Master Che Runtian, a distinguished practitioner of Xingyi Quan, possessed exceptionally high internal strength. He often shared insights on how to unleash internal power, based on his experiences annotated in the “Internal Power Classic” during his lifetime. His understanding is organized as follows:
The release of internal power is a comprehensive manifestation of the unity between mind and intention, intention and energy, energy and strength, shoulders and hips, elbows and knees, hands and feet – both internally and externally. The foundation, particularly the lower body, is crucial. The capability of the Six Harmonies requires persistent and rigorous practice and insight.
The basic principle of releasing internal power is “to use softness to apply hardness, and slowness to apply speed,” which should be understood comprehensively.
The basic skills for releasing internal power include four key aspects:
- “Qi and Blood as One” involves the cultivation of Qi. Consolidating Qi and blood as one, gathering internal energy in the Dantian, allows for effortless power exertion. This is the true skill obtained through practicing the Na Gua Pan Gen method. The source of power lies within the gathered Qi in the Dantian.
- “Arising Spontaneously” refers to the skill of leading energy without premeditation. Leading energy and exerting force is accomplished spontaneously within intention without thought. This involves gathering energy on inhalation and reaching force on exhalation, leading without intention, and achieving without forcing, allowing energy to flow spontaneously.
- “Bending and Stretching” is the skill of natural pulling strength. Bending requires lowering the body and minimizing the stance, while stretching involves extending muscles and pulling strength. This encapsulates the concepts of bending as Yin and empty, and stretching as Yang and solid. Power is pulled between bending and stretching, closing and turning, transferring and maneuvering.
- “Hardness from Softness” relates to the skill of exerting power in rising and falling movements. When starting, the movement is soft; when the hand reaches the chest, it becomes hard; when falling, containing the chest is soft, and exerting force at the point of impact is hard. This principle embodies exerting force within softness, with hardness emerging from softness. Rising like the overturning waves, falling like thunder striking the ground, power is released in the act of rising and falling.
In summary, power originates from Qi, action without thought, pulling strength in bending and stretching, with power release in rising and falling. These are the essentials of Song Style Xingyi Quan for unleashing internal power. Master Che Runtian emphasized that these four aspects, though distinct, are unified in application and should be deeply understood and integrated.
Xingyi Quan’s power methods include three types: ‘overt hard power,’ ‘covert soft power,’ and ‘transforming into emptiness.’ Beginners often struggle to grasp the true meaning of ‘transforming into emptiness.’ Master Che Runtian made notes on this concept during his lifetime, summarized here for future learners:
‘Transforming into emptiness’ is a power method achieved through ‘cultivating spirit to return to emptiness,’ a concept from the “Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic.” ‘Cultivating spirit’ refers to mental cultivation. One should not be excessively greedy in life; ‘purifying the mind’ is the essence of ‘cultivating spirit.’ ‘Returning to emptiness’ means returning to one’s natural state, following natural laws. Thus, ‘cultivating spirit to return to emptiness’ is a cultivation of mindset and philosophy. Ancient Xingyi Quan practitioners applied this life philosophy to martial arts, developing a superior power method beyond ‘overt hard power’ and ‘covert soft power,’ known as ‘transforming into emptiness.’
‘Transforming into emptiness’ represents the highest level of power in Xingyi Quan. The martial art scriptures stating “no form in punches, no intention in mind, true intention lies within no intention” describe ‘transforming into emptiness.’ Its characteristics include:
- Invisible Form: The form is not visible in the three sections of the punch; if the form is visible, it’s ineffective. This embodies ‘no form in punches.’
- Instantaneous Release: Whether advancing or retreating, starting or finishing, all are opportunities for exerting power. This embodies ‘no intention in mind.’
- Stillness and Motion: Without entering, one benefits; without staying, one achieves; feeling leads to spontaneous completion. This embodies ‘true intention lies within no intention.’
The ’emptiness’ in ‘transforming into emptiness’ does not mean ‘nothingness’ but refers to the essence of ‘vitality.’ ‘Emptiness’ does not indicate a lack of force but creates an unsolvable dilemma for the opponent. The saying “the mysterious is not upright, the upright is not mysterious, within the mysterious there is uprightness, within the upright there is mystery
, endless variations of mystery and uprightness” speaks to the endless transformations between reality and emptiness, where emptiness is essence, and reality is spirit. This is the true meaning of ‘using emptiness.’ Achieving the level where punches do not return empty-handed signifies entering the realm of ‘transforming into emptiness.’
The practice of ‘transforming into emptiness’ differs from that of overt and covert power. While overt and covert power involve ‘cutting’ force, resulting in short rises and falls in punches, the practice of transforming power, despite similar hand and foot movements, differs in application. Practicing transforming power involves ‘having yet seeming not to have, being real yet seeming empty, utilizing true intention throughout the body.’ The essence of using true intention is to apply force without focusing on intention, allowing spirit and intention to permeate, transforming into nothingness, and returning to pure Yang. The extreme of covert softness is the beginning of transforming power, achieving ‘boundless without obstruction’ through the principle of three returns in nine turns, culminating in the mastery of ‘transforming into emptiness.’
- Legs rebounding like springs. Xingyi Quan places great emphasis on leg training in stance practice. The more stable the lower body, the better the skill. For example, high jumpers utilize the rebounding force in their final step, similar to the force used in punching. When punching, consider the ground as part of the body, and pay attention to the leg’s driving force and the sudden braking rebound of the front foot.
- The waist and tailbone shaking like ocean waves. The shaking of the waist and hips drives the wave-like motion of the spine, creating a continuous, crisp, and powerful movement that achieves a flexible, unconfined state, reminiscent of a lion shaking its mane.
- The waist and spine twisting and turning like rolling beads. Each punch and kick in our practice is generated by the rotation and circular motion of the waist, reaching a point of maximum storage and release, similar to winding up a spring. Therefore, body rotation should be as smooth as rolling beads.
- The back exerting force like pulling taut. The back plays a crucial role in transmitting overall strength. The head and feet compete, as do the front leg and rear hip, hence the principle: the front hand strikes, the back exerts force.
- Hand movements like a chain hammer. During practice, any stiffness in the three sections is incorrect. Each section should be soft and connected, but not treated like a meteor hammer, as this would not allow force to reach the extremities.
- Overall spiral like being electrified. From the legs, waist, spine, to the hands, the body forms a complete framework. The leg’s drive, waist’s rotation, and spine’s twist generate a spiraling force that is ready to unleash upon contact, similar to the sensation of being electrified.
