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3

The Basics

All Hsing-i movements are performed lightly and briskly, and the entire body is relaxed, without the strong muscular contraction of karaté and other external forms. To learn to do Hsing-i properly, you must first master the following fundamentals.

THE FIVE POSITIONS

Chicken Leg	One leg supports the body while the other
	is held off the ground.
Dragon Body	The body stands in three straight sections:
	heels to knees, knees to hips, and hips to
	head.
Bear Shoulders	The shoulders are rounded, curving from
	the spine like a bow.
Eagle Claws	The fingers clutch tightly like talons.
Tiger Embrace	The arms menace threateningly, looking
	like a tiger leaving its den.

THE SIX COORDINATIONS

The six coordinations are extremely important to the correct practice of Hsing-i, since, if the ch'i and the movement are not coordinated, then the posture will be incorrect and you will not be able to use your ch'i. If the body is straight and does not lean in any direction, the mind will be clear, the ch'i will be harmonious, and the movement will be natural. Thus, internally, the spirit controls the mind, which controls the ch'i, which controls the strength. Externally, the hands pressing downward correlate with the heels turning outward; the sinking of the elbows is correlated with the slight inward pressing of the knees; and the shoulders and thighs relax. Total true movement can come about only if these six coordinations are unified, harmonized, and maintained.

Internal	External
Spirit — Mind	Shoulders — Thighs
Mind — Ch'i	Elbows — Knees
ch'i — Strength	Hands — Feet

THE NINE WORDS

1) Press your head upward, your tongue forward and upward (so that it touches the upper palate), and your palms strongly to the front.

2) When you "button down" your shoulders, the chest empties and ch'i flows freely to the elbows. When you "button down" your hands and feet, the palms and soles empty and ch'i flows freely to them. When your teeth "button down," your tendons and bones contract.

3) By rounding your back, your strength "urges" the body, your coccyx straightens, and your spirit rises. By rounding the chest, the elbows protect the heart and the breath (ch'i) moves freely. By rounding the tiger's mouth (hu k'ou, the space between the thumb and index finger), your energy (ching) is directed outward and your arms develop "embracing" energy.

4) Learn to keep your mind (heart: hsin) relaxed so that it can respond to any situation, to keep your eyes alert, and to keep your hands ahead of your enemy (i.e., to move them in such a way that the enemy cannot see them strike).

5) Hold your ch'i securely within your tan-t'ien; hold your upper breath gently so that fear has no place in which to take hold; and hold your ribs safely within the elbows, so that there is no way for danger to approach them.

6) When you sink your ch'i down into your tan-t'ien, you will become as stable as a mountain. When you sink your shoulders, your arms will spring to life, "urged" on by the elbows. When you sink your arms, they naturally protect the ribs.

7) When you bend your arms, strength will be abundant. When you bend your knees, you will be rooted to the earth with strength. When you cup your palms, strength will concentrate in them. When you bend or curve these parts of the body, they naturally contract and expand, thus unblocking the flow of energy.

8) When you straighten your neck, your head will become erect, as though floating in the air, and your ch'i will rise up strongly. When you straighten your spine, your strength will reach the four extremities (the top of the head, the hands, the knees, and the feet) and ch'i will fill the whole body. When you straighten your knees, the flow of your ch'i will be calm and your spirit will be harmonious, making you like a tree sending roots down deep into the earth, from which it absorbs energy.

9) Hold you arms so that they embrace the chest, protecting your heart and ready to strike out like a tiger lunging at its prey. Keep your ch'i down so that it embraces the tan-t'ien, allowing the ch'i to flow freely throughout the body. Let your courage rise up and embrace the body; this will let your ch'i flow so freely that it covers the body with a mantle of protection.

OTHER POINTERS

Some other pointers that should be kept in mind when practicing are:

1) The tip of your nose, your fingertips, and the tips of your toes should be kept on one imaginary line.

2) Your body should fall as your ch'i rises, and should rise as your ch'i falls.

3) Your hands should rise like iron spades and fall like scythes.

4) When you use but one hand, it should thrust out like a hawk raiding a forest and fall like a swallow sweeping over the surface of a lake. When you use both hands, they should rise up like a tiger leaping out of its lair and fall like a sledgehammer breaking bricks.

5) The fundamental tactic—and one that the old masters practiced by the hour—is the same as in Pa-kua: rise, drill, fall, and overturn (Figs. 3-7). Each part must be clearly differentiated; all must be done like lightning. This is eased by keeping your body relaxed until the final instant. The tactic can be used—either quickly or slowly—in all directions to close up the distance between you and your opponent.

6) Summarizing, your

waist — sinks

shoulders — shrink

chest — withdraws

head — pushes up

tongue — touches the roof of the mouth

hands — feel as if pushing upward

sacrum — circles inward and upward