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The saying is that the eyes are key and the heart decides the reaction,
in all changes and turns of the body, in reaction to all types of
affront, it must be that footwork is the leader. In addition, the
steps must not be forced. Movement must spring from an empty heart, as
if dancing without conscious effort, the body desires to move and steps
turn to all sides. The hands are about to move, the steps also urge
them in motion. Without timing it so, it is so; without making it go,
it goes; this is what is referred to as the upper wishes to move and
the lower follows.
For the practitioners of the martial arts, those who do not put he body and foot work first in importance, will not be successful in defeating enemies. This must not be taken lightly. Come with a scissors step, the legs move in a scissors motion. Move the steps by inches. Come this way. Go this way. Advance with low steps, retreat with high steps, if one does not understand advnacing and retreating; they are wasting their time. studying the martial arts. It is important to have the correct sequence of movement, dodging, or leaping about; the feet follow. Using the feet to strike, the intent to stomp never misses, the feeling completely relies on the snapping of the rear foot. Keep feeling in the rear foor, and advance attacking with a stomping strike that shows no mercy. If the hands are raised without the feet rising; it is also a waste of time; if the feet are raised, but the hands are not raised, it is again a waste of time. If seperated by a distance of ten feet, the steps must be fast, two heads turning, the most important is the inch step. The whole body is capable of striking. With footwork, the entire body will be (as hard to strike)) as air. Step straight in between the opponent's legs, drill in through his crotch. The legs have the ability to move at great speed. The front leg relies on the back leg, the rear steps down to the ankle; the rear leg relies on the front leg, the ankle is raised in sequence.
In regards to step methods; there are inch steps, fast steps, and
stomping steps; none must be omitted. In regards to leg work, there is
lifting and drilling, lowering and overturning; not drilling nor
overturning. The most important is the inch step.
The feet are sevent percent and the hands are thirty percent.
The leg step into the opponent's center and steals his position. Even
the most expert fighter will find it hard to defend.
(Bu Fa Lun) The movements originate from no heart (i.e., no intention) and the excitement is generated from no feeling. When the body wishes to move, the stepping will also move around (automatically). When the hands are going to move, (you have) already stepped to the (opponent's) urgent position. This happens (naturally) without expectation, progresses without being pushed. Isn't this what is called the top wishes to move the bottom naturally follows? Furthermore, stepping is divided into front (leg) and rear (leg), the one with definate positions (i.e., the front leg) is stepping, also the one without definate positions (i.e., the rear leg) is also stepping. Such as the front leg steps forward, the rear leg will follow. The front and the rear all have a definate position. (However), if the earlier stepping (leg) steps later, and the later stepping (leg) steps first, also if the earlier stepping (leg) is used as the first stepping (leg) for the first, then the earlier and the later stepping (legs) will naturally not have definate positions.
In all, when (we) talk about the situation of the fist (i.e., style), the important point swhould be considered to be stepping. Liveley or not is also decided by stepping. Agile or not also depends on stepping.
I feel something before a person moves. I would call this a non-physical manifestation of a physical one, but not a mental thought. Perhaps there is something to be said about the gray area between Consciousness and Form, in the process of consciousness creating form. Crows know this, for when you have hunting one on your mind, none will be found. |