Dachengquan

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan

About the author Li Zhaoshan was born in Henan County in 1955, he studied martial arts since his childhood, he started with Wang Anping to study zhan zhuang and Five Elements Kungfu, and then later he was accepted as official disciple of the Yiquan Master Wang Xuanjie, especially famous for his abilities in real combat. Li studied traditional Dachenquan under his tutelage. From gathering the essence of Chinese martial arts, Li focused on healing and health preservation but also in the pedagogic aspects of Dachengquan. Progressively Li gained a large notoriety among wushu circles, due to his works and research in martial arts. He is the creator of a method which can allow rapid results to student; in this method the student will basically improve his weakness points and apprehend with progressive steps using "exploding power” and self defense techniques. Combining modern sciences such as biomechanics, modern anatomy, etc... His research activity led him to create various interesting theories such as “Inner strength field", "Gathering inner strength process" "Three major steps in sparring", applications in "bone regeneration", "whole body's muscle interconnected as a inevitable prerequisite for inner strength", etc... Sports magazines are regularly presenting articles on Li Zhaoshan, such as recently "Jinwu" magazine, among their series "Spirit of Dachengquan", which presented "Tribute to Li Zhaoshan famous Dachengquan Master", "Li Zhaoshan presents Dachengquan"... Author of several books of Dachengquan, such as “The Complete Reference Book of Healing Dachengquan” – “Fundamentals of Dachengquan” – “Dachengquan Duanshou (Sparring)” and performing regularly in main sporting events related to Dachengquan or Internal Martial Arts..

Copyright©2004.China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved.


CONTENTS

CHAPTER I Brief presentation of Dachengquan…….

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CHAPTER II Dachengquan’s seven wonderful domains of

techniques……………………………………………….. 6 0 II.1 Post standing………………………………….…… 7 0 II.2 Testing force………………………………………. 10

II.2.1 Three categories of testing force……….…….. 10

II.2.2 Four levels of testing force……….…………... 11

II.3 Stepping…………………………………………… 14

II.4 Issuing force………………………………………. 15

II.4.1 Five Major Forces………………..…………… 15

II.4.2 Practical points of “issuing force”……………. 16

II.5 Testing voice……………………………………… 18

II.5.1 Two categories of testing voice(Funct. Aspects) 18 II.5.2 Three mental categories of testing voice…….. 20

II.5.3 Three kind of manifestations testing voice…... 21

II.6 Pushing hands…………………………………….. 22

II.6.1 The meaning of pushing hand……….………. 22

II.6.2 Pushing hands fundamentals ………….…….. 23

II.7 Sparring…………………………………………... 26

II.7.1 Starting level of sparring……………………. 27

II.7.2 Intermediate level of sparring………….……. 27

II.7.3 Advanced level of sparring…………….……. 27

II.7.4 Superior level of sparring…………………… 28

II.7.5 Highest level of sparring………… …………. 28

CHAPTER III The first phase training… …………… 29

III.1 Universal (all-round or multi-directional) post… 30

III.1.1 Post standing………………… ………….. 30

III.1.2 “Qi” sensations in post standing…… …… 31

III.1.3 Time request for post standing….………… III.1.4 Principles of post standing…….………….. III.1.5 Adjusting your body……………………… III.1.6 Ending training exercise………………….. III.2 Contradiction post……………………………... III.2.1 Post standing……..……………………….. III.2.2 The purpose of training contradiction post.. III.2.3 Principle of contradiction post……………. III.3 Hooking-filing testing force…………………… III.3.1 Starting movement……………….……….. III.3.2 Two palms transition movement….………. III.3.3 Hooking-filing off movement….…………. III.4 Stepping……………………………………….. III.4.1 Friction step…………….………………… III.4.2 Transversal step……………….………….. III.4.3 Triangle step…………………….………... III.4.4 Underlay step……………..………………. III.4.5 Triangle Underlay step ….….……………. III.5 Inducement of force and issuing force………… III.5.1 Inducement of force……….…….……….. III.5.2 Natural Integral strength……….………… III.5.3 Fixed step ejecting technique………..…… III.5.4 Tolling with step……………….………… III.6 Single hand techniques and chaining ability…… III.6.1 Circle punch …………….……………….. III.6.2 Splitting palm ………….………………… III.6.3 Pounding punch …………….……………. III.6.4 Slapping palm …………….……………… III.6.5 Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant….…. III.6.6 Chaining single hand technique….………..


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CHAPTER IV The Second Phase training................... IV.1 Advanced Natural force & contradiction post …… IV.1.1 Experience natural force……………………. IV.1.2 Forward-backward whole body force………. IV.1.3 Leftward/rightward spiral twisting…………. IV.1.4 Supporting outward and holding inward….… IV.2 Testing force and stepping………………………. IV.2.1 Long narrow flag testing force……….…….. IV.2.2 Millstones testing force……………….……. IV.2.3 Slight underlay step……………….……….. IV.2.4 Worm step…………….……………………. IV.2.5 Large step………….……………………….. IV.3 Reverting “ eject opponent” attack……………… IV.3.1 Training process…………………………… IV.3.2 Fixed reverting “eject opponent” attack…… IV.3.3 Steps reverting “eject opponent” attack…… IV.4 Single pushing hands………………………….… IV.4.1 Single pushing hands solo practice……..….. IV.4.2 Single pushing hand practice with partner.… IV.4.3 Controlling opponent single pushing hand… IV.4.4 Reverse control of single pushing hand….… IV.5 Double pushing hands……………………….….. IV.5.1 Double pushing hands solo practice…..…… IV.5.2 Double pushing hands with partner…..……. IV.5.3 Double pushing hands applications………. IV.6 Wrapping Iron Force and its applications……… IV.6.1 Wrapping iron force……………….……… IV.6.2 Smashing punch………………….……….. IV.6.3 Drilling punch…………………………….. IV.6.4 Wrapping iron pounding punch…………...

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CHAPTER V The third phase training……………… V.1 Supporting-nursling post…………………………. V.1.1 Adaptive phase………………………………. V.1.2 Steadiness practice…………………………... V.1.3 Mental training………………………………. V.2 Snake entwining hand testing force………………. V.2.1 Snake entwining hand – fixed step………….. V.2.2 Snake entwining hand with step…………….. V.2.3 Mind activity in snake entwining hand……… V.2.4 Snake entwining hand applications………… V.3 Double stretching force…………………………… V.3.1 The principle of double stretching force…….. V.3.2 The training of double stretching force……… V.3.3 Checking up your double stretching force...… V.3.4 Double stretching force applications………... V.4 Seizing/ejecting techniques pushing hands………. V.4.1 Basic ejecting technique…………………….. V.4.2 Single pushing hand eject technique………… V.4.3 Double pushing hands ejecting technique...… V.5 No fixed posture practice………………………… V.5.1 Move with wheel……………………………. V.5.2 Strike with side of body…………………….. V.5.3 Drill sky pounding………………………….. V.5.4 The palm double flying……………………... V.5.5 Chaining pounding………………………….. V.5.6 Deadly elbow……………………………….. V.5.7 Sweeping thousand of soldiers……………… V.5.8 Chopping wooden trunk…………………….. V.5.9 Tiger holds head…………………………….. V.5.10 Lift big bag…………………………………

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CHAPTER VI ……………………………………..... 150

Questions and answers on Dachengquan nnnnnnnnnnnnn



CHAPTER I Brief Presentation of Dachengquan

Dachengquan was created in the 1940’s, although it has only 60 years of history, it has proved its high effectiveness in the double aspect of Healing and Combat, as a result Dachengquan presents a steady growth in its audience of martial arts practitioners but also of non martial arts practitioners. Dachengquan has its roots in Xingyiquan; its founder is the Great master Mr. Wang Xiangzhai (1885.11.24 ~ 1963.7.12). Mr. Wang Xiangzhai was born in Wei Jia village Shenxian county, Hebei province, named previously Ni Bao, Xiangzhai, and sometimes Yuseng, then later “Xiangzhai” was the name he was mostly known, in his old age he was also called “The old man of Contradiction”. In his childhood Wang Xiangzhai was weak and in poor health. When he was 14 years old he became Guo Yunshen’s disciple the great master of Xinyiquan, starting to study Xingyiquan with the main target to strengthen his body and improve his general health. The young Wang Xiangzhai was rapidly perceived as a very intelligent boy, able to endure hard training, then Mr. Guo Yunshen who was already well advanced in age, taught him with an extreme rigor but also the essence of his art. Wang Xiangzhai was probably the only one who inherited all the secrets of Guo Yunshen’s zhan zhuang exercises, which will become later the most important characteristics of Yiquan (Dachengquan). After Guo's death, Wang traveled extensively around China looking for top martial arts mentors. As a result of his research on the real essence of Chinese martial arts, in theoretical and in practical aspects, his level and knowledge improved dramatically. In the 1920s Mr. Wang Xiangzhai was teaching in Shanghai, later he found that some students were only paying attention to the form, neglecting mental training, to refocus his students’ attention, he based his teaching on Xingyiquan but kept on simplifying and modifying it to put greater emphasis on mental training rather than external form. He therefore decided to drop 'xing' (form) - from Xingyiquan and called his new system Yiquan - where Yi means Mind or Intention and ‘quan’means boxing. During this time Mr. Wang Xiangzhai summing up his knowledge, he wrote an article called 《the Right Path of Yiquan》. During the following decade Mr. Wang Xiangzhai uninterruptedly continued to research and practice but also he constituted and animated a large network composed of many experts in various martial arts, from this “martial art knowledge” federation, will rise the new breakthrough of Dachenquan. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai thought that techniques in training and sparring should include six aspects: spirit, form, Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 1

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan intention, Qi, power and voice, but should not stress excessively “intention”, as any other of these six aspects which should not be focused excessively at the expense of another. The method of his boxing is starting from calmness to search progressively movement and in movement to search calmness: cultivating healing, training martial aptitudes, combining both to improve his practice and to be used within any single technique, this will lead you to the perfect technique. With this simplifying approach conveying myriads of complicated techniques into a single one, this produces a real revolution within martial arts circles. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai through his down-to-earth approach continued his research to allow the art of fist he created, to reach its highest level, as the later name of his art will confirm as “Da Cheng” (Ultimate Achievement). Then during the following four decades, Mr. Wang Xiangzhai will stay in Beijing, continuing his research and synthesis on Chinese Martial Arts with his new approach, integrating : - the solid all-round strength of Xingyiquan,

- the adhesive, smooth and chained aspect of Tai Chi Chuan,

- the cold, straightforward, fast but powerful movements of Shaolin Chan School of boxing and Li Chan

(a kind of standing meditation)

- the extended body movement, suppleness, foot-stepping of Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang),

But also combining others techniques from many others styles such as Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist and

Five Families Fist, including knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in fine, bringing internal and

external martial arts with even Western Boxing, into a new synthesis— Dachengquan.

Around 1944, Mr. Wang Xiangzhai wrote 《Theory of Dachengquan》, exposing its theories and training

method, establishing therefore theoretical basis of Dachengquan. We can say that the publication of

《Theory of Dachengquan》symbolized the birth of Dachengquan.

From that time Dachengquan started his large development, making its double aspects of healing and

combat everyday more famous.

Mr. Wang Xiangzhai in an advanced age, focused more on spreading Dachengquan’s healing techniques,

a progressive method based on Healing post as the core of complete this Healing system.

This system is constituted with a core program based on Pole Standing technique and dynamic exercises

as supplementary exercises, easy to learn and to practice, bringing remarkable results.

Along with the creation of Dachengquan, many confirmed martial artists came to test their skills but none succeeded in defeating Wang Xiangzhai, or and later Yao Zongxun, Zhao Daoxin, Zhan Entong, Li Yongzong, Wang Xuanjie etc...all including the creator of style and his closest disciples, faced each of their challengers without enduring any defeat, consolidating firmly the status of invincibility of Dachengquan in China Martial Arts circle. The reason why Dachengquan reaches such an achievement of physical and mental aptitudes, is probably due to its integration of scientific theories in his boxing theories and his rigorous training method, in addition its healing aspect is essential to set up a healthy and vigorous base his adept at any step of his training, assuring him to combine more efficiently the six fundamental methods of expression: Spirit, Form, Intention, Qi, Power and Voice. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai used to say: “If a single (major technique) is not (properly) set up, no other techniques will succeed, unable to issue the original fist, even while using (fighting) techniques (it will) also (look like) empty.” In clear he firmly abolished forms and taolu (frame)’s training method, and stated that practicing real boxing needs first to pursue health and natural self cultivation, then later martial or Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 2

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan self-defense aspects. In addition Wang Xiangzhai and later Yao Zongxun used to hold constantly a firm attitude against all combat methods leading, in middle and long term, its practitioner to damage his body and ruin his health. Since its creation Dachengquan has been contributing actively to increase the level of people’s health, but also more predominant role in preserving and developing the combat effectiveness of the real Chinese Martial Arts, while assembling its essential principles in one integrate system. At the present time Dachengquan has already reached every corner of China, but also major countries in the world, increasing every day the numbers of its practitioners and Dachengquan organizations. Dachengquan has certainly a broad future, through “carry forward the soul of Chinese Martial Arts and Chinese Culture, while offering unequal effectiveness in Healing and Combat”. I believe that its contribution to human well being and progress is beyond any physical border but also any scientific and physical disciplines where the human factor has still margin of progress. During my childhood I had rather poor physical conditions and not very healthy, than later I decided to improve my health by practicing Chinese Martial Arts. In 1980, I began to learn Standing Post (zhan zhuang) and Five elements Gongfu from Mr. Wang Anping, and I started from that time to have this indomitable interest in Dachengquan. Later I was formally accepted as a disciple by the great master Wang Xuanjie, very famous for his aptitude in combat, learning the traditional system of Dachengquan. During 10 years I studied seriously, intensively, but also analyzing, comparing and testing than later synthesizing myself all my experience in Dachengquan. Although Dachengquan has no fixed taolu but its training system is completely integrated and scientifically designed. There are three general domains of application for Dachengquan: Healing, Combat (Duan shou) and Gongfu massage. There are several progressive methods in Dachengquan training: standing post, testing force, footwork, issuing force, testing voice, pushing hand, sparring; all these steps constitute the “Seven Wonderful Domains of Techniques”. Compared with others martial arts Dachengquan offers its own specific points which I am going to present below: 1. Build Internal and external in the same time, improving simultaneously spirit and body Dachengquan has inherited Xingyiquan’s whole body power, and at the same time has absorbed Tai Chi Chuan’ s four main principles: stick, adhere, link and follow (zhan, nian, lian, sui)" as well as the use of soft force, Baguazhang’s agility and lightness in body movement and footstep, Shaolin’s technique of standing meditation etc... as well as many components from other styles, you build up your internal and external in the same time during your training. Dachengquan pay equal attention to the three aspects which are healing, acquiring internal strength and martial applications. On this basis your spirit, form, mind, power and technique: all can be unified in the highest degree. When you are training Dachengquan to develop your internal strength and combat ability, you should stress on “Do not have excessive spiritual activity, do not reveal your intention in your form, do not damage your body while assuming your form, power should not show sharp, Qi through out whole of body and techniques are natural”, so that you will finally acquire the ability to issue during combat an instinctive

Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 3

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan force. 2. Improve your body, with an amazing fast curative effect Concerning healing, Dachengquan’ post standing is an excellent method of Qigong. Everyone who is learning its martial aspect should acquire a minimum of healing kungfu, so that he can get a stronger body, then progress securely and correctly through the training steps of Dachengquan. Especially for middle and old age people, people suffering from chronic diseases, Dachengquan’s healing technique is an extraordinary way to build up optimistic mind and to preserve health or supplement medical treatment. In Dachengquan Healing Post you should not think or use force, to allow the Central Nervous System to adjust and get a proper rest, promoting blood circulation: it is in fact practicing while resting, resting while practicing. Once your Central Nervous System can be protected from uninterrupted disturbing internal excitations, enhancing therefore its receptiveness for positive excitations, it can present for a large number of chronic diseases very good curative effects, maintaining and even intensifying its effects with time. Many practitioners have confirmed that Post standing in Dachengquan is easy to learn and to practice and its curative effect outstanding. In recent years, many authors wrote broadly on Dachengquan Healing techniques, there are many examples of patients suffering from chronic diseases recovering like miraculously and getting back to work. 3. Well prepared for combat, under slightest adverse solicitation your whole body will respond Dachengquan can be particularly useful for combat; even within short time you can gain some fighting ability. When you are practicing, the fact that your intention can reach any part of your body is fundamental. You should also combine harmoniously contraction and relaxation, practice with full attention, so that you can adjust harmoniously mental and four limbs contraction and relaxation overall process. After having trained successfully post standing, you can later train during sparring how to develop your mental to deal with all sensations that you perceive. So that in combat situation, you will adapt naturally according to your adverse situation and use spontaneously the most effective fighting technique for this specific situation. Wang Xiangzhai used to describe this state through these following words which belong now to the posterity: “This habit needs to be nurtured everyday, at any time and in any place, if (your opponent is) uplifting hand, moving one foot, all these information should be processed instantaneously while preparing your offensive response, secret and fast, with deep intention, protecting (your vital parts).” Dachengquan has also a very strict request in terms of mental activity during combat: Mr. Wang Xiangzhai pointed out: “In boxing you should first train your heart (mental), if Taishan Mountain is collapsing in front of your eyes then your face should not change color, if the elk moves to the left side of your body then your eyes should not move, so that later when your opponent will launch his offensive you will be able to deal with successfully.” 4. No taolu, not fixed form In Dachengquan there is only one way of training, in addition it is clearly stipulated in this method of practice that there is no taolu and there are no fixed forms. This boxing pay attention to the spirit, intention, training natural power, nurturing an all-round universal force, the general form is curved and mental straight, swinging between false and true, feeling agile, and for concrete application: to be like without force, without prepared technique. Dachengquan assumes that the form in taolu has a large gap Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 4

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan with the sequence that you will be assuming during a real combat, because in real combat, movement of hands and legs are very fast, you do not have time to think what posture you are going to assume, you might even be proficient in this posture, but it can't suit entirely for the combat situation, trying to think during fighting about the difference of height between two opponents, or how to adjust the level of your punch. Can you find any suitable fixed posture to be use indiscriminately in front of any combat situation? In evidence you can’t. According to Dachengquan combat philosophy, you should wait the right opportunity to move then respond instinctively to intercept your enemy’s attack and defeat him. Dachengquan techniques has a comprehensive way to refine your inner strength management: gaining strength through post standing, experiencing it through testing force, understanding it through pushing hands and using it in sparring. 5. Internal strength in abundance, force is in the nature When practicing Dachengquan, a general request is: All “Kungfu” is in the nature, and from this ground simplicity, setting your basic layer of internal strength. Practitioner of Dachengquan will have more aptitude to resist to strong attack from their opponent, even being hit on their trunk, and this only a starting skill in Dachengquan, in practice this “absorbing ability” is not really pursued as it is automatically generated during your development in Dachengquan. Beside this, Dachengquan force has a very strong penetrability, sometimes when hitting an opponent’s chest, he may even feel pain on his back. In a general training program, you should not need to hit sandbag to increase your punching power. The Great master Wang Xuanjie, very famous for his combat abilities in 《Dachengquan questions and answers》pointed out: “You should practice how to bring into play your survival instinct. Practicing sandbag has definitively a bad effect, when hitting sandbag you are using force too fiercely, you can easily damage your body, then when you will reach an old age you feel easily pain, in addition when you are hitting the sandbag you are using a too “static” force, as this kind of force presents obviously less change than in real face to face situation.”



CHAPTER II Seven Wonderful Domains of Techniques

Although Dachengquan has no fixed taolu, it is an integrated system with a progressive and scientific training method. Its components are: post standing, testing force, stepping, issuing force, testing voice, pushing hand and sparring, these seven component of training are called “Dachengquan seven wonderful domains of training”. Dachengquan progressive training is very efficient and very practical. Just taking about the strength aspect: you should first develop “internal strength” from post standing, learn to be familiar with during testing force, use it in issuing force, understand it in pushing hands, integrate changes in it during sparring and blending it with spirit in testing voice. In a word, it is only through passing successfully each step of this system of “seven wonderful domains of techniques” that you can achieve the most refined but also the most effective martial power.



II.1 Post standing

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Post standing is the basic technique of Dachengquan, practicing Dachengquan implies necessarily to practice post standing. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai in 《Dachengquan Theory》 pointed out: “if you want to Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 7

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan know the essence of martial arts, first practice post standing.” Concerning the effect of post standing, Mr. Wang Xiangzhai explained also as followed: “Very effective for training nerve system, adjusting breath, promoting blood circulation, nourishing tendon and bone, improve general physiological process, enhancing intellect, this helps you to gain benefits in healing and improve your mental.” Power in any internal boxing is intimately related to the internal strength appearing while assuming the (requested) form, in clear this internal strength must pass through post standing if you want to gain it. During post standing, in your body, each bone, muscle, nerve, all your blood are improving their physiological capacities, then the whole body will be able to bear heavy shocks and gain dramatically efficiency in issuing force and boring force. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai in 《Quan Xue Xin Bian》pointed out: “Human has power generated from the blood then when issuing (force) naturally, from internal to external, your blood will find no obstruction, training tendon and bone, this is the (real) basic of the fist (method), and this way is post standing. When you are assuming post standing you should settle well your posture, and without moving, then you can adjust nerve, breath, activate blood circulation, train tendon and bone to acquire real kungfu, combining internal with external, transmuting clumsiness into effectiveness, weakness into strength.” Dachengquan posts standing include Healing posts and Combat posts. Students with weak body and beginners should practice first Healing post. Healing posts include: Universal post, Preserving Qi post, Holding ball post, Palm Lifting Ball post, Pressing Down post etc... in addition you have sitting and lying postures. Once you get these basics you can practice combat posts. Combat posts can be mainly divided into: Contradiction post, Catching Ball post, Bird Flying with Difficulty post, Holding Baby post, Embracing Tree post, Taming Tiger post, Landing Dragon Combat post, Earthworm Dragon post etc... (Figure 1-5) Although there is a large variety of combat posts but in the beginning you should select just a few numbers to them for the important part of your training. Each post has its characteristics: training effects on muscle and tendon are different, by training successively different posts you will allow each part of your body to improve progressively, and finally leading to an overall harmony in your body. When you are beginning practicing combat post, you should start with “Contradiction post” as thee main post to train, and later once you get proficient in it, you can start training with other posts. Concerning the beginner‘s training, standing post must absolutely respect Dachengquan criteria, in order to get the effect of Qi entering through out the whole body and to smooth its internal circulation. When you improve your post practice into a higher level, you don’t need anymore your limbs to respect so strictly standard forms, but rather put the emphasis on the “gongfu” of internal connotation between upper and lower limbs. At this time, your body will consciously enter into post standing state, at this moment it is important to experience how the internal strength is gathering, its trends and permanent effects. To reach high attainment in combat post training, you need also to use your mental, activating a mind inducement. Using imagination to feel feedback information from your limbs, due to activation of your limbs’ cells which will permitting them to get stronger and more resistant. You can also increase the spatial dimension of the original supportive function of your limbs: this will result in developing of a ward-off force. Concerning the effects of combat post, we can separate them into two major phases: - first phase is dedicated to practice calmness and gather internal strength, it is also called “Storing strength training”; Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 8

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan - second phase is dedicated to dynamic practice, also called “Moving strength training”. The “calmness” static techniques are for gathering strength, enhancing your technical level as well as your survival instinctive power. In this time you can have different mind inducement than in general combat inducement, like standing in contradiction post resisting in four different angles and training your defend abilities, training mind activity for each hand: forehand may catch, wrest, block, poke, support , while rear hand is ready to overrun any defense from your enemy... In Holding Baby post, training with mind activity of “Old Ox Tendon” is also part of static technique practice. Adding in your mental a combative intention, such “Growing roots”, “Wind on long narrow flag”, “Long narrow flag in the wind”, “extending and bending” etc... all are promoting the strength gathereing process in this static phase. What we need to explain is that this static “calmness” training is not pointing “healing”. Pure “healing” can avoid any mind activity; if you have a mind activity it is for more “natural comfort” feeling, which makes a fundamental difference with static technique training. In the training of the second phase, the characteristics are: special attention to the practical aspect,

revivifying spirit, exerting strength and setting up corresponding mental activity.

For example if you are assuming “Contradiction Post”, you imagine that your enemy is attacking you,

forehand is blocking, like warding off a protective shield, then adapt your strength to counterattack him,

or during blocking with forehand, rear hand is like a spear picking enemy. Adding in your spiritual level

“springing or elastic” activity, “bumping” activity, etc...all these techniques enhancing the practical

aspect of this training.

In this second phase, you should train properly your spiritual level, through paying a special attention in

the fullness of your spirit, nurturing without fear but with delicacy a lofty spirit.



II.2 Testing Force

Through post standing exercises your body has gathered and built up progressively a substantial internal strength. Then to switch into dynamics of “using strength”, you should train now testing force. What is called testing force, is precisely to use your limbs in predetermined movement while realizing or experiencing your force within the space/time of your exercise. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai said: “Concerning further basic training, once you acquired relevant technical foundations, with a smooth balanced development, growing day by day, you can continue your training with testing force exercises, realizing strength and spirit, coming everyday closer to the real effectiveness.” Mr. Wang Xiangzhai also said: “This part of the training is the most important but also the most difficult. Testing force is the reason of gaining strength, when strength is appointing testing (force) reveals (it simultaneously).” These words reveal to all successive generations of Yiquan practitioners, the importance of testing force, but also are pointing out the difficulty in testing force and the requirement of a long time of practice. The basic key points of testing force are: whole body relaxing and sinking, muscles flexible and unpredictable, movements slow and uniform. You should taste with an external stretching pulling force, with air resistance force, feeling fullness and roundness of whole body, and also develop the ability to feel it at any time or any place. By all means avoid the use of brutal power or worthless force. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai in 《Dachengquan Theory》said: “Smaller movement with deeper spirit, slow to overmatch fast, ready to move when stopping, ready to stop when moving, with an unavoidable contradictive willing to stop when moving, to move when stopping.” Concerning precisely the movements in testing force requests are not the same regarding level of speed and its relative movement’s amplitude. So how should you deal with speed and amplitude? In general when you start to practice your movement should be relatively fast, relatively large, later you will progressively reduce the speed and tasting always the feeling induced by decreasing the speed, the amplitudes of movements and even being apparently without movement at all, you should seek for multiple and uninterrupted real movements. It is also obvious that speed and amplitudes of movements may differ according to every practitioner, but also the internal connotations perceived during testing force during his training program, all should be ideally adjusted individually.

