Yiquan 10

Here is the final poem, reproduced as before with permission from Heron Beecham.

10.

 

Practise and study hard, and you will enter a place of wonder and fascination;

Where there are innumerable gold bracelets and jade treasures stored within.

 

When we are full of vital energy the spirit will never be exhausted;

With a feeling of elation, let us drift along at will without a fixed lodging point.

 

Activities such as walking, standing, sitting or lying are valuable for practice;

This ancient and remarkable skill appears easy to approach.

 

The body is loosened so that the strength feels like it has been derived from soft mud;

The frame appears to have been suspended by a thread from the top of the head.

 

Examine the condition of each body cell silently with discerning eyes;

False versus real, round versus square, the two aspects aid one another.

 

Evil intentions do not arise from the expansive sky or the boundless sea;

Let the heavenly bodies revolve around each other in the appropriate way.

 

To set an object of pursuit and follow it perseveringly is the only requirement;

A grand achievement will surely be accomplished after many years of study.

 

Suppose we fail to adopt this approach to study yet practise day and night;

We will never succeed in the Chinese martial arts and only sigh in lamentation.

Yiquan 9

Here is Poem 9, reproduced as before with permission of Heron Beecham

With the body relaxed, the muscles feel as if they have been suspended from a cloud;

Each and every hair on the body seems to sway at ease in the warmth of the wind.

 

Wipe your eyes and take a good look silently at your surroundings.

Concentrate the spirit, feel and detect all movements coming from the opponent.

 

The dragon plays with flying waves as they move up and down in the blue sea;

A violet hare calls to the moon as it emerges from behind the flowing clouds.

 

Infinite expressions are used to express the mood of boundlessness:

Quite possibly a magic teapot standing on a base comprised of six tortoises

Yiquan 8

As before, reproduced here with permission of Heron Beecham.

Never hold on to your own ideas obstinately in practice;

Ordinary exercise is enough for taking care of health.

 

The skill of conducting the spirit comes from a place beyond external form.

The subtleness of exerting the mind only exists in a state empty of thought.

Yiquan Poem 6

Here is Poem 6.

Tranlsated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham. Reproduced with permission.

The body moves smoothly as though dancing with waves;

With the mind and energy as though walking on water.

A moving dragon plays virtuoso to a white crane;

With a grin on its face like that of a terrifying snake.

Strength and power are stored in the muscles and tendons;

The spirit only appears when the frame is properly formed.

Maybe a moving cloud can swallow the beautiful moon;

Upright chivalry is strong enough to pierce through a rainbow.

Yiquan Poem 5

Here is number 5 in the series.

Translated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham. Reproduced with permission.

5.

The principles of martial study are truly profound;

The application of skill is stored in movements and forms.

Our intent motivates the revolving of the mind;

Yin and Yang change according to our adjustments.

Make the movements as skilful as a wolf;

Explode as powerfully as a thunderclap.

Neither neglect our development nor aid it too much;

And in time our achievement will reach the highest state.

Yiquan Poem 4

Here is number 4 in the series.

Translated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham. Reproduced here with permission.

4.

Use intention so that a trace is left at the wrist from the deep pool of the eyes;

Stretch your strength horizontally when you are going to attack straight ahead.

All movements easy or adverse, unusual or complex must be harmonised;

The 'spirit beam' of the entire self needs strong intensity to radiate further.

Yiquan Poem 3

Number 3 in the series, translated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham. Reproduced with permission.

3.

Let principles and techniques be combined and coordinated with the body;

Be in harmony with a million creations and blend with all things under the sun.

A thousand generations after the teaching has been handed down;

Who will be capable of breaking through the original mould?

Yiquan Poem 2

Here is the next Yiquan Poem

Copyright as before by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham, reproduced with permission.

2.

The summit is far and high in Chinese martial study;

The achievement depends upon the practice of a lifetime.

Deft movement appears beyond normal shape;

Good applications are performed without specific intent.

May practitioners study and seek a profound level of Kung-fu;

Be continuously careful, making use of false and empty.

Mind one's own actions cautiously as a cat watches over a rat;

But deal with enemies fiercely as a tiger captures a sheep.

Both spirit and energy spring up from the dan tian;

The strength is better drawn through smoothly and deeply.

Do not draw too near the enemy, nor separate from him too much;

One will achieve success in the pursuit of skill after being forged over many years.

Yiquan Poem 1

Yiquan was developed by Wang Xiangzhai ( 1885 - 1963 ).

One of the main aspects is holding static postures. This is termed " Pile Standing ". I will be posting a series of " Poems " which have a Yiquan flavour over the next few months and which will be of interest to serious students.

These Poems were translated by Professor Chang Shao Quan and Heron Beecham who hold the copyright and are reproduced here with permission.

Poems use imagery and capture an essence with a unique flavour, to be returned to time and time again as our practise develops and deepens.

Poem 1.

The spirit takes on the manner of a panther gazing into the mist;

The energy so sensitive that dust can hardly land upon the body.

 The profound essentials can only be found in the places where skill resides;

The strength is created in the tendons and muscles, but the spirit is kept in the bones.

When the frame is quiet, it is like a hawk watching over the tops of the trees;

When in motion, it is like a dragon moving swiftly through the rolling waves in a flood

Through respiration the source of our internal energy can be joined with heaven;

The roaring of the breath is so powerful, it will move wind and rain a great distance.