鞭胸膛佔,回身提手把招封。
海底撈月亮翅變,挑打軟肋不容情。
摟膝拗步斜中找,手揮琵琶穿化精。
貼身靠近橫肘上,護中反打又稱雄。
進步搬攔肋下使,如封似閉護正中。
十字手法變不盡,抱虎歸山採列成。

楊班侯
"The techniques of Tai chi chuan are marvellous and unlimited. It produces Peng, Lu, Ji, An and Grasp the Sparrow’s tail.
Walk diagonally into Single Whip to occuppy the chest area. Return the body and lift arms to seal the center.
Pick up the Moon from the Bottom of the Sea and vary it into the Spread the Wings. Use the picking hand to attack the soft tendons (lower part of the rib) without mercy.
The application of Brush the Knee and Step Forward is found diagonally. The variations of poking in Hands Like Pi Pa are essential.
When the body is closed (to the opponent), use the sideways elbow to attack. This will protect the center and allow to use the reverse fist strike to become an hero again.
Step forward for Parry and Punch, apply it to the lower ribs. As Seal as Close is used to protect the center.
The variations of Cross Hands techniques are unlimited. Embrace the tiger to return to the Mountain to complete the Pluck (Cai) and Split (Lie)."

肘底看捶護中手,退行三把倒轉肱。
墜身退走扳挽勁,斜飛招法用不空。
海底針要躬身就,扇通臂上托駕功。
撇身捶打閃化式,橫身進前招法成。
腕中反有閉拿法,雲手三進臂上功。
高探馬上攔手刺,左右分腳手要封。
轉身蹬腳腹上佔,進步栽捶迎面沖。
"In Punching under the Elbow there is a hidden hand for protection. Step Back Three Times and Reverse the Forearm to sink the body for retreating and twisting force.
The technique of Diagonal Flying can be used often without being in vain.
To execute Pick Up the Needle from the Bottom of the Sea the body should bow accordingly. Fan back can be achieved by pressing and supporting upward.
Turn, Twist Body and Circle the Fist is a posture of dodging and neutralizing. The body should advance from sideways to accomplish this technique.
There are techniques of sealing and sizing hidden in the wrist with reverse action. Attach the arm with Wave Hands like Clouds three times.
Stand High to Search Out the Horse is used to intercept the coming poking hand. When applying the Left and Right Separate Foot, the hands must seal (the opponent’s attack clearly).
Turn and Kick with the Heel is used to attack (the opponent’s) abdomen. (When using) Stepping Forward and Strike Down with the Fist, thrust towards the opponent directly."

反身白蛇吐信變,采住敵手取雙瞳。
右蹬腳上軟肋踹,左右披身伏虎精。
上打正胸肋下用,雙峰貫耳招法靈。
左蹬腳踢右蹬式,回身蹬腳膝骨迎。
野馬分鬃攻腋下,玉女穿梭四角封。
搖化單臂托手上,左右用法一般同。
單鞭下勢順峰入,金雞獨立佔上風。
"Turn the body, use the White Snake Spits Poision to change the situation. Plucking the opponent’s hand and attacking his two eyes.
The Right Heel Kick is used to tread soft ribs. Left and right dodging the body, the technique of Taming the Tige ris refined.
The upper hand is to strike the ribs at the lower chest (solar plexus). The technique of Attacking the Ears with the Fists is effective.
Left Heel Kick is used to defend against the opponent’s right heel kick. Turn the Body and Kick with the Heel is aiminig at the knee cap.
The Wild Horse Parts its Mane is to attack the place under the armpit. The Fair Lady Weaves with Shuttle is used to seal the four corners.
Use the single arm to neutralize the incoming force and the other hand to attack upwards. The applications of the left and right are all the same.
Single Whip to Snake Creeps Down is to follow the incoming force and enter. Use the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg to occupy the advantageous position."

