Tag Archives: Internal Martial Arts

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods — 7th Method: Withhold

GM Wu Yi Hui holding the first standing post posture (1 of 8) from the form: working on stillness and centeredness

The 7th Method is Withhold (le勒). “Still, settle, guard humbly (jing ding shou xu 静定守虚).”   Very cryptic yet very powerful to higher level martial artists.  The ability to read a persons intent is a powerful tool but even more powerful would be to hide your intent from the reader, making you a quagmire and someone very difficult to deal with.  You must learn relaxation, quieting the mind, returning to your center, guarding your intentions — ultimately working towards emptiness.  A fighter with bravado can be a great thing to watch, he or she is exciting and engaged.  Yet It is even better to watch someone truly calm through the whole experience.  Someone who cannot be hit or beaten.  Someone in control of themselves and the entire situation.  They do not lash out in anger or excitement, they are swift, fluid, adaptable — untouchable.  Its beautiful and rare to see.

How do you begin to find your center, settle, and withhold?  You learn to relax (song), quiet the mind, listen inward, and control yourself.  You must learn to temper the seven emotions (anger, fear, joy, grief, anxiety, pensiveness, fright) and fight off the six desires (touch, taste, see, smell, hear, passion) If you learn to control /limit them you learn to control yourself. You will be able to restrain and quiet the spirit. You will find peace and stillness.  From there you will settle and allow things to come to you.  Your emptiness will calm your mind, allowing it to accept ideas and energy and giving it the ability to react without hesitation.  You will be humble yet will have a sense about you.

Internally once you learn control, restraint, and stillness you will open up blood flow and energy ways.  Your mind will be at ease.  Your muscles will relax.  Your heart will calm (you only have so many heart beats and the ability to lengthen those out creates health and longevity).  Blood and energy will be able to penetrate organs and pathways with more ease.  You will have no stress; you will fight off disease; and ultimately you glow with a health beyond your years.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods — 6th Method: Return

GM Wu Hui Yi with Sun Shan Rong conducting Liu He Ba Fa push hands

The 6th Method is Return – huan (还). One must Go, come, return, repeat –wang lai fan fu (往来返复.  The natural progress of the 4th method, Follow (sui 随) and flowing.  You cannot just let the energy compress or go on forever.  There is a rhythm and process.  You begin through accepting the energy, following it, listening and understanding it.  Once you master that you can begin to neutralize it, lead it, and ultimately project it somewhere else — the other half of the circle!  Some say GM Wu truly began to understand this concept when he learned Lu Hong Ba Shi and that’s why that form is incorporated into most versions of LHBF you see today.  The ability to defend and attack simultaneously is seen through many martial arts but reaches to great heights through internal martial arts and especially Liu He Ba Fa.  Through understanding circles and centeredness you can learn following, neutralizing, leading, and expression of the energy.  This is also one of the reasons its referred to as water boxing.  Like a wave it ebs and flows; moving the energy from one part to the next until it comes crashing back at the opponent.

Now here is the true power of it– its continuous!  Easy to say (especially with an exclamation point 😉 much harder to actually do.  Like a circle there are no breaks, this is where your listening and understanding jing truly comes to play.  Usually an opponent of good caliber will not be dissuaded through one strike the fight will continue.  One must learn to constantly flow with them, countering and attacking each successive attack.  Following their game but in reality playing to your game — esteem the defense not the offense.  Let them strike at you, become one with them and watch how each strike they throw transforms into your counter and strength.  It only stops when they stop and the fight is finished.  Even a simple step backwards can spell their demise if you have built upon your skills.  You become like GM Wu who was notorious for his fighting ability.  It felt like he was everywehre but  one could not actually hit him.  He would follow and counter and strike and be like the wind, enveloping his opponent –being empty but constantly battering.

Sifu how do I develop this skill?  You may be able to develop a high skill through practice of the form alone, rounding out the edges, finding relaxation, developing your intent, qi and shen.  However I believe, like countless martial artist before me –especially GM Wu, one must engage.  Start through two man practice–either applications or push hands.  Find a controlled environment.  Learn through touching and feeling.  Eventually you must learn to feel without touching so you must evolve into sparring.  But you must spar with intent.  Keep it controlled and continue to develop all your skills.  Eventually a person must enter the realm of an unwilling partner.  This is where you can test to see if you can feel intent without teaching; find if your skills have developed.  Its difficult but necessary work.  Will you find health and happiness without this?  Yes.  Can I develop high level without this?  Yes.  Will I develop the highest level?  Sorry I do not believe so.  The greatest were challenged – that is why they became so great.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods — 5th Method: Lift

