POWER-RELEASE PRACTICE


The Chinese Martial Arts focus on the body mechanics of Open-Close-Open-Close, and so on. The body Closes with contraction of the front/inner channels (mostly) and Opens with the backside/outer channels. The general rule, for most strikes, etc., is that you store elastic energy and inhaled pressure when you are Closed; you release your whole-body energy and pressure when you Open.

In the video snippet below I'm showing Chen Chunlei demonstrating the major power-practice maneuver of pole shaking in Chen Village. He stores with the inhale as the pole tip is forward and his body is Closed; he releases with the exhale and the body Opening as the pole comes backward.

At the end of the snippet is a brief view of Chen Zhaosen doing a very basic and important Close and Open in his qigong (look at John Prince's Vimeo site if you want to see the whole qigong). The point is that the soft qigong is the beginning practice for the ultimate expression of fajin that Chen Chunlei shows. In between should be a lot of years of soft, relaxed elastic practice, but of course the typical westerner, instead of developing his "suit" and jin, will grab a pole and start doing muscular shakes that look somewhat like what Chen Chunlei is doing. ;)




https://vimeo.com/531484843

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