New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section: 'The Natural Progression Of Stance Training'
"With most all stances and their variations it is often best to start at hip width, sometimes known as normal width. This is generally the most comfortable to begin with. This way we gently allow things to open up before proceeding to the wider shoulder width distance.
The shoulder width variation is often a challenge for many people to do correctly. This is due to the demands made on the body by stretching the deep muscles of the hip, lower back and Kua as well as the tendons and ligaments. If certain areas are resistant or tight, it is easily possible to be pulled out of proper alignment. On the other side of the coin, the benefit to this additional stretching is an overall strengthening of the body’s frame and an increased springiness and flexibility in the joints. Try this. Stand at shoulder width for a few minutes and then switch to hip width and realign everything. Notice the increased relaxation and sense of ease in the hips, legs and Kua."
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New Excerpt from Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the Section 'Internal Martial Power'
"As far as internal martial arts are concerned, standing meditation is a most vital practice, that is, if one wants to obtain a really serious achievement. In most cases in the past it was a closely guarded secret.
All the great martial artists of years gone by were taught it, and why? Because dedicated practice unifies the body’s Chi faster and more completely than any other method.
The three major internal styles all use a form of Zhan Zhuang to develop power. In Xingyi it’s the Santi posture, in Bagua its the pidgin-toed stances and other standing postures and in Tai Chi it’s the Wuji posture at the beginning of the form as well as a number of the various Tai Chi form postures."
For more information, please join me at NEIJIATODAY.COM this SUNDAY JULY 21 6:00PM Eastern for my Webinar entitled 'ZHAN ZHAUNG and the INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS.'
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
From the section 'Feet Parallel - Left/Right-Weighted'
Allow
The Heart Chi To Descend
"When beginning this
practice (refers to Left/Right-Weighted Feet Parallel Stances and especially the advanced Single-Weighted Stances) as part of your daily routine, it is generally best to start with the
left side bearing the weight. The reason for this is to allow the Heart Chi to descend first. This is it’s natural direction
of flow. The Chi in the Heart meridian starts in the armpit and moves
downward to the pinky finger."
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JULY 21st WEBINAR - 'Zhan Zhuang and the Internal Martial Arts'
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New Excerpt From Inside Zhan Zhuang
'The Paradox of Internal Power' - continued from 6/27 post
"But when one gets good, I mean really good, even the speed and explosiveness necessary to create a dramatic reaction in the target, will seem to diminish or actually disappear. In other words, the movement may appear very small, slow and smooth but the opponent’s reaction will be anything but.
Upon seeing this for the first time, the mind has a little trouble putting it all together because the appearance of what happens seems to defy logic. How can a small, soft, short movement create such a sharp and violent reaction in the recipient?
The answer is of course, the Chi, or more correctly very condensed or crystallized Chi on the Yang side (electric) combining with the ethereal, less tangible Yin Chi (magnetic) to create a momentary electromagnetic charge or field. If this charge is strong enough it can disrupt or displace the recipient’s field, causing instantaneous and chaotic reactions.
With a few very advanced practitioners, this can be like the feeling of sticking your finger in a light socket. Chen Fa Ke comes to mind in this regard."
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