Mount HuangShan. Resting place of Chen Tuan and birthplace of Liu He Ba Fa

The 5th Method is Lifting —ti (提). “The peak hangs on emptiness (ding xuan xu kong 顶悬虚空).”   Like a thread ontop of your head, holding it up and suspending the rest of your body.  Lifting the top of your head creates several mechanisms in your body.  First it creates proper alignment within your energy pathways and structure.  Your head is suspended, lengthening your neck and slightly tucking your chin.  It straightens your spinal column and Ren meridian. It allows your shoulders to hang and hollow out your chest.  Your Saliva and energy will have a better and straighter path towards your stomach and lower dan tian.   You have the ability to tuck your tailbone underneath you, engaging your kuas, and having the ability to move  in a flowing fashion.  The energy will naturally want to sink into your dan tian and your root.  This internal alignment is good for both health and fighting.

Secondly, by suspending your head you focus your energy and shen high as well.  Your upper body becomes light and mobile as air. It feels energized and engaged.    It may feel like buzzing, or raindrops but activity occurs and it is good thing! This engagement can calm your mind and raise your awareness.  Your mind can more easily find peace through emptiness.  Eventually it allows you to connect and become apart of the grander picture.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods–4th Method: Follow

GM Liu Xiao Ling with GM Ning Da Chun (Yi Quan Master) conducting push hands training in Wu Xi City.

The 4th Method is Follow (sui随).  It is said one must circle, pass through and scheme (yuan tong ce ying 圆通策应).  Following is an important concept in any internal art.  To understand where one is going is the first step to understanding how you should engage them.  This involves developing one’s Ting jing (Listening) and Dong jing (Understanding).  To follow one must be Song (relaxed) and engaged with the opponent, with your mind focused yet also at ease so you are able to instantly respond.  In the beginning some people , read the classics or listen to some high level master who says relax and just let go over everything.  They then become too relaxed and let their mind go–dead fish in the water.  They may follow but forget their other concepts and do not look for the opponents true intent so they are not truly listening and understanding.  There are steps!  You cannot be at step one and expect to be step 10 without going through 2-9 in some sort of fashion.  But Yes! A truly high level master does clear their mind and enter a wuji state– their level of conscious is on a different level and they are very engaged, following their partner in a way that looks effortless yet powerful.

How does one follow?  Circles!  But why circles Sifu?  Circles are the path of least resistance, they have no edges and create no stopping points.  If you are truly smooth and rounded you can overcome any attack.  One will find they can overcome 1000 lbs with 4 ounces (important concept in Taiji circles).  It will become fluid and “waterlike.”  There will be no hesitation as it all just “flows”.  It creates the opportunity to use your whole body, to align correctly and create massive amounts of power that you can store or release.  All the internal martial arts creates circles and Liu He Ba Fa is no different, just it Shen Fa.  One of its most important Jings is Luóxuán 螺旋 Jing (coil/spiral).  Like a spring it constricts and expands.  This is a different energy then the Cánsī 蚕丝 jing  (silk reeling) made famous through various Tai Chi Lineages.   That energy spirals continuously outwards from a centerpoint, creating tremendous power in its own way  (several jings are used simultaneously so spiraling and silk reeling can occur within the same movement).  Luóxuán Jing coils — accepts,  builds, and redirects.  Like wringing out a towel it can compress in the joints, tendons, and bones.  If you learn to listen and understand the energy of an opponent you can then follow properly and build your energy in your own joints through coiling.  This will help greatly as you learn to expand it in method 6 — return.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods — 3rd Method: Shape

The 3rd Method is Shape (xing形); “Change image, copy and imitate–hua xiang mo fang (化象模仿). ” Shape is important.  To copy your sifu’s form and movement leads you down your own correct path.  You have to trust their skill and intent, but once you get the form down, with correct movement, you can start applying the harmonies and ideals, framing it to you and your will.  This involves shape – structure, motion, and intent.  With solid structure and fluid motion you will begin to move effortlessly and quickly.  Your body will get used to the intent you would like to apply and can change to it quickly.  It will mold into your own will and it will become powerful.

Shape includes the ideals of the 12 animals and 3 levels of Liu He Ba Fa.  You must learn to coil like the dragon, be fierce like the tiger, be nimble like the swallow, graceful like the goose.  You must understand what each animal  represents energy-wise and understand what it inspires (we will discuss each animal in later posts).  The levels involve high to low stances, being swift like air, flowing like water, and yet deeply rooted into the earth.

