White Crane Principles

“Chuan Li” are the Fist Rules that apply the general principles of the Shaolin White Crane art. These are the fundamental theories of this art.

The Eight Fighting Principles ~ Ba Tse

1/. 沉 Sinking (Chen/Chuen): The hands, body, legs and Chi/Qi can all sink. One’s Chi/Qi should always be sunk to the Dan Tien point. Sinking is this method. This is used to control an opponent's movements. Chuen has a two-fold meaning: 1/. A method which immobilizes or controls an opponent via "lowering one's mind". Sinking relates to capturing the opponents movement and breaking his/her balance, thus causing the attackers body to also sink, involuntarily: 2/. To sink the body for Ground-Reaction-Energy. It's a simple lowering of one's own body in stance by bending knees to deepen the position. Many of the movements performed downwards could be considered as "sinking". This can also involve locking the shoulders and sinking the hand (Earth Element). When used in conjunction with Too (Spitting) it results in a powerful attack. The proper combination of sinking and forward power is one of the ways to develop heavy power (Heavy Hands).

2/. 吞 Swallowing (Tun/Tuen): To absorb and deflect the incoming force or attack. Absorbing the energy from ground through rooting in a similar fashion to "Sinking". It is the act of absorbing incoming force. An ancient proverb states “Sz liang po chen jing”. Loosely translated this means that its best to use 4 ounces to topple a thousand pounds. It uses a yielding body and sometimes retreating footwork. Student’s should train to raise their hands and then “Swallow” the opponents power. Tuen (Swallowing) is always followed by Too (Spitting). The hands, feet, body and Chi/Qi can all use swallowing in personal life-protection.

3/. 浮 Floating (Fu/Foo): The method of uprooting an opponent via a sudden release of force to unbalance the aggressor. Upwards, raising motions often is seen in raising the hands while the body and feet maintain a strong connection with the earth (Ground-Reaction-Energy). It involves moving in a higher stance and exploding with a technique's energy (T'u), It also relates to floating over the opponent, controlling him completely. Foo/Fou is always followed by Too/T'u. Foo is the act of floating and is therefore characterized by upwards motions. Foo often implies raising the hands while maintaining the body’s oneness with the earth (rooting) . Many techniques use a slight amount of floating and then combine with some other element of the Fist Rules such as swallowing etc.

4/. 吐 Spitting (T’u/Too): One of the most important concepts of Baihequan. This means to release energy. To strike with great energy so that the opponent is defeated. Also means "To Eject". If one examines the Crane-Fist poem entitled "Hequan Quan Jue - Poems of Crane-Fist", one line of this poem consists of five Chinese Characters which read: 1. The Method, 2. Hard, 3. Soft, 4. Absorb, 5. Eject. This could be translated as: The way/method of uses hard and soft, absorbing and repelling/ejecting/spitting out". T’u/Too is always used for attack. Tuen is always followed by T’u/Too.

5/. Pouncing (Pou): Pou means to pounce with the hands or feet like a tiger in nature jumping out from its lair to attack its prey. The hands for example, rush out and intercept, grasp or strike. An example of a technique that embody pouncing would be “Double Dragons swim out to sea”.

6/. Lifting (Ti): Lifting refers to quickly raising the hands to intercept the opponents attack. This principle is often applied to hand techniques but can also be applied to specialized kicking movements as well. The Metal Hands and Rising Crane Head apply this principle.

7/. Throwing (Shuai): This involves techniques used to unbalance and take down an opponent. This can include Chin-Na techniques such as locks, takedowns and sweeping techniques. A certain amount of “sudden” power is used in Shuai.

8/. Springing/Rebounding (Tang): Springing energy is used extensively in White Crane’ Bouncing or “springing” your hand off an enemies incoming attack and then using that same hand to counter-attack is one example of Springing in combat.

Power & Five Rules (Jin Li, Wu Tse Li)

Hard external power or “Gang” while a part of White Crane., is not the desired outcome. In Chinese, the term “Jing Li” relates to effective striking power and is one of the Fist Rules. It should be liken to a form of explosive force rather than brute strength. Jing Li uses internal energy, correct body alignment, speed, technical knowledge and internal Power (Chi/qi) to generate considerable explosive force. This is also known as “Fa-Jing” or the expression of energy.