反身白蛇吐信變,采住敵手取雙瞳。
右蹬腳上軟肋踹,左右披身伏虎精。
上打正胸肋下用,雙峰貫耳招法靈。
左蹬腳踢右蹬式,回身蹬腳膝骨迎。
野馬分鬃攻腋下,玉女穿梭四角封。
搖化單臂托手上,左右用法一般同。
單鞭下勢順峰入,金雞獨立佔上風。
"Turn the body, use the White Snake Spits Poision to change the situation. Plucking the opponent’s hand and attacking his two eyes.
The Right Heel Kick is used to tread soft ribs. Left and right dodging the body, the technique of Taming the Tige ris refined.
The upper hand is to strike the ribs at the lower chest (solar plexus). The technique of Attacking the Ears with the Fists is effective.
Left Heel Kick is used to defend against the opponent’s right heel kick. Turn the Body and Kick with the Heel is aiminig at the knee cap.
The Wild Horse Parts its Mane is to attack the place under the armpit. The Fair Lady Weaves with Shuttle is used to seal the four corners.
Use the single arm to neutralize the incoming force and the other hand to attack upwards. The applications of the left and right are all the same.
Single Whip to Snake Creeps Down is to follow the incoming force and enter. Use the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg to occupy the advantageous position."

Based on the translation by Yang Jwing Ming (楊俊敏) presented in the book Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style (太極拳楊氏先哲秘要)

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Excerpt from Weak and Strong Points (謀攻) in The Art of War (兵法)

凡先處戰地而待敵者佚,後處戰地而趨戰者勞。故善戰者,致人而不致于人。能使敵人自至者,利之也;能使敵不得至者,害之也。

孫子
"Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted. Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him. By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near."

Unless noted otherwise, all quotations of classical texts and accompanying translations come from the Chinese Text Project

Friday, June 8, 2012

A Study of Xing Yi Quan (形意拳學) by Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂) translated by Albert Liu

This is certainly the reference book on Xíngyìquán (形意拳). The author, Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂) is one of, if not the, main masters of internal martial arts in the 20th century. For this aspect alone, it would be a key book for the practicioner.
As a manual, it is a rather complete coverage of the main basic aspects of the art. To my knowledge is one of very the few books that go beyond the Five Fists (五行拳) to the Twelve Animals (十二形拳) of Hebei and Anshenpao (安身炮). Each movement is presented with a "theoretical explanation", to me the most interesting parts, followed by the movements themselves, which are always better seen with a qualified teacher than in a book.
The main interest is that Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂) developed the main systematization of the Internal Martial Arts(內家). In his books for the first time cosmological taoist terms like Wú​jí (無極), Tài​jí (太極) and Liǎng​yí (兩儀) are presented to explain specific steps of the practice. Even though it is applied to the other internal arts, this systematization is particularly striking for Xíngyìquán (形意拳).

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Secret

Within the Internal Martial Arts lore, there is an anedocte that highlights the importance of practice. It says that when Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂) was on his deathbed, his students asked him what was the secret for reaching a high level of Kung Fu. As Sūn Lùtáng was unable to speak, he raised his palm and with the other hand, drawn an imaginary character "practice" - liàn (練) on it.
In the introduction of the translation of Study of Xing Yi Quan (形意拳學) by Benjamin Lo, Sūn Jiànyún (孫劍雲), Sūn Lùtáng's daughter, states that the story is apochryphal and false. She goes on to say that it does convey the opinion of Sūn Lùtáng nevertheless. This is also an observation that I had from any serious teacher.
It is a fine reminder of the prime place of practice (練), relegating any other activity to a secondary place. Activity as reading books, watching videos, or writing this blog for that matters, are diversions to the one core activity of the serious practicioner.
However, the story stops short of giving further clues of what should constitute practice: its scope (what kind of exercices? how many styles?), the relative importance of frequency and quantity, how much practice is enough, under what conditions it is wise to practice and not practice, and so on. Some of the more esoteric aspects are sometimes adressed, like the notion of practicing facing north or early in the morning, without however a general orientation on how to practice.
In fact, what I would call the methodology of practice is something that is not systematically approached in the literature and in classes in general. It is particularly hard for a beginner to find himself all alone and decide what she should practice. In my opinion, this point is the main first obstacle for someone that wishes to become a serious practitioner.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Eight Vital Points (八要) by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵)

八要

心定神寧,神寧心安,心安清淨。清淨無物,無物氣行、氣行絕象,絕象覺明,覺明則神氣相通,萬氣歸矣。

薑容樵
"If the mind is settled, then the spirit is peaceful. If the spirit is peaceful, then the mind is calm. If the mind is calm, then it is pure and clear. If it is pure and clear, then there is nothing. If there is non content, then the qi moves. If the qi moves, then the form disappears. If the form disappears, then awareness and understanding raise. With awareness and understanding, the spirit and qi will connect. Then all of the qi’s will return."

From the book Xing Yi Mother Fists (形意母拳), by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵), based on the translation by Joseph Crandall