Introduction
Yin and Yang aspects of the 72 Consummate and Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple i.e. its Secret Fighting Exercises or 'Kungs' produce two categories: Yin/Rou Soft Internal Energy Training and Yang/Gang Hard External Power Training, respectively, with the former considered superior overall. To facilitate comparisons and contrasts between 'Hard and 'Soft' Kung Fu and to help readers to appreciate differences between the two categories, an example from each follows.
Yin/Rou
'The Vermillion Palm Technique' exemplifies the prolonged, arduous, hidden intensities frequently found in Shaolin Internal (Yin) Kung Fu training.These are, typically, much less well-known than the training demands of its External counterparts.
Further Examples of Yin/Rou Shaolin 'Kungs' include:
Kuan Yin Palm;
Iron Cloth Bag/Sack and
Finger Pointing Arts
Yang/Gang
'Toad Exercise', conversely, representing Shaolin External (Yang) Kung Fu embodies training demands which, although prodigious, will, I am sure, be more familiar to most readers. This second Shaolin Secret Art or 'Kung' is more typical of External Yang Kung Fu.
Further Examples of Yang/Gang Shaolin Kungs include:
Windlass or Bucket Lifting Arts;
Iron Bullock Arts and
Stone Pointing Arts
Both Yin and Yang Kungs tend to have separate and distinct levels of progress and attainment which all students need to pass through to achieve their goals. The full list of 72 Shaolin Temple Secret Fighting Exercises or Kungs also embodies a Yin/Yang balance reflecting this principle's importance.
Internal and External
External (Yang) Kung Fu is extremely physical, its Internal (Yin) counterpart is termed 'spiritual', as invisible, internal forces are involved moving 'mysteriously', unseen within us. 'Faith' in Teacher/Teachings is required in the latter case. Further, harder-to-measure Internal progress takes longer to show and consequently more dedication and will-power are required to acquire the desired skills.
Cultural issues also need taking into account before Internal/External comparisons are made. Kung Fu has been known and trusted for millennia in China and the Far East, where Teachings are instantly and unquestioningly followed, according to 'the Way'. Western student-traditions differ-involving proof or explanations before things are accepted. To the uninitiated, Internal Kung Fu Qi-Training Theory is harder to understand and demonstrating Qi's existence 'scientifically' to beginners harder still (an existence automatically accepted in China). This may well be due to the West's comparatively short acquaintance with Kung Fu. More prolonged exposure to traditional authentic Chinese Martial Arts Training should cause this 'resistance' to disappear over time.
Supporting evidence relating to Hama Gong/Toad Exercise applied in action is presented. However, the deadly delayed-death touch of 'The Vermillion Palm Technique' means we have to turn to Chinese Martial folk-tales and film-histories for evidence of the circumstances and effects of its use.
The Vermillion Palm Technique
This is perhaps the most deadly of all the 72 Consummate and Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple aka its Secret Fighting Exercises or 'Kungs'. The Vermillion Palm is also one of the most difficult to acquire, demanding much from the student in terms of will-power, persistence and determination. The Vermillion Palm falls into the category of Yin/Rou Internal Energy Training and is a specific exercise of the palm.
Technical Analysis
The technique has long been associated with dim-mak or 'delayed death touch'. Reputedly, if applied by a Master, whilst no external evidence of any strike being made would be initially apparent, bright red palm marks would appear on the victim's body within 3 days and death would be inevitable, after no more than 10-15 days at most, brought about by internal organ damage.
Also known as Red Cinnabar Palm and Plum Blossom Palm, the Vermillion Palm requires 15 years practice to acquire, plus a dedication never to abuse it. It should not be confused with Black Cinnabar Palm as medical treatment can help those injured thus-for the effects of The Vermillion Palm, there is no cure.
Stage 1 Concentration and Qi Gathering
Take a shallow open bowl or other similar container part-filled with fine sand and place this on a table before you. Rub your hands constantly with the sand until exhausted and repeat this practise daily. When you can rub your hands together 1 foot away from the bowl and cause the sand to move and swirl, Stage 1 is complete.
Stage 2
Replace the fine sand in the bowl with coarse and repeat the exercise until similar results are obtained. Next use rough iron-sand and grit in the same manner. Finally use small pieces of scrap iron until these respond similarly to your palm-rubbing. At this point the Art has been attained.
Overall
Learning the Vermillion Palm makes one stronger and healthier overall, improving the functions of the 5 major internal organs. However, the Qi directed to one's palms by the exercise causes damage to the internal organs of those they strike. This exercise is part of Shaolin 'Soft' Internal Kung Fu Training.
Kung Fu:Toad Exercise
Toad Exercise aka 'Hama Gong' uses weights as apparatus. This is the Shaolin Temple Secret Fighting Exercise or 'Kung' most compatible with Western Weight-Lifting and Weight-Training methods. Strengthening and developing all parts of the body, Hama Gong relies purely on External Physical Strength, Power Training and effort for results, with the aid of key visualisations.
