Eight Pieces of Brocade
Marshal Yueh Fei is credited with the creation of the Eight Pieces of Brocade Ba Dun Gin in the twelfth century during the Sung dynasty 960-1279 A.D. in order to improve the health of his soldiers. The original set consisted of 12 forms, but this has been shortened to eight. This set was widely practiced all over China, and developed several distinct styles, all of them effective. The brocade is a cloth, usually of silk, woven into complex and colorful patterns, and is very highly prized, just...
[Hsing Yi
Hsing Yi consists of a set of fast punching movements. There are five basic punches based on the five basic motions expand, contract, rise, fall and cross. They are performed with the muscles relaxed, however, and the practitioner usually steps in a straight line while punching. In Chinese Hsing means shape and Yi means mind, so that Hsing Yi means using the mind to determine the form. Marshal Yeuh Fei 1103-1141 A.D. is popularly credited with creating Hsing Yi, although there is no documentary...
Martial Arts Applications
The Chinese have studied and developed the martial arts for more than 4000 years. In the beginning only limited techniques using brute muscle power were available. It was not until about 200 B.C., when the circulation of Chi and the use of acupuncture became well understood, that the martial application of Chi began. The attention devoted to it increased significantly when Da Mo's Wai Dan exercises began to be used at the Shaolin Temple in 536 A.D. Although the Yi Gin Ching exercise was...
Chi Kung Health
Chi Kung was originally researched and developed by the Chinese to promote good health. For more than 4000 years they have investigated human Chi circulation, its relationship with the seasons, weather, and time of day. They have found that Chi is closely related to the altitude, location, food, emotional state, and even the sounds a person makes. They have done much research into methods of keeping the Chi circulation naturally healthy. These methods can roughly be divided into the categories...
Meditation and Chi Circulation
Once the student can breathe adequately according to the Taoist and Buddhist methods, he begins sitting meditation to begin the process of Chi circulation. The first goal is to achieve a calm mind while concentrating on deep breathing. The individual creates a type of hypnotic state to do this. The meditator should stay at this stage until he can expand and withdraw his Dan Tien while breathing with no conscious effort, without the attention wandering. When the muscles around the Dan Tien can...
Principles From The Tai Shih Ching
The embryo is generated from the hidden or undeveloped Chi. Chi comes from the modulated breathing of the embryo. When Chi enters the body-life. When Spirit leaves the body and the Knowing Spirit and Chi makes a long life possible. Protect and nourish the imaginary embryo to build up Spirit and Chi. When Spirit moves, the Chi moves where Spirit stops, the Chi stops. To have a long life, Spirit and Chi must mutually interact. When the heart mind is not dispersed, not a thought goes or comes....
Da Mo Wai Dan
The Da Mo set consists of twelve forms Hold the hands beside the body with the palms open and facing down, fingertips pointing forward. Keep the elbows bent. Imagine pushing the palms down when exhaling and relax them when inhaling. This form will build the Chi or energy at the wrist area, and the palm and wrist should feel warm after 50 repetitions. Without moving the arms make fists with palms facing down and thumbs extended toward the body. Imagine tightening the fists and pushing the thumbs...
Small Circulation Shao Chou Tien Meditation Breathing
The first and most important step for effective meditation is proper breathing. There are two basic methods in use in Chinese meditation Taoist and Buddhist. Taoist breathing, also known as reverse breathing Fan Fu ShihJ, is used to prepare the Chi for circulation, and its proper development is crucial. In Taoist breathing the normal movement of the lower abdomen is reversed during inhalation and exhalation. Instead of expanding when inhaling, the Taoist contracts, and vice versa Fig. 3-6 . One...
Theory of Wai Dan
There are two types of Wai Dan exercise, moving and still. In moving Wai Dan, a specific muscle or part of the body is repeatedly tensed and relaxed with full attention. The tension should be as little as possible because great tension will constrict the channels and prevent the flow of energy. Some people do not tense their muscles at all, but merely imagine tensing them. Others tense them just enough to aid concentration. When one exercises a part of the body in this way for several minutes,...
Other Wai Dan Exercises
There are many other sets of Wai Dan exercises which are derived from Da Mo's sequence. In this section the most common Wai Dan sets will be introduced. These are the Open Palm Sequence, which moves power to the fingertips Moving Forms for coordinating breathing with movement of the arms, legs, and trunk and Eight Pieces of Brocade, a set of simple exercises well known throughout China. In addition a set of Still Forms which can be used to develop stamina and flexibility will be included.
Da Mos Yi Gin Ching
Da Mo Fig. 2-1 , whose last name was Sardili, and who was also known as Bodhidarma, was a prince of a small tribe in southern India. From the fragments of historical records that exist it is believed he was born about 483 A.D. At that time India was considered a spiritual center by the Chinese, since it was the source of Buddhism, which was becoming very influential in China. Many of the Chinese emperors either sent priests to India to study Buddhism and bring back scriptures, or else they...
Author
Dr. Yang .1 wing-Ming was born in Taiwan, Republic of China, in 1946. He started his Wushu Kung Fu training at the age of fifteen under the Shaolin White Crane Pai Huo division Master Cheng Gin-Gsao. In thirteen years of study 1961-1974 , under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang became an expert in White Crane defense and attack, which includes both the use of barehands and of various weapons such as saber, staff, spear, trident, and two short rods. With the same master he also studied White Crane Chin Na,...
[Liu Ho Pa Fa 1
According to tradition, Liu Ho Pa Fa was created during the Sung dynasty 960-1279 A.D. by Chen Bou, a hermit living on Hua Shan Mt. Hua . Although it is quite different from Tai Chi, it has a common principle that blunt force is forbidden. Both styles emphasize the principle of continuity and the alternate application of soft and hard hand techniques. Liu Ho Pa Fa uses Liu Ho the six combinations as its theory and Pa Fg. thc eight methods as its practice. The Six Combinations are 1. The body...