Jing
Kung Yi-tsu was famous for his strength. King Hsuan of Chou
went to call on him with full ceremony, but when he got there, he found that
Kung was a weakling. The king asked, "How strong are you?"
Kung replied, "I can break the waist of a spring insect, I can bear the wing of
an autumn cicada."
The king flushed and said, "I'm strong enough to tear apart rhinoceros hide and
drag nine oxen by the tail - yet I still lament my weakness. How can it be that
you are so famous for strength?"
Kung replied, "My fame is not for having such strength, it is for being able to
use such strength."
(Zen story/David Schiller)
Story
If you understand this story, then you have some idea of what jing is about.
The essence of the skill can be found in the meaning of the story.
Jing/jin/chin
What matters in a martial art is the effect of your movements.
If you claim to be expressing force yet your partner is physically unmoved by
your action, you are expressing nothing.
Your opponent's experience of the energy you manifest is known as 'jing'.
Jing is sometimes spelled 'jin' or 'chin'.
Energy expression
Internal kung fu is interested in how the body generates power and also the
kinetic energy itself.
Storing and releasing kinetic energy is one of the main studies in our syllabus.
In order to be skilled, we must differentiate between different forms of energy
release.
For example: tai chi was developed from just 13 ways of directing kinetic
energy.
As the system evolved, the use of energy has become more subtle and extensive.
Energy expression is an area of study in its own right.
Touch
Jing is only made manifest through touch.
Without resistance, there could be no jing, because jing is another person's
experience of your energy.
The skill with using jing lies in your ability to manipulate or strike your
opponent without pushing upon impact or grabbing/holding.
Only 4 ounces of pressure may be employed at any time.
Conduit
Neijiaquan were designed to make your body an effective conduit
for the use of energy.
If your body is stiff and tense, you will not be able to utilise jing.
It is necessary to be soft and loose, sensitive and open.
This does not mean flaccid.
The groundpath must be present constantly, otherwise you cannot transfer energy
from your body to another.
Effect
Jing is tangible.
Expressing an offensive jing gently should cause your partner to lose balance
and step.
Internal striking
An internal strike is unique because it emulates the action of a whip.
There is no pushing.
Any appearance of hardness is caused by the inertia of the whip being pulled
back upon impact.
The whip itself is soft at all times.
There is no need to lock the joints or tense the muscles.
When
torrential water tosses boulders,
it is because of its momentum;
when the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey;
it is because of timing.
(Sun Tzu)
Wave
A student learns how to generate an undulation wave.
This is passed throughout your entire structure, storing and releasing kinetic
energy.
We develop this wave by learning whole-body movement.
Every strike involves every body part moving as one.
It is this rippling action that performs the delivery, rather than local muscle
strength.
The wave is known as 'reeling silk'.
Internalising
Consider: when you speak, there is a whole series of internal processes involved
- complex openings and closings within your body.
Yet, your only interest is in the words themselves.
The words are sounds, shaped and projected by an internal mechanism.
Sound energy is launched from your body.
Jing is like this.
The more internally skilled you become, the less apparent the physical
mechanism involved.
Page created 2 March 1995