II.2.1 Three categories of testing force There are basically three major categories of testing forces: II.2.1.1 General Category of testing force This is the category commonly used in testing force training. Through testing force of this category, you can reveal many Dachengquan’s basic forces. “Hooking Filing off” testing force, “Waving” testing force, “Long narrow flag in the wind” testing force, “Snake Twining Hand” testing force etc… all belongs to the general category of testing force. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 10

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan II.2.1.2 Pushing hands Category of testing force Regarding pushing hand application, there is a special category of testing force; it is belonging touching testing force. Because pushing hand applications have single pushing hands and double pushing hands, therefore pushing hand testing force exercises include also single pushing hand testing force exercises and double pushing hand testing force exercises. This category of testing force is known to be difficult, because without experiencing in your limbs adversary resistance, you need however to express relevant strength, while respecting at any time the basic principles of pushing hands. II.2.1.3 Single holding hand Category of testing force Single holding hand testing force requires originally the use of single movement, as sometimes in the very beginning of the training you may need to practice it slowly, this can also included as a testing force exercise. Later when you become proficient with you can execute sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and also issue with empty force. In real combat situation, you just need bringing into play all these different forces. When executing this type of testing force, you should taste the extension of force in space and its change, keeping also in mind presence of opponent and needs from yourself to use your imagination to exert this force in space-time dimensions including directional change. These three categories of testing force are intimately related, so that they present similarities but also distinctive characteristics. Testing force of General Category does not request any obvious direct confrontation with adverse party; in opposite testing force of Pushing hand Category and Single holding hand Category have this obvious direct confrontation with adverse party. General testing force constitutes the fundamental testing force exercises which every practitioner should begin with and which are need to be mastered before starting Pushing Hands testing force or Single Holding Hand testing force.

II.2.2 Four levels of testing force We can consider the level of practice in testing force according to four different levels which are Beginner level, Intermediate level, Advanced level and Superior level. II.2.2.1 Beginner level of testing force This level is focus on putting in practice the principle “use mind not use force”; this is what Wang Xiangzhai called training method of “force within mind”. When practicing testing force, you should stand straight, comfortable, muscles flexible and unpredictable, the form relaxed and mind focused. Experience any aspect of this force through out different postures and their corresponding mind inducement. II.2.2.2 Intermediate level of testing force This level of testing force can be called “Contradictive force and mind”. Requiring during testing force when limbs are moving forward, that this feeling of force is also moving slowly forward, or like pushing something heavy, or shaking a heavy mountain, in the same time you should have mentally also have Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 11

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan pulling backward intention (contradiction mental activity). This testing force will bring progressively up a well refined internal strength. With this principle, you can also apply in left and right direction or various other directions “Contradiction force and mind”. Through this type of exercises such as Dachengquan’s “Two contradictive forces” can also be enriched with various directions upward-downward, leftward-rightward, forward-backward constituting the “universal combat force”. When practicing this testing force, hand should have a heavy and substantial feeling, like pushing but something not moving, and pulling something not coming, pressing something not descending, lift something not rising, willing to stop when moving, willing to move when stopping. II.2.2.3 Advanced level of testing force This level requires what is called “force and mind following each other” during practice testing force. This level of testing force requires mind and force to be inseparable, when the mind reaches force should also reach, force and mind are in complete harmony. In this level of testing force practice another request is that within a tiny movement, you should have a fast movement. Tiny movements can be experienced through different postures, different pushing hands or even in sparring, with your mental, especially in parts of the body where your strength has difficulties to circulate and to be released. For example, during the contact with an opponent, by just using some combat techniques, you can inflict heavy damages on opponent, during this time power and mental should be contained in any of these techniques of combat. This level of testing force practice allows you to train with fast speed and slow speed, but also to accelerate and decelerate at will. When fast, you should be like a fish on the water; when slow, like a spring silkworm thread; when decelerating, like a trickling sluggish small river; when accelerating, like a rushing waterfall. This testing force, in tiny movement should be integrated and vigorous; four limbs sustaining wideness, with a feeling of heaviness, all movements should have this sensation of extension and have the feeling of “internal strength” passing through shoulder, arm and finally hand. II.2.2.4 Superior level of testing force According to the training principle of Dachengquan it is said that if you can pass these three first levels of testing force, you will be able to express an obvious strength within your combat abilities. If you want to reach superior level of testing force, then you’ll need to intensify untiring efforts and develop perspicacity. During your practice of testing force, you should in addition to the three preceding levels of testing force, complete your achievement in “Finding Strength” process where you can feel and use all sources of instinctive strength. What is called “Finding strength”, is not to find any particular form of force, but the process of using effectively your mind activity and merge it with your strength through out different testing force exercises, using the existing strength imbedded in your body, refine it and merge it with the Dachengquan Strength System, expressed by what is called “Internal Strength Field”. In the beginning of this level of testing force practice, you should accumulate significantly “internal strength” in your body, extending in upper limbs relaxation and sinking, offering to your “internal strength” a wider space; to expand apparently without limits, like able to conquer any object facing your body; almost instantaneously your upper limbs and even your whole body will rush and issue force as burnt by fire, with lightning speed. In these circumstances you should have an elevated spirit, perfectly weightless, each hair is dressing like a halberd, muscles expanding, almost in a mental state of unconsciousness, in any part of body there is Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 12

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan strength, and all forces generated are united into what can be called a “field” of forces.

We need also to explain that, although post standing and testing force are two different groups of techniques, there is no clear border separating them, and it is the inner beauty of our art: Dachengquan…Where all derives from zhan zhuang.

When in testing force you reduce your amplitude, decrease your speed, all your movements becoming tiny and even not visible, then your limbs and body are assuming a post standing.

In the opposite, if through mental inducement when assuming post standing, you are offering slightly more space for your limbs, then you are in fact executing a testing force exercise.



II.3 Stepping

The stepping in Dachengquan has two meanings. First, through stepping you can experience your whole body’s force moving in a wider space. In testing force, we may realize the existence and accumulation of strength, but in practice, because when you are making steps, the movements in your body cannot stop changing, but it is essential to keep your strength always round and flowing at this precise moment, this must be trained through stepping exercises. Second, in training stepping, you can train a very essential point in combat. All serious practitioners of martial arts know that stepping has a vital contribution in attack and defense. Concerning its training Wang Xiangzhai said: “Go straight to your opponent’s center of gravity your force should not have other target, get a global estimation of the situation, if you advance, you should advance with body, if you retreat you should retreat with Qi, changing forward-backward, leftward-rightward carefully, stretching universally. When hand arrives but not your step, your attack is excellent, but when hand arrives and step also, striking your opponent becomes like playing with a child, because when hand and foot arrive together, there is a full collaboration of your whole body. Footwork in Dachengquan includes basic step and attacking step: - Basic step is called also friction step (or mud step), when you are making a friction step, you should do your best to experience feeling in whole body, practicing balance and steadiness, - Attacking steps include transversal step, triangle step, trampling step, large step, fast step and guokua (wrapping hip) step, etc… These steps can be trained first separately, then after being proficient in, you can practice then in a pre-determinate order, then changed to combination of steps, from combination of steps to transit progressively to free stepping and finally no principle stepping. Let’s go deeper: in order to allow even more flexibility in step and body movements, you must train free step and no principle stepping: - free stepping may include various forms of single steps, so in the begin, you should first make combination of couple of single steps, then later increase progressively to combinations of three and more steps, - no principle stepping looks somewhat similar to a single step, or their combination, but in the same time there are obvious differences. Here steps are not pre-determinate; they are not only fast but should also harmonious and unpredictable: sometimes moving forward in the direction of your opponent, sometimes backward, sometimes leftward, sometimes rightward, sometimes close to him, sometimes far… Through this way, you become elusive like a loach, agile like an ape, fast like a running horse, powerful like a hungry tiger; as a result your opponent can hardly adapt to your movements: you are like thunder with sparkling spirit, ruthless hand then the defeat of your opponent becomes inevitable.



II.4 Issuing force After training testing force and stepping, you’ve gained “internal strength” and you have already experienced its

extension in a wider space, but, if you want to change it into a martial power, then you must train issuing force.

Issuing force includes issuing solo practice and issuing force with partner.

The different steps in issuing force are: first feel the existence and accumulation of this strength your body,

through force inducement method, enlarge it, and then proceed to the next step which is literally to issuing it.

What they called “empty issuing” is, to be under a pre-determinate posture, and proceed to a pure issuing force.

What they called “ejecting issuing force”, is to have on partner standing in front of you, then to proceed in issuing

force as to eject your opponent, ejecting issuing force is the most direct way of issuing force.

However in issuing force, you must fulfill several conditions such as: mental placidity, straightforwardness,

celerity, weightiness and integrity.

When you are issuing force, you should adjust your body’s relaxation and the frequency of his contraction.

Contraction and relaxation do not only point on contraction and relaxation of muscles, an even more important

point is the contraction and relaxation of your mental. Relaxation is the storing phase of the strength management

process, and contraction is obviously the issuing force phase.

Issuing force can be revealed under different forms:

- If we consider it from the body aspects: you have whole body issuing force and part of body issuing force; - If we consider it from the postural aspect: you have fixed position issuing force and not fixed position issuing force, - If you consider it from the mental aspect: you have mental driven issuing force and instinctive issuing force, - If you consider it from the directional aspect: you have direct (frontal) issuing force and side face issuing force, - If you consider it from the functional aspect, issuing force can be divided into: ejecting-issuing force, piercing force, issuing-piercing force, - If you consider it from the idiographic representation of Dachengquan force, issuing force includes cumulative force, full integrated force, universal force, double stretching force, whipping force, springing force, magnetic force, lingering force, frightening force etc...] - If you consider it from the application aspect: you have open-close force, axle force, pulley force, heavy and speedy force, fixed center force, triangle force, leverage force, inclined plane force, take in and send out force etc... - If you consider it from Dachengquan ejecting issuing force aspects, there are: pure ejecting issuing force, elastic ejecting issuing force, revolving ejecting issuing force, turning round ejecting issuing force, cross arm ejecting issuing force, trampling ejecting issuing force, triangle ejecting issuing force, stumbling leg ejecting issuing force, shovel leg ejecting issuing force, pulling leg ejecting issuing force and no fixed posture ejecting issuing force etc...

II.4.1 Five Major Forces: Concerning force characteristics, Wang Xiangzhai divided them, according to targeted functions, into five forces which are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth and provided the following additional Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 15

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan explanations:

II.4.1.1 Metal force Muscles of the whole body are hard, heart like ironstone (strong determination). When using this force, false becomes true, presenting “storm fortifications” ability, This characteristic is metal, we call it metal force, where skin and flesh become soft as cotton, muscle and bone become hard like steel. II.4.1.2 Wood force Everywhere in your body, you have this force, bending and erecting like wood, this is why it is called wood force. II.4.1.3 Water force The movements of the body are like dragon in the sky, like snake in the water, coming and going without leaving any trace, the movements are free and smooth, like a flowing river, this is a false force, this is also called water force. II.4.1.4 Fire force Issuing force is like a bursting bomb, under the slightest impulse it is like fire burning body, singularly impetuous, in this case force changes from false into true, and then returns into false, movement are very fast, all these properties are those of the Fire, this is why it is called Fire force. II.4.1.5 Earth force Full and true, mind is steady like a mountain, there is nowhere any spearhead (fighting abilities) displayed, force changes into neutral, enclosing magically both functions of falseness and truth, all these properties belongs to Earth, this is why it is called Earth force.

II.4.2 Specific requirements II.4.2.1 Hard force: straight and firm (hard force is easy to warp) like bumping the top of needle, each hair of whole body is erected like a halberd possessing a sharp force sharp, pointing out of body, this force is good for attack and defense. II.4.2.2 Soft force: short retreat and long force, agile (soft force is round and easy to uplift), like a spring, each hair is like being submitted to a turbulence, soft force contains internally a sharp force. II.4.2.3 Inclined plane force: good to be used against frontal attack, unusually agile, useful for attack and practical points of “issuing force”



II.4.2.4 Spiral force: hand applying a screwing, no matter if the incoming force is hard or soft, you can use spiral force against it, multiplying your opportunities to counterattack, it the easiest way to gain force, and change it into leading out, throwing, twisting or wresting forces. II.4.2.5 Cumulative force: Cumulative force is the force of the whole body, emerging from the internal and not from the external, hard externally and soft internally. Requires stillness to prepare movement, then changes to impose, it can generate straight force, sticking force or absorbing force. Excellent as empty suppleness protecting mid-line of the body, changing easily, that is why it is also called “insubstantial center”. II.4.2.6 Spring force: it is also called straight force, like a spring issuing force, this force produces vibrations, externally soft and internally hard, like cotton wrapping iron, effective to use against passive force: that’s why it is called “substantial center” (shi zhong). II.4.2.7 Surprising force: surprising force uses extremities of four limbs, changes are initiated from waist, like a snake or a dragon, hard and soft assisting mutually each other, using both Yin and Yang, Insubstantial and Substantial. You need however to watch any of your opponent’s change, then when next to you, your force is entwining and wrapping, very fast: this is why it is called also “dissolving center” (hua zhong). In high level issuing forces, there are mind merging issuing force and instinct issuing force. - Mind merging issuing force is involving: spirit, mind (intention) and power, with the request that all of them are harmoniously combined. During your practice you should not be limited the form, no matter if you are standing, sitting or lying, all these postures are suitable for your practice. - Instinct issuing force is a high level mind merging issuing force, Master Wang Xuanjie used to point out: “The difference between them is that mind merging issuing force is controlled by combat consciousness and instinct issuing force is triggered by body’s touch receptors, no matter if you are walking, sitting and lying, at any time, any place, any position etc... all are suitable for practice. When you are training instinct issuing force, you should elevate your spirit then with a mental extremely available, as if any object is touching you, you will issue instantaneously where it is required.



II.5 Testing voice

Mr. Wang Xiangzhai said: “Testing force has the role to compensate testing force in part of the body difficult to access, then voice and force should be issued all together”. To obtain good results in testing force or testing voice, you must understand that testing voice is compensating testing force in part of the body hardly accessible. When having acquired testing voice basics, you should in practice use voice and force together when you are issuing, this is highest level for adjustment of all potential forces contained in the inner body and it may also induce the practitioner to feel shakes and vibrations. What is called testing voice is in fact to use appropriate wording while issuing voice, to increase internal strength. For healing purpose, you can use some special appropriate words during testing voice. You can practice Testing Voice through different ways:

II.5.1 Two categories of testing voice (functional aspect) II.5.1.1 Healing testing voice Healing testing voice has six basic words; each word to be used for specific disease and completion

of specific medical treatment.

For sitting posture with healing testing voice: you should read silently six words:

- chui (sounds like “chr-way”), - hu (sounds like “hwoo”), - xi (sounds like “ssee”), - he (sounds like “huh”), - xu (sounds like “sseh-ew”), - si (sounds like “sr”) When you are reading silently, you should try your best to do it slow, light, deep and long. Chui cures nerve, Hu cures spleen disease, Xi cure “San Jiao” disease (literally “Triple burner” – a Traditional Chinese Medicine concept- San Jiao is where the Yuan (Original) Qi flows) - In this theory, the San Jiao has no form, it is not an organ, it is a collection of functions. The Classic of Difficulties says that the Yuan Qi resides between the Kidneys and spreads to the Zhang Fu via the San Jiao, it then enters the twelve meridians and emerges at the Yuan-source points. The Yuan Qi can only make possible all body functions through its spreading by the San Jiao. Therefore it greatly effects the warming for digestion, and excretion.) - He cures cardio-vascular diseases, - Xu cures liver disease, - Si cures lungs disease. These six words can be integrated in a same training program or practice singularly depending of the practitioner physical conditions or the medical treatment that the patient is following.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan II.5.1.2 Combat testing voice Combat testing voice a testing voice used for combat purpose, its function is to enrich internal

strength and to compensate force where is it is insufficient.

The common words used in combat testing voice are:

- A (sounds like “ah”), - Heng (sounds like “hung”), - Ha (sounds like “hah”), - Hei (sounds like “hay”), - Ya (sounds like “yah”). These five words of combat testing force can be integrated in a same training program of combat testing force, but they can also be conjugated with testing force and issuing force exercises. When you are practicing testing voice, in the beginning you should use mouth to issue voice, as a result your chest is generating resonance, after long time of practice the voice should be issued from the deep of the belly, like wind howling from valley, like the sound of bell from an old temple located in remote mountains, voice should not be high-pitched voice but have rather low-pitched voice powerful and deep. Combat testing voice includes also tiger’s howl, lion’s roar, dragon’s howl and generating resonance testing voice. - The tiger’s howl uses A word testing voice, sound is like a long howl of a fierce tiger, resounding in an empty valley, - The lion’s roar uses Ha testing voice, sound is a lion bellowing, resounding in the sky, - The dragon’s howl uses Heng testing voice, voice is like a light dragon’s howl, almost imperceptible but can be heard from very far, - generating resonance Hei or Ya testing voice, when issuing generating resonance your whole body should be shaken, submitted to vibrations, spirit and mind should be full, without any interruption.



II.5.2 Three mental categories of testing voice II.5.2.1 Intentional testing voice Intentional testing voice is in fact to apply purposely testing voice assuming a standing post, conjugating with testing force or issuing force, or purposely applying some words in testing voice. All practitioners should start with this category of testing voice. II.5.2.2 Subconscious testing voice It is also called natural testing voice. When your internal Qi or internal strength through practice reaches its very plenitude, you will feel yourself the whole body blood and Qi distending starting from the abdomen, the inner body enriched and expanded, during this time you can unconsciously and impetuously issue voice from belly, in this case the voice should be deeper and longer than commonly (compared with Intentional testing voice) but also more round, pure, having a greater stimulation effects on the parts of body hardly accessible through testing and issuing force. II.5.2.3 Internal rotating testing voice The voice should not come explicitly but rotating in your inner body, this is one the highest level of testing voice, passing from voice into silent form to achieve further internal results. When you are using this method of testing voice, you feel the sound wave you’ve generated, through out your inner body: blood vessel, hairs, distension in abdomen, skin and muscles, enriching your five internal organs, from this exercise you can obtain more vigor and compactness, in your internal strength. Improving directly Dachengquan’s Whole Body Force (Zhendi Li), Universal Force (Hunyuan Li) etc...



II.5.3 Three kind of manifestations in testing voice II.5.3.1 Pure testing voice After assuming correctly one posture, you train solely testing voice, or during your practice of post standing or testing force, you may alternate with solely testing voice, this is called pure testing voice. II.5.3.2 Combining voice and force testing This implies that during a testing force exercise you include in same time testing voice, or in issuing force exercise you include testing voice, voice and force are practiced all together, this has the motivating power of “voice” at any time mingled with force, this is the combining voice and force testing method. II.5.3.3 Testing voice with stepping Put into practice; it is in fact using testing voice during stepping exercise. When body is moving (and stepping) further effects resulting from testing voice could be expected from the practitioner. During combat you should step lightly, voice assisting force, and even frightening your opponent. This is testing voice with stepping. Through testing voice, the flowing of internal strength is intensified. When you are issuing force, voice issuing will follow naturally force timing, during this time the combination of spirit, form, mind, force and voice should be highly refined.



II.6 Pushing hands II.6.1 The meaning of pushing hand II.6.1.1 Pushing hand is testing force with external resistance In general testing force and issuing force are basic exercises without partner or any resisting obstacle reacting to your movements; in addition ejecting issuing force (fangren fali) uses only fixed posture or almost fixed posture. However through testing force with (external) resistance, allowing your own force to generate more changes in order to be more practical (instead of being a passive force) applying what is called an “active force”. In starting pushing hands course, you should not only learn the standard movement, but also experience how your force will deal with external resistance, how it will adapt in front of it, how it will regenerate into new forms and even issue force. II.6.1.2 Pushing hand is a method understanding force What they call understanding force is in fact to known practical applications of the “internal strength”. Pushing hands emphasize on important principles different from issuing methods. If you want reach the target of pushing hands training, you should be training the “internal strength” and its achievement. Single and double pushing hands, controlling and inverse controlling, issuing and reverse issuing all can check up directly each effect of power. So, through pushing hands you can really understand deeply effects of your strength. II.6.1.3 Pushing hands are in fact basics of Superior level of Dachengquan Theoretically in Dachengquan, you should not need to practice pushing hands to grasp some combat abilities; however it is impossible for a practitioner to reach Superior level in combat abilities without pushing hands training. After long time of practice in pushing hands you will be able to transmute (your strength) from hard into soft, from hard into soft. Wang Xiangzhai said: “When intercepting your enemy’s attack, you should a clear idea about how you are both interacting, in terms of posture, power, then borrowing his force and turn it back to him, this is what is called one single finger can move thousand pounds.” This method is using the “soft changing” principle. When we have reached a high level in pushing hands, no matter how your opponent is attacking, you will be able to dispel your opponent’s whole incoming force with only one touch, and simultaneously adopt the adequate technique to strike back.



II.6.2 Pushing hands fundamentals The pushing hands in Dachengquan are different from pushing hands in Baguazhang or in Tai Chi Chuan,

they presents some similarities but also some their own specificities.

Concerning Dachengquan’s pushing hands fundamentals and methods, my master Mr. Wang Xuanjie

contributed significantly in bringing up further theories and valuable principles which led Dachengquan

to its present evolution.

Pushing hands in Dachengquan have five different levels:

Starting level, Intermediate One Level, Intermediate Two Level, Advanced Level, Superior Level, Master

Level.

According to the principle of Dachengquan there should not be any fixed posture or any fixed pattern, but

it is obvious that a beginner cannot grasp completely all fundamentals of Dachengquan pushing hands in

one day. The beginner should start from the very basic practical combat methods to build up

progressively his combat skills and then step by step improving his fighting capabilities, following the

right path which will lead him up to the highest level in Dachengquan.

Pushing hands in Dachengquan include single pushing hand and double pushing hands, but no matter

what kind of pushing hands you are practicing you should follow inevitably the following basic points:

II.6.2.1 Whole body relaxed and punctual contraction Keep muscle relaxed, but you should still have elasticity and supportive force, every part of body should keep a light or hidden ward-off force, whole body should maintain constantly an important level of relaxation and sinking, when your opponent touches your hand, in this specific “point”, you should have a contraction. Relaxation of body in pushing hand helps you to increase your suppleness and then with the punctual contraction to produce a bigger threatening to your opponent, in addition, this precondition of relaxed body will constitute an important base to practice and develop a “hearing strength”. What is called “hearing strength” is in fact the touching sensitivity. It is only through a good “hearing strength” that you can reach the situation where “your opponent cannot understand me but you can understand him”. II.6.2.2 Holding position and direction This is to apply specifically the principle of “keeping midline and using midline position”. What is called “keeping midline” is to protect your body’s midline position, controlling opponent’s weight, preventing opponent to turn and finally driving him to a passive position. To improve application of “keeping midline and using midline”, you should pay a special attention to the deployment of body’s movement and stepping, your own body’s position, attacking with side or frontal positioning on his center of gravity, and finally throwing your opponent out.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan II.6.2.3 Punctual Force changing constantly In pushing hands, your punctual force should be agile and able to change constantly, as it written in the “Theory of Dachengquan: “dealing constantly with opponent without any fixed intention”, driving in such way that your opponent will have no specific point to focus, (for him it becomes) impossible to defend effectively, like being submerged he will be rapidly defeated. Let’s say, you use first your hand to strike opponent, then forearm to bump him, followed by a smashing fist to strike opponent his chest etc... your force and technique become like endless, proceeding to a tight encirclement, opponent will feel impossible to escape from your offensive. II.6.2.4 Continuous bursting force In the “Theory of Dachengquan” are written the secret of “Continuous bursting force”, sometimes a single issuing force may find some difficulties to be effective, or you have only the choice to destroy your opponent’s center of gravity, then you should adopt “Continuous bursting force” method, in order to eject him out or make him fall down. Continuous bursting force is a specific issuing force. It is used as followed: when you are issuing force, you should be a like cannon-shot when shooting, with an unidirectional bursting force, endless, until you throw your opponent out. II.6.2.5 Alternation of touching and sticking Here we apply the principle of “no losing (contact), no butting”. This is when you are applying a pushing hand strategy where you never leave your opponent, and also where you never butt him, budging this combat situation. As an example, during pushing hands you manage to keep always appropriate touching of opponent’s arm, then you chain immediately when touching can be transformed into uplifting. Through sticking to your opponent, he can hardly escape. When you are sticking constantly to him, you can follow each of his movements and launch easily an attack, as it brings up a good ability of “hearing strength”. Knowing every change in the speed, power and direction of the opponent’s incoming attack. Then you can deploy your touching instinct, using each of the principles of mechanics, combining them, using inertia law, coupling force principle, balancing principle, leverage principle etc...driving him to be ejected or thrown down. II.6.2.6 Controlling with shoulder and hip When you are executing pushing hands, you should use shoulders and hips flexibility to control the whole body. In Dachengquan there is a saying: “Strike enemy with shoulder and hip. When ejecting enemy, although your palm and your fist are touching him, but in fact real forces are issued from shoulder and hip, in this way you can easily “keep midline and use midline”, favorable for whole body movement where “when one part moves all others parts should move simultaneously”, force will never be excessive nor insufficient. This is only under the condition where shoulders and hips are controlling (whole body) that you can change freely your attack and feel your opponent (hearing strength) endlessly.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan II.6.2.7 Carry on rebounding When your opponent issuing force to you, you are not dissolving his incoming power, instead you are using your body to carry on, again and again with your solid martial power up to spring him out. There is an example of Boxing expert who challenged Wang Xuanjie. In the beginning of this combat, the Boxing expert used his two fists circling very fast, Wang Xuanjie did not avoid nor escaped them, just applying of “carry on rebounding” technique against his opponent who finally crashed on the wall two meters away before rebounding on it. To use “carry on rebounding” you should have a solid technique, prompt reaction timing and sufficient suppleness. II.6.2.8 Borrowing from spirit No matter what method you are using, you should always pay attention to how to apply “borrowing from spirit”. Wang Xiangzhai said: “Gather the sight of your two eyes, the electrical power from the top of your fingers then your muscle will be frightening like a snake, your step winding like a cyclone, appearing freely like a huge wave, circling like a whale in the sea”; you can also look on your opponent as a small mosquito, or like an old man playing with child; when you are facing a strong opponent, you can imagine being in a desert place where you can act freely.



II.7 Sparring Sparring is also called breaking hands or cutting hands (duan shou), where you can use any of technique of attack or defense. Through this training you would be able to check up your level in the six preceding training methods. As this training will involve any aspect of Dachengquan techniques such as issuing force, footwork, pushing hands, etc.... to be applied during a real combat. According to Dachengquan Theory, there is no fixed technique that means that your ultimate goal is that from any combat situation, you should be able to generate a viable technique and a steady posture. But if you want reach this goal, you should practice diligently and progressively, from basic training of fixed techniques and fixed postures, but also using multiple ways of training including: visualization training, simulation training, “learn from each other” training, etc... In Dachengquan basic level of fixed technique and fixed posture includes: single hand technique and chaining hand techniques. - Single hand technique is purely a training of a single combat technique. In general single hand technique includes circling punch, pounding punch, slapping palm, splitting punch, diamond knee, downward punch, armpit palm, crossing punch, drilling punch, chopping palm, boring punch, stomping foot, etc... - Chaining hand technique uses single hand techniques, chaining them into relevant combination of techniques and bringing into life impressive series of fighting techniques. In training, keep on changing without any interruption. In combat, chain your attacks and change permanently. In the beginning you can select just two kinds of single hand techniques in one series, later with your progress you can select successively three or more kinds of single hand techniques to be chained in the Chaining hand training. What is called “simulation training” is from, one single hand technique or a series of chaining hand technique, to use simulation of different combat situations to train. Let’s say with pounding punch for example, you can imagine being confronted to an opponent, you are suddenly stepping forward and attacking rapidly your target; you can also imagine that when opponent is attacking you, you can withdraw by stepping back, dodging your body, blocking his attack etc... various ways to dissolve opponent’s attack, and after maul him heavily. In simulate training two people or more can practice simultaneously. For example, you can use a single hand technique attack, striking directly your opponent; in another case also I can let your opponent to attack you first then use a single hand technique to defend and counterattack. “Learn from each other” training (learning from each other by exchanging techniques and views) requests you to find one sparring partner and releasing yourself from any fixed posture or fixed technique, training in sparring conditions close to real combat. During this training, no one is preliminary defined as the attacker or the defender, both sides should adapt according to the specificity of the combat situation. This situation will ultimately decide who is more inclined to attack or to defend. Mr. Wang Xuanjie divided sparring practice into different levels: Starting level, Intermediate level, Advanced level, Superior level, Highest level.