Technical Analysis
The wrist, arms, shoulder, back and abdomen are the first-exercised body-parts, using an upright stance. Next come the legs and thighs, requiring a Horse Stance (Ma Bu) instead. Previously, circular stone weights and bamboo 'bars' were used, the latter's inbuilt flexibility encouraging development of the Kung. Nowadays, traditional metal bars collars and gym-weights suffice.
Method
Stage 1 Strength Development
Concentrating strength in the arms and wrist, students lift bar and weights overhead repeatedly (as above) until tired. Progress to the next stage when this can be performed easily.
Stage 2 Transporting Strength
Make fists with your hands and imagine you are gripping and lowering a heavy weight. You will feel strength flow into this area as you do and flow back up into your arms and shoulders when your grip is released. Rest, relax and then repeat this exercise.
Next, perform the exercise using the chest, abdomen and other body-parts in turn, as specified above. Regarding the legs and thighs, horse-stance (Ma Bu) practice whilst holding the weights should come first. Holding, using visualisation, imagining the weights are still being carried, before lowering this imaginary weight, should then follow.
Appropriate use of visualisation is essential to ensure transportation of strength to arms, shoulders, legs and thighs at this Stage. Each time, perform the exercise once, rest, relax and repeat it again.
Hama Gong/Toad Exercise in Application
Late, lamented, Honourable 'Longfist' Grandmaster Leong Fu, (1) Changquan 'Si Jo' (Style Founder), from Ipoh, Malaysia, famously used huge natural stones of irregular size and weight to assist development of this and related 'Kungs'. Si Jo Leong Fu was also 3 Times Undefeated World Middleweight Wrestling Champion 1959-62, before retiring (Undefeated) in 1963.
An awesome testimony of such Kungs' effectiveness, this is merely a partial picture of the strength, potency and versatility of Grandmaster Leong Fu and his teachings(2). Also a Master of the Internal Arts, Leong Fu was unmistakable in his insistence of their superiority over their External equivalents and the necessity to acquire a balanced blend of both.
Overall
Once Toad Arts/Hama Gong has been successfully achieved strength can be instantly transmitted, at will, to any of the body-parts thus trained. Masters of this Art are very difficult to attack as they can concentrate strength in any part or region, reinforcing this and preventing injury.
Conclusions
External Yang 'Hard' strength and power-building Shaolin Secret Arts tend to be easier to acquire (although the requirements to do so are still daunting indeed) and progress tends to be more obvious, more easily measured and demonstrated. Moreover, the methodology involved tends to be easier to understand and the methods used more direct. Such Kungs frequently lead to gains in physical power, strength and resilience.
Some of the Shaolin Temple Internal Secret Arts cause internal damage when applied, The Vermillion Palm being No. 1 in this List! However, as in this example, they can also lead to improvements in various aspects of internal body-functioning. In this case, improving the 5 major internal organs' quality increases health and longevity of the practitioner. Internal organ failures are major causes of sickness and death. The study and acquisition of Internal skills, always valued above their External counterparts, embraces both ability to cause and avoid such failures.
The methodology involved in acquiring Yin/Rou Kungs is more sophisticated, the methods used sometimes more indirect and learning times much more extensive. However, prolonged internal study may have 'transformational' effects on individuals who discover profound inner truths.
The 72 Consummate Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple are still little known in the West. Internal Kung Fu, in general, similarly neglected, is rated superior overall in China, Kung Fu's birth-place and the Far East. However, it is when Yin and Yang are in balance that optimum health and Kung Fu progress may be achieved. So, in Dragon Year 2012 try to increase your Shaolin Internal Kung Fu knowledge and attainment levels, 'awaken your Inner Dragon' and help ensure balanced progress in your Martial Arts Training.
Yin and Yang aspects of the 72 Consummate and Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple i.e. its Secret Fighting Exercises or 'Kungs' produce two categories: Yin/Rou Soft Internal Energy Training and Yang/Gang Hard External Power Training, respectively, with the former considered superior overall. To facilitate comparisons and contrasts between 'Hard and 'Soft' Kung Fu and to help readers to appreciate differences between the two categories, an example from each follows.
Yin/Rou
'The Vermillion Palm Technique' exemplifies the prolonged, arduous, hidden intensities frequently found in Shaolin Internal (Yin) Kung Fu training.These are, typically, much less well-known than the training demands of its External counterparts.
Further Examples of Yin/Rou Shaolin 'Kungs' include:
Kuan Yin Palm;
Iron Cloth Bag/Sack and
Finger Pointing Arts
Yang/Gang
'Toad Exercise', conversely, representing Shaolin External (Yang) Kung Fu embodies training demands which, although prodigious, will, I am sure, be more familiar to most readers. This second Shaolin Secret Art or 'Kung' is more typical of External Yang Kung Fu.
Further Examples of Yang/Gang Shaolin Kungs include:
Windlass or Bucