Yiquan #7: 8 static postures

Read previous posts: A historic background and theory of Yiquan #1; Yiquan #2, Yiquan #3, Yiquan #4, Yiquan #5, Yiquan #6.

The Yiquan set that I present in the posts about Yiquan is composed of 8 static postures. See previous posts for the first five postures. In this post I present the sixth posture.

In all eight or ten positions you are standing seemingly still, but the truth is far more complex. For example your breath should be synchronized with your inner extension of fascia and tendons. While you inhale, your abdomen and whole body expands and so should your arms and legs follow that expansion outward. When you exhale your body should contract back in normal position. I need to say that this expansion/contraction is true for those practitioners who understand the whole body breathing and are familiar with deeper relaxation techniques. Also, breathing mentioned here is normal abdominal breathing.

However if these cases are not representing you, don’t give up. Continue reading and practicing. New insights are waiting for you in the future.

Sixth position

In this position elbows are facing downwards which causes pressure on organs and diaphragm. It also enables the practitioner to build up strong inner explosive power useful in martial arts, called Fa Jin (Fajin). Jin (pronounced as »gin«) or internal power also strengthens heart, lungs, spleen, kidneys, liver, diaphragm and organs of digestion.

A shallow observer might find this position to be similar to the previous one but the similarity is only apparent. . When you position your hands here, elbows facing downwards make some incredible difference to the quality of energy flow and to the strength you are building. Another difference is that your palms are a bit higher in the level of your chin or mouth, but not higher. This will also open up your joints differently, which means you will have to find different solution for you to be relaxed.

You might want to look at this static Qigong set as finding solution for every position day after day. Every time you do it, you can start searching for better, more comfortable and relaxed way to stand. Body will lead you, inner wave or the energy raising will correct you and you will just need to let it do the job at the end. It is all very intuitive, when you know what is happening and what to expect. When you have enough Qi, when your channels are opened and you are able to let the body relax and find its best position, you can stand in one position for hours. But do you want to? Why should you? I know that Yiquan is only part of my training and it will never have my main focus. However I will continue to practice it, since in my practice it really has proved to be helpful for many things that other approaches were not, or were only partially.

I had great experience with Damo’s muscle tendon change training with marrow brain washing, which I found to bear similar principles as Yiquan, but not the same. I can now clearly distinguish between the quality of the energy build with one and the other. My experience is that this is a more of water quality and the before mentioned muscle tendon change and marrow brain washing training are of more fiery quality, even though they should have been water like in their nature. Why? Well I guess first thing is that it is meant to change your inner environment, second, their name is partly associated with water. Which element cleans and washes? Water, exactly.

The Damo’s or Bodhidarma’s static sets and principles demand more work with your mind and can get you into blind alley if you are also not cultivating your mind. Here I mean meditating, since it is the best way to cultivate your mind. Also what needs to be considered is massaging and patting of limbs and body after training which is needed. Damo or Bodidharma is an Indian prince and legendary Buddhist patriarch who started Chen meditation in China, brought martial arts into Shaolin temple and brought some revolutionary ideas into Chinese society.

Yiquan is more intuitive. Less mind is needed, even though, name consists of mind (Yi – wisdom mind, intention) and fist (Quan). This mind is more intuitive when left and not controlled. Yiquan is in all aspects more watery in its nature. It is Daoist in its nature. That can be felt and experienced.

To be continued with the last part….

May the Qi be with you! Petar