II.7.1 Starting level of sparring With the pre-condition of a whole body relaxed, adjusting your shoulders position, keeping all-round strength through out your whole body, in your form your body should not reveal any weakness, force not being too sharp, no matter what step and fist you are using, all should keep the whole body’s harmony and consistency. Through this way, it will be not only easy to issue force, but also this will make your opponent to feel you as unassailable, gathering your whole body strength. In the same time you need to capture information and understand opponent that means that you should experience and observe how he does issue force, what his major strong points or favorite techniques are... When issuing force you should maximize your chance to overcome your opponent, avoiding to strike blindly, use instead accurately hand, foot and any part of your body, adapting to situation and in any case keeping the control of your balance. Qi should not rise and should not sink too, body changing constantly, proceeding with rotation of the shoulder and hip; stepping forward/backward to control your opponent. Avoiding, spreading, jumping, moving and blocking opponent’s force when he is near to issue force or intercepting a previous incoming force which has not yet been substituted by another attack, selecting the best time interval to counterattack. Concerning stepping you should master the double principle “In attack: forefoot steps forward and rear foot follows; in retreat: rear foot steps backward and forefoot follows”, this principle is applied also to left/right directions; during your stepping you should make sure to keep your midline and your all-round strength everywhere. This way you can control your opponent easily and drive him to commit fatal mistakes.

II.7.2 Intermediate level of sparring When sparring, you should find the right time to adjust your body posture, because this level now

different than the previous starting level where you were sparring arm to arm with your partner.

So during your movement you don’t have anymore time to consider opponent’s posture and his hand

technique; focus on keeping your midline, then integrate any kind of technique of Dachengquan: post

standing, testing force, stepping, issuing force, testing voice, pushing hand, etc...

When issuing force is mixed with issuing voice, you can take out his courage.

When applying pushing hand you can control your opponent, preparing a much more efficiency strike,

making him difficult to escape; hand is moving like filing, rear hand like hooking, sparring with the

principle where you will not retreat with empty hand.

II.7.3 Advanced level of sparring Spirit and mind are present in your body, completing Dachengquan’s strength from the Intermediate level. When practicing your body should not have fixed posture, steps are also not fixed, whole body’s joints are slightly bent but the force is straight, each muscle is contracting and relaxing properly. In every part of your body you have like a spring, spirit force and posture are all merged. In this level, all Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 27

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan combination of hand attack can be used: single/double hands may execute single/double return; single/double hands may rush forward. For two feet it is the same: all types of steps are possible: side stepping, frontal stepping, circling/straight, driving freely your opponent to confusion steps. But when your opponent is starting to attack with one hand, he needs immediately to protecting himself with two hands, during this time pay attention to your head and midline, keep balance. Again as we said before, hand and foot do not have any pre-determinate posture or movement; in front of this confusion your opponent will be easily defeated.

II.7.4 Superior level of sparring This is the fusion of one hundred hand techniques in one sparring “stove” technique where you are taking from each group of technique its specific soul, integrating its substantive principle, like a sea welcoming myriads of rivers. Dachengquan itself has absorbed the principles of major styles of martial arts before being formally created: as an example we can say that from Xingyiquan it has integrated “whole body force”, from Tai Chi Chuan the “dissolving force”, from Baguazhang the “supple force”, from Changquan (Long Fist) its cold, clear, fast, hard force aspects etc..., all these forces merged, constituting a special force. This special force becoming the basic platform from where will be elaborated all kinds of hand forms. As for Guo Yunshen’s famous (Xingyi Master of Wang Xiangzhai) “half step smashing punch” (Beng Quan), it was not only concentrating the force of Xingyiquan in a single posture, but also all the experience and practice of Guo synthesized in one smashing punch, this is called “Ten thousand technique combined in one”. Dachengquan’s Superior level requires also from both sides advanced sparring conditions where everyone should hide his intention, changing spirit into apparently undisciplined one. When inner body is vigorous, blood is circulating; externally calm to prepare movement; dumb as a wooden chicken. But when you move you should be like an angry tiger, calm like a dragon hibernating, changing constantly, all over the body you should have like springs, under any solicitation all (springs) will react instantaneously: then you have entered to Magnificent Palace of Superior Dachengquan.

II.7.5 Highest level of sparring The highest level of sparring should reach the state where “every fist will convince”, when moving, stepping, sitting and lying all will be reveal a similar martial aspect, when uplifting your hand and moving your foot all will perfectly match with your opponent’s force, balanced in dynamic and static situation as well, permanently martial, ejecting your opponent several meters with a single touch, full of spirit, whatever consciously or unconsciously. This highest level can be defined as “subduing witness”. When you are in combat situation, you will practically not need to move, just using your two eyes to watch intently your opponent, this will be enough to destabilize his mental, to make his movements clumsy, in Dachengquan this is also called “spiritual control” or “spirit folding” technique of combat. But let’s be honest this is more a psychological advantage and not as some may misunderstand any metaphysical or any esoteric power… Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 28


CHAPTER III The First Phase of Training

As the results of many years in teaching and training Dachengquan, I discovered that it is more

pedagogically appropriate to define a “Dachengquan method with three main training phases”, through

this segmentation: students of different levels, of different phases can integrate easier the concepts and the

practice of Dachengquan.

In applying “three phases training technique”, experience has shown that this can be a short cut for vast

majority of Dachengquan students to get into Dachengquan Palace. In this e-book there are three chapters

presenting successively each of the “three training phases”.

Let’s start with the first phase of training.

First phase of training is aiming to grasp basics of Dachengquan’s Seven wonderful domains of training;

this includes initial powerful ejecting and self defense ability. In this phase, the practitioner will realize

deeply what is called, in Dachengquan, “Do not use of force then (you’ll have) everywhere strength,

changing constantly posture and being always available”.

Here are the contents which a practitioner should learn during the First phase:

- universal post (from this derive all other healing posts), - contradiction post, - hooking-filing testing force, - friction step, - triangle step, - transversal step, - underlay step, - ejecting opponent exercise (applying direct force). Single hand techniques should include: - circling punch, - splitting punch, - slapping palm, - pounding punch, - integrating of all previous techniques by chaining them. - But also simulation training. What we need to explain is that although having passed successfully first training phase one can eject his opponent, having acquired some initial self-defense abilities, but this is still quite elementary in the Dachengquan process. Through a scientific and authentic method, you may obtain advanced kungfu with the condition of your personal dedication. Time repartition in a general training program is: for a total duration of training of 1 hour, you can stand 35 minutes, friction step and hooking-filing testing force Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 29

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan during 15 minutes and other techniques the remaining 10 minutes.

It is clear that if one is seeking for specific results this general program can be readjusted for more

suitable training effects.

III.1 Universal (all-round or multi-directional) post Universal post is the main post in Healing posts, if you stand well in universal post, then you can naturally migrate to all other healing posts. If you get the basis of universal post then you will have all the chances to transit successfully to combat post.

III.1.1 Post standing Two feet parallel when standing, shoulder-wide, the weight equally distributed on two soles, two legs standing naturally, neither intentionally bend, neither intentionally straight; two hands uplifted to chest with shoulder at the same height, two hands separated from chest by one foot distance, two arms half round, two armpits half empty; ten fingers separated naturally, the center of palm facing your body, like holding a ball, two arms should have wrapping inward and supporting outward forces, at the same time you should keep body straight while chest and belly are empty. (Fig. 6, 7) Mental activity: Imagine the pores of all your body’s skin are completely open, communicating with surrounding natural Qi, like a cool wind in summer, unusually comfortable. You feel as if whole body’s hair is stretching and waving then obeying only to your mental impulse, each hair will be like “bristling with anger”. It is said in Theory of Dachengquan: “Every single hair should be like a halberd”. You can also imagine that your body is tall and large, even gigantic, four limbs strong enough to support mountain, rivers, Earth, the whole Universe, all these entities decreasing in size up to be like small pills while you are reaching a state like cultivating elevated spirit in a remote place.



Fig. 6

Fig. 7

III.1.2 “Qi” sensations in post standing In Dachengquan we do not talk directly about “Qi” but the following sensations that we will described below are quite similar to sensations of “Qi” in other internal Arts or even in acupuncture. When you start practicing post standing, it is quite usual that it may appear in your body some sensations such as aching, numbness, pain, shivering, swelling, hot, sinking, drawing, sustaining, comfort, well being etc.... Numbness expresses obstruction, shivering: excessive nerve stimulation, aching is excessive use of force, pain in post standing may be due to much tension in your posture or even wrong posture but also being caused by the reappearance old wounds. When you start to learn universal post, the feeling of these above sensations is quite normal, often due to incorrect posture or excessive seek of particular technique effects, over-passing in this starting phase, the time limit of training that your organism can bear but another reason is you may be also excessive in the intensity of the training. According to your daily program you can increase progressively time and intensification of exercises. The previous sensations described above will progressively disappear. In very rare case, after a long time of practice, these sensations are still remaining becoming more intense, this is unusual; you should check your posture and training method. In this case the practitioner should check one by one each requirement corresponding to the post standing, then find the cause and correct it. If you can’t solve this problem by yourself, we invite to contact an experienced teacher or expert (or CMA Ltd. by email, they will be happy to answer you)...a proper guidance and correction of your practice Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 31

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan is important to get rid of this persistent problem. Because if you can’t find reason at this basic level and cannot correct it in time, it will be later very difficult to solve, this will bring only harm and lessen benefits in your training. Sometimes a slight default in practicing post standing may lead later to heavy prejudices in training overall result; therefore the constant respect of Dachengquan training principles is the surest way to enter the realm of Dachengquan. Remember again that when you are practicing post standing if it appears hot, swelling, sinking, leading, sustaining, comfort and well being feelings etc... all these temporary feelings are absolutely normal and they even confirm you the good progress in your training along different courses and different levels. Dr Yu Yongnian uses to say: “If you don’t feel any pain or similar sensations after a certain period of training then you are in a stagnant phase: you should increase the intensity of your exercises or include new ones in your training program...”

III.1.3 Time request for post standing When you are beginning the duration of the training should be relatively short and should set up in accordance to one physical condition. In general starting post standing duration of 5-10 minutes should be enough. If you want to make same fast progress then you can also add more time. If after standing for a determined time your shoulder and arms are aching, this means that you have already quire close to your duration limit, you should interrupt your exercise of post standing (because when your post standing is not correct you will probably not reach your determined duration and hardly progress into further levels of practice). By increasing progressively duration of training you can reach a minimal duration requested for each level. Generally the beginner needs to reach a continuous standing of half hour, later when he can stand uninterruptedly during half hour without feeling any ache or tiredness, then he can continue again to increase his time of post standing, it should be even easier for him. For healing purpose a daily training program including not less than half hour of post standing is suitable. It is clear that the longer is your post standing duration, the more frequently you are standing in the day, the longer you maintain a daily uninterrupted training program, the better are your results. Let’s precise also that if in one day you are standing two times half hour, the effect will not as good as standing continuously during 40 minutes just once, because during this single time the benefit effects can develop more favorably. (some Qigong schools call this “internal alchemy”: this transmutation of the inner body requires necessarily time, like a stove to reach its optimal temperature)

III.1.4 Principles of post standing Post standing requires the seek of relaxation through calmness, from relaxation to seek body integration, seeking contraction from relaxation, achieving relaxation during contraction, then by combining the six techniques of Dachengquan: spirit, form, mind, Qi, strength and voice, to obtain finally its highest virtue. Duration of post standing has a direct relation with the process of seeking relaxation through calmness: if you can’t reach the required state of relaxation, it may be due to an insufficient time of standing. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 32

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan In this case you should persevere, advancing gradually, and avoiding impatience (do not stress mentally too much about relaxation as a target, just let it comes): approaching whole body relaxation step by step with a gradual increase of standing duration. A special attention should be paid in the fact that although pursuing long duration of standing is good, it is also essential that during your effort to increase standing duration, you still keep unchanged the three prime objectives of the standing post, adjusting your body, increasing your martial power and recovering physical and organic abilities. In post standing, although every practitioner are assuming a same posture, this posture cannot be absolutely identical. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai said in “Theory of Dachengquan”: “You need only to be full in spirit and in mind, don’t pursuit similarity of form.” You just need to respect these principles and follow this theory. When practicing, you should stress in combining spirit and mind activity within the form. Principles of post standing require comfortable and natural training, this is expressed by feeling relax in your body as well as a general well being. Comfortable and natural have three meanings: - First: movement is natural,

- Second: breathing is natural, - Third: looking is natural. The concept Natural movement has been already treated in previous paragraphs, therefore we are going to

introduce below the two remaining meanings of “natural”.

III.1.4.1 Naturally breathing When you are assuming post standing you should adopt a natural breathing, with a long practice this natural breathing will be transformed into a breath revealing further advanced characteristics: slow, thin, deep, long, steady, regular and free. Many people in practicing post standing may feel like becoming short of breath or their chest muscles abnormally tensed, at this time they should just take a deep and big breath they feel immediately better, these effects are simply transitions to a higher breathing ability, self-adjusting from your origin breath habits. To help the readjustment you can also pay attention to relax your chest and lower your two arms. III.1.4.2 Naturally looking Assuming post standing, your two eyes should be slightly opened looking forward, or con be half opened, half closed, but also slightly closed, all depending of your individual feeling while performing this exercise. In general when you are looking forward you can concentrate your spirit, and after a short time when the eyes are starting to feel tired, change into half opened half closed eyes, then change into two eyes slightly closed, limbs and brain feel easy, in relax and in stillness. But if you keep your eyes closed too long time, this may bring you up to a lethargic sleep or drive your lower limbs to lose balance or your body wagging: this time just open your eyes.

III.1.5 Adjusting your body Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 33


The fundamental request of universal post is feeling comfortable and natural, for convalescent people, it is recommended to start practice of post standing with a relative short duration. When ache appears and no more comfort exists in limbs, they should interrupt their fixed post; readjust their body to reach again the state of natural comfort. There are two adjusting ways: adjusting limbs and adjusting mind. III.1.5.1 Adjusting limbs This method requests you to adjust limbs freely. During post standing, if your arm is tired, you can slightly lower your arm (Fig. 8), but hands are still like holding ball posture then later uplift back slowly to the standard universal post posture. If in this substandard standing of Holding Ball Post you feel still tired, you can even drop further your arms to assume then Generating Qi Post (Fig. 9), when legs feel are not comfortable, you can step forward with one foot to change your stance and ease the posture (Fig. 10, 11). If you don’t feel comfortable while standing then you can practice sitting post, in this time two arms can assume Expanding-Embracing post, you can also put two hands on the leg, center of palm facing up or down (Fig. 12-15). If you do not feel comfortable with sitting posts, you can practice lying posts. If whatever posture you are adopting, you are still feeling not comfortable, you should stop practice and seek the assistance of an expert or teacher for further advice.

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10



Fig. 11

Fig. 12

Fig. 13

III.1.5.2 Adjusting mind With the condition of keep limbs posture unchanged, you can proceed to mind adjustment. There are many methods commonly used, we will just select three of them.

Fig. 14

Fig. 15

III.1.5.2.1 Water Bathing Your body is like in a warm water, the water arriving to the level of your navel, the temperature is Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 35

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan ideal, whole body relaxed then you start to taste the resistance of the water and the buoyancy force, tasting the water from all your skin pores, skin and muscle are smoothly rinsed and skimmed, providing a feeling of incomparable comfort and well being. III.1.5.2.2 Hanging Cotton Imagine that your bones are like precious tree trunk, the muscles of limbs like flowers which are hanging on this tree, and after experiencing softness and lightness of muscles just like cotton. This method can provide to your muscle feeling of warmth and delicacy. III.1.5.2.3 Relaxation Relax intentionally each part of body. Start first with two hands, two arms, two shoulders, chest, belly, two legs, two knees and two soles, and after it is the turn of your back, hip, back of knee, two calves and two feet to relax. The above adjusting methods can be combined at will, selecting the adjustment methods according to your situation. To summarize, no matter if you are in good health and targeting martial power or you are recovering from surgical operation, unable to stand, you should respect permanently the aim of your training as well as the principle related to the post exercise you’ve included in your training program. For example some patients under medical treatment are unable to stand by themselves in this case they can still practice with the back against on a wall or a tree. Once their physical condition has improved they can return to the standard standing Universal Post.

III.1.6 Ending training exercise Ending phase of your exercise is very important. After having practiced your post, when you are up to finish exercising: first drop naturally two arms alongside your body, whole body relaxed, you can close slightly two eyes, abandoning the practice of mind activity you’ve just trained, calm down and stand naturally, whole body should relax for about 3 minutes then open your eyes. Your training session is finished. A good training habit should be to precede and to finish your standing post training session with “Ending training exercise”; this has a very beneficial effect in enhancing functions of the posts and adjustments after training. Universal post is a basic platform for healing and combat techniques. This is why any practitioner should persist on training Universal Post, in order to experience what was previously imperceptible, stressing more on most important points and potential areas of development offered by this sublime exercise. (Note: As soon as the practitioner is starting to train Universal Post, even though it is a basic technique in Dachengquan training program, he should reserve his best attention regarding this technique.)



III.2 Contradiction post From universal post you should practice Contradiction post. Contradiction post is the basic technique for combat post; this post allows your internal strength to be more abundant, opening to the use of further techniques and further skills to be exerted. After reaching a certain level of standing post your forehand can be like a shield and your rear hand like a spear able to bring out various techniques of combat.

III.2.1 Post standing III.2.1.1 Position of two feet (with left posture for example) The heel of left foot at 2/3 of the inner side of right foot (assuming that right sole represents the frontal direction), the angle between two feet is about 15-20 degrees; then left foot is stepping forward/leftward while keeping previous angle, left heel landing about one foot distance from the inner side of right sole, you are assuming now left T-eight step. (Fig. 16)

Fig 16

Fig 17

Fig 18

III.2.1.2 Wrapping hip After adjusting your two feet, use your hip to wrap rightward/inward, you should pull slightly back, putting weight on the right hip, upper body slightly pressing backward, weight distribution: 30% on front leg and 70% on back leg. Wrapping hip is a key point of contradiction post, it is not at excessive to say “if you can’t properly wrap hip your practice contradiction post is not correct”. It is a pity that many Dachengquan practitioners have difficulties to grasp this main point. Even for myself it took long time for me to grasp this main point. It was fortunately my Master Wang Xuanjie who perceived my deficiency and helped me to correct it. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 37

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan So how can you be sure that your “wrapping hip” is right?

There are three criteria which you can use to validate it:

- when your “wrapping hip” is not correct two legs are basically straight, - when your “wrapping hip” is not correct, use your hand to touch right hip you should detect a kind of depression (sunken area); - when your “wrapping hip” is not correct, rear hip and rear buttocks do not have tightening and swelling feeling. If your “wrapping hip” is correct, the rear leg is naturally bent, the sunken area should be protuberant, rear hip and rear buttock feeling tightened, sometimes aching, that tightening and aching degree should be the criteria on which you are going to establish your standard level of exercise. In the beginning you should wrap slightly your hip and later when you’ve acquired basic proficiency increase progressively your wrapping hip degree. (Fig. 17) III.2.1.3 Posture of upper limbs (left T-eight step) After wrapping hip you can uplift two arms, the left arm is forming an angle of 135 degrees, right arm is forming an angle of 95 degrees; ten fingers separated naturally, the center of palm facing inward, between left hand and chest you have a distance of about 1 foot 2 inches, left hand is higher than shoulder and the right hand slightly lower and more withdrawn than the left hand, one foot is separating both hands. (Fig. 18) In addition to the above three conditions required for a correct standing post, whole body should be relaxed and sinking, the acu-point “Yintang” (a very sensitive point between the eyebrows), second joint of left hand’s index finger and left sole, all should be aligned, two eyes looking far forward to single point.

III.2.2 The purpose of training contradiction post The purpose of training contradiction post is to cultivate and practice “internal strength”. What is called “internal strength” does not have any form, hidden in the inner body; it can naturally emerge when situations require it. For example, when you reach the level of possessing a “refined” internal strength, when you eject(uproot) opponents or strike them, you do not have anymore the feeling of brutal force, your opponents too will also feel that you are no more using brutal force, but during your offensive, they will feel instead an abundant strength and endless power; or if you use slightly your wrist to press on the opponent’s body and arm, and then the opponent will feel like touching cotton wrapping iron; or when you stand well and let your opponent to push and pull you, you will have natural advantage on him, give him the feeling of heaviness and stability of a mountain; if your opponent strikes you, he will meet a very strong resistance; if you just twist slightly then your opponent will fall down, these are results of proper use of this “internal strength”.



III.2.3 Principle of contradiction post Principle of contradiction post is to experience the effects of “ward off power with muscle relaxed”. (ward off power is expressed by larger stretching abilities of your muscle). When assuming post standing, your whole body’s muscles are relaxed, especially in shoulder and in the two arms where relaxation should be even more important, but relaxed does not mean slack, a precondition for relaxation is to have a large quantity ward off strength. What should you do to reach this point? First set up mental calmness, whole body relaxed and sinking. You should feel like having in front of you a very strong man, no matter how this strong man is pushing, pulling, smashing and stirring up my arm, you still keep superiority on him; this is mental practice in Dachengquan “Not moving when being pushed, not breaking when being pulled, not smashing when being dropped, not rising when being stirred”. After a long time of practice you will bear a smashing attack from an opponent like a heavy wood, staying still and not moving; but if you attack this will be fatal for him. When you start practice of contradiction post, it is very difficult to get “ward off power with muscle relaxed”, many people know how to relax but then their limbs will be loose and slack, but nothing of ward off strength; even they are performing pushing, pulling, smashing and stirring up which get the advantage in front of an opponent, their two shoulders and two arms are numb and hard, there is no the principle of cotton wrapping iron. Do not get frustrated and impatient, just calm down and persevere in practicing, the only way to get this further manifestation of internal strength which is “ward off power with muscle relaxed” is through progressive training. After gaining “ward off power with muscle relaxed” ability, no matter if you are throwing out, doing pushing hands etc... In all your practice it will involve a huge power. Because of this new stretching ability of any muscle, so in terms of power, you can easily overcome unrefined force and brutal power. This is manifested by a huge natural force having in the same time the properties of highest suppleness and even using single hand technique with great efficiency, so that in combat your movement is fast like lightning, changing constantly, in a very short time you can perform and chain multiple combat techniques, highly elusive, bringing your opponent to care about one attack but immediately losing as in the same time is appearing another one, this express the fundamental principle of Dachengquan “There is no fixed posture but posture is everywhere”. Also because your muscle before contraction doesn’t lose his ward off stretching capability so that your resulting force will definitively increase its properties of integration, simplicity and vigor. If you are striking an opponent he will feel a more penetrative and heavier force. If you use it to throw out your adversary, he will feel like just been touched then immediately ejected; If you use it in pushing hands, it becomes like playing with a child, attracting him when he advances, repelling him when he retreats, If you use it in real combat, your strike will inflict to your opponent very serious or fatal injury. Concerning the training your mental during “ward off power with muscle relaxed”, it should not be a Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 39

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan passive mental inducement which should be applied, from the beginning to the end, to all your pushing, pulling, smashing and stirring up movements, you need to include discontinuity. After using “determinate” mind inducement use a free mind inducement, as having a rest. During exercising “ward off power with muscle” your mind activity should have this contradictive feeling of coming /leaving far and having/not having. By practicing correctly according to the standard posture of “Contradiction Post” and respecting its requirements, in a short time you can have substantial results. For practitioner without any further background, practicing in their spare time, after three months it will appear greater resistance to shocks. If professional practitioners (having martial or Qi Gong background) do not feel any effect after a short time of practice then under the right guidance, most of them will gain greater resistance to shocks within 5 days. In the beginning, it will first appear in the belly then it will develop in the waist, back, head and later in the whole body, you will feel like carrying a kind “iron cloth” and two arms feeling strong and heavy.



III.3 Hooking-filing testing force Hooking-filing testing force is part of the general testing force exercises, through this testing you can experience Dachengquan’s accumulating force, whipping force, expanding-embracing force, leverage force, double contending force etc... For pedagogic purpose hooking-filing testing force can normally divided into three sections: starting movement, two palms transition movement and hooking-filing movement.

III.3.1 Starting movement Assuming contradiction post, lower limbs remaining unchanged (you can avoid from wrapping hip), drawing inward your two arms and two hands, two hands separated from chest for about 1 foot distance, one head distance between the first joint of two index fingers, two hands lower than eyes level. (Fig. 19)

Fig 19

Fig 20

Fig 21



Fig 22

III.3.2 Two palms transition movement Chaining from previous posture, two shoulders and two arms relaxed, with two wrists leading two hands to open outward/forward, center of palm facing backward and downward, ten fingers facing forward and downward (not too vertical, both hands starting from being parallel to the ground, then slightly inclined forward and downward), make sure to keep one head distance between middle finger of two hands. (Fig. 20)

III.3.3 Hooking-filing off movement Continuing from the last posture, two palms are slowly turning upward, center of two palms inclined

forward and downward, ten fingers inclined forward and upward; then two palms are pushing forward,

until two arms are almost straight, then two arms rotating outward, the center of palms facing with each

other and keep one head distance; two hands are slowly pulling back, up to 1 foot distance from body,

(Fig. 21, 22).

Then release again center of two palms to turn slowly inward, returning to the starting movement.

Continue again with a second hooking-filing testing force, and repeat section 2 and 3

Note: In whole of testing force exercise, two hands should always keep a linear movement, avoid being

suddenly high or suddenly low, distance between forehand and chest and distance between rear hand and


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan chest you should have a distance of 3 inches. Concerning requirements for lower limbs, you should consider two situations: - First situation: during pushing and pulling course, two legs should have just almost an imperceptible

change, from an external point of view: we can only see two hands and two arms moving;

- Second situation: during pushing and pulling course, two legs should shift weight accordingly to the

overall movement: when two arms are almost straight then two legs have weight distribution of 50%

forward and 50% backward.

But in real combat, the first situation is comparatively more practical as it should allow to merge form and

body and to obtain symmetrical force.

Remember that testing force has four levels of training, in the starting level you should mainly practice

starting level method of testing force: “use mind not force”.

