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| Contrary to what some people believe, self defense in internal martial arts (like Taichi, Bagua, Hsing-i, Yiquan), is NOT about pushing or wrestling with the opponent! It's about eliminating the threat instantly, preferably by knocking the aggressor right out. This should be done in a very sudden, non telegraphic way, and whithout the need to wind up (pulling your arm back) in order to strike. Sometimes this has to be done from point blank range, sometimes not. Of course, once you can hit with KO-power from a very close range, it's that much easier to do it also at distance. The ability to fa jin from close or zero distance is also one of the signs of real internal power, as demonstrated here by an adept. (Internal power is NOT some magic hocus pocus, it's the application of body tissues, leverage and energy in a coordinated, springy, grounded, unified and very focused way.)
The folowing eye witness account was mailed to me by one of the persons present at the demonstration. It raises some very interesting points about what is going on here (And yeah, it's been brought to my attention that some of his statements about WC are somehow controversial, but these are his opinions, and i have not added, nor taken anything away):
"Although the [JKD/WC] one-inch punch is worthy of recognition unto its own right, it falls short of what we represent as the 'Internal' system. The one-inch punch remains a by-product of the art of Wing Chun, which is considered an 'external' fighting art. There are many who have a difficult time discerning between the terms 'internal' and 'external' in the martial arts.
Internal and external systems remain oceans apart with respect to application and results. The external relies solely on the dynamics of the physical mechanics in delivering a strike or performing any movement. This means that the predominant dynamics revolve around the use of muscular tension in order to initiate a strike, for example. Bruce Lee's study of the Wing Chun system helped refine his methods into the lowest common denominator with respect to the mechanics of his art, thereby resulting in the creation of the 'one-inch punch.' Wing Chun bases its power by thrusting the waist forward, tightening the buttocks, expanding the lat muscles and attacking in a straight line, constantly attached to the center of the opponent. All this is accomplished through methods requiring dynamic tension of the muscles and joints- to put it simply, this is considered a 'physical' method of training and application. Although it is perhaps one of the most practical and affective fighting methods, it remains an external fighting art.
The internal system, ultimately represented by the art of Chen Tai Chi, brands itself through developing strength through weakness. The common term for representing this is called 'Wu Wei', which simply means 'action through non-action', or 'effortlessness'. To reach such an intuitive state, the training within the internal arts requires soft, slow movements on a physical level at first, then gradually diminishes to undetected movement within the body. This is key to my entire synopsis! UNDETECTED movement, simiilar to a complex network of ballbearings moving in unison throughout our joints, tendons, muscles and skeletol structure. Tension is not 'intentionally' applied, but through the stillness of the mind, by becoming aware of our inside, we begin to follow a pattern similar to the geometry of a spiral, thereby creating what is called Chan Si Jin, or 'silk-reeling' movement. Liken this to the weakness of a single thread of silk from the cocoon which, when woven, strengthens immensly, yet remains soft and pliable. Similarly, the internal system 'weaves' our body within through soft, weak movement, eventually creating a strength unmatched and undetected. Ultimately, this strength becomes 'whole-internalbody power' and one is able at will to explode out of mere stillness and back to stillness as undetected as a bolt of lightning. There exists no preparation for application, no stance to precede the movement. All of the external arts must prepare themselves with positioning prior to application- ALL EXTERNAL ARTS.
Therefore, without breaking down the physics of the internal system, its essence revolves around the philosophy of following the pattern of the body's energy, or 'chi' (like the flow of the river or gust of wind) and guiding it to one's direction. How are tornado's created? Where does a hurricane or bolt of lightning originate? What we all experienced that day while standing aligned was a lightning bolt which shot through our bodies and if one observes the punch carefully, it originates without having originated. It is very difficult to appreciate the immense difference between the external and internal systems without ultimately having tasted it yourself." |
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