𩿡形學

𩿡形者。其性最直無他謬巧。此形有豎尾之能。上起可以超升。下落兩掌搗物如射包頭之力。在腹內能輔佐肝肺之功。又能舒肝固氣。在拳中謂之𩿡形。能以活肩。又能活足。其拳順。則肝舒氣固。人心虛靈。人心虛靈而人心化矣。又能實其腹。實其腹而道心生。其拳謬。則兩肩發拘不活。胸中不開。而氣亦必不通矣。學者於此形勉力而行。可以虛心實腹。而真道乃得矣。

孫祿堂

"The kestrel’s personality has the most directness, and no other animal is more dramatically skillful. This animal is good at sending its tail upright. [This manifests when the bird suddenly points its body downward to dive upon prey.] In rising, it can transcend height. In dropping, its claws can attack an animal as if with the force of an arrowhead. Within the body, this technique can assist the liver and lungs, and also can clear the liver and solidify the energy. Within the boxing art, it is called the kestrel technique. It can liven the shoulders and the feet. If it is practiced smoothly, your liver will be cleared and your energy solidified. Your mind will be enlivened, and in being enlivened it will be transformed. There can then be fullness in your abdomen, and with fullness in your abdomen, the Daoist mind is born. [Daodejing, chapter 3: “Empty the mind, fill the abdomen.”] If it is practiced with excessiveness, then your shoulders in expressing will be restricted and not lively. Your chest will not be open and the energy will surely be obstructed. If you make the effort to practice this technique, you can empty your mind and fill your abdomen, and the authentic method can be obtained."

From the book The Study of Xing Yiquan (形意拳學), by Sūn Lùtáng (孫祿堂), translated by Paul Brennan

Post a Comment