Friday, April 29, 2016

The Fingers are separated, the Palms are concave; swing the Arms, the Shoulders are level. (指分掌凹,擺肱平肩) from The Real Theory of Baguazhang (八卦掌真理篇) by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵)

指分掌凹,擺肱平肩

指分是將五指分開,不要並擺。掌凹是使掌心向裡涵空凹攏。擺肱是在轉行時兩臂必須極力向圓心的一面擺動,不可有向前推的動作。平肩是兩肩在轉行時或轉身換掌時都必須保持端正平舒,不要有一起一落的現象。

薑容樵
“Fingers are separated” means that the 5 fingers are apart, one muste not hold them together. “Palms are concave” means that the hollow of the palms are contained towards the inside, to draw the emptiness towards a concave form. “Swing the Arms” means that when walking the circle, both arms must at all cost be directed clearly towards the center of the circle; there should not be a forward pushing motion. “The shoulders are Level” means that in walking the circle, turning the body or changing the palms, one must maintain an upright, level, and relaxed posture; one must not have the appearance of one shoulder left behind."

From the book Bāguàzhăng Practice Method (八卦掌練習法), by Jiāng Róngqiáo (薑容樵), based on the translation by Joseph Crandall

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