The Creative

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if anyone else has really thought about how we generate power? There is definitely a lot of synergy between multiple body parts and physical systems, but all the twisting, lengthening, etc. aside, there has to be something else going on. How else do explain how Liu Hung Chieh, an 80 year old 5 foot 4 inch man, was stronger than Bruce at the peak of his physical fitness? And how did Liu generate that kind of power?

The only explanation I’ve come up with so far is THE CREATIVE (Ch’ien). IMHO, if you read the Ta Chuan, the Great Treatise, you’ll get as good an explanation of how this works as anything I’ve ever read.

Basically, I use the central channel and heart-mind to be aware of emptiness as best I can. From there, the heart-mind creates a yin yang pair. The potential created between these two opposites releases energy. The energy that is released is what we use to power all of our movements. This is the moment of creation. Literally. It occurs at both microcosmic and macrocosmic levels. It isn’t done in just one way. In the single palm change, I concentrate on two twists going in opposite directions to create a spiral. You can concentrate on a single joint, a tan tien, multiple parts, or the whole body spiral. It doesn’t matter, it is all an expression of Heaven.

In the double palm change I generate an up and down simultaneously. By staying in the space between them that generates the power for each, you can release the energy of these two opposites. There are a bunch of other physical and etheric mechanics going on, but the whole game is about using your mind to create and be aware of the two opposites as well as the space of no change that exists between them. You’ve got multiple smaller pieces creating yin yang pairs releasing energy while you simultaneously generate larger opposites made up of those smaller parts. This is the micro and macro being embodied. It just goes on and on.

In the wind palm the opposites are expressed in a different way: one palm is absorbing while the other is projecting. The opposites are created in a very different manner, but power is still released in the same way.

In the fourth palm change, you can switch back and forth so quickly that even more energy is released in an sort of explosive manner.

In the fifth palm change, I generate an outer circle and an inner circle that rotate in opposite directions which releases the power. In everyone of these examples, the power generation is fundamentally the same. It is archetypal.

When I generate yin energy, I still have this primary power generation going on. So for example, I may be opening my field outward, but simultaneously I absorb into my center. From one point of view, the outward is powering the in, but the in is emphasized and generates the required opposing movement. They complement each other and I seem to only be able to go in only as far as I can go out. There is a felt sense of going into emptiness deeper in order to release more power.

This way of generating power brings everything I’ve ever learned from Bruce into play. All of the neigung is there. All of the meditation I’ve ever learned is there. All of the Taoist cosomology I’ve read is there. The symbolism of the I Ching diagram is there. A field is generated and basically I try to play with it. Sometimes following it, sometimes trying to influence it. I’m not saying that I’m very good at this, but I enjoy training and try to get a little better each day.

I think this may be my last post for a while. At this point I think I’ve got the primary power generation for Bagua figured out as best. I’m planning to go off and train as much as possible. Hopefully the next time I see Bruce he’ll be able to verify that I’m on the right track. If he does, I’m hoping to start teaching some day. Perhaps I’ll be able to meet some of you in person. In the meantime, good luck in your practice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your post here James, and all the other posts for that matter. The stuff you convey is very solid and tangible. Even though I’m not there yet your impressions and descriptions thus far has been beneficial to my progress. Thank you. Good Luck to you and your practicing.
Peace,
Steve

[Author]

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