When you are training testing force, with whole body relaxed, you can imagine that two hands are

pushing heavy wood or a boat on the water, slowly pushing forward and after slowly pulling backward.

When you have set up sufficient basis you can go on training with “Advancing hands like filing,

withdrawing like hooking, full of strength when advancing, full of intention when withdrawing”.



III.4 Stepping III.4.1 Friction step Friction step is a basic step in Dachengquan: the mastery of this step opens doors of many steps… Friction step has very interesting healing effects, especially for cases of high blood pressure, neurasthenia, insomnia, etc... where it has proven good curative effect.

III.4.2 Transversal step Transversal step can train leg power, increase body’s suppleness; this step can be performed forward and backward, suitable for defense and attack or even combination of both such as first retreat then attack. Two feet standing parallel, shoulder width separated, left arm and right arm opened, forming with body an angle of 60 degrees, fingers naturally opened, the center of palm facing down; weight moving slowly onto right hip, left foot makes a transversal step (to the left), then the weight moves to left hip, right foot makes a transversal step to the left (near left foot); when right foot has touched ground, uplift again right foot and makes a transversal step to the right, then weight moves back to right hip, left foot can again make transversal step to the right. From now on you can practice with both sides, but you should pay attention to keep always two feet shoulder width apart. (Fig. 30, 31, 32) Mental activity: imagine that between your two feet you have an elastic and under your sole you have a spring then taste the resulting elastic force and springing force. III.4.1.1 Position of two feet Lower limbs assuming left T-eight step of contradiction post, move left foot evenly 3 inches to the left then after dropping down your left foot make sure to keep the same original angle between two feet which should not change even during stepping. (Fig. 23) III.4.1.2 Trajectory of two feet Moving evenly right foot inward up to a point where 3 inches distance separates top of right foot with left heel (Fig. 24); then right foot continues to step straight forward up to a point where half-foot distance separates right foot to top of left foot (Fig. 25); this time continue to move evenly right foot outward further 3 inches (Fig. 26); when right foot falls onto the ground, it is time for left foot to move evenly rightward up to the point where 3 inches distance separates top of left foot with right heel (Fig. 27); then left foot continues to step straight forward up to the point where half-foot distance separates it from top of right foot, then left foot moves evenly outward further 3 inches (Fig. 28, 29). With the previous description of movement you can than alternate left and right foot. Remember that no matter which foot is in the front, you need just to apply the secret technique of “inward, (straight) forward, outward” to perform friction step. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 44


Fig 23

Fig 24

Fig 25

Fig 26

Fig 27

Fig 28



Fig 29 III.4.1.3 Rise evenly and drop evenly When you have clearly performed the trajectory of one foot, then you just have to drop or to rise it evenly to continue your steeping exercise. III.4.1.4 Position of upper limbs Left and right arms opened, forming with body an angle of 60 degrees, fingers naturally separated, the center of palm facing down, whole arm slightly pointing forward forming a large internal arc, assuming this arm posture you can coordinate lower limbs to proceed on step training. Main point: When practicing friction step, whole body should be relaxed, two eyes looking straightforward, whole movement should be slow, symmetric and soft. The change between inward and outward feet movement should always respect a right-angle, but from an external point of view, it is perceived like arcing forward, this is called “when practicing (it is a) right-angle, when watching (it is an) arc”. When you are making a friction step backward you should apply the three words principle of “inward, (straight) backward, outward”. III.4.1.5 Mind adjustment during friction step - Imagine two feet grinding with the air separating them to the ground, taste the global motor function in your whole body movements. - Imagine like stepping in half foot deep water, it is calm water, in one side you taste the scenery of the water, in the other side you are stepping so delicately that this water remains in its original calmness without producing any small wave or any undulation. - Imagine you are stepping against the current while tasting the water resistance. - Imagine you are stepping in mud, tasting mud’s resistance and its stickiness. III.4.1.6 Purpose of practicing friction step


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan III.4.1.6.1 Although friction step is difficult to use in real situation (of combat or sparring), but it

represents the most important basic step.

If you manage to train it well, this will open you to many other steps.

III.4.1.6.2 Practicing friction step helps you to keep balance, it requires you to be steady and at the

same time give you a good appreciation of your whole body. No matter if you are practicing

pushing hand or sparring, being steady and keeping balance are always very important.

A specific training method:

First with weight on left foot, right foot is executing a friction step forward, taste your body’s

steadiness and balance; when your right foot is touching ground, weight is slowly shifting from left

leg to right leg, check if your body is relaxed, sinking and if you can perceived like a whole.

III.4.1.6.3 Through the practice of friction step you can increase the kicking strength of your lower

limbs, during a real combat, no matter if it is a front kick, side kick or knee strike etc... all these

techniques will greatly enhance their striking performances through the mastery of friction steps.

Fig 30

Fig 31

Fig 32

III.4.3 Triangle step III.4.3.1 Original triangle step III.4.3.1.1 Two feet standing in parallel position, shoulder width apart, left arm and right arm opened each one forming with the body an angle of 60 degrees, fingers naturally separated, the center of palm facing down (Fig. 33); shift weight onto right leg, left foot makes transversal step to left for about 0.8-1 foot, after left foot touches ground, move weight onto left leg; then right foot is stepping l```eftward and forward, drop it in the right front of left foot, when toes are touching Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 47

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan ground you are assuming right T-eight step, at this time, upper body is slightly turning to the left, left hand slightly pulling upward, the center of palm inclining rightward and downward, five fingers pointing leftward and forward (Fig. 34). III.4.3.1.2 Right foot steps back to the right to reach the starting line, shift weight onto right leg, left foot step right/forward, then drop it in the front/left side of right foot, when toes are touching ground you assuming a left T-eight step; at this time upper body turns to right, left hand moves forward with arc trajectory from left to right and down, the center of palm facing right, five fingers pointing right/forward, right hand is moving to the right/front of head with an trajectory arcing leftward and forward, the center of palm facing left/down, five fingers pointing left/forward. (Fig. 35) III.4.3.1.3 Left foot is stepping back to the starting line to assume again a right T-eight step, at this time, upper body turns to left, left hand moving leftward and upward with an arc trajectory to left/front of head, center of palm facing right/down, five fingers pointing right/forward, right hand moving rightward, leftward and downward with an arc trajectory to the front of body, the center of palm facing left/down, five fingers pointing left/forward. (Fig. 36) Main point: According to the two previous methods two feet can alternate in this exercise, two feet circling on the three vertex of an equilateral triangle that is why it is called Triangle step. During this exercise left hand in front of body is drawing clockwise an elliptic trajectory while right hand in front of body is drawing anticlockwise an elliptic movement.

Fig 33

Fig 34

Fig 35



Fig 36

Fig 37

Fig 38

Fig 39

Fig 40

Fig 41

.



Fig 42

III.4.3.2 Advance retreat triangle step Lower limbs assuming left T-eight step, placing two palms front of body, center of palm facing forward and upward, left palm distant from your body for about 1 foot, right palm distant from your body for about half foot (Fig. 37); left foot is making half step forward, and the right foot follows by stepping forward, when right toes are touching ground: left palm withdraws and right palm points out (Fig. 38); this movement should not stop, right foot at once uplifted should make a big right/forward step, then left foot follows with half step, heel uplifted and toes touching ground, at this time, left palm pierces forward with an arc trajectory, up to front of body for about 1 foot distance, then the right palm withdraws to front of body for about half foot distance (Fig. 39); this movement should not stop, left foot uplifts immediately, making a big step leftward and forward, then right foot follows with half step, heel uplifted and toes touching ground, at this time left palm withdraws to front of body for about half foot distance while right palm pierces forward with an arc trajectory, up to front of body for about 1 foot distance, to return finally to the starting (Fig. 40). You can also train similarly in back step exercise. Main point: Through triangle step training, you can enhance your elusive and attacking ability in pushing hands and in sparring, neutralizing force and issuing, with agility and adaptability in your body movements and comforting your fighting techniques. During your training you can imagine that you are facing an opponent who is chaining different postures to attack you so that you have to avoid them and counterattack.



III.4.4 Underlay step Underlay step is also called small trampling step, it is can affect in real combat the entire efficiency of your footwork, if you use it to throw out your opponent, by including a small trample step, your ejecting effect is definitively better. Underlay step has even larger applications in real combat, moving forward in attack, backward in defense. Two feet assuming T-eight step, left foot in the front and right foot in the back; two arms uplifting in front of heart (Fig. 41); two hands distant from your body for about 1 foot distance, the center of palm facing forward/upward, fingers pointing also forward/upward, then weight shifting slowly to right hip, left foot uplifts and steps forward for half step, then weight shifts to left foot, right foot follows with half step (Fig. 42). Repeat this exercise. From this left side exercise you can train similarly right side exercise, as the movements are similar you have just to change direction respectively (opposite). This applies also for backward exercises. Main point: When practicing Underlay step, you can imagine that two feet are stepping on a cushion made by palm fiber, when you are making one step you can taste the cushion’s elasticity; or imagine that two legs and two feet have huge force, when stepping on the ground they will leave traces, when trampling onto ground they will leave hollows.

III.4.5 Triangle Underlay step This is the combination of Triangle step and Underlay step, especially suitable for long distance attack. The training method is the following: lower limbs assuming left T-eight step, left palm in lower level near left/front of left hip, right palm in upper level near right/front of your head; left foot making back step to the left, right foot steps to left forward, then you can assume right T-eight step, later you chain with Underlay step by stepping rapidly forward; this time, left palm is moving forward to front of face, the center of palm facing forward/down, right palm moving downward in front of belly, and center of palm facing inward, two palms can assume an attack or defense posture.



III.5 Inducement of force and issuing force III.5.1 Inducement of force Once you have generated internal strength, if you are performing some movements with the body, you will feel upper limbs and even your whole body heavy and full, this is the natural way in which “integral strength” should behave in your body, if you want to change this internal strength into a natural power, you should need the assistance of some additional movements to reach your target: you’ll be able then to issue various kinds of force. These additional movements are called inducements: Assume with lower limbs a T-eight step, whole body relaxed and full, bring two arms up to your front level, then bring them down with an ejecting movement. (Fig. 43, 44, 45)

Fig 43

Fig 44

Fig 45

When doing this exercise, you should look far away like watching a very far target (tall building, mountain, pagoda etc...), and imagine that with the ejecting movements of yours arms your target is swinging as well. Through this technique, you feel two palms increasing in size; two arms heavier and stronger, by keeping on practicing this exercise, the integral strength will naturally increase and will be more obvious. You can have a partner standing in front of you, applying ejecting movement on him, to see how heavy and full is your body, experiencing how the whole force will act on his body and how should your palms touch his chest and in the same time eject him. For beginners, the results of this exercise may not be immediately very obvious, it maybe due to the three following reasons:


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan III.5.1.1 Whole body slacking off, so that it did not lead out heavy and full force, giving opponent with laxness feeling, not able to swing him out. III.5.1.2 When your two palms are touching your opponent your arms are suddenly becoming rigid, two palms are intentionally bumping opponent but you are unable to use internal strength. III.5.1.3 You’ve changed direction of the force. When you are swinging your arms, be sure to apply bottom up a frontal force with an angle of 45 degrees; in the contrary if in the moment you are touching your opponent, you change involuntary the force direction, this swinging movement will be transformed in a simple frontal pushing movement, unable to release the natural instinctive force which has far more amplitudes.

III.5.2 Natural Integral strength When your ejecting arms are able throw out your opponent, now it is time to change their movement amplitudes into slower and smaller extensions until two hands become like almost fixed. Put two hands 1 foot distance apart from chest, the center of palm facing forward/downward; fingers pointing forward/upward, and after checking whole body relaxation, proceed to a downward/backward movement of accumulating strength, rear leg bending, whole force sinking; then rear leg stretches, whole body making an upward/forward movement, two legs bending naturally, distribution of weight is 50/50. (Fig. 46, 47)

Fig 46

Fig 47

Repeat again this downward, backward then upward/forward whole body’s movement. During this Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 53

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan movement you should taste blood and Qi circulating in your body as well as the “integral strength”. You are like sitting on a moving train then suddenly someone is pulling the emergency brake: all passengers are submitted to a natural and shifting forward inertia movement, this is the realistic image of the effect natural integral strength.

III.5.3 Fixed step ejecting technique When this heavy inertia integral strength appears in your body, you can conjugate it with an ejecting technique to experience any jamming within the interspaces separating you from the opponent, during application of your ejecting technique with integral strength. Dachengquan Ejecting techniques include fixed step ejecting and ejecting with step. No matter which technique you are using, your whole body should be like bumping a wall, a tall building or a mountain situated in front of your body and your two arms are like piercing forward very far. III.5.3.1 Pure ejecting After being proficient in inducing in your movement an integral strength, standing in front of your partner’s body, lower limbs assuming T-eight step, two hands touching his chest. Whole body performs a downward/backward accumulating strength movement and then you use finally your natural integral strength to eject him upward and forward. Two hands should stick all the time your partner’s chest (before releasing force), when you begin accumulating strength, two arms should keep their bending angle, do not extend them completely straight in order to preserve some room for ejecting maneuver (but also to protect elbow joint from any transversal force) III.5.3.2 Spring ejecting First start from the basic posture—lower limbs assuming T-eight step, upper limbs in pressing posture. Imagine that your two hands are pressing on a spring, they are following the movement of this spring, stretching out and contracting (with small amplitudes) under your pressing force for a few cycles, then apply pure ejecting technique to uproot him and make him fall down. When you are ejecting your partner, two hands should keep on touching his chest, first make fast and several spring movements to make him losing balance; then your whole body sinking and chain with a fast and solid integral force to eject your partner. . III.5.3.3 Circle ejecting Assume basic posture, two centers of palms facing forward/down, fingers of right hand pointing forward and upward, fingers of left hand pointing rightward and upward, and imagine that two hands are pressing on an object; then two hands are pulling and circling counterclockwise as to apply a rotation to this object, and finally apply pure ejecting technique. (Fig. 48, 49) Notice: during your preparative movement, two hands should keep on touching partner’s chest, first applying circling movement, making him out of balance, then sink your whole body, wait for sufficient accumulative strength in order to be able to release a full and solid force to toll your partner. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 54


Fig 48

Fig 49

Fig 51

Fig 52

Fig 50

III.5.3.4 Eject the opponent with movement Assume the basic posture, both hands separated with one head distance; imagine that two hands are like pressing on both sides a piece of millstone, first make a leftward movement, then make a rightward movement, imagining the millstone following your hands in the swaying movement where they are pushing leftward and rightward; finally two hands are simultaneously issuing force forward and pushing these millstones out. (Fig. 50, 51) When in real combat, put two hands on opponent’s chest, two hands pushing separately on both Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 55

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan sides, bringing him to sway his body leftward and rightward so that he lost weight, use this opportunity to sink your whole body, accumulating integral strength, and finally ejecting him with integral strength. III.5.3.5 Cross arm ejecting Assume with lower limbs T-eight step, two arms crossed in front of body, left arm up and right arm down, two fists clenched into empty fist; then imagine that two hands like glued on one tree, use whole body to lead two arms, swaying leftward and rightward, the trunk of tree is moving as if huge wind blowing on it; then use your integral strength from whole body to bump on his trunk, uprooting the tree. (Fig. 52) If during this technique your opponent is avoiding leftward and rightward or dissolving your force, you should immediately lock with your two arms his upper body, then apply with your two arms a leftward and rightward swaying movement on his upper body, bringing your opponent into a situation where he can hardly escape from your control, take this opportunity to sink your whole body and to toll him.

III.5.4 Ejecting with step After having acquired basis of fixed step ejecting technique you can now proceed on training ejecting with step. This method which conjugates stepping with ejecting is mainly used against very strong or heavy opponent; in this case it requires you to use necessarily step, making adjusting, choosing suitable angle and method to eject him. You have five ways to eject with steps: III.5.4.1 Trample step ejecting Assume basic posture, forefoot is stepping forward half step (trample step), then rear foot follows with half step, in the course of trample step, experience whole body’s natural and symmetrical force, if it is touched by an object it will immediately eject it. When your strategy of ejecting an opponent, first put two hands on his chest then eject him, if results are not as you expected, proceed immediately with trample step moving to his midline position, chaining without breaks your stepping forward movements, each trample step should use all the whole body spring force to strike your opponent, compelling him continuously backward, wait for his unbalance then use a final trample step with your best integral strength to eject him. III.5.4.2 Triangle step ejecting First assume T-eight step, and after move weight onto rear leg, forefoot makes back step next to the inside of rear foot, wait this foot touches ground, then rear foot is stepping forward/inward, when toes touch ground you are assuming T-eight empty step, whole body relaxed and sinking, wait for sufficient accumulating strength, then rise rapidly your body upward/forward to eject your opponent. (Fig. 53, 54, 55)


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan In your ejecting offensive, if opponent’s back foot is rooted very steadily, you should immediately retreat forefoot and advance back foot to insert his crotch midline position, bringing him to lose his rear foot supportive function, once your two feet are standing steady, whole body slightly sinking, use integral strength to eject him. (Fig. 56, 57, 58)

Fig 53

Fig 54

Fig 55

Fig 56

Fig 57

Fig 58

III.5.4.3 Tripping leg ejecting Assume left T-eight step, left foot is slightly stepping leftward. And at the same time, upper body turns slightly leftward, two hands slightly assuming pulling backward posture. And after move Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 57

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan weight onto left leg, right foot is making a big step, arcing inward, forward and outward to assume a

right T-eight step, at this time upper body turns slightly rightward, two palms bumping forward.

(Fig. 59, 60, 61)

Fig 59

Fig 60

Fig 61

If your opponent has strong rooting, ejecting him may not be that easy, in this case left foot is first

stepping leftward, again right foot makes forward a big step to the external side of opponent’s right

foot, with heel of right foot hooking and stumbling his right leg, then use two palms to push him

forward with natural and integral strength. (Fig. 62, 63, 64)

Fig 62

Fig 63

Fig 64



Fig 65

Fig 66

Fig 67

III.5.4.4 Shovel leg ejecting Assume left T-eight step, right foot moving forward half step, uplift left foot, with the inside of left sole make shovel movement first rightward and backward, and after make shovel movement in the opposite direction, then drop left foot onto the ground, whole body relaxed and sinking, two palms bumping forward. (Fig. 65, 66, 67). When ejecting the opponent you should first let your rear foot advancing lightly half step forward, and after uplift forefoot to shovel first backward opponent’s front leg then shovel again to the opposite direction his back leg, bringing unsteadiness in his lower limbs, then drop rapidly your foot onto the ground and eject him with natural/integral strength. (Fig. 68, 69, 70)



Fig 68

Fig 69

Fig 70

III.5.4.5 Pulling leg eject the opponent Assume right T-eight step, two legs naturally bent and weight sinking. In the same time left hand is

making an arcing movement outward, downward, inward and upward, bring it in front of left hip at

half foot distance, the center of palm facing up, five fingers pointing rightward and forward, and

after your upper body rises erect and ejecting forward with natural integral strength. (Fig. 71, 72, 73)

Fig 71

Fig 72

Fig 73

When ejecting the opponent, if you feel your opponent’s lower limbs relatively steady, bent Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 60

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan immediately knee and sinking your body while bending it forward, left hand sliding downward, and

pulling from outward, inward, upward opponent’s right leg, right hand still pressing opponent’s

chest, then two legs are stretching and pressing onto the ground, upper body rising erect, eject

forward your opponent with the natural and integral strength. (Fig. 74, 75, 76)

Fig 74

Fig 75

Fig 76



III.6 Single hand techniques and chaining

(linking) ability

Single hand techniques constitute an effective training system to acquire canonical techniques of combat. These techniques are quite numerous, my Master Wang Xuanjie in his book 《Techniques and practice of Dachengquan》has introduced in total 21 kinds of single hand techniques commonly used. For the beginner, it is important to start with the essential ones. As you can understand in martial arts what is essential is not to learn myriads of techniques but to really grasp the essence of few ones, and skills will come with persisting practice. First you need to understand the principle of one technique then it will reveal three others, by just adding slight variations this technique will even generate ten others, appearing and disappearing mysteriously according to situation: your technique will be invisible.

III.6.1 Circle punch In Dachengquan, circle punch is among the most used combat techniques because it is also among the most effective ones, as you will see this technique is easy to apply for attacks and allows rapid changes.

Fig 77

Fig 78

III.6.1.1 Single posture practice Assume lower limbs T-eight step (with left posture for example), left arm at the side of body, left fist clenched into empty fist, right arm in front of body, and right fist clenched into empty fist protecting chin (Fig. 77); and after, left arm and left fist from the body’s side have risen upward, it issues an Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 62

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan inward force, bringing left fist on left/front side of the head (Fig. 78). Repeat this movement two times (two cycles) as a the whole exercise, after being proficient in this movement you can just make one left circle punch in your training (left fist, from body side, is issuing an arcing forward and inward punch. Respecting the same principles than before you can now proceed to right circle punch training.

Fig 79

Fig 80

Fig 81

III.6.1.2 Alternating Two Circle Fists Lower limbs do not change, two fists clenching into empty fists, bring them to your body’s sides, left fist rising upward from body’s side issuing inward (Fig. 79, 80), and after left fist slightly pulling backward and protecting chin, right fist from body’s side is rising upward and issuing inward (Fig. 81). Then you can continue this exercise. After being proficient in this technique you can train series with two arms continuously substituting to each other.



Fig 82

Fig 83

Fig 84

III.6.1.3 Standard circle punch Lower limbs remain unchanged, two fists clenched into empty fists, left arm bent with an obtuse angle, left fist placed to left front of head, assuming attack posture and right fist protecting your chin (Fig. 82); left fist is slightly pulling backward and right fist is dropping to body’s side, left fist continuous pulling backward and protecting chin in the same time, right fist from side of body is lifting upward, forward and inward with arc issuing, and after, right fist slightly pulling backward, left fist drops on side of body, right fist continuously pulling backward and protecting chin in the same time, so that left fist is lifting from side of body, upward, forward and inward with an arcing movement to issue force (Fig. 83, 84). You can continue this exercise alternating left and right side. III.6.1.4 Conjugate with step In below exercises we have presented circle punch in fixed step, now we can also conjugate circle punch with step. III.6.1.4.1 Conjugate with bear step When you are stepping with left foot, make a left circle punch with right fist protecting chin, and after step again with right foot, make a right circle punch, left fist protecting chin, in this way two feet and two hands are fully coordinated to make a bear forward step circle punch. From this basis you can train similarly back step. III.6.1.4.2 Conjugate with rooster step Assume left T-eight step, when left foot is stepping forward and right foot following, make a right circle punch, with left fist protecting chin; and after left foot is making a big back step backward, Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 64

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan rightward and forward, left foot follows with half step, at the same time make left circle punch, and right fist protect chin. Continue this exercise paying attention to your two feet and two hands coordination. You also could train similarly back step. III.6.1.4.3 Conjugate with triangle step Assume left T-eight step then withdraw left foot, leaving right foot in the front (you have already changed into right T-eight step), make right circle punch, the left fist protecting chin; then step back with right foot, leaving left foot in the front to assume again left T-eight step. And in the same time, make a left circle punch, right fist protecting chin. From now on you can continue to practice conjugating as described above with full coordination of both feet and both hands. III.6.1.5 Impact training of circle punches Circle punch is mainly using circle punching to hit opponent’s two sides of head and base of ear, if you are standing at the side of the opponent, you can still attack his face or his neck. When you are training you should keep the presence of an opponent in mind then when you use two fists striking alternatively the base of his ears. After being proficient in circle punch you can practice this exercise with a partner holding pads or wearing protective equipment. III.6.1.5.1 Your partner standing in front of you, two hands wearing boxing gloves, two fists clenched, placed on head level, then when everyone has adjusted his posture, you can start issuing circle punch striking your partner’s gloves. III.6.1.5.2 Your partner moves his two hands or tries to avoid your attack, then try your best to use circle punch to strike efficiently his moving gloves. III.6.1.5.3 Your partner wears a protective head gear and then try to avoid your attack, try your best to use circle punch strike on partner’s head.

III.6.2 Splitting palm III.6.2.1 Direct splitting palm Assume with lower limbs right T-eight step (we select right posture as an example), two hands uplifted, left palm in front of right shoulder distant from body for about half foot, the center of palm facing rightward and forward, and the right palm uplifted over head, in the right/front of your head, the center of palm facing forward and downward (Fig. 85); and after, shift weight slightly forward, two hands make an arcing splitting forward and downward movement, left palm placed in front of belly at half foot distance, the right palm placed to the right/front of left palm at half foot distance, the center of two palms facing downward (Fig. 86).



Fig 85

Fig 86

III.6.2.2 Reverse splitting palm Starting from of direct splitting punch posture (with right posture for example), two hands should not interrupt their movement, continuing their trajectory leftward and backward moving to the side of body (Fig. 87); and after two palms are moving upward, left center of palm uplifting over head, left/front of head, the center of palm facing forward and downward, the right palm in front of left shoulder at about half foot distance, and the center of palm facing backward and upward; in the same time moving slightly weight backward (Fig. 88); and after shift again weight forward, two palms making an arcing splitting palm movement forward and downward (Fig. 89). Main point: The beginner should first practice direct splitting palm, then reverse splitting palm, when being proficient in each type separately then you can practice in the same series direct and reverse splitting palm movement. We have just presented right splitting palm exercise; left splitting palm is exactly similar you have just to interchange left right. From right posture direct splitting palm, you can imagine that your opponent is standing in front of you, then use left palm splitting on opponent’s chest, use right palm splitting on opponent’s face; when applying right posture reverse splitting palm, use right palm splitting on opponent’s chest, and left palm splitting opponent’s face.



Fig 87

Fig 88

Fig 89

III.6.2.3 Impact training with splitting palms III.6.2.3.1 Your partner is standing in front of your body, use splitting palm on your strike partner.

Because it is a friendly partner exercise and not a real combat, so splitting palm should be used with

ejecting force and not penetrating force.

Splitting palm targeting areas: when using direct splitting palm you should strike partner’s chest or left

shoulder, when using reverse splitting palm strike partner’s chest or right shoulder.

III.6.2.3.2 Your partner wears a chest-protector and a protective head gear, then use splitting punch

with penetrating force to strike your partner.

III.6.2.3.3 Your partner can avoid your attack, use trample step or triangle step etc... to conjugate with

splitting palms.

To increase effects of splitting punch, you should first practice steps before impact training. The best is

to conjugate with trample step: make first a direct splitting palm with a first trample step, and then

make a reverse splitting palm with a second trample step.

From now on you can continue this exercise.

III.6.2.3 Impact training with splitting palms III.6.2.3.1 Your partner is standing in front of your body, use splitting palm on your strike partner.

Because it is a friendly partner exercise and not a real combat, so splitting palm should be used with

ejecting force and not penetrating force.

Splitting palm targeting areas: when using direct splitting palm strike partner’s chest or left shoulder,

when using reverse splitting palm strike partner’s chest or right shoulder.

III.6.2.3.2 Your partner wears a chest-protector and a protective head gear, then use splitting punch

with penetrative force to strike your partner.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan III.6.2.3.3 Your partner can avoid your attack, use trample step or triangle step etc... to conjugate with splitting palms. To increase effects of splitting punch, you should first practice steps before impact training. The best is to conjugate with trample step: make first a direct splitting palm with a first trample step, and then make a reverse splitting palm with a second trample step. From now on you can continue this exercise.

