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What are the 6 SECRET Principles of Chinese Boxing?

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What are the 6 SECRET Principles of Chinese Boxing?

Does power only come from the waist? How does a small and weaker man or woman, take on a bigger and stronger man?

The answer to these questions is the six harmonies. Principles found in all traditional Chinese boxing.

What are the six harmonies?

What are the 6 SECRET Principles of Chinese Boxing?

In the book written by Liang Shou-Yu and Dr Yang Jwing Ming, “Xing Yi Quan”, the six harmonies refer the unification of the body (the physical or externals) and the mind (the internals). And how these elements all need to unite and work in harmony for one’s movements to be effective in a fight.

The “externals” are the unification of the feet with the hands, the knees with the elbows and the hips/waist with the shoulders. Sometimes called three externals if counting the three of the lower body and the three of the upper body.

People emphasize using the waist to generate momentum, to have powerful strikes. And would use the waist/hips to drive the blows through. But what generates even more power, is when the momentum is generated from the feet and then the feet drive the hips and waist, with the motion ending out of the hands.

What are the 6 SECRET Principles of Chinese Boxing?

Our eyes will see the turning motions of the waist and not pay attention to the feet. The entry point of the motion from the ground and up through the upper body before it exits out.

The mind or the internal aspect, is the unity of the emotions with what is translated at times as the wisdom mind/intent (the mental force). And as the emotions calm down, then the mind, emotions, intent, and all, can then sink to the ground. Allowing the release of tension downward and the already acting forces of the body to work in unison. 

From the “sinking” mentioned above, the upward force from the ground is generated.

Now this is from a physical point of view, the external. Now what manifest this, is the internal.

When two opponents engage in a duel, it is the one who lacks or loses this unity within themselves that succumb to defeat, the one who remains constant or in harmony will win.

What are the 6 SECRET Principles of Chinese Boxing?

People if not born with any defect, physical or mental, usually have their Liu he united and in harmony. It is with time as they grow up that they lose it. This loss is evident with growing mental stress and with lack of physical suppleness or flexibility, as a child grows to become an adult.

Of course, they are those who maintain certain of these aspects, through physical or mental activities.

The stress is stored in the body and manifested by having stiff joints, tight hamstrings and this highlights the necessity of stretching.

What are the 6 SECRET Principles of Chinese Boxing?

Whereas a baby, has calm, relaxed joints and is pliable. This is the quality spoken of in Taijiquan classics when the refer to one being relaxed.

On a mental level, it is through the settling down and calming of the emotions of the mind, that the intent (the mental force) can gradually gain control of the body and thus unite the two, the body and the mind.

“The lone wolf does not seek refuge, he is a refuge. He does not seek out the community. He is a community. Now melancholy might settle, and weakness may creep in….”Harmonious Fist

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