PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES
It is said that there four general techniques which apply to all styles: Kicking, striking, throwing, and controlling. Of course, kicking can involve tripping, in addition to foot and leg strikes. Striking refers to the blows from all areas of the body. ..head, hands, elbows, hips, shoulders, etc. Throwing refers to the techniques of wrestling, grappling, etc. which are used to down an opponent. Controlling is a general term which includes joint locks, tendon or muscle stretching (in a painful manner), striking of nerve points, and the obstruction of breath or blood flow.
These four general techniques should be demonstrated clearly during the performance of a form. In Chinese competition, the competitors receive deductions in points if they cannot express these fighting techniques clearly, superb performance of aerials and somersaults aside.
THE "EIGHT QUALITIES"
During the performance of a form, there are "Eight Qualities" which are looked for and judged:
1. Hands.
2. Eyes.
3. Body Technique.
4. Steps.
5. Spirit.
6. Breath.
7. Strength.
8. Ability.
In Long Fist, the requirements for "Hands" are "fists like shooting stars," which infers that the movements of arms, hands, wrists, and fingers be with a relaxed strength and speed. The motions in Long Fist will be from lightning fast to a sudden, stable halt, and conversely, from motionless to a sudden burst of power.
The "Eyes" must be alert and alive, following the hands with lightning speed.
One's "Body" or torso, with its central point at the waist, must be agile and lively. The stated traditional requirement is that the "waist behaves like a crawling snake."
The "Steps" must be stable and, regardless of how rapid the movements are, the feet must stick to the ground. There is a pertinent traditional saying, "To punch is easier than to walk.First, we judge the steps, then we judge the attack; if the steps are not stable, then the punches can but be chaotic. If the steps are stagnant, then so must be the punches."
"Spirit" refers to the mental state of the individual and is as important as the physical expression. Again, we are not referring to superficial facial expression or pretended aggression, but to that intangible, "Shen."
"Breath" or "Qi" is an integral part of sequence practice. By breathing deeply to the lower abdomen we can chance our stamina and delay or avoid the onset of breathlessness. This is often phrased as "sink the chi to the Dan Tian." As an example, let your breath "come up" (fill your lungs) when you are rising from a lower posture to a higher one. From a higher posture to a lower one, "sink the breath" (let out air, keep the pelvis tucked). When generating explosive force, focus the breath by explosively exhaling and allowing the contracting muscles to add to your other focused strength.
"Strength" in martial arts is different from the strength in weight lifting.In martial applications we are very interested in focusing the body's strengths toward a small area of application. To execute a correct thrusting punch, the stable ground provides the basis of power which goes from the feet and is aligned through knees, hips, waist, spine, shoulders, and elbows to the hand. This linked support of the entire body enable a practitioner to "focus" the power of the ground and thereby produce more power than a person using brute strength.
"Ability" is what "Kung Fu" means, i.e. the general ability which can be used to describe any skill. In martial arts, "Ability" refers to the composite strength, speed, endurance, agility, coordination, and technical skill. There are "Twelve Descriptions" which characterize the desired qualities of "Ability:"
1. In motion, move like a thundering wave.
2. When still, be like a mountain.
3. Rising up, be like a monkey.
4. Land swiftly and lightly like a bird.
5. Be steady like a rooster on one leg.
6. One's stance is as firm as a pine tree, yet expresses motion.
7. Spin swiftly and circularly like a wheel.
8. Bend and flex like a bow.
9. Waft gracefully like a leaf in the wind.
10. Sink like a heavy piece of metal.
11. Prey like a watchful, gliding eagle.
12. Accelerate like a gusty wind.
To summarize the "Eight Qualities" of Long Fist practice, we make use of the descriptive Chinese saying:
"The fist is like a shooting star, the eyes are as quick as lightning, the body moves like a writhing snake, the steps are sticky, the spirit is full, the breath sinks low...the strength must be articulate and the ability pure."
By grasping the meaning of the "Four Fighting Methods (Physical Techniques)," The "Eight Qualities," and the "Twelve Descriptions," we can improve our practice and performance of martial arts by tenfold.
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