III.6.3 Pounding punch III.6.3.1 Fixed step pounding punch Assume with lower limbs right T-eight step (with right posture for example), two arms uplifted and two fists clenched into empty fists, left fist protecting chin, and right fist extended forward higher than head separated with left fist by 1 foot distance (Fig. 90); and after upper body turns slightly rightward, left fist is issuing forward, and right fist withdraws protecting chin, again upper body turns slightly leftward, at the same time, left fist withdraws protecting chin, and right fist is issuing forward. (Fig. 91, 92) If you are standing in left T-eight step, you are training left pounding punch posture, left posture and right posture are similar, you need just interchange direction. Main point: Pounding punch has a relatively direct and fast effect. It is used mainly to strike opponent’s face or neck. When you are training, you can imagine that in front of your body you have one big tree, his trunk is thick with twisted roots and gnarled branches. Each of your punch is like a heavy weapon, when touching the big tree, it will burst it into fragments. When you start to practice pounding punch, you should practice slowly, stressing on keeping harmony and correctness in whole body’s movements. When you acquired some basis then you can increase progressively speed, to experience springing and striking within your pounding punch training. For example: when right fist is in the front, first right fist springs naturally out, when right fist springs back, it is left fist which is issuing forward as fast as lightning, otherwise, you can also chain rapidly and continuously pounding punch forward with right fist then after issue identically with left fist.



Fig 90

Fig 91

Fig 92

III.6.3.2 Pounding punch with steps III.6.3.2.1 Pounding punch with bear step First assume right posture of pounding punch posture, and after left foot is stepping leftward and forward changing posture into left T-eight step. Left fist is issuing forward and right fist withdrawing. This movement should be continuous, right foot is stepping rightward and forward changing therefore posture into right T-eight step, right fist is issuing forward, and left fist withdrawing. From now on you can continue to practice this exercise. You can also practice back stepping as the movements to be applied are similar to the previous ones. III.6.3.2.2 Pounding punch with forward-backward triangle step Assume right posture of pounding punch; your left foot is making a step forward left fist is issuing forward; then right foot follows with a step forward, right fist is also issuing forward while left fist withdrawing; repeat this exercise with the same coordination of the two fists and two feet. You can train also backward step as movements are similar to the previous ones. III.6.3.2.3 Pounding punch with original triangle step Assume right posture of pounding punch, right foot is stepping back rightward, and left foot is lifting upward/leftward to change posture into left T-eight step, in this time, left fist is issuing forward, and right fist withdrawing; and after, left foot steps back leftward, and right foot steps upward rightward to change posture into right T-eight step, during this time, right fist is issuing forward and left fist is withdrawing. You can now continue this exercise while keeping the same coordination in two fists and two feet during practice. III.6.3.3 Impact training with Pounding punches Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 69

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan III.6.3.3.1 Your partner is wearing boxing gloves and stands in front of your body, uplift two hands, then use pounding punch alternatively with both fists, you can start using left fist or right springing fist, and after use right fist or left fist striking. III.2.6.3.2 Your partner’s two hands can now sway leftward and rightward swaying or backward, you should find yourself the opportunity to strike efficiently partner’s two hands. III.2.6.3.3 Your partner wears a Protective Head Gear and is trying to avoid your attacks, use pounding punch adjusting with step and body’s movement to strike efficiently your partner’s head.

III.6.4 Slapping palm Slapping palm includes direct slapping palm and reverse slapping palm and is executed with a downward trajectory (in the following we are going to use right posture as an example). Assume with lower limbs right T-eight step, left palm is in front of left shoulder at about half foot distance, the center of palm facing rightward and backward, right palm uplifted over head, the center of palm facing leftward, forward and downward (Fig. 93); upper body turns slightly leftward, right palm follows with shoulder and hip exerting force leftward and downward in an arcing slapping movement, in the same time, left palm is moving leftward and downward in front of left rib at half foot distance, the center of palm facing down, and right palm falls in front of left palm at about half foot distance, the center of palm facing backward (Fig. 94); this movement should not stop, turn slightly body rightward, at the same time, right palm springs back to its original position with an arc trajectory, left palm follows by moving in front of right shoulder, its former position (Fig. 95), and after perform again slapping palm technique. Then you can train left posture of slapping palm as left posture slapping palm is similar to right posture slapping palm, you just need to interchange direction respectively.

Fig 93

Fig 94

Fig 95


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan III.6.4.1 Slapping palm with transversal step Left foot steps to the left and right foot follows by stepping also to the left, right palm executes a direct slapping palm, and after, turn slightly body rightward and chain immediately with a reverse slapping palm. III.6.4.2 Slapping palm with trample step Make a trample step forward, applying a direct slapping palm, and after turn slightly body rightward and chain immediately with a reverse slapping palm. III.6.4.3 Impact training with slapping palm III.6.4.2.1 Active attack Your partner pulls your chest-protector and/or head-protector, use right palm strike his face with a direct slapping palm, chain with a reverse slapping palm to strike again his face (the right side this time), when you are performing slapping palm technique, your partner can avoid your strike, then combine with adequate stepping to strike and touch his face. III.6.4.2.2 Passive attack Your partner issues a right straight punch to your face, in response use a right posture of direct slapping palm to strike out his right arm and chain rapidly with a reverse slapping palm springing on his face.

III.6.5 Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant III.6.5.1 Single posture Assume with lower limbs left T-eight step, two hands uplifted over the head, with about 1 foot distance separating two hands, center of palms facing back/down (Fig. 96); left foot lifting and pointing slightly forward (half stomp and leaping step), shift weight to front leg in the same time uplift right knee to strike forward, and then two hands like sharp knifes are chopping downward, falling at both sides of body (Fig. 97); right foot drops next to the inner side of left foot, and at the same time pull two hands to their former place (Fig. 98); left foot is stepping forward to assume again T-eight step, move weight to left leg and in the same time strike forward with right knee (Fig. 99), then two hands are chopping downward again, and so on... Right T-eight step for Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant is similar to the left posture, just interchange direction respectively. From now on you can practice Knee of Buddha's warrior attendant technique on both sides.



Fig 96

Fig 97

Fig 98

Fig 99 III.6.5.2 Double posture From the last single posture, when you strike with right knee, two hands drop downward, right foot drops rightward and forward to assume right T-eight step, at the same time two hands uplift over head; weight shifts to right leg, two hands chop downward, uplift left knee to strike forward, according to this method two hands and two knees are alternately chopping and striking. III.6.5.3 Impact training with Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant III.6.5.3.1 Stand in front of a hanging sandbag, use Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant technique to strike continuously the sandbag. III.6.5.3.2 Your partner is pulling your chest protector or other protective from your body, use two hands to lock his neck; two hands move downward with power, use left knee or right knee to strike his crotch, belly or chest. Be careful, this technique is very powerful, so do not harm your partner. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 72


III.6.6 Chaining single hand technique When you are proficient with single hand techniques, you can now combine them into a series of techniques harmoniously chained. In the first phase of your training, I would recommend you to practice the following combinations: III.6.6.1 Left-right circling punches and right-left pounding punches Left circling punch - right circling punch - right springing pounding punch—left heavy pounding punch. III.6.6.2 Left-right circling punches, lock neck and Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant Left circling punch—right circling punch—two fists change into palms to lock opponent’s neck, and at the same time use left knee or right knee to strike his belly or crotch. III.6.6.3 Direct/reverse slapping palms and Knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant Assuming right posture use direct slapping palm—reverse slapping palm —two wrists locking opponent’s neck or two shoulders, uplift left knee to strike his belly. III.6.6.4 Circling punches and direct/reverse splitting palms Left circling punch—right circling punch—right direct splitting punch—right reverse splitting punch. III.6.6.5 Pounding punches and direct/reverse slapping Left pounding punch—right pounding punch—right direct slapping palm—right reverse slapping palm. III.6.6.6 Right direct/inverse splitting palms and right/left pounding punch Right direct splitting palm—right reverse splitting palm, and after two palms changing into fists, right fist strikes opponent’s face (right pounding punch) and left fist strike opponent’s face (left pounding punch). III.6.6.7 Left/right pounding punches and knee of Buddha's Warrior Attendant Left pounding punch—right pounding punch—uplift rear knee to strike forward. III.6.6.8 Left/right pounding punches and left/right circling punches Left pounding punch—right pounding punch—left circling punch—right circling punch. Main point: in the beginning of your training, you should pay attention to the requirements of each movement; then once you have mastered them, focus on the harmony in all movements and finally experience the feeling of force in each of them. This should be applied in different combinations of techniques, training different attack-defense applications, making your training now even more closed to a real combat situation: your training with sparring partner has reached another level.



CHAPTER IV The Second Phase of Training

After having acquired the different techniques presented, you can now consolidate your technical background with the Second Phase training. Generally speaking, for a long term basis of training, the practitioner can start, from the second to the third month of training, to learn new technical contents; for quick results I personally train my students intensively with the First Phase training during 3-5 months than they can start the Second Phase training; for a self-taught practitioner we can say that once he has grasped how to accumulate integral strength and has the ability to uproot or eject his opponent then he is ready for this Second Phase of training. There are three major targets in the Second phase’s training: 1. Experience a full relaxed and sinking strength through out the whole body but also allow it to be transformed into a practical “dynamic strength”. 2. Master how to reverse an opponent’s ejecting attack. This means that when your opponent uses an ejecting movement against you, you can not only neutralize it completely but also eject him out. 3. Master in pushing hands: control and reverse control techniques, understand how to use rules of keeping midline.



IV.1 Natural force and contradiction post advanced training

When you have acquired expanding-embracing basics in contradiction post and whole body inducement, you can now start this advanced training.

IV.1.1 Experience natural force What is called natural force, during your training you should pay attention to all internal connotations, releasing any limit induced by form, the objective is to bring into play all your physical potential, putting him in direct contact with his “dynamic strength”. That means in practical to be able to use consciously and unconsciously all your potential of internal strength, and then exert to your opponent a very strong and penetrative force. Now everything inside your body should be in accordance with nature, when you are exerting force, it is also instinctive, without any restriction from your mental. According to Mr. Wang Xiangzhai in “Theory of Dachengquan”: “Each serious martial artist should stress now on spirit, mental and natural force in their training”. This is completely different from any other boxing. In Chinese Martial Arts we can find different concepts of force, for example in Shaolin, it is “one inch force” (very short force); Xingyiquan has the concept of “whole body force”; for Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) it is rather a “bursting force” or “elastic force”; in Dachengquan we focus on the “natural force” which is also called “instinctive force”. We all know that for everyone power is generated during the process of the movement, all depending on the contraction of the muscle. Comforted by this observation, many schools of martial arts view the contraction of the whole body’s force and generating its bursting power as a high level of power in martial arts, thinking that during a short instant their level of contraction in the body is correct so that the generating level of power should be also huge. In Dachengquan you have also a similar force, but the difference is that this is not considered as a high-level force. It is hard to realize in real combat when should you generate your bursting power, as it will request necessarily your whole body to contract, which in this case it goes against the process of exerting force (to your opponent), even more it go to against your instinctive force. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai commented as followed: “No matter if it is testing force or issuing force, all should keep your body relaxed.” When a racing car is bumping to some objects, as it brings a very big inertia and a large bumping force, we can say that it is the instinctive force of this car; this force will be even larger if the car is heavier and faster. The speed and inertia are the two main parameters which will increase this force but not the consciousness of bumping something with your car (it may kill or injure seriously): this is the instinctive force of your car. Let’s take the other example of a strong ox rushing suddenly at someone, in this case it will bring out also Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 75

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan all its bestial instinctive power. This power is related to his size and speed. During this rushing time this ox does not need all his whole body muscles to contract when bumping to a person or a wall, just the intervention all its instinctive power. Then muscles will contract and relax in the perfect timing adapted to the situation but certainly not being controlled by its mind. The mass of any human body (weight) is limited, but through post standing and testing force you can bring the use of your weight into its highest degree of effectiveness, by improving the management of your center of gravity and increase your speed, which are the more obvious perceptible effects. So when you are practicing you should stress on relaxing even more your body, avoiding any unnecessary tension in your muscle, to experience the whole body natural weight. Along with the different training of post standing and testing force, you should practice longer time and deeper to help you to realize and practice more obviously what is really your weight. In testing force practice you should pay a special attention to perform movement slowly and symmetrically, this is the most effective way to obtain speed, even the only way to realize the weight of your limbs and how to combine it with your speed (this is Dachengquan’s natural force). Then it will result an extraordinary accelerating ability in your movements, more density in your body and greater inner strength. Sometimes you just need to mention “speed” or “issuing force’s speed”, then the people will get very easily nervous when they get together, you have others who think that before touching opponent, they should relax consciously, in the very moment of issuing force just contracting once, bringing out what they called “bursting force”. If they do really as they mention above, in all evidences this is through by mind control, remaining under the “grip” of consciousness, so that during a real combat where their opponent will change permanently their movements, it will be impossible for them to relax and their movements will become rigid, this tension will certainly impede their fighting instinct. Dachengquan’s instinctive force is controlled by the touching sense, although it requires to increase suddenly speed, but whole body should not necessarily contract during this short instant, then some muscles should still relax, if say some parts of body are tense, do your best to disengage them from your consciousness, when exerting this instinctive force, you should contract what is needed to contract and relax what is needed to relax, all being naturally selected by your instinct. My master Wang Xuanjie who won numerous challenges in China and abroad, threw out all of them, making them fall on the ground or uprooting them (like flying!!!), maneuvering attacks and retreats all under pure instinct, the whole body remaining very relaxed, exempt from any disturbing contraction, this represents the very high level of martial arts. Understanding the properties of Dachengquan’s “internal strength” is a key issue: if you don’t understand what is: “natural instinctive power” then whatever how hard you are training, your martial abilities will not be impressive. Mr. Wang Xuanjie said in his book《Wang Xiangzhai with Dachengquan》: “If even after many years of hard training, the practitioner is still not understanding this principle, his fighting techniques remains also very common; he can be easily defeated by than someone who trained only two or three years under the right guidance.” Again this is pointing out that if it not clear for you what natural power is, or even what difference between brutal force and instinctive force is, then you will meet a lot of difficulties to get some substantive results. By persevering in your training you will release number of doubts, by asking questions to notorious mentors and instructors, by paying attention to any other practitioner’s way of issuing force and sparring, Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 76

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan getting further experience in pushing hands, sparring, but also letting other people trying on your body, that means experiencing constantly, unceasing your body and brainstorming on this new perceptual knowledge, instead of staying all your life long in post standing, which will rigidify your body in fine as a counter effect . So for post standing you should not only measure the duration of your post standing, but especially pay attention to its quality: again because it is only the way to it is once your spirit and mind reach a deep calmness which is also materialize by an high level of relaxation in your body, regaining this instinctive ability, strengthening your natural force, then standing will reveal more longer effects more efficient instead of getting the counter effect of standing like “dead wood” as we discussed previously. Materialization of Dachengquan’s natural force plenitude can be measured scientifically by the increase of inner strength. For basic post standing you don’t need to track main and collateral energetic channels (TCM), just focus on comfortable nurturing of strength, developing the entire body as a whole, warming up muscles, cultivating “internal Qi”, from this “internal Qi” transforming it into “internal power”, blood and Qi circulating naturally in your whole body endlessly, each hair of your body is stretching and standing in an erected posture, arriving to this state, “the muscle and bone of body even not intentionally solicited will practice by themselves, nerve not intentionally nurturing but nurturing by itself, whole body comfortable and developing progressively.” Dachengquan’s natural force has the particular properties of having faster, lighter and incessant (Qi and blood) flowing in your body just before starting combat. Now as your natural force has its root in your instinctive nature, so it will naturally settle the (opponent’s) touching triggering process, the direction and the form requested. No matter if it is, forward or backward, attack or defense, splitting, drilling, following step striking, transversal step striking etc... no matter from which angle, touching or not your opponent, all these parameters will be driven by your instinct to beat down your opponent. If you are always limited in your usual training to determinate and order techniques, such as for a practitioner used to issue force in a same and unchanged distance to his target or his partner, but then in sparring he will feel very difficult to adjust suddenly distance and exert his force, therefore the force you developed has not reached its real natural properties which should in all case be completely “dynamic” and not static. Natural force is one materialization of Dachengquan’s “internal strength”, according to its specific applications and forms it can reveal, we can mention: open-close force, double contending force, universal force, wrapping force, springing force, leverage force, and whole body force etc... no matter which force is applied all should incarnate that “natural”, “instinctive” properties, feeling yourself relaxed and soft, “having acquired inner strength”, giving to your opponent a threatening pressure, with penetrating inner strength, ejecting him neck and crop, with a huge power. How should you train effectively to strengthen your natural force? This is what we are going to present now in this following method: Assuming the starting posture of contradiction post, now the difference is that your whole body should have this full and heavy feeling; at this time, trunk is already by completely loose, your lower supportive force should have increased, two legs naturally bent, this practice, many people feel difficult to persist in this posture for a relatively long time. In the beginning, you should practice both of left and right postures around 2-3 minutes, and after resume back to usual contradiction post. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 77


IV.1.2 Forward-backward whole body force Standing as defined in middle level contradiction post, start with basic posture of contradiction post, front foot is slightly moving forward and outward, two legs slightly bending (pay attention: not too bent), the weight distribution is now 40% weight on front leg and 60% weight on back leg, upper body straight, no intention of leaning back, two arms slightly supporting outward, middle fingers of two hands have a parting forward and rising intention, other main points are similar to the starting exercise. (Fig. 100)

Fig 100

Mind activity: you can imagine that your body is like a strong tree, taking root deeply in the ground, with twisted roots and gnarled branches, very steady, no matter who and how will push and pull you, you’ll stay superior to them; or you can imagine that you have everywhere in your body, springs passing through out your whole body, slightly stretching, through your body’s jiggling and your muscle’s contraction/relaxation changes, experience their elastic actions, or you can also imagine that a strong man is attacking you, throwing many bricks, stones on you, which will spring automatically out when touching your body. After having acquired basis in post standing, you can experience forms that may reveal forward-backward whole body force, for example, from the precondition of having a whole body relaxed and sinking, your trunk could make some slight leaning backward movements, and immediately change with bumping forward movement. In the beginning, forward and backward movement should be clearly distinguished, no matter if you are leaning backward or bumping forward all should have “wholeness” properties; after having acquired basis, waist can initiate fast (and small) back and forth movement, at finally performs one major bumping forward movement involving your whole body. Here is the principle: backward movement is a storage movement, accumulating strength in your whole body, storing has an essential role in the overall process, with a good storing phase you can deliver a very large bumping forward whole body force. When you are training this exercise your two feet should have Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 78

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan a stretching forward and backward feeling. After a certain proficiency in this exercise, you can practice it with a partner, now your partner is using his single palm to push your chest, then you perform a bumping forward movement, your partner should oppose an real solid resistance; and after, your partner can use his two palms to ejecting you, at that time with “finesse” you should slightly detect the very moment his hands are going to bump forward, then finally neutralize or deviate his palm attack. During this exercise you should pay attention to the “storage” phase where movement should not be too big, but also transition with bumping forward movement should be short even imperceptible, otherwise it will give to your opponent the opportunity to counterattack instead of ejecting him easily.

IV.1.3 Leftward/rightward spiral twisting In the middle level precondition in contradiction post, experience leftward/rightward spiral twisting force. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai said: “Concerning the spiral twisting force: it should be experienced in your body, bringing up the triangle force, all of forces should emerge from the mutual action of muscle turbulence and spiritual/mental activity, all are intimately related relation, if you separate them from each other, then you’ve changed method, inverting its principle.” After standing correctly and assuming a middle-level contradiction post, whole body filled with a comfortable feeling, between my upper limbs and your trunk, between upper limbs and forearms, between lower limbs and ground, all should keep a triangle supportive force. At this time, with using your whole body’s midline as axis, first make a rotation to the left, then a rotation to the right, like circling exercise. Later you can start with right circling than left circling. (Fig. 101, 102, 103)

Fig 101

Fig 102

Fig 103

When you are training spiral twisting, it should be from slow to fast, and at the end finish almost instantaneously. Leftward/rightward spiral twisting has a special action on dissolving any incoming power received by your trunk; destabilizing the balance of your opponent; borrowing force and use it back to your opponent, but with the difference of being largely amplified from its original intensity. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 79

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan When you are proficient in single practice, you can practice with a partner. Your partner is applying an ejecting force on your chest, when you feel his force, apply immediately leftward/rightward spiral twisting in your body, neutralizing completely his attack. Point of attention: Leftward/rightward spiral twisting force should not have almost any break time. If after a left rotation of your body you are slightly interrupting your movement, this very moment can be use by your opponent, and eject you in the same left direction. In the opposite if my leftward/rightward spiral twisting transition time is very short then he does not have any opportunity to counterattack.

IV.1.4 Supporting outward and holding inward IV.1.4.1 Posture Starting from middle level of contradiction post, two arms slightly opening outward, first let your whole body relax, in my two arms keep the initial heavy feeling, imagine having a huge force piling your two arms, and my two arms should have also the supporting outward feeling, then they just resisting calmly and firmly to this huge force, or imagine that a big force is pulling outward your two arms, and your two arms are also keeping a natural holding inward force against it. IV.1.4.2 Action Through expanding-embracing training, you will strengthen tendon and muscle of two arms, in addition you will generate further integral power, strengthen two arms supporting outward and closing inward stretching (warding off) abilities. When your mind training has the required basis you can add the delicate tasting feeling during your two arms supporting, opening or closing arm movements, in this case you should go deeper in the perception of your two arms’ muscles contraction and relaxation. IV. 1.4.3 Check up the effects of this exercise How should you measure the effects of this exercise? Here is the method: standing with the previous posture, ask your partner to pile or to press on your two arms, or ask him to joint your arms from their inner sides, or ask him to pull outward or move them... if your two arms are more resistant then before your training program, then you have already obtained explicit benefits.



IV.2 Testing force and stepping The second phase of testing force should lead you to experience a larger apprehension of your whole body force, spiral twisting and spring effect, in addition step training can strengthen your whole body’s resistance and increase attack speed.

IV.2.1 Long narrow flag testing force Stand in the same posture as we defined in contradiction post, two hands rising from two sides of your body, and the two arms slightly bent, the center of palm forward, fingers naturally opened, slightly bent and pointing obliquely downward, use body to lead two arms, slowly swaying forward and backward, body like the central part of a flag, two arms like the other parts of the flag, all of them are moving in the wind. In the beginning you can train with large movement, and later you will progressively reduce them, until being just a slight movement (Fig. 104, 105, 106).

Fig 104

Fig 105

Fig 106

We have just described the left posture of Long narrow flag testing force, as the right posture is completely similar to the left one, you have just to substitute the direction into their opposite. This technique can help you to seek endlessly new types of real martial forces, such as whole body force, universal force, inertia force, counterattack force and shock force etc... which are included in Dachengquan. Mind activity: imagine that your body is gigantic, standing immersed in the boundless ocean, your body is moving forward/backward and two arms are swaying forward/backward then rising under huge rolling billows.



IV.2.2 Millstones testing force Stand in the same posture as in contradiction post, two hands rising to chest, the center of two palms facing each other, left hand aligned with right foot, right hand slightly more withdrawn (half hand distance) then left hand, two hands separated by shoulder wide distance; with body leading, left palm is pulling backward and right palm is pushing forward; when right palm is in the front and left palm in is the back, inverting the original posture, then right hand pulls backward, and left palm pushes forward. From now on you can repeat this exercise (Fig. 107, 108).

Fig 107

Fig 108

We have just explained the left posture exercise; right posture is exactly similar to the left posture, just interchange directions respectively and practice the exercise both sides. This exercise is useful to check your spiral twisting force, heavy force, oblique force, pulley force and fixed center force etc... included in Dachengquan. Mind activity: imagine that two hands are like holding each one a millstone, twisting leftward or rightward.

IV.2.3 Slight underlay step This step has similarities with filling step of the first phase training but reveals also some differences, the similarities are in the requirements of trample and underlay forward and backward, but the differences are in the distance range and the goal of this step. IV.2.3.1 Slight underlay step: two arms and two hands can be relatively natural, two palms can be in front of body and you can also change them into fist slightly opening leftward and rightward. IV.2.3.2 Generally underlay step is front foot is stepping forward with half step distance and back foot is Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 82

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan following with half step; then slight underlay step is in fact front foot steps forward and back foot follows, all steps are executed with a very small distance, generally only 3 inches approximately. When you are looking from outside, the whole body is just slightly moving forward or backward.

IV.2.3.3 Slight underlay step is mainly targeting deeper apprehensions: within your body’s integrity if there is steadiness, within your steadiness if there is weight and within weight if you have flexibility. When you reached proficiency in slight underlay step, then you can check the resistance of your whole body. Your partner should first try to push or eject you, and then you perform a slight underlay step, slightly moving forward, this should bring to your partner a sensation of incomparable heaviness, making him difficult to shake your body, if you reach this state: your slight underlay step has started to be effective.

IV.2.4 Worm step Assume with two feet left T-eight step, two fists clenched into empty fists, bring them in front of your body at a distance of about 1 foot 2 inches, and right fist uplifted to protect chin (Fig. 109); left foot steps forward with half step, and right foot follows also with half step; when right foot is dropping onto the ground, left foot is executing a underlay half step forward; when left foot dropping onto the ground, right foot makes a big step arc step backward, inward, rightward and forward, left foot follows with half step, you assume now a right T-eight step; during this time, left fist withdraws to the front of your chin, and right fist moves forward with an arc, in front of your body for about 1 foot 2 inches distance (Fig. 110, 111); when right foot is performing again a underlay half step forward, left foot makes also a big arc step backward, inward, leftward and forward, right foot follows with half step, now you assume a left T-eight step; during this time, left fist moves forward with an arc, at a distance of 1 foot 2 inches from your body, right fist withdraws to the front of your chin (Fig. 112, 113). From now you can continue on both sides this exercise. Back Worm step is exactly similar to the forward Worm step; you just have to inverse directions respectively to exercise it.



Fig 109

Fig 112

Fig 110

Fig 111

Fig 113

This step is mainly used in combat: during real combat step needs to be very fast, emerging suddenly in

front of your opponent, obstructing him to defend effectively.

Mind activity: You have two ways to practice Worm step movement:

- Slowly: you should imagine that your two feet are like tied with elastic and experience its springing interactions; - Rapidly: you should imagine that your body is like a “bobsleigh” sliding forward very fast.