You are not on some animal spirit journey but understanding how they should move and what they bring to the form is important.  You must study the individual movements and what the intent is with the particular animal.  Coil, pouncing, seizing, being swift and nimble– All different characteristics that must be analyzed and understood.  The animals and levels bring necessary ideals which create health, mobility, and mindset.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba 8 Methods– 2nd Method: Bone

Da Mo aka Bodhidharma, transmitter of Buddhism to China and creator of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing

The second method is Bone: gu骨.  Its states Bone power collects internally– gu jing nei lian (骨劲内敛).   On the basic level this method is associated with proper movement and alignment of structure.  Head up, chin in, back straight, your joints aligned and working in harmony.  If one part moves everything moves; if one part is still it is all still.  Many internal martial arts talk about 3 tips, 3 external harmonies, 9 joints, 3 hearts and within some Liu He Ba Fa lineages masters talk of the 9 joints and 5 hearts.  The intent of all these ideas are the same.  To move in a coordinated manner to create maximum force in the most effective manner.  Whether moving fast, slow, soft, or hard all effort must be made with all parts of the body in the correction direction.  If you hand falls but your  foot does not its incomplete.  If your foot falls but your hand does not the same inefficiency happens.  Everything must be coordinated.  Some internal arts fall with a flat foot during certain movements and others use a heel to toe effect.  In the end if your dan tians (upper, middle, lower) are in line and your hands and feet, knees and elbows, shoulders and kua move in unison you will find the harmony in your body. These harmonies can also be broken down farther into sections like shoulder, elbow, wrist and farther still into wrist, palm, and finger.  The more micro you can make it and feel it connected the more connection you will potentially make.  Some Liu He Ba Fa move their body in total unison while others follow more of a water principle and have a wave like effect among their joints.  I will not say one way is more correct than the other as long as in the end they work towards such jins as Hua Jin, Lou Shan Jin, and other energy expressions.

Yet there are deeper levels as well. Some sources talk of bone marrow as a source of Qi production due to the fact your first treasure (Jing) is used in TCM to make bone marrow. It is said when you are born your marrow is full, as one ages Yuan (pre-natal) Qi and Yuan Jing are gradually consumed and depleted.  So one must return to their origin and nourish the marrow.   Even Qigong sets are conducted with this process of renewing and rejuvenating bone marrow — i.e.  Marrow washing (usually associated with muscle/tendon changing qigong).  If your Qi is abundant it will naturally fill your bones and will be identified with a person having strong teeth.  Back in the turn of the century, masters with their Si Shou filled could tear metal with their teeth; something not readily seen now-a-days.  It helps to conduct Qi Gong or Liu He Ba Fa  with an inward intent at some point in your training, towards your bones and dan tian.  Working on condensing and expanding your qi with your breath.  The movement of Qi into the bones will strengthen them, rejuvenate them, and help rid your body of potential disease and illness.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods — 1st Method: Qi

Daoist Immortal Chen Tuan – Sleeping Qi Gong and Spirit Traveling

The first method is qi(气 ).  It is written Circulate qi, collect spirit –xing qi ji shen  (行气集神).  In Chinese culture Qi is a foundational substrate to all living things.    It circulates the whole body.  In very simple terms within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), if there is a blockage, imbalance or disruption this is how you get sick, injured or die.  A person must keep their Qi circulating freely to keep healthy and strong.  Within internal martial arts the person looks to guard and improve their Qi.  They look to gather their pre-heavenly (essence from parents) and post-heavenly (food, water, air)–note this is an oversimplification of Qi and many books have been written about this deep subject.

This first method looks wants the person to learn to use their intention to circulate the Qi (beginning with the Ren and Du meridians), to build the dan tian (via water and fire cycle), and make the Qi abundant throughout their bodies; especially their 5 zang organs, 6 fu organs, and 100 meridians.   Once your Qi is abundant your Si Shou (4 extremities) will be naturally filled and expressed via hair, nails, teeth, and flesh.

Once your Qi is in abundance you can then start to work on the Shen (spirit).  The Shen is nurtured and supported by the Qi (relighting the cauldron) and vice versa.  This mutually beneficial relationship will strengthen the body, resist illness, and increase longevity.

The Shen will follow Qi.  It will follow it up into the spirit valley and with consistent practice it can be filled and opened.  It must also follow the Qi into every pour of a person’s body, every fiber and hair.  There it can be used to radiate outward and connect with the greater world.  Once it connects with the void, wondrous things become possible and viable.

6 Harmonies, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 6 Harmonies: 6th Harmony– Combine Your Movement (Action) and the Void (Emptiness)

The 6th Harmony is:  Combine Movement (Action) and Emptiness (Void)

dong he yu kong 动合于空

The final harmony in Liu He Ba Fa.  Also the most abstract and esoteric.  Now that your shen reaches every fiber and hair of your body, expand beyond it.  Work to feel your surroundings, to become aware on a different level.  You will look as calm, poised, you will radiate energy but every movement you make, feeling you have, will be subconsciously occurring based on the environment around you.  You will not have to think it, you will just do.  The expansion you experience will be great, possibly even frightening.  You will be like a baby again, in a whole new world of details and feelings but once you learn to control it, you can become part of a greater whole.

