NATIONAL ACADEMY OF KUNG FU WUSHU - YI QUAN
LIVING FORCEThe practice of Yi Quan develops
" living force " also called " instinctive force
". This force is different from the force known as "
rough " that each person naturally has. It is the force created
by the participation of the whole body in the movement. The gestures
of attack or defense only wrap this force. Breathing remains natural
and is regulated like that of a logger who cuts wood, or that
which one uses while eating.
Each person, according to his own morphological and mental data,
develops his instinctive force. You can then speak about an Martial
Art, because like all the artists (painters, musicians, etc...),
you only create something which you use either to reinforce health,
or for the combat. This instinctive force created by the participation
of all the body moving and guided by the thought, is the famous
intern energy so much described by the former Masters.
It is different from the hard force or Ying Qi Gong, i.e. the
force usable during the demonstrations, for example : to break
bulbs without cutting yourself, lying down on nails and to be
made break granite on the belly, fold iron bars with the throat
and various breakages of objects.
This difference comes owing to the fact that, contrary to the hard force, the living force is available at any moment without concentration as a preliminary, and can be used without much apparent effort.
THE LIVING FORCE RAISES FROM RELAXATION :
The principles of " adhering,
sticking, connecting and following ", as well as displacements,
cannot be well applied without a total relaxation. Relaxation
develops the sensitivity and the capacity of reaction of the body.
The body is relaxed by a correct concentration. It is part of
the work of the postures of rooting, which are animated by corresponding
thoughts (mental images or meditation). The relaxation which invades
the central nervous system brings a flexibility of the articulations
and muscles.
Relaxation generates then agility and speed.
Thus the living force is created. It is a light and compact force
at the same time. It is similar to a rubber pipe from where water
runs out. It is neither stiff, nor soft. It is alive, elastic.
The creation of this force returns the touch of the more receptive
skin and the transformation of the force of the adversary is done
more easily.
It is this work which makes it possible to apply the explosive force to all the techniques of combat, thus multiplying by ten their effectiveness.