IV.2.5 Large step Assume with lower limbs left T-eight step, left palm distant from the left side of body for about half foot distance, the center of palm facing backward and downward, five fingers pointing forward and Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 84

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan downward, and the right palm placed at the right/front of your head at about 1 foot distance, the center of palm facing forward and downward, five fingers pointing forward and upward (Fig. 114); left foot uplifts and suddenly drops onto the ground, now weight moves onto left leg, right foot makes a big step forward to assume right T-eight step; during this time, left palm rises upward and forward at a distance of 1 foot in the left/front of your head, center of palm facing forward and downward, five fingers pointing forward and upward, right palm falling forward and downward next to the right side of your body at about half foot distance, center of palm facing backward and downward, five fingers pointing forward and downward, the upper body is slightly moving forward and shifting weight to right leg (Fig. 115); left leg uplifts and immediately drops onto the ground, then right foot makes a big back step to assume left T-eight step; in this time, left palm is dropping forward and downward to the left side of body at about half foot distance, the center of palm facing backward and downward, five fingers pointing forward and downward, the right palm rising upward and forward in front of your head at about 1 foot distance, the center of palm facing forward and downward, five fingers pointing forward and upward (Fig. 116).

Fig 114

Fig 115

Fig 116

You can also train similarly with right posture.

Large step is a step suitable for real combat, when you make a large step, you can therefore suddenly

stand in front of opponent, strike him heavily then suddenly withdraw back to a safe distance from him,

making it very difficult for him to control or even seize you, and he is therefore unable to forge any

reliable defense of attack.

Mind activity: when you are training large step, your whole body should be simultaneously agile, strong,

vigorous, as a huge wind rolling up a tree, pulling it out from the ground, as also a dragon flying in the

sky, ring clouds and sweeping fog, releasing with your body all the marvelous power of mountains and

rivers



IV.3 Reverting “ eject opponent” attack When an opponent wants to eject you or uses different technique to attack you, instead of letting him eject you, you may use this technique which will reverse his attack. This is reverting “eject opponent” attack. The conditions of using reverting “eject opponent” attack are: 1. Necessity to have integral strength as a backup, 2. Necessity to have sufficient steadiness, 3. Necessity to have harmony and suppleness in the movements.

IV.3.1 Training process Assume with lower limbs a T-eight step, two hands are naturally dropping along both sides of your body, whole body relaxed; then body turns slightly leftward; in the same time, left arm rises, right arm making an arc trajectory rightward and upward, bring two hands in front of body at half foot distance; finally, turning slightly body rightward at the same time, two palms issuing a whole body force upward and forward movement. (Fig. 117, 118, 119)

Fig 117

Fig 118

Fig 119

Main point: You should start with slow movements, with an integral and steady force, and later progressively increase your speed, preserving in your movements harmony and balance.

IV.3.2 Fixed reverting “eject opponent” attack Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 86


Face your partner while assuming T-eight step. Your partner uses two palms to touch your chest and eject me; as soon as you feel this force, turn rapidly your body leftward. In the same time rise right forearm, upward and leftward to block his left arm, left wrist rises upward, leftward then press downward on his right arm, at this time he lost completely his opportunity to issue force; then in the same time you turn body rightward, touch your partner’s chest with right palm or right forearm, left palm combining with right palm to issue force forward simultaneously, ejecting him. (Fig. 120, 121, 122)

Fig 120

Fig 121

Fig 122

Important point: do not twist too much your body leftward, do not waste time between each movement, or he may use it against you; two arms should be like knocking, body moving rapidly forward to his midline, and seeking for force point.

IV.3.3 Steps reverting “eject opponent” attack What is called reverting “eject opponent” attack with movement, is to combine with steps or unexpected

movements: opponent steps suddenly forward and pushes with force, or he attacks you with fist or palm,

and use reverting “eject opponent” attack with movement to eject it.

[Example 1] Your opponent is stepping rapidly forward and pushes with two palms on you; before his

palms touch your body, rise right forearm or right wrist to block his left arm, and left wrist assisting right

movement. In the same time, upper body turns slightly leftward to better neutralize the incoming posture;

then having neutralized his attack and destroyed his balance, eject him vigorously. (Fig. 123, 124, 125)



Fig 123

Fig 124

Fig 125

[Example 2] Your opponent attacks you with left fist, rise your right arm, erecting right wrist, your right elbow is dropping downward, with inside of right forearm rolling and dissolve his left arm and his left palm protecting his midline then use the same method as Example 1 to eject your opponent. (Fig. 126, 127, 128)

Fig 126

Fig 127

Fig 128

Further explanations: Reverting “eject opponent” attack with movement is mainly used during sparring with partner. Practically speaking, during a combat once you have neutralized your opponent’s attack, you don’t need to apply reverting “eject opponent” attack with movement, you can directly use directly an adequate single hand technique to defeat him



IV.4 Single pushing hands Pushing Hands exercise is not only a “contact mode” of testing force, but it is also training force exertion; your objective is to control your partner and to avoid being controlled by him. Pushing hands include single pushing hands and double pushing hands, in the very beginning you should study first single pushing hand as a solo exercise, then in a further stage practice it with a partner. ...

IV.4.1 Single pushing hands solo practice IV.4.1.1 Fixed step single pushing hand solo practice This exercise is in fact helping you to combine contradiction post and hooking-filing testing force in the same training. Concerning movement of left arm or right arm, pushing movement is in fact a testing force, pulling movement is more standing post exercise; the difference remains just in the form of the hand and in the wrist change as well. Let’s start now below with left posture as an example to introduce its specific points. Following an imaginary external pushing movement: Assume with lower limbs a left T-eight step, left arm assuming contradiction encircling posture, left fist clenches into an empty fist at shoulder level, distant from your body for about half foot distance (Fig. 129); and after imagine that someone is pushing your left wrist, follow this pushing force so that your left forearm is slowly withdrawing, when left wrist has withdrawn next to your body for about 8 inches: left wrist rotates inward, the axis of the cylinder formed by your fingers/palm facing first rightward then backward, the center of fist facing down (Fig. 130); this movement should not be interrupted.

Fig 129

Fig 130

Fig 131


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan Now pushing the imaginary arm of an opponent: Imagine now that you are pushing back the opponent’s arm, left wrist is slowly pushing forward (Fig. 131), when left arm is near to be straight, then left wrist rotates again outward and slightly pulling backward, changing in the same the encircling posture of the contradiction post. From now you can chain this exercise. During this exercise right hand should conjugate with the body’s movement completing with a suitable assisting movement (body side protection, pushing down etc...)

IV.4.1.2 Single pushing hand solo practice with step Circling forward step: Assume with lower limbs a right T-eight step (with right posture as an example),

when right wrist withdraws, upper body turns rightward, left foot steps leftward half step with transversal

step, right foot uplifts, right sole turns outward, toes touch ground, now you are assuming another right

T-eight step, then do a right pushing hand.

From now on you can continue to practice this exercise.

Circling backward step: now right wrist withdraws, the upper body turns leftward, left foot steps backward rightward and uplifts, the sole turns inward and toe touch ground, your posture changed into another right T-eight step, and after performing your right pushing hand, this movement can be practiced continuously. For left posture practice, no matter if it is forward or backward circling step all movements are similar to the above ones, you have just to change direction respectively.

IV.4.2 Single pushing hand practice with partner IV.4.2.1 Fixed step single pushing hand practice with partner Right arm assumes posture of contradiction post, fist clenched into empty fist, left hand placed on the left side of body, your partner’s right arm is performing a hooking-filing testing force, his fist clenched into empty fist and with inner side of his wrist pressing external side of your right forearm, his left hand placed on his left side of the body; he moves forward in direction of your body’s midline, after pushing to about 7-8 inches front to your chest, your right arm rotates inward, partner’s right arm rotates outward assuming a contradiction post, use inside of your right wrist to press his external side of forearm, pushing forward in direction of his midline position. You can continue from now on fixed step single pushing hand circling practice with partner. (Fig. 132-135)



Fig 132

Fig 133

Fig 134

Fig 135 IV.4.2.2 Single pushing hand practice with step with partner From the basis of single pushing hand solo practice with step, your partner should first assume posture and touch your hands/arms according to forward single pushing hand solo practice with step, or reverse single pushing hand practice with step. Now you should use this opportunity to develop your apprehension of real contact with a partner and experience this more difficult training of keeping whole body balance especially during shift of weight...



IV.4.3 Controlling opponent with single pushing hand What is called control, is through the control of your opponent’s limbs inflict him the loss of his balance which is an important preparation step before ejecting him. Now with the example of a right posture we are going to introduce single pushing hand’s control method. IV.4.3.1 Controlling opponent’s upper limbs When opponent is pushing towards your midline, your right arm is in expanding-embracing posture, your right wrist rotates inward while left forearm uplifts upward and touching his right arm; and after left wrist first performs a reverse rotation downward then upward, and pressing his right elbow, at this time, your right hand is wresting and pulling his right wrist, his right wrist and right elbow caught by your previous movements bring him to lose his balance; at this precise moment your two palms are suddenly issuing force forward and ejecting him out. (Fig. 136, 137, 138)

Fig 136

Fig 137

Fig 138

IV.4.3.2 Controlling opponent’s trunk Trunk hosts the center of gravity of your body, so controlling trunk is in fact controlling his center of gravity. Proceed as following: when you are pushing forward your opponent, use left palm to touching his side of body, and using as the force point, slightly lead him rightward, submitted to this force he will lose his balance; and after, your left palm conjugates with right palm to issue a forward force and eject of him. (Fig. 139, 140, 141) Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 92


Fig 139

Fig 140

Fig 141

IV.4.3.3 Controlling opponent’s hip Hips have a supportive function for the whole body, if you achieve in controlling hips of your opponent then you can control also his whole body. Proceed as following: opponent pushes on you, your right wrist rotates inward into a pressing posture, at the same time your left palm rotates first leftward then rightward rotating with arc on your opponent’s hip, this brings your opponent to off-balance; and after your right palm is touching his midline position, left palm conjugating simultaneously with right palm to eject him forward. (Fig. 142, 143, 144)

Fig 142

Fig 143

Fig 144

IV.4.3.4 Controlling his knee The knees have a dominant role of the functions of the lower limbs of your body, if you achieve in

controlling your opponent’s knee joint, then he will be induced in a passive position.

Proceed as following: when you push your opponent, right foot is slightly stepping forward, wait your


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan right foot has dropped onto the ground then suddenly use right knee to knock leftward on your opponent’s right knee inner side, this brings him to lose his balance, chain immediately with an issuing forward force to eject the opponent. (Fig. 145, 146, 147)

Fig 145

Fig 146

Fig 147

IV.4.3.5 Controlling his two feet Foot is the root of your body, if your opponent loses his roots, he will be in a disadvantaged situation. When you are pushing your opponent, use rapidly your front of right sole to hook and kick inside of your opponent’s right foot, during this short time of unbalance you should apply with right foot a spring kicking to his inner side of left foot with a reverse movement, inducing him again to lose his balance, this time when your right foot drops onto the ground, issue suddenly a forward force and eject him. (Fig. 148, 149, 150)

Fig 148

Fig 149

Fig 150



IV.4.4 Reverse control of single pushing hand When your opponent uses different methods to control parts of your body, you should bring his movements backward, follow his attack, neutralize it and use back this force to apply a reverse control, changing your situation from passive state into proactive one. IV.4.4.1 Reverse control of upper limbs When opponent uses control of upper limbs method on you, your upper body slightly turns rightward, and right arm follows opponent seizing elbow’s posture, then rotating inward to dissolve opponent’s seizing force; and after with your external side of right forearm as touching point, left palm is conjugating with right arm to issue force forward ejecting your opponent. (Fig. 151, 152, 153

Fig 151

Fig 152

Fig 153

IV.4.4.2 Reverse control of trunk When you feel the opponent is using trunk’s control method on your right side of body, neutralize his control by turning rapidly his body leftward, after having dispelled his stirring force, make immediately a rapid fast step forward to eject the opponent. (Fig. 154, 155, 156)



Fig 154

Fig 155

Fig 156

IV.4.4.3 Reverse control of hip When you are pushing hands with opponent, if opponent want to stir your hip and controlling you, your right hip moves rapidly leftward. During this time your left wrist is near your right wrist, then your left palm moves to opponent midline, and after use it to issue a forward force to eject the opponent. (Fig. 157, 158, 159)

Fig 157

Fig 158

Fig 159

IV.4.4.4 Reverse control of knee When you feel that your opponent will use control knee method on you, use rapidly right knee joint to make a reverse movement with arc on his right knee. And after your right foot makes slightly a underlay step forward, trampling opponent midline; use whole body force to eject him. (Fig. 160, 161, 162)



Fig 160

Fig 161

Fig 162

IV.4.4.5 Reverse control of foot During pushing hands exercise, if your partner uplifts his right foot and is preparing to hook and kick your right foot, front sole moves in friction step, making a circle counterclockwise, once your right foot stands in your partner’s midline position, your weight sinks slightly and two palms at same time are issuing force forward to eject the opponent. (Fig. 163, 164, 165)

Fig 163

Fig 164

Fig 165



IV.5 Double pushing hands IV.5.1 Double pushing hands solo practice IV.5.1.1 Fixed step double pushing hands solo practice Assume with lower limbs left T-eight step or right T-eight step, two arms rising to front of body, two fists clenching into empty fist positioned at the same level and same width than your shoulders, distant from the body for about 1 foot distance, the center of two fists facing each other. (Fig. 166) Upper body turns slightly rightward, left arm and left fist turn rightward, downward then leftward to make half circle movement, bringing your left fist in front of your belly at about half foot distance, right arm and right fist turns rightward, downward, leftward and upward to make half circle movement, bringing your right fist in front of right shoulder at about 1 foot distance. (Fig. 167) Without interrupting your movement, then your upper body turns slightly leftward, in the same time left arm and left fist turn first rightward then upward to make half circle movement, left fist is now in front of left shoulder at about 1 foot distance, right arm and right fist turn leftward and downward to make half circle movement, right fist is now in front of belly at about half foot distance. (Fig. 168)

Fig 166

Fig 167

Fig 168

Circling should no being interrupted, you can have also left fist in front of body to make direct circling movement, right fist in front of body making reverse circling movement. During this exercise you should use your waist as axis, using shoulder and hip to give the leading impetus for all movements of two arms, two wrists and two hands while two wrists are entwining his arms like a snake enlacing objects, endlessly IV.5.1.2 Double pushing hands solo practice with step IV.5.1.2.1 Triangle step: Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 98

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan Feet moving in triangle step, two arms making half circle in front of body. IV.5.1.2.2 Underlay step: Foot moving forward with underlay step, two arms making half circle in front of body. You can also

make one backward underlay step and two arms make half circle in front of body.

IV.5.1.2.3 Bear step: Foot moving forward with bear step and two arms making half circle in front of body. You can also

make a back bear step, two arms making also half circle in front of body.

IV.5.1.2.4 Forward triangle step: With left foot in front for example, start a triangle step, two arms making a half circle in front of body,

when right foot is making a big step forward and left foot follows to assume then a left T-eight step,

then two arms make again half circle in front of body; you can do the same similarly with back triangle

step.

IV.5.2 Double pushing hands practice with partner IV.5.2.1 Fixed step double pushing hands practice with partner Two arms in front of body, two fists clenched into empty fist, and two wrists facing each other, external side of left wrist in contact with inner side of your opponent’s right wrist, inner side of right wrist pressing opponent’s external side of left wrist; and after, left arm makes a direct rightward circling movement, right arm makes a reverse leftward circling movement, then you can continue as before in this circling exercise. (Fig. 169-172)

Fig 169

Fig 170

Fig 171



Fig 172 When you are in contact with the arms of your opponent and you are making circling movement, try your best to move towards your opponent’s midline position, in the same time protect also your own midline position. IV.5.2.2 Double pushing hands practice with step with partner IV.5.2.2.1 Triangle step practice. IV.5.2.2.2 Underlay step: Make a front step while your partner is making one back step. You can also do the inverse situation

where you make a back step and he is making a front step.

IV.5.2.2.3 Bear step: Make a front step with bear step while your partner is making a back bear step, your two arms pressing

on his arms and making a circling movement.

IV.5.2.2.4 Rooster step: Make a front rooster step and your partner is making a back rooster step, your two arms touching his

arms during circling movement.

IV.5.3 Double pushing hands applications Applications of double pushing hands are almost unlimited; when you start practicing double pushing hands you should first select some general ejecting method. IV.5.3.1 Circle strike and springing ejection When you are doing pushing hands, use with left fist and right fist a parting circle strike on left and right sides of your partner’s head, then two fists change into palm moving downward, the center of palm facing forward and touching partner’s chest, in the same time right foot is making a forward half step, left foot Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 100

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan following with half step, whole body’s force is shaking forward to eject your partner. (Fig. 173-176)

Fig 173

Fig 174

Fig 175

Fig 176 Main point: whole body should be supple, muscles relaxed, circle strike and springing ejection should be perfectly chained. IV.5.3.2 Placing elbow (arm) obliquely ejection During pushing hands, the external side of left wrist presses on the inner side of your partner’s right wrist, then turn your body slightly leftward, and strike rapidly with your right palm his left elbow, due to the pain inflicted in his elbow his balance is perturbed; and after your body turns slightly rightward, right foot makes a half step rightward and forward, left foot follows with half step, issue with right arm (elbow) an oblique force to eject him. (Fig. 177, 178, 179)



Fig 177

Fig 178

Fig 179

Main point: When you are striking your opponent, pressing and issuing forces directions are just opposite; when your right hand is issuing force, pay a special attention to prevent from your opponent’s left hand to slide back on you. IV.5.3.3 Downward strike and getting back ejection During pushing hands, your body turns slightly leftward while right fist turns upward, forward and downward to strike your partner’s chest, then turn suddenly your body rightward with external side of right elbow or right forearm issuing force rightward and forward, in the same time your right foot makes a half step, left foot following with half step and eject him. (Fig. 180, 181, 182)

Fig 180

Fig 181

Fig 182

Main point: when you are striking downward it should shake your opponent’s bowels, then withdraw and eject him immediately.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan IV.5.3.4 Penetrating and ejection with elbow During pushing hands, rotates suddenly outward your two arms, center of palms facing up, hand in claw form or clenching into empty fist, two hands separately striking your partner’s face, during the moment where he is rising his head or losing control of his balance, use right forearm/elbow to strike his chest, and left hand pressing his shoulder; and after make a forward half step, left foot following with half step, whole body is issuing force to eject him. (Fig. 183, 184, 185)

Fig 183

Fig 184

Fig 185

Main point: when you are striking it should be precise and with determination; when your right forearm is stretching forward you should have the back of your fist facing his eyes.

IV.5.3.5 Bumping and uplifting ejection Your right arm is on the external side of your partner’s left arm, left arm is pressing on the inner side of his right arm, your right arm twists to the inner side of your left arm, your two arms separating his two arms, two legs slightly bent, and the body leaning forward, use your head to bump his chest; and after close your two hands inward next to his belly, when right foot makes a forward half step, left foot is following with half step, two legs slightly straight, using whole body inertia to uproot and eject him. (Fig. 186, 187, 188).



Fig 186

Fig 187

Fig 188

Main point: when you use your head to bump his chest you should first control his two arms; when you are stepping forward and two legs stretching: movement should be harmonious and consistent. IV.5.3.6 Hooking and pushing ejection During pushing hands, move right foot forward with a half step next to the inner side of your partner’s right heel, then hooking and pulling his right foot, and after fast with right sole spring and kick rapidly on his left calf, left foot follows with half step in the same time, relax your upper limbs by loosing shoulder and dropping elbow, the center of palm facing forward, then eject him with your whole body’s force. (Fig. 189, 190, 191)

Fig 189

Fig 190

Fig 191

Main point: During hooking-pulling and springing kicking, whole body should be relaxed and sinking, hip supple, use hip to lead lower limbs to finish hooking and kicking movement; when front foot is dropping onto the ground the back foot should follow immediately.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan IV.5.3.7 Splitting and smashing eject Your left arm placed inside and right arm outside during your pushing hands, first your left palm splits his face, then right palm splits his face, once your right splitting hand arrive on his chest, change suddenly your palm into fist, in the same time right foot makes half step, left foot follows with half step and finally eject him with a smashing movement. (Fig. 192, 193, 194)

Fig 192

Fig 193

Fig 194

Main point: During your splitting movement, your partner should be reacting by erecting his head or withdrawing his upper body, then you should smash without hesitation, and do not forget that “body is hammering arm and arm is hammering palm” to eject him. IV.5.3.8 Strike with rotation and chopping ejection When your right wrist is placed in the inner side of your partner’s left wrist, rotates your right arm inward, center of palm facing down, body turns to left, right palm strikes on his neck or the base of his ear, wait right palm rotating strike to front of left shoulder suddenly turns body rightward, the center of two palms facing rightward and forward, the right foot makes a forward half step and left foot follows with half step, eject him with front palm. (Fig. 195, 196, 197)



Fig 195

Fig 196

Fig 197

Main point: no matter if you are striking with rotation or chopping ejecting you should always use shoulder and hip as axis; between striking with rotation and chopping ejection all movements should be round and fluid.



IV.6 Wrapping Iron Force and its applications IV.6.1 Wrapping iron force In first phase training of Dachengquan we have already learnt how to train strength inducement, this training is a prerequisite to swinging movements, when you are swinging your arms whole body should be relaxed, two arms will generate a natural heavy feeling like they were filled by plumb (or any heavy metal). In order to prepare a significant development of power and to make its easer to apply in real combat, you must be able to transform this internal strength into wrapping iron force. IV.6.1.1 Two arms practice In your exercise you should start with a normal speed and natural extension when swinging your arm, then you will accelerate progressively your exercise, once you reach in your whole body a relaxing and sinking state, you should suddenly give out all the possible acceleration that you can in front of you. In this time you whole body is very heavy, two arms like cotton wrapping iron, this force has a very strong penetrating force, so that is also called penetrating force. Main point: To strengthen the effects of this force, at the moment where your two arms are going to apply full acceleration, two feet can make forward and backward a trampling movement, as to increase adhesion to the ground and to produce a reactive force from your body. For a beginner, in starting phase it is very difficult to reach speed, to place you under more favorable conditions, you can first stop the assisting swinging arm movement, relax your body and mind, you can for example imagine to be like in presence of a thunder and its incredible amount of electric power, when this feeling is activated in your central nervous system situated in your brains, you have immediately in your swinging arm movement the impression of cotton wrapping iron, check how fast can you be and you much power can you deliver, if both spirit and form are mind and form are keeping continuously perfectly merged, then you can go on practicing with high speed ejecting. If during swinging arm movement you‘ve this wrapping iron feeling, you should not hesitate in your movement: just make it a freely swinging arm training; put two hands on both sides of his body, and after two arms are suddenly throwing upward and forward with a lightning speed, flared up with in a sudden and heavy contraction. IV.6.1.2 Single arm and single fist practice When two arms practice has successfully helped you to experience penetrating force you can practice now “single arm and single fist”, this method is almost the same with two arms practice, the difference is: two palms change into fists, left fist protecting chin, the right arm and right fist can make first a swinging arm movement, then in the swinging arm trajectory accelerate suddenly to throw out of right fist (Fig. 198, 199). You can also have right arm and right fist not moving and then suddenly throw forward and upward. We have presented before the right posture of this exercise, left posture is similar, just to change directions respectively.



Fig 198

Fig 199

IV.6.1.3 Check up To verify the effects of the training you can do a Check up exercise: your partner pulls your chest-protector, apply a wrapping iron feeling on your partner’s body: with swinging arm movement bump rapidly on his chest; two palms on both sides of his body and immediately after bumping him forward. (Fig. 200-203)

Fig 200

Fig 201

Fig 202



Fig 203 What we need to explain is: that the objective of this training is not the eject effect, but the penetrating effect, and your partner should have been prepared for a heavy shock, then if he feels a strong shake effect, this shows that the penetrating force has already reached an important level.. By just slightly readjust the body movements of issuing wrapping iron force, you can access to many fighting applications: single hand technique, like smashing punch, drilling punch, wrap iron pounding punch etc...

IV.6.2 Smashing punch IV.6.2.1 Single posture practice of smashing punch Assume with lower limbs right T-eight step, use left fist to protect chin, and the right fist on the side of

body with penetrating force to strike forward and after right fist withdraws down to right side of body,

throw again a second smashing punch.

When you become proficient in right posture, train left posture, after training both sides singularly,

alternate left and right postures.

With left fist protecting chin, use right fist issuing smashing punch, then right fist withdraws and protects

chin, now it is left fist which slightly drops down beside your body then use it to issue a smashing punch

(Fig. 204-207).



Fig 204

Fig 205

Fig 206

Fig 207 IV.6.2.2 Smashing punch conjugated with step You have in front of you a target situated at 3 meters distance, and then make rapidly a trampling step to reach your target, and issuing force forward with smashing punch; you can also combine punches: starting by issuing right smashing punch and immediately after left smashing punch forward. IV.6.2.3 Smashing punch applications IV.6.2.3.1 Facing your opponent, or suddenly stepping forward, use left fist slightly forward to make a false movement, wait so that he will disperse his attention, then use immediately a right fist to smash forward into his belly. (Fig. 208, 209)



Fig 208

Fig 209

IV.6.2.3.2 Opponent uses right straight punch to attack you, then turn slightly your body to the left,

during this time your left fist strikes top-down on your opponent’s right arm, and right fist uses

smashing punch to strike on his liver or ribs. (Fig. 210, 211, 212)

Fig 210

Fig 211

Fig 212

IV.6.2.3.3 Opponent uses left straight punch to attack you then turn slightly your body to right, left

forearm uplifts leftward and downward knocking opponent’s left arm, in the same time upper body

turns slightly leftward, and right fist smashes forward his left rib. (Fig. 213, 214, 215)



Fig 213

Fig 214

Fig 215

IV.6.3 Drilling punch IV.6.3.1 The training of drilling punch Let’s start with right posture for example: left fist under of chin, the center of fist facing downward, right fist placed near the right side of your body, the center of fist facing inward then right fist is rotating outward, issuing forward and upward, up to the head level, the center of fist facing up; when issuing right drilling punch, the waist and hip should wrest leftward, the right arm and right fist issues a full penetrating force; after issuing right punch, the right arm rotates inward and drops to right side of the body, and after starts a second drilling punch, from now on you can repeat this exercise. (Fig. 216, 217)

Fig 216

Fig 217

Left posture exercise is similar to right posture one, just change directions respectively. When you become proficient with single posture, you can alternate and chain left and right postures at will.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan IV.6.3.2 Drilling punch applications IV.6.3.2.1 Your opponent uses right fist to punch you, then you turn slightly your body rightward, with

left arm smashing his right arm, using right drilling punch to strike his throat, if your opponent dodges,

send him this time a left drilling punch to his face. (Fig. 218, 219, 220)

Fig 218

Fig 219

Fig 220

IV.6.3.2.2 Your opponent uses bottom-up right hooking punch to attack you, then move left arm with

external side of left forearm to block leftward his right wrist, during this time, send fiercely a right

drilling punch to his chin. (Fig. 221, 222, 223)

Fig 221

Fig 222

Fig 223

IV.6.3.2.3 When opponent uses left straight punch to attack you, turn slightly your body rightward, in

the same time use external side of left arm to block leftward opponent’s left arm, chaining with a

slightly turn of the body this time leftward, landing a right drilling punch on his left armpit. (Fig. 224,

225, 226)



Fig 224

Fig 225

Fig 226

IV.6.4 Wrapping iron pounding punch In the first phase training we’ve already learnt pounding punch, now we are going to work out penetrating force with pounding punch single hand technique which should help you to inflict to your opponent further damages during combat. IV.6.4.1 Wrapping iron pounding punch training (Let’s start with right posture for example) Assume with lower limbs right T-eight step, left fist in

defending posture, right fist in attacking posture, whole body relaxed; right fist first springs naturally

forward and withdraws immediately under your chin, then this time throw your left fist rapidly forward.