This harmony starts when a person grows around them as they do the form.  The energy radiates around the person and expands their movements into the surrounding environment.  They may be small in stature but they exponentially grow as they conduct the form.  A person watching them will “feel” them in a way they cannot explain and wonder how the person got so “big.”

You must remember this form is a means to the end.  Once you have reached this level in the form it must be spread and developed in all facets of life.   There are also levels within levels of this harmony; expansion, consistency, then concealment — i.e. you must contain everything yet appear empty working towards a true wuji state.

Few ever reach this level.  You must find the right instructor to lead you through the harmonies ontop of the daily dedication and resolve.  It becomes a way of life as all facets drive towards this goal: sleep, nutrition, activity, recovery…everything.  The form was the beginning– the gateway drug to a greater path.  You will find peace, harmony, health, and happiness that spreads to everything but allowing that to happen is up to you and your mindset.  The form will give you health and strength but the harmonies will give you true fulfillment and happiness in life, a goal worthy of chasing.

6 Harmonies, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 6 Harmonies: 5th Harmony — Combine Your Shen and Your Movement (Action)

The 5th Harmony is Combine  Shen and Movement (Action)

shen he yu dong神合于动

Have you ever had the hairs on the back of your neck stand-up?  Did you feel uncomfortable or anxious.  It’s a reflex within the body that few can explain.  One explanation Daoist like to use is its an experience with Shen or spirit.  You perceive something or feel something is bad or good yet there are no verbal or visual stimuli to truly backup this feeling.  Now if one can develop this action and harmonize with it, it can truly expand your mindfulness of the world.

You have re-ignited that fire and have raised your spirit to your upper dan tian.  The Shen follows the qi and spreads throughout your body, raising awareness and vitality.  You become…different.

What does one do with this? They must begin to focus back outward.  This whole time your have closed your senses inward and felt what was going on inside your body.  Your spirit radiates through you and shows through your eyes.  This is where internal martial arts becomes something even greater.  You send your spirit to every fiber of your body.  You combine it with every movement, every thought; coordinating action with detail with awareness.  The movements will become your own and become instantaneous.    You will begin to perceive things differently.  Your form will be look powerful as your movements begin to radiate feelings and energy yet be soft and have the ability to adapt at will.  It becomes instant and instinctive.

Li Nengran, the famous Xing Yi master, was called “Magic Fist Li” was able to develop his Shen to this level.  He defeated all challengers and his opponents often said they could not see when his hands struck outward.  Li had developed his Gong Fu to a level where he perceived on a different level.  He could instantaneously feel his opponents intention and move his hands to counter or strike, overcoming the will of his opponents every time.  It was said he could close his eyes and understand exactly where people and things were at.  He was truly gifted and his gong fu was special amongst even the greatest.  Why?  Because he systematically built to this level, not skipping or rushing anything.  He had constant dedication and focused effort and a true understanding of the Dao and his body.   He dedicated every effort, every thought, and every move to get to this level–something few can truly fathom and achieve in this day and age.

6 Harmonies, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 6 Harmonies: 4th Harmony — Combine Your Qi with Your Shen.

The 4th Harmony is combine Qi and Shen

qi he yu shen 气合于神

Now you have a powerful form!  Yet there is more.  Some martial artists stop here, their Qi abundant and their lives full of energy.  There is another level.  You must reignite that fire in your belly and change the energy into shen.   The spirit must follow the qi to the upper dan tian and build there.  You must allow your spirit to then touch every fiber of your being, every hair on your body.

Through this your awareness will become truly keen, you will experience things on a new level.  A spiritual power is a strong thing if developed.  Have you ever seen a truly intimidating person just stare another down, see a person cower in fear, knowing they are powerless against them — this is a very similar concept, it’s a subconscious event that one cannot explain.  If developed your shen can be a handy tool for health and combat.

 

This level is just the 4th but still few reach this level.  They do not make their Qi abundant and thus cannot mix and convert it into Shen.  They will pontificate on the finer point of hormones and vitality, describing Shen in terms that they can relate to.  Is it this, yes– but it is so much more.  Your spirit can expand beyond the physical limits of these things, expand upon your own body.  It is an awareness and vitality only few know.  How can you tell if a person has started down this path?  They will become calm and relaxed, their outward appearance will radiate their inward strength and vitality.  A person will start to develop yansheng (spirit from the eyes 眼神).  It’s a difficult level to perceive let alone master, but the journey towards this harmony will make one healthy, strong, and vibrant.