Generally speaking, explosive energy is the product of a fusion of several elements: firmly rooted stances, hip and shoulder action, use of Chi/Qi, physical strength and the jerking (Dog Shaking Jing) of the limbs to co-ordinate the striking energy. This energy rises up via the feet and legs, directed by the hips and emanates via the extremities or striking tools. In our Shaolin White Crane Fist, the generation of energy or power is specifically detailed within the Wu Tse Li. These “Five Rules of Power” state that one must constantly pay attention to five areas of the body: the feet (Jiao Tse), stances (Ma Bu), buttocks (Tuen Boo), waist (Yao) and shoulders (Jien Ban). The feet must be properly positioned, the stance aligned, the buttocks tucked slightly forward and the waist and shoulders aligned to maximize their full potential.. It is also essential that the feet, body and hands be coordinated so as to move in unison. All part works together and “arrive” at the same instant.

In White Crane, the terms Listening energy (Ting Jing), Soft Energy (Rou Jing), Short Power (Duan Li), Piercing Power (Chong Li) and Springing Power (Tang Li) are most often used. Among these, the most basic is Dog Shaking Jing in which students assume a He Ma Bu (White Crane Horse stance) and shake their arms in the same manner as a Crane would to rid its wings of water. To develop this special energy it is important to remain loose and relaxed and then to tense only upon impact to then relax again.

The Five Elements Theory (Wu Hsing / Wu Xing)

Within White Crane, the theories of Yin –Yang and the Five Elements (Wu Hsing/ Wu Xing) figure prominently. The Wu Hising/Wu-Xing basically is a theoretical building block upon which rests a number of White Crane responses. It states that the universe is based upon five elements: Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. Each of these elements are related to each other. In theory, each element generates the next one. For example “Water generates Wood, for without wood there cannot be growth. Wood is the fuel to create Fire, and it is the action of Fire on organic matter that produces Earth. Metal is generated from the earth and these purify Water and this returns to feed the trees and so the cycle continues. There is also a cycle of destruction used in Dim Mak.

In the Shaolin White Crane system, the five element theory can be applied to the arms in terms of power generation. Specific areas of the arm are identified with particular elements. The tip of the fingers (used to strike) is Gold or Metal (Jing). The wrist is associated with Wood (Mu), the forearm is Water (Shui). The elbow with fire (Huo) and the shoulder with Earth (Too).

The theory is applied to each part of the arm that comes into play in life-protection and the application of White Crane. For example, contact upon the forearm (Water) implies that I can counter strike with the fingers (Metal). If my strikes is block, I rotate my wrist (Wood) and continue my counterattack. If contact comes closer to the elbow then the Fire element comes into play. If my opponent blocks my elbow then I bring the Earth element (my shoulder) into play.

In Baihequan/Miquan (“Secret–Fist”), the element theory of Metal (Jinshou), Wood (Mu), Water (Shuei), Fire (Huo), Earth (Tu) and Gold (Huangjin) are of paramount importance as these form the basic essence of the art. There are 5 major techniques embodying the essence of Baihequan. Each is named after the elements of traditional Chinese philosophy.

From here, all other methods and variations are developed and the encouragement of refinement (Li-Jing) is then pursued. The aim being to seek knowledge (Qi-Zhi).

The “Element Hands” are also known as the “Loosening Exercises” within the Huang Shen Shyan lineage of White Crane Fist and are supported by long experience.

The Element hands use a wave of expansion from ground - shooting arrow and emphasises wave of stretching and compression that precedes wave of expansion - drawing the bow
Wood-Hand 木手: the characteristic of Wood is "straight," so Wood-Hand trusts straight through fingers.

Fire-Hand 水手: the characteristic of Fire is "expanding upward," so Fire-Hand points fingers upward, and Qi goes out at the heel of the palm.
Earth-Hand 土手: the characteristic of Earth is "receiving," so the fist-like Earth-Hand can take punishment and deliver power to strike the opponent's body.
Metal-Hand 金手: the characteristic of Metal is "changing," So metal-Hand changes in form, can be used to block or counter-attack.
Water-Hand 水手: the characteristic of Water is "flow downward" or “away” so Water-Hand flows or flushes downward or away.

Four Gates Theory (Sz Men)

Shaolin White Crane Gates Theory simply states that one may be attacked from all directions at any given time. Therefore one must be prepared to defend the four gates: East, West, North and South.


Inside & Outside Gates (Jung Men, Bien Men)

The concept of gates is also used in terms of inside and outside gates. Outside gates techniques (Bien Men) are generally safer to use in that one counterstrikes from the outside of the attacking limb thereby limiting the aggressors opportunity to follow-up. Inside gate techniques (Jung Men) move head on into an opponent on the inside of the attacking limb.

More to come .....

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