After this routine, two fists return in right fighting posture, now throw the second cycle of right and left

fists movements...

You can continue to practice this cycle to build up your basics in wrapping iron punch.

When you are proficient in single springing (defensive) and punching (attack), you can also chain several

springing and/or punching within the same cycle of exercise.

Here is the method: assume the precondition of fighting posture, right fist springs continuously 2 or 3

times then withdraws in the same time throw left punch.

You can also alternate two fists.

Here is the method: spring right punch, throw left punch, then right fist assuming defense and left fist is

attacking, so this time spring left fist and after withdraw left fist then again throw right fist punch forward

etc...

From these patterns you can combine them at will to perfect your wrapping iron pounding technique.

IV.6.4.2 Checking your “wrapping iron” pounding punch technique Get your partner to stand in front of you, with his two palms or target protecting his chest, use base of right palm, with five fingers slightly bent, as force point from where you will spring rapidly strike to Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 114

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan partner’s chest-protector, if you can spring out your opponent to a distance of 3 m, you can say that your wrapping iron pounding punch has already a strong penetrating effect. (Fig. 227, 228)

Fig 227

Fig 228

IV.6.4.3 Conjugate with step training Your partner stands in front of you at about 3 m distance, he rises his left palm or right palm at your head level, make rapidly a trampling step forward, first with right fist springing on his palm, then in left posture strike again with heavy punch. After this your partner can wave his palm leftward and rightward, throw a springing pounding punch. IV.6.4.4 Wrapping iron pounding punch applications IV.6.4.4.1 Facing your opponent, step suddenly forward tramping his midline position, right fist continuously springing on his face; if opponent is stepping back, trample immediately his midline, chaining with a pounding punch to his face. (Fig. 229, 230, 231)

Fig 229

Fig 230

Fig 231


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan IV.6.4.4.2 Opponent uses swaying punch to attack you, withdraw slightly your body, in the same time spring forward your right punch, with the inner side of right forearm or right wrist as force point to block his left arm, and after throw forward a left pounding punch to his face. (Fig. 232, 233, 234)

Fig 232

Fig 233

Fig 234

IV.6.4.4.3 If opponent attacks you with right straight punch; withdraw slightly rightward, during this time use external side of left forearm to counterpunch, and spring leftward, downward to his right arm, bringing him to lose his balance, and after throw rapidly a right posture heavy pounding punch to his face or throat. (Fig. 235, 236, 237)

Fig 235

Fig 236

Fig 237



CHAPTER V The Third Phase of Training

From the previous two phases training you should have gain natural whole body strength and issuing penetrative force ability. On this basis you can add further combat posts, testing forces and pushing hand of intermediate level training, then you can reach a stimulated spirit, improving your general technique, gaining greater suppleness in your body and limbs, but also revealing a specific force in Dachengquan — The double stretching force.



V.1 Supporting-nursling post Supporting-nursling post also called supporting baby post; this post suggests a supporting (upward force) and holding (downward force) intention, such as hold baby in the palm which gave its second name. Supporting-nursling post is especially involving upper limbs, but if you stand with a lower posture in your lower limbs, it will increase also the overall power of your post. With left posture for example, the lower limbs are assuming contradiction post with left foot slightly spreading outward. Upper body erected (you are not leaning backward), two arms rising, and the elbow slightly dropping downward; left hand in the front, the center of palm facing up, fiver fingers pointing rightward and forward, at neck level; right hand in the back, center of palm facing up, five fingers pointing leftward and forward, at shoulder level; two hands separated by a distance roughly equal to 1 foot as if you are supporting a baby. (Fig. 238)

Fig 238

This post is not only helping you to nurture Dachengquan’s double stretching force; it has also important practical applications in double pushing hands. Because internal strength is generated at the edges of your bones, tendons and muscles, so when you stretch your tendons to adopt Supporting-nursling post, it will have evident beneficial effects for your bones, muscles, tendons and nerves, confirming his preponderant role for an effective training. We should indicate clearly the fact that as supporting-nursling post involves, comparatively to others posts, a higher intensity of internal strength and mental activity as a consequence this requires a relevant technical level: this technique is quite difficult to master... Let me introduce its different phases of training:



V.1.1 Adaptive phase Because it is new a postural form which is requested, part of bones and muscles of your body have also new stimulation. So tiredness will appear in your body, especially a dissymmetric tiredness in your two arms with different degrees of aching, due to the continuous effort of two arms wresting outward, which is in fact the specific training of contraction/relaxation of your arms muscles. Concerning your lower limbs, beside two thighs and hips are continuously assuming contradiction post with a contracting and relaxing movement, two calves will experience also new and further stimulations. When you are starting Supporting-nursling post, because related muscles (to your posture) are contracting and relaxing, it may bring out unexpected reactions from your body; materialized sometimes by a large variety sensations not always comfortable. Sometimes after standing just a few minutes you may feel difficult to endure further more your standing post. After a certain period of practice, requested muscles and tendons will gain proper training and broader adjustment, each part of body holding the requested posture will not only bring its correlated muscles to suitable contraction/relaxation training, but also reaching a new ability of relative relaxation, where from a process of energy consuming you will change into a process of strength accumulation. At this time, it will appear in your limbs a new comfortable feeling, where internal strength is happening to rise and to strengthen, in your two arms it will appear an obvious feeling of heaviness and distension feeling, two hands will also warm up, getting numb and increasing feeling of thickness. If you can hold your standing post 30 minutes without interruption and without feeling tired: congratulations, you have pass the adaptive phase.

V.1.2 Steadiness practice In pushing hands and in sparring preserving balance is extremely important, in fact whole body’s steadiness should your main criteria to manage your weight (center of gravity). It is evident that it is only under the condition of having a whole body strong and steady that you’ll be hardly uprooted or thrown out, and in the same time you will be able to apply to your opponent a huge counterforce, reducing his attack initiative into a passive defense. Here is the most appropriate method to develop your steadiness: V.1.2.1 Simulation exercise Assume Supporting-nursling post, body relaxed, mind entering stillness. Use your mind to stimulate any dynamic situation which will require strong reaction from your limbs. During this time standing post should stimulate a situation where your body is like an immense tree, with twisted roots and gnarled branches, extremely steady and if a hurricane is blowing, other trees will be crooked, but you’ll stay steady like Taishan Mountain. V.1.2.2 Stretching exercise Imagine that your body is slightly rising and declining (you don’t need to have a special form), when declining, two feet and two legs are like growing roots, with a stretching forward and backward intention, in the same time the crotch slightly opened, muscles of two legs should have lifting upward and dropping Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 119

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan downward, wrapping inward and support outward stretching action. Two arms have dropping feeling, and at the same time two elbows have also an open outward and close inward stretching feeling. After this exercise mind should return to calmness, and whole body in relaxation. Rest few minutes then start again this stretching (and declining) exercise. V.1.2.3 Connecting exercise Imagine you have like elastics stretching between each top of your ten fingers and your trunk have elastic connect action. Stretching one by one, your ten fingers should also have a slight contracting and relaxing movement. Once you get proficient in it you can increase the force involved with the participation of the wrist, in the same time also stimulate upper limbs with related trunk muscle. Through “Connecting training”, the hand can feel hot, numb; the center of palm may experience a pulsating feeling, which is an effect from modifications in your muscle. These modifications, in addition to the effective activation of hand and wrist forces, are precisely the ability to connect and to extend with other muscles and tendons simultaneously. V.1.2.4 Pushing-pulling action Imagine that your ten fingers are inserted in a trunk, two arms lead two hands to push this tree, and after pull back tree to its former place. When you are practicing, two hands and two arms should be coordinated in their slight contracting and relaxing movement. Here is the specific training: Upper limbs with whole body preserving a relaxed state, the trunk pushing upper limbs such as pushing alternating contraction and relaxation; and after with the trunk leading, upper limbs are like pulling tree alternating contraction and relaxation. You can continue this cycle of exercises: whole relaxation, pushing tree and pulling tree. In your pushing and pulling cycle, two arms should experience an obvious feeling of distension.

V.1.3 Mental training Once your body has been correctly trained through the last previous exercises, and you have enhanced through adequate training of your mental, then when assuming your posture you will feel as containing Heaven and Earth; your Qi as able to swallow spirits of mountains and rivers. When you meet an opponent, in the beginning you may lack of courage which will lead you most probably to defeat. But now after having trained body and mental, in the similar situation of combat you will feel brave which is already 30% of victory and a very good psychological platform to start your “physical” combat What is called “Dealing with the attack of an enemy” is to imagine that in front of your body you have a bright light (not too luminous but also not too weak) which you are staring. This time can be short or long, during your staring, two hands should not stop to absorb this light, with sufficient training they will be like merging with the beam of this light.



V.2 Snake entwining hand testing force

Snake entwining hand is an essential basic testing force and can be trained with supporting-nursling post. With snake entwining hand training, you can improve the stretching and connecting effects of supporting-nursling post on your muscles, enhancing their strength and their balance, in the same time, the technique of snake entwining hand is very useful in combat

V.2.1 Snake entwining hand - fixed step Right foot in the front, you are assuming T-eight step, two hands uplifted at shoulder’s level, the right hand with right foot on the same line, the center of palm facing up, left hand distant from chest for about 1 foot distance, the center of palm facing downward; and after turn upper body to right, left palm conjugating with right palm which is entwining rightward and backward, when right palm arrives parallel near right shoulder, turn right palm so that its center will face down, then two palms are slowly pushing forward until two arms are almost straight, this time right arm rotates outward, the center of palm facing up, again right arm is entwining rightward and backward, so that you can continue your exercise. We have just presented the right posture of snake entwining hand, as left posture is similar to right posture, just change directions respectively so that you can also train left posture. (Fig. 239, 240, 241)

Fig 239

Fig 240

Fig 241

V.2.2 Snake entwining hand with step When two hands are entwining rightward and backward, weight moves onto right leg, left foot uplifts, makes a large step leftward and forward, assuming now left T-eight step; when right palm after entwining becomes parallel and near to right shoulder, turns palm so that its center face down, in the same time left Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 121

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan palm is slightly front of right palm (Fig. 242, 243); and after two palms push forward (front of body), once two arms are almost straight, left wrist turns its palm so that the center of palm is facing down, now two hands are entwining leftward and backward (Fig. 244, 245); in the same time, weight moves onto left leg, right foot uplifts and makes a big step rightward and forward, you assume now right T-eight step; after entwining when left palm is parallel and near left shoulder, turn it so that its center faces down, and in the same time left right palm is slightly in front of left palm, and after, two palms push forward (front of body) (Fig. 239, 240, 241), when your two arms are almost straight, just repeat the above movements, continuously and slowly while moving forward.

Fig 242

Fig 243

Fig 244

Fig 245

V.2.3 Mind activity in snake entwining hand testing force V.2.3.1 Imagine that your two arms and two wrists are like snakes entwining objects, using suitable of relaxation and contraction so that it will generate spiral force Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 122

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan V.2.3.2 Imagine that in front of your body you have a bamboo forest, your two hands are pushing this bamboo forest, and after, two arms and two hands are making in addition to their entwining movements an horizontal sweeping movement, as a result the bamboo forest is bending under your movements, imagine resistance and elasticity from each of theses bamboo trees, returning you back on your arms their individual reactive force.

V.2.4 Snake entwining hand applications V.2.4.1 Entwining right arm and drilling strike When opponent uses right straight punch to attack your chest, avoid it slightly leftward, and after turn body rightward, with external side of your right wrist entwines your opponent’s right forearm, and leading him rightward and backward, making him losing balance and leaning forward, this time change rapidly left right palm into drilling fist to punch forward on his face or neck. (Fig. 246, 247, 248)

Fig 246

Fig 247

Fig 248

V.2.4.2 Entwining left arm and bumping When opponent uses left straight punch to attack your head, block rapidly with external side of right forearm inward, outward and rightward; and after right wrist turns outward to present the center of palm upward, entwining continuously with wrist joint rightward and backward the inside of his left arm; after this your left foot is making forward a big step assuming left T-eight step, in the same time turn right wrist, center of palm facing forward and strike his face while left palm bumps his chest. (Fig. 249, 250, 251)



Fig 249

Fig 250

Fig 251

V.2.4.3 Entwining scruff and chopping When opponent uses his right fist to smash you up down, avoid it by turning slightly backward your body and make rapidly a big step with left foot moving leftward and forward, then assume left T-eight step, right foot follows immediately by stepping forward next to the inside of your opponent right foot, move around back of your opponent; and after turns upper body rightward, lower limbs assuming right T-eight step, with external side of right wrist entwines his scruff rightward and backward, in the same time the center of left palm facing down, and chop rightward his lower back. (Fig. 252, 253, 254)

Fig 252

Fig 253

Fig 254

V.2.4.4 Entwining leg and smashing When opponent is using a right side kick, avoid it by moving slightly leftward and in the same time by lowering your center of gravity; and after turn upper body rightward with external side of right forearm controlling his right calf, the center of left palm controlling his right thigh, two hands using whole body spiral force in the same time to entwine rightward and backward; then suddenly turn right palm inward Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 124

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan changing into fist to punch his liver. (Fig. 255, 256, 257)

Fig 255

Fig 256

Fig 257

V.2.4.5 Entwining arm and stumbling When opponent is using a right straight punch to attack your head, left foot moves slightly with half step leftward to avoid his punch; and after turn rapidly upper body to right, with external side of your right wrist entwining rightward and backward his right arm; if opponent struggles backward, place your right foot in the back of his right leg, center of two palms facing forward and upward, and bumping forward to his chest, as a result your opponent may be heavily injured and even fall down (Fig. 258, 259, 260)

Fig 258

Fig 259

Fig 260

V.2.4.6 Entwining elbow and splitting When opponent is using his right hand to catch your left chest, use right hand to press his back of hand and in the same time depleting your body to bend it slightly forward to catch his wrist; when opponent is loosening his hand, your left hand is pressing rapidly on his left elbow; and after right wrist is rotating outward and catching opponent’s right wrist, left hand conjugating in the same time to entwine rightward Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 125

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan and backward, the opponent being controlled on his upper limbs, needs to lean forward, in this time use right hand to split forward suddenly his face. (Fig. 261, 262, 263)

Fig 261

Fig 262

Fig 263

V.2.4.7 Entwining neck and insert face When opponent uses right fist attack your chest, left palm presses up-down his right arm; and after turn upper body rightward with center of palm facing outward catching the opponent’s right side of neck and entwining forcibly rightward and backward; when opponent is struggling backward, turn your body leftward and left right wrist rotates inward, the center of palm facing up, five fingers thrusting forward to opponent’s face, then left palm strikes his liver and rib. (Fig. 264, 265, 266)

Fig 264

Fig 265

Fig 266

V.2.4.8 Entwining arm and strike with elbow When your opponent uses left palm to attack you, use rapidly two arms to block and with right forearm to knock outward opponent’s left forearm, and after right wrist rotates inward to catch opponent’s left wrist joint, left hand catches his arm; after this turn upper body rightward, your two arms and two wrists in the Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 126

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan same time entwining rightward and backward opponent’s left arm, as his arm is controlled by you, your opponent will lean forward or struggle backward, at this time turn suddenly your upper body to the left, with top of right elbow sweeping forward opponent’s neck. (Fig. 267, 268, 269)

Fig 267

Fig 268

Fig 269

V.2.4.9 Entwining arm and punching downward When your opponent uses left palm or left fist to attack you, use left arm to block, right palm penetrates outward and inward from opponent’s left wrist, two arms entwining rightward and backward opponent’s right arm, and after right fist strikes opponent’s face with high downward punch. (Fig. 270, 271, 272)

Fig 270

Fig 271

Fig 272

V.2.4.10 Entwining head and pounding punch When your opponent uses left palm to split or use left fist to smash you, use rapidly right foot to move half step rightward and forward, left foot follows with half step, moving around opponent’s left side, when you are turning body leftward in the same time, left hand penetrates upward from opponent’s left arm to catch his chin, right hand pressing his hair, and after two hands entwining rightward and backward Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 127

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan his head, bringing his upper body to lean backward, change suddenly your two hands into fists, your right

fist uses pounding punch to strike his left ear root and your left fist strike his heart. (Fig. 273, 274, 275)

Fig 273

Fig 274

Fig 275



V.3 Double stretching force

After spending a certain time in training supporting-nursling post with snake entwining hand, it will appear sooner or later in your two arms, chest and back a kind of tightening feeling, at this time you can train double stretching force. What is called double stretching force is to perform in very short time a reverse double direction force: forward-backward double stretching force, leftward-rightward double stretching force or upward-downward double stretching force. Now we are going to introduce forward-backward double stretching force, as for others double stretching forces you can easily refer to forward-backward double stretching force and determine appropriate training method.

V.3.1 The principle of double stretching force Double stretching force needs to use simultaneously: V.3.1.1 Your whole body’s inertia V.3.1.2 The ground’s friction/reaction force; V.3.1.3 A counterforce.

V.3.2 The training of double stretching force When you are training double stretching force, you can first train part of muscle or one side muscle, then connect them together in some others exercises, and finally train double stretching force with your whole body.

V.3.2.1 Wrist springing and shaking. When your two hands are touching, striking or ejecting opponent, it should be with your wrists as the force points. Here is the specific practice: first standing in supporting-nursling post, two arms rotate inward, the center of palms obliquely facing with each other, and then wrists make a springing and shaking movement downward, then waist and wrists relax slightly, later you can restart a second springing and shaking movement V.3.2.2 Single side of muscle stretching, contracting and relaxing training. You can start with left side for example; you can separate the training into 4 steps: a. Muscles from left elbow to wrist are making a forward movement – alternating contraction and

relaxation

b. Muscles from left shoulder to elbow are making a forward movement - alternating contraction and

relaxation

c. Muscles of left side of chest, back and waist are making a bumping forward movement;

d. Between your left side of upper body to your left wrist there is like a stretching elastic, contracting and

relaxing, springing and pulling.

With similar exercises you can train your right side of the body


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan V.3.2.3 Back hip muscles and tendons are making wrapping inward movement - hip contracting and relaxing. V.3.2.4 Imagine that between waist and two feet you have one set of elastics, two legs and two feet in a kicking forward and backward movement, two legs muscles - contracting and relaxing. V.3.2.5 Imagine that between left hand and right foot you have one set of big elastics, making forward contracting/relaxing in an extending/pulling movement: Imagine the same between right hand and right foot, another set of big elastic, then making forward contracting/relaxing in an extending/pulling movement. V.3.2.6 Standing in supporting-nursling post, two arms rotates inward, the center of two palms facing with each other, two arms use a springing and shaking backward/forward stretching force; from your upper body to your two wrists issue a springing and shaking backward/forward stretching force practice; from two hips to wrists issue a springing and shaking backward/forward stretching force; on this back, two legs and two feet in the same time are stamping onto the ground to increase the friction/reaction force of two feet with the ground, this is what we call whole body double stretching force. (Fig. 276, 277, 278)

Fig 276

Fig 277

Fig 278

V.3.3 Checking up your double stretching force V.3.3.1 Your partner is seizing your two arms, use double stretching force to release yourself from his seizing and in the same time eject him vigorously. (Fig. 279, 280, 281)



Fig 279

Fig 280

Fig 281

V.3.3.2 Your partner is catching your arms or your chest, and after use double stretching force

shaking rightward and backward your opponent and eject him powerfully. (Fig. 282, 283, 284)

Fig 282

Fig 283

Fig 284

V.3.4 Double stretching force applications V.3.4.1 In single pushing hands, use right wrist to press opponent’s right forearm, and after use

double stretching force to eject him. (Fig. 285, 286, 287)



Fig 285

Fig 286

Fig 287

V.3.4.2 In double pushing hand, use double stretching force with inner sides of two wrists as

touching points, destroy his stability and eject him. (Fig. 288, 289, 290)

Fig 288

Fig 289

Fig 290

V.3.4.3 Your opponent is attacking you with two palms, use two arms to block and with your

touching points controlling him use double stretching force to eject him. (Fig. 291, 292, 293)



Fig 291

Fig 292

Fig 293

Fig 294

Fig 295

Fig 296

V.3.4.4 Your opponent is attacking you with right fist, avoid it by moving slightly to the right

(forearm in protecting posture and rear arm in attacking posture), when your left forearm is blocking

his right forearm use suddenly a double stretching force to eject him. (Fig. 294, 295, 296)



V.4 Seizing/ejecting techniques in pushing hands When you can combine seizing techniques with your eject assault you may achieve better results against your opponent, it requests you to control securely his limbs/trunk and bring him in a passive posture. When you have succeeded in seizing your opponent, or being caught he is struggling instinctively, or off balanced, revealing multiple weakness points or errors, in these circumstances it becomes easier to eject him.

V.4.1 Basic ejecting technique V.4.1.1 Catch and eject technique In pushing hands exercise, pierce suddenly forward bottom-up with left hand, with external side of left wrist catch your opponent’s right arm, move rapidly your right hand and touch his chest with the base of your right palm, and after with left wrist’s touching point and right base of palm’s touching point issue a frontal force, right foot is simultaneously making a half step to eject the opponent. (Fig. 297, 298, 299) Main point: When getting back your hand you should be fast; you should be able to get back your hand and issue force without any interruption.

Fig 297

Fig 298

Fig 299

V4.1.2 Split eject technique During pushing hands, standing in expanding-embracing post, your right hand is suddenly turning its wrist to split your opponent’s forearm, in the same time, your left palm is splitting forward your opponent’s face from your side of body; and after bumping suddenly forward, right foot moving half step, left foot following with half step, shaking a forward force with the base of palm to eject opponent. (Fig. 300, 301, 302) Main point: Splitting and hanging should be fast, the eject technique should immediately follow the Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 134

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan previous techniques and be impetuous in your movement.

Fig 300

Fig 301

Fig 302

V.4.1.3 Hang eject technique During pushing hands, use inner side of right wrist to press opponent’s right forearm or wrist joint, and chain by hooking-hanging backward, then the opponent should be reacting by moving upward and backward, take this opportunity to use left hand to press his left elbow, right hand attacks opponent’s wrist, in the same time, right foot moving half step, left foot follows with half step, whole body is issuing force to eject or to push out your opponent. (Fig. 303, 304, 305)

Fig 303

Fig 304

Fig 305

Main point: Hooking-hanging and eject movements should be almost executed in the same time, and remember again: no interruption in your movements.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan V.4.1.4 Circling eject technique During pushing hands, turn suddenly right wrist to press opponent’s right forearm, the hand in claw posture, with shoulder and hip leading inside of forearm, make a reverse arc movement, with this circling force destroy your opponent’s balance; and after issue force rapidly, with left hand and left arm assisting right hand and right arm issuing force forward, in the same time right foot should make a half step, left foot following with half step to eject your opponent. (Fig. 306, 307, 308)

Fig 306

Fig 307

Fig 308

Main point: When right wrist makes circling hanging movement, this should bring your opponent to lose his balance then use this opportunity to launch your attack.

