|
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL WORK: A COMPOSITE ORGANISM
Li Chengyin
From Martial Arts of China Vol. 1, No. 7 , Page
319
(Translated by Song Ning and CuiYangping)
DOWN through the ages, martial artists in China
lay stress on a combination of "internal" and "external" work,
mental training in particular. They hold that the training, nourishment
and concentration of qi (vital energy) as well as the application
of qi in combat are of great importance to martial devotees.
There are various methods of directing qi to
a certain part of body in wushu training. Among other things, "the
training of qi as internal work and strengthening of muscles,
bones, and skin as external one," "the flow of qi down
to the dantian (elixir field)" and "summoning
strength through the direction of qi" are basic skills
to be mastered by wushu practitioners and command great attention
in all schools of martial arts. Of eight training methods in changquan
(long- range boxing), for example, jing (essence of life), shen (spirit), qi (vital
energy), li (power) and gong (skill) refers to the
training of mind, awareness, respiration and innate strength, the
application of qi included, while external work involves the use
of the hands, the eyes, the trunk and the feet. Another instance
is nanquan (southern-style boxing) which emphasizes the
training of the mind, spirit, qi and willpower in "internal
work" and the exercise of the hands, the eyes, the trunk,
the waist and the feet in "external work." Those energy-consuming
movements should be completed in coordination with exhalation and
utterance. Shaolin martial artists also pay attention to the training
of qi and a man who has just started wushu practice should do standing
exercises before he goes ahead with other exercises. A book on
Shaolin wushu has this to say about the relationship between standing
exercises and the training of qi, "In comparison with other
standing exercises such as standing on the ground or on stakes,
horse-riding stance is the most important. When you do it well,
you can direct your qi down to the dantian and become as firm as
a rock.'' It adds, "Qi appears in the lungs and controls strength
during respiration. When you fail to concentrate on training for
some time, your gi will get stagnated and flatulence will develop."
Other barehanded exercises also pay ample attention
to the training. of qi. Taijiquan, for one, requires that a practitioner
should move his body with will and in coordination with breath.
Will can be used to adjust your breath and direct your qi. And
the methods include mental concentration, following your breaths,
hearing your breaths and sinking qi into the dantian. The training
of qi in taijiquan is similar to that in qigong (breathing
exercise) and conducted by means of opening, closing, ascending
and descending. If you are a regular taijiquan practitioner, you
must be familiar with such proverbs as "the circulation of
qi with will," "the inducement of qi with the mind" and "the
flow of qi down to the dantian." Such is also the case with xingyiquan (form
and will boxing). When you practice it, you should try to attain
a perfect combination of mind and will, will and qi and qi and
strength.
As a composite organism in wushu training, internal
and external work helps to make a martial artist strong outwardly
and sturdy inwardly. This may be proved by many well-known wushu
masters who never fail to pay attention to the training of qi while
improving their physical skills.
From Martial Arts of China Vol. 1, No. 7 , Page
319
|