V.4.2 Single pushing hand eject technique V.4.2.1 Catching hand kicking eject technique When your opponent is pushing to your midline, your right arm rotates inward, right wrist turns inward, and with right hand catches opponent’s right back of hand, left hand pushes and presses bottom-up his center of palm, your two hands moving backward and downward to accentuate the catching movement on your opponent’s right hand; in the time, right leg uplifts and kicks his crotch; when opponent’s wrist being caught or his crotch is injured by your kick he should be like struck by a lightning, use this time to drop your right foot onto the ground, two hands in the same time are issuing force to his chest to eject him. (Fig. 309, 310, 311)



Fig 309

Fig 310

Fig 311

V.4.2.2 Smashing shoulder and prompt ejecting Stand in expanding-embracing post, turn suddenly your wrist, with right hand catching your opponent’s right wrist and wresting outward, uplift his right arm, left hand pressing downward his shoulder; when opponent’s right arm turns body backward under your wrestling and pressing movement, then his upper body is leaning forward, at this time, your right hand is suddenly following his right arm sliding upward, left hand smoothly adhering rightward, two hands should be like using opponent’s back as force point, gather your whole body’s force and eject him. (Fig. 312, 313, 314)

Fig 312

Fig 313

Fig 314

V.4.2.3 Pull opponent’s neck and eject When you are pushing in the direction of your opponent’s midline, suddenly left foot steps forward assuming a left T-eight step, when left foot drops onto the ground step immediately forward with right foot and assume right T-eight step, and then put it in the back of your opponent’s right foot, right arm sliding forward entwining opponent neck, pull his neck joint into your arms forward and downward, at this time, right leg stumbles backward on his right leg to eject him forward. (Fig. 315, 316, 317) Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 137


Fig 315

Fig 316

Fig 317

V.4.2.4 Break his wrist and spring eject When your opponent is pushing on the direction of your midline position, he uses his right palm to touch your chest and he is up to eject you, bend your chest rapidly to neutralize the force of his palm; in the same time use two palms to press his right hand, to break and pull downward his right wrist joint, bring your opponent’s upper body to lean forward, even kneeling down. At this time, opponent will instinctively urge backward, lower immediately your center of gravity, two hands touching forward his chest, use your whole body to spring out force and eject him. (Fig. 318, 319, 320)

Fig 318

Fig 319

Fig 320

V.4.2.5 Chop elbow and eject obliquely When your opponent’s right hand is pushing you, his left palm is suddenly attacking you, your left forearm catches rapidly his left wrist; and after, left arm rotates inward, turn left wrist to catch opponent’s left wrist joint; at this time, turn upper body to left with your right elbow chopping downward on his left elbow joint, now your opponent has his upper body leaning leftward, downward and forward, turn your upper body rightward, two hands in the same time are bumping on your opponent’s left rib to eject him. Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 138

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan (Fig. 321, 322, 323)

Fig 321

Fig 322

Fig 323

V.4.3 Double pushing hands ejecting technique V.4.3.1 Catch elbow and eject directly During pushing hands, if your opponent uses right hand to push your chest, your right hand slides from the up-down on your opponent’s left arm slide next to his right elbow, and use left wrist to control downward his right forearm; and after two arms with a reverse force are catching opponent’s right elbow joint, your opponent feeling his right elbow being caught try to withdraw, at this time follow forward your opponent: right foot moving forward half step, left foot following with half step and issuing force forward to eject him. (Fig. 324, 325, 326)

Fig 324

Fig 325

Fig 326

V.4.3.2 Lock wrist and poke eject Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 139

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan In pushing hands exercise, when your left wrist is inside, your right wrist is outside with your opponent striving for midline position, your opponent uses right palm to push your chest, uplift left wrist rapidly, with your right hand block his right palm; and after, your right arm penetrates leftward and downward, so that right palm presses his right palm; at this time your two hands lock tightly your opponent’s right wrist joint, chop and pull downward, his upper body leaning in front of you, then your two hands turns wrists, poking forward and ejecting him. (Fig. 327, 328, 329)

Fig 327

Fig 328

Fig 329

V.4.3.3 Entwine shoulder and spiral eject When your opponent uses his right hand to push you, with the external side of your left forearm lead him to the left, in the same time your right wrist penetrates outward, upward, inward, next to his armpit, with right hand pressing his left shoulder; with your left hand assisting it, right hand entwines leftward and downward his left shoulder, bringing him to lean at your left side, and after your upper body turns continuously to the left with whole body spiral force to eject him. (Fig. 330, 331, 332)

Fig 330

Fig 331

Fig 332


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan V.4.3.4 Suspend elbow and uplift eject The opponent first uses his right forearm to push to you, with your left wrist leading him to the left, now the opponent uses his left hand to pushing your chest, turn slightly your body to the right with left hand pressing his left wrist joint, and right arm erects with internal side of right forearm supporting his left elbow joint; once you get control of his left arm and his left elbow, uplift suddenly your two hands, as a result he will lose balance; and after, your two hands change into palms to issue force forward and eject him. (Fig. 333, 334, 335)

Fig 333

Fig 334

Fig 335

V.4.3.5 Break waist and shaking eject When opponent uses right palm to push your chest, your left foot makes an horizontal half step to the left, so that your opponent’s palm force is sliding next your right armpit; and after, your right foot makes a step forward with right palm pushing his neck or face, you can also use your right arm to entwine and push his neck while left hand pulls his waist; at this time, your left palm exerts a backward force, right palm exerts a forward force, like a coupling force exerting on his waist to break it and push it away, when his upper body is facing up, use your whole body shaking force to eject him. (Fig. 336, 337, 338)



Fig 336

Fig 337

Fig 338

V.4.3.6 Wrest wrist to eject When your opponent’s two arms is pushing to your midline position, use external side of left wrist to block his right forearm, use inside of right wrist to block his left forearm; then your left wrist turns upward and outward to catch and chop his right hand, and in the same time uplifts his right shoulder rightward and upward, right hand turns upward and inward to catch and chop his left hand, leading his left shoulder to your right; and after two hands attack suddenly his midline position and step forward to eject him. (Fig. 339, 340, 341)

Fig 339

Fig 340

Fig 341

V.4.3.7 Break fingers – bump chest to eject When opponent’s left palm from inside is pushing your chest, turn slightly upper body to the right, depleting your chest while bending it forward, and in the same time your right hand catches his fingers, then your upper body is suddenly bending to break his left hand’s fingers, then left palm bumps forward on his chest, as a result he is kneeling down; then release the pressure on your right hand, now your opponent is rising his body and withdrawing: your two palms issue force forward to eject him. (Fig. 342, Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 142

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan 343, 344)

Fig 342

Fig 343

Fig 344



V.5 No fixed posture practice

Single hand technique and chaining techniques require you to train with pre-determinate postures. Positions of limbs, trajectory and processing steps of your attack etc... are all clearly defined before executing it. In the opposite, “no fixed posture training” has not this “movement” planning. In combat, due to the adjustments of steps and body postures you may find yourself in a special posture different from any combat posture that you may have learnt before, in this particular situation, you should act according to your instinct, adopting the most appropriate and short-cutting attack. In “no fixed posture training”, you can find derivatives of some single hand techniques or chaining techniques. So, it is necessary to master well single hand techniques and chaining techniques solo practice, simulating it when practicing with partner; then you will acquire later a clear idea of how and when should you use these techniques in pre-determinate training but also in no fixed posture training and this is an important progress in your fighting abilities. . “No fixed posture training” should avoid by all means striking without discrimination, the key point is to change continuously steps and body movements, avoiding attack, choosing angle, controlling timing and speed, leading to a strategic position where each of your offensives should be decisive while reaching their target, avoiding you from punching, striking and kicking ineffectively your opponent. “No fixed posture training” should not be handled particularly in any specific way, but however I’ll present you below some hands-on techniques, helping the practitioner to realize major aspects of this training. These examples should be taken as explanations of the essential principle and certainly not as pursuing any specific target or being reproduced as in fixed posture, otherwise you will not be able to elevate yourself from the basic level in combat (of reproducing fixed posture). Now the practitioner of Dachengquan should understand the deep meaning of this essential sentence in Internal Arts: “Not a single technique can be found, no particular technique can be seen; the original boxing does not have any rule, if you perceive fist (techniques) (that means this boxing) is also empty”.

V.5.1 Move with wheel One hand in upper level the other hand in lower level, forming a palm or a fist in front of body, first strike with upper hand your opponent, then strike with lower hand, and after, uplift rear foot, pierce his crotch with your foot, your two hands striking such as a wheel circling down to your opponent’s midline. (Fig. 345, 346, 347)



Fig 345

Fig 346

Fig 347

V.5.2 Strike with side of body Standing front of your opponent presenting the side of your body, right fist in lower level and left palm in the upper level, the right fist smashes directly opponent’s face downward, leftward, upward, rightward and forward, during this time the upper body turns rightward, left palm follows by splitting, and after, uplift right foot to kick opponent’s crotch or tibia bone. (Fig. 348, 349, 350)

Fig 348

Fig 349

Fig 350



V.5.3 Drill sky pounding Your right foot in the front, left fist in front of body, right fist in the side of body, use left fist to smash forward your opponent’s heart, or knock his attacking right fist and/or right arm, almost in same time your upper body turns to left, right fist with drilling punch strikes on opponent’s throat. (Fig. 351, 352, 353)

Fig 351

Fig 352

Fig 353

V.5.4 The palm double flying When your opponent attacks you with right fist, avoid it by turning your body slightly rightward, and after step with right foot trampling on opponent’s midline position, two palms issuing force (left palm down and right palm up, the center of palm facing downward), and with the sides of two palms springing (flying) forward. (Fig. 354, 355, 356)

Fig 354

Fig 355

Fig 356



V.5.5 Chaining pounding Stand in right combat posture, first use right fist to spring continuously on opponent’s face, and after right foot is rapidly stepping forward, left foot follows with half step, twist waist and turn hip rightward in the same time, throw your left pounding fist like a cannon to his face. (Fig. 357, 358, 359)

Fig 357

Fig 358

Fig 359

V.5.6 Deadly elbow Use transversal step to move next to the side of your opponent’s body, first use right smashing fist to strike opponent’s liver and rib, and after relax your whole body, presenting your right elbow while turning body to the right, use right elbow to strike the middle of his back, delivering him a deadly strike. (Fig. 360, 361, 362)

Fig 360

Fig 361

Fig 362



V.5.7 Sweeping thousand of soldiers Move your two hands in right side of the body (left hand higher than right hand), move slightly to the side of your opponent’s body, right leg entwining your opponent’s back of right leg, stumbles forcibly backward, in this time, two palms sweep horizontally leftward and forward on his chest, face or neck. (Fig. 363, 364, 365)

Fig 363

Fig 364

Fig 365

V.5.8 Chopping wooden trunk Your left palm is rising, right palm in front of your left rib, use right palm to chop rightward your opponent’s liver and rib, and after left palm chops forward and downward his nose or splits his face, two palms are like an axe chopping wooden trunk, splitting it with determination. (Fig. 366, 367, 368)

Fig 366

Fig 367

Fig 368



V.5.9 Tiger holds head Your lower limbs assuming left T-eight step, two hands rising to an upward position (like a tiger holding head), first use right foot to kick your opponent’s lower limbs, after right foot dropping onto the ground, then uplift left foot to kick his crotch or tibia, when left foot is dropping onto the ground time, two palms are springing forward to your opponent’s face. (Fig. 369, 370, 371)

Fig 369

Fig 370

Fig 371

V.5.10 Lift big bag Your opponent and you are assuming a right position, rise left palm to the left of head, right palm in front a crotch position, left palm with sinking palm movement strikes on his face, and after, your right arm holds rapidly his right leg, left hand catches his right arm to rise and tumble your opponent. (Fig. 372, 373, 374)

Fig 372

Fig 373

Fig 374



CHAPTER VI Questions and answers on Dachengquan

Question: When we are assuming a post standing or training testing force, besides relaxing muscle, should we also relax the five internal organs, six hollow organs and skeleton? Answer: This is the right way to train, it is only under this condition that we can really relax the whole body from the external side to the internal side, relax it deeply, so that muscles during movement can rapidly increase relaxation and contraction frequency. Question: When I am assuming a post standing, what mental inducement should I use? Answer: You should constantly refer to feel yourself the most comfortable and natural as a major principle, current literature on Dachengquan insists sometimes excessively on the mental inducement aspect, so it is important that the practitioner should be able to select the most adequate ones according to his situation and his target. Question: In testing force, when walking or combating, does it require also “wrapping hip”? Answer: “Wrapping hip” is one of the key points of contradiction post, its aim is through “wrapping hip” to adjust balance and reach harmony in your relaxation and contraction cycle, then when you are training testing force and stepping, don’t pay attention to “wrapping hip”, especially in sparring and real combat. Question: Dachengquan has many techniques, so how can I choose the most suitable technique to study? Which constitute its most important basic techniques? Answer: Although Dachengquan has many techniques, but the practitioner should study the most important ones. Beginner in post standing should focus on contradiction post principally, in testing force with hooking-filing testing force as the most essential, for the stepping is friction step, after acquired minimum basis in each of them, and starting to feel internal strength you can study other posts or others testing forces. Question: According to Dachengquan, who should have the best results in his practice of Dachengquan: the white collar or the physical worker? Answer: Each one has his strong point, the most important is to see how the practitioner is training, white-collar should be in general more patient, easier in calming his mind, able to understand faster with just some few indications. But the physical worker needs only a suitable method to turn his brutal power into martial power and may also reach extraordinary results. Question: In the condition that I do not feel especially tired in zhan zhuang, every day or every time how Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 150

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan long should I stand for better result? Answer: First you should check if your training method if correct or not, this is referring to the quality of your post standing, of course to the duration of your post standing, also to the limits of posture itself and mind inducement. For a beginner the allocated time for posture and mind inducement in standing post should be relatively longer, then in high-level time allocation, post training should not necessarily required the advanced practitioner to stand for a so long time. Question: Before I started to train post standing, I was able to lift heavy things such as large bags or to pull weighty wooden handcart, I feel now like having less power, can you explain why? Answer: Many people after a period of post standing people have this feeling. In general when you learnt how to use your martial power, you will use respectively less of the “brutal power”, this brutal power having been transmuted into martial power. At this time, you can verify it beyond your personal sensations, just ask other people to check your present strength: you will surprise them and even yourself as your overall power is far beyond your previous strength. Question: In most of internal arts, it is requested for the practitioner to deplete his chest while bending it forward and to straighten his back, why Dachengquan’s contradiction post requires upper body to lean slightly back? Answer: This method is especially preparing for a combat situation, as a beginner you should need an absorbing space however when you will reach a certain level you will naturally deplete your chest while bending it forward and straightening your back, but when you start in Dachengquan you should not care about it. Question: Tai Chi Chuan focuses on “springing force”, Xingyiquan on “whole body force”, so what force Dachengquan does focus on? Answer: Because Dachengquan has gathered essential principles from others styles of martial arts, you can find in Dachengquan not only “whole body force”, but also “springing force”, but in many circumstances, Dachengquan focuses on the “instinct natural force”. Question: In Dachengquan there is a “stretching force”, how should I use it in training and sparring? Answer: What is called “stretching force”, is generally the name used for double stretching force, this force includes two opposite directions of parting force, which is in fact executed by a first force in one direction, and immediately after a second one in the opposite direction, but because the movement is very fast, both combined it looks like a unique force. If you really perform these two issuing forces in the same time, then it is no more two forces which are in consideration, but what is called universal force which is in fact an omni-directional stretching force. Question: When Mr. Wang Xiangzhai was sparring with his opponent, he usually had just to move slightly his arm to make his opponent flying, how can it be possible? Answer: This question is related to martial power but also to practical application of technique with very small movements. So this is the highest level of achievement in Dachengquan, we call it “convincing fist”. In Dachengquan the only one who mastered this technique was Mr. Wang Xiangzhai.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan Question: In Dachengquan there is a surprising basic principle called “strike hardly, advance forcibly stiff forward, then (it will) not (be) possible to block (you)”, if in the other hand you are using more soft techniques, how can we integrate suddenly this “hard “ approach???? Answer: Dachengquan’s striking principle is not only restricted to the principle of “strike hardly,

advance forcibly stiff forward, then (it will) not (be) possible to block (you)” there are many other

principles in Dachengquan that you may also apply which include also soft techniques.

You should study the whole system of Dachengquan then you will understand the fighting principle of

Dachengquan as a whole and not through a sporadic principle.

Question: Late Master Xie Tiefu (Wang Xiangzhai’s thousand miles travel in all China – among the most impressive experts that Wang met, was Xie Tiefu) was famous for his principle of “empty suppleness”, insisting on lightness, slowness and symmetry. He said: “If you can not reach lightness then it will be impossible to gain heaviness, if you cannot move slowly it will be impossible to gain speed, if you cannot have symmetry then it will be impossible to reach hardness”, is this view right? Answer: Complete right. Just because of this, Dachengquan absorbed the key principle of “empty suppleness”. This requires that when you are training in stepping or testing force you should always try your best to have your movements soft, slow and symmetric, and it is only under these conditions that you can gain a solid, fierce and hard internal power. Question: Dachengquan has walking post, standing post, sitting post and lying post from where you can train this boxing. Which of these posts has the best results? Answer: In Dachengquan in each of these postural states are suitable for training the “convincing fist” .But in terms of effects it is clear that the standing posture is the best one. In standing posture you can feel very well your limbs supportive function in the space. Question: After having acquired basis in post standing, can I just practice testing force or other advanced exercises without needing to stand anymore? Answer: It depends of what level of training you are talking about. In some levels you don’t need anymore to practice post standing, but during testing force you can train “jiggling” testing force, which is in fact another to practice post standing in testing force. So, no matter at what level at any phase of your training program, post standing remains a necessary exercise, the external way of training it: post standing, jiggling testing force etc... are just different expressions of it in different levels. I can say that post standing is a boundless technique in Dachengquan... Question: When I am training single hand technique, should I move slowly as in testing force? Answer: Single hand technique is practical technique; in different phases it will have different requests. In the starting phase, you should pay more attention to the conformity of your movements to the standard ones, then after you should study theme with fast and slow speed. When you are practicing with slow speed there is also an idea of testing force, when practice rapidly you should pay attention the applications of these movements, because from this single hand technique you can issue different forces, but keeping permanently form, mind, force, spirit merged into one. Question: Dachengquan uses many kinds of force, fixed middle line force, expanding and embracing force, triangle force, spiral force etc... how should I try or test these forces? Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 152

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan Answer: Yes Dachengquan includes many kinds of forces but you should catch the essential ones, in the beginning you should study first hooking-filing testing force then according to the progress of your internal strength from the starting superficial level to the deepest one, you will in parallel realize others kinds of forces step by step, this is just a question of time and practice, then by adopting different testing forces you will intensify these different kinds of force. Question: How should I practice Dachengquan’s testing voice? Answer: The starting practitioner should not especially learn it, when you reach a certain level of internal strength, your internal (Qi) will be overflowing, this internal strength will provoke naturally distension of your abdomen, issuing voice will appear spontaneously; this is the best form of testing voice. Question: How should we understand “movement in no movement is an endless real movement”? Answer: From the postural point of view, in post standing the force does not move, then the internal cells, tissues, muscles, bones, and internal organs etc... all are moving, it is only through this internal dynamic that you can realize essential changes in your inner body, but also gather strength, revitalize yourself and defeat your opponent by using forces among multiples forces normally ignored by yourself without proper training. Question: How should I issue a shaking force? Answer: What they called shaking force, is a swift issuing force. In a short time it is very difficult to acquire it. You should in the beginning, start by experiencing force in your whole body force, and after pursue whole body force jiggling, fast moving and as a final step to have an instantaneous contracting and relaxing shaking force. Question: What are the specific points should I pay attention in pushing hands? Answer: Pushing hand have single pushing hands and double pushing hands, they all have their characteristics in terms of training. Single pushing hand basic is using contradiction post, double pushing hands is using supporting-nursling post. But no matter which pushing hands you are training, in the beginning all your movements should respect the standard ones, and then you should seek for the feeling of strength in movement and finally the ejecting ability in movement. Question: When I am practicing testing force should I think about how each force should be applied in each part of my body: upward, downward, leftward, rightward, forward or backward force? Answer: You don’t need to train like this; in fact it is a wrong method. In the beginning you should pursue only a single and simple manifestation of force, and after slowly from this single manifestation, you can discover and experience many other ones. Question: Do you have “tendon and bone training” in Dachengquan? Which technique is it? Many adepts of martial arts told me that “tendon and bone training” is the real training in Dachengquan, is it true or not? Answer: Any physical training has effect on the strength and health of tendon and bone, Dachengquan doesn’t escape from this rule, Dachengquan pays a special attention to the tendon’s edge force. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai, concerning training tendon and bone, said: “the force should be located at the root of bone, then linking tendon, if the tendon is long the force will be large, the bone heavy and tendon agile, if the Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 153

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan tendon extends then the bone should be contracting, if the bone is clear the force will be solid.” Concerning what technique is specifically concerned for tendon and bone training, generally speaking, each technique tendon and bone has its own training request, but the most basic and the most important is post standing. Through post standing, you can “rebuild bone and link muscle”. “Rebuild bone” result could increase bone’s density, thus increase power from support and rigidification functions of bone; “link muscle” action is effective for strengthening connection between tendon and muscle link up, this will increase the quality of your power. Of course, when you practice with certain intensity, it is important for strengthening tendon and bone to coordinate correctly middle and high levels post standing and testing force in your training. Bone and muscles training are just one aspect of Dachengquan, Wang Yufang, daughter of Wang Xiangzhai said in her book “From Yiquan to Dachengquan”: “In Dachengquan training and combat, one has to pay equal attention to form, mind, force, Qi and spirit”. Question: Is it possible to practice alone “internal strength”? If yes what are the key points of “internal strength”? Answer: The ability to self-study and to succeed in the development of “internal strength” depends mostly to each one’s individual aptitudes and environments. If the practitioner has not too excessive ambitions, in addition if he has a good comprehension of the boxing, he may reach some concrete results, but in any case, it will not be as fast as the one who has instructions from a teacher. If you want to practice “internal strength”, first you should be clear about what is “internal strength”. When training post standing you should be fully relaxed, what is called relaxed is not loosen, you should have a feeling of heaviness during your relaxation, you should also feeling naturally your limbs stretching and their supportive functions. Any physical training is always the result of contraction and relaxation of muscles, contraction and relaxation are in fact just determinate state extracted from the large scale of tension. For example when I intentionally relax my body, especially in a high-level of relaxation, my waist and back etc... all are very hard, other people can even strike on it, when they use their hands to catch my body they will feel like an iron board, when pushing hand or striking, although if it is only your wrist which is touching the opponent’s but in fact is the contribution of your back, waist, hip even your whole body’s muscles which are contracting and relaxing. Question: When I am in post standing or even practicing testing force I feel myself a strong internal (Qi) flowing, like all-conquering, but when I am fighting with an opponent, then I don’t have any feeling? Answer: Internal (Qi) is just one aspect of Dachengquan, you must turn it into internal strength which can be used in combat. Of course, there are a lot of factors that may influence your performances during a combat, beside internal strength, you should have also sufficient technical background, a good quantity of courage and enough experience etc... Question: Can I practice other styles of boxing in parallel with Dachengquan? Like Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin etc...? Answer: Yes, you can, because all styles of boxing should reach the same goal but through different ways...Of course every style has its specific advantages, the practitioner should select the style of martial arts he will practice according to his temperament and his target, but it is clear that to be effective in combat, then don’t need practice complex taolu. Although there is no real objection to practice both Dachengquan and in the same time another style of boxing, however let me be honest: everyone has a Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 154

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan limited time and energy for practicing, so in the beginning it is better to start with only one style. In the other hand when you are practicing Dachengquan the effect that you will reveal in Dachengquan you will be able to experience them in other styles which will help you to progress in your boxing abilities. Question: Is there any incompatibility in training Dachengquan and Body Building in the same time? Some people say that practicing body building will bring rigidity in your muscle, so that it will be very difficult to acquire internal strength, what is your opinion? Answer: Both methods of Dachengquan and Body Building training can bring to your body strength and esthetic results, the difference is that Body Building is just focusing on the pure development of your muscles, in Dachengquan the training is focus on the internal connection of your muscles. In Body Building the power is located in only one part of your body, but for Dachengquan’s power the whole body is involved. Dachengquan is a very good method of physical exercise; generally speaking you should not need to practice fitness or body building beside it. You just need at least 10 minutes of practice every day or every two days. If you have preliminary purely developed your muscle, then through post standing and testing force training you will be able to bring up better external and internal strength. Question: Do post standing benefits increase with standing time in Dachengquan? How long should we stand normally in universal post and contradiction post? Answer: The effects of post standing is mainly related to the quality of your standing, there is no criteria of duration, so no matter if you are training universal post or contradiction post all do not depend of time as criteria of progress. Different people request different method of training, all can’t use the same duration of practice. For a same post, a teacher will adjust duration of your standing time according to your hereditary predisposition or your martial art background. The same for contradiction post, because time requested of adjustment for mind and limbs is different, if you are starting contradiction post your first target is 1 hour, later when you will reach a high-level you may just need to stand 2-3 minutes contradiction post. For universal post, your real target is to cultivate your “internal Qi”, as a fundamental principle, your standing should be “comfortable and natural”. When you start to go against this principle, adjust posture of limbs or mind inducement, if through your adjustment you cannot still feel “comfortable and natural”, then you should stop training very soon: you have your present physical limit. Question: How should I practice pushing hands and ejecting opponent if I am alone? Answer: Generally speaking pushing hands need at least two people for training but if you do not have any partner you can just train in pushing hands solo practice. In solo practice, by just following the correct method, you can gain some relevant benefits. During training you should pay attention to the conformity of your movements with standard ones then you should experience the force you are detecting, its direction and properties; finally you can use mind inducement to imagine controlling and being controlled during your pushing hands training with an imaginary partner, later when you reach a certain level, you can confirm your progress and perfect your techniques with a real partner but without requesting too many dual training as you have already acquired basis of pushing hands. The ejecting techniques (uprooting and throwing out an opponent) is also normally requesting two partners in training, if you train by yourself, you can only experience in the body your “integral strength” when issuing force is requesting it. When you are practicing by yourself, you should especially relax whole body, when you are moving forward, with whole body as bumping a frontal object, two arms and two hands are like bumped far away, later ejecting real opponent is following the same rules, when you Copyright© 2004. China Martial Arts Ltd. All rights reserved. Page 155

Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan become proficient in solo practicing ejecting techniques, you will surely find, even for a short period, some partner for dual practice, it will help you progress even further.

Question: Does practicing Dachengquan require or not entering stillness? Answer: In Dachengquan, post techniques and testing forces require “entering stillness”, but in practice you should not stress too much or intended to enter stillness, in particular for standing healing post, when you’ve reached a “comfortable and natural” state, then your mental will naturally enter in stillness. Don’t intend to “enter stillness”, instead let “stillness comes by itself”, if you pay excessive attention in getting rid of random thoughts, you may even get more confusion in your mind. The most important point to remember is that the concept of “entering stillness” is relative and not absolute. Question: What mind inducement should I use when I am standing in contradiction post? Answer: In contradiction post you have three different phases of training, every phase has its different target, also different requirement. I recommend you to refer to our course for further details Question: How can Dachengquan bring “iron shirt” capabilities? How should you use “iron shirt” in real combat? Answer: In Wushu what is called “golden bell covering” or “iron cloth Kungfu” and so on, is in fact to ability to withstand heavy blows without being harmed. In Dachengquan we consider this kind of Kungfu as a low Kungfu, practically speaking you should not pursue it in your training but you will gain it if you practice correctly Dachengquan. Concerning “iron shirt” mechanism in it is commonly understand as followed in traditional martial arts: by practicing your technique, you bring up your “internal Qi”, this “internal Qi” will fill your body as air is injected in a tire, armoring your body. These explanations may appear simplistic in our present times but with modern anatomy, physiology and biophysics theories you know that in the external side of each body’s viscera, you have several systems of protection, the belly for example (including upper abdomen and lower abdomen): we can consider in the abdominal wall several layers of fascia: - skin

- superficial fascia (this may be as thin as or less than a half inch or as thick as 6 inches or more)

- deep fascia (all skeletal muscle is surrounded within its own deep fascia). The deep fascia of the

abdominal wall is different than that found around muscles of the extremities, however. It is of the loose

connective tissue variety. It is necessary in the abdominal wall because it offers more flexibility for a

variety of functions of the abdomen. At certain points, this fascia may become aponeurotic and serve as

attachments for the muscle to bone or to each other, as is the case at the linea alba.

- subserous fascia also known at extraperitoneal fascia (a layer of loose connective tissue that serves as a

glue to hold the peritoneum to the deep fascia of the abdominal wall or to the outer lining of the GI tract.

It may receive different names depending on its location (i.e. transversalis fascia when it is deep to that

muscle, psoas fascia when it is next to that muscles, iliac fascia, etc.)

- peritoneum (a thin one cell thick membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and in certain places reflects

inward to form a double layer of peritoneum) Double layers of peritoneum are called mesenteries,

omenta, falciform ligaments, lienorenal ligament, etc.)...

For animals, this organization of protective layers is called in Chinese “du beng zi” (strong distension of

abdomen) where robustness and resistance to shock are quite developed.


Fundamentals of Dachengquan – Li Zhaoshan During post standing, because the breath can progressively slow down its rate, becoming tiny, deep and long, after a long time of practice it will naturally permit normal and reverse breathing, it is through this way that you can get each protective layers of your body to get trained, up to a level where once solicited it will be able to perform a very short and high level of contraction and relaxation. When an external force is striking you, it will be like striking on tire full of air protecting in the same time for serious damages. Three months after starting post standing, you can start to feel this protection in the area of your belly, and after you can extend it to up the belly, heart, liver and rib etc..., to finally develop it in the waist and the back. “Iron shirt” is just a natural phenomenon in the progress of Dachengquan post technique, it may be used in combat, but it’s not mysterious and also not “all-mighty” as it has its limit. In general, it is only during training or when a master level is applying it with beginner level of students, that this technique can be used. In real unpredictable combat, there is really less interest in using it. There are still some “experts” arguing that their whole body can withstand any blow, any strike, this is unfortunately limited and most of the time full of tricks. If you don’t believe me, just ask him to allow you to strike anywhere with a stick, club or even a knife, then you will see the right side of the medal.... Question: Is it right that when I am striking my opponent I should be very relaxed so that he will be not able to endure my strike? Answer: Yes, this is the only real way to be conformed to Dachengquan “feeling well” fundamental principle, expressing further the concept of “do not use force then you’ll have everywhere a deep strength Dachengquan has this theory “feeling well” yourself, but in the same time bringing your opponent “unbearable feeling”... Question: When striking opponent how should I adjust in each part of my body relaxation and contraction? Which part should I relax? Which part should I contract? Answer: This question is very difficult to answer, because according to each striking movement, group of muscles intervening in the movements may be different. We can say in brief that through perfecting your combat movement of issuing force, you will experience by yourself what muscle you should contract or relax and according to what timing.


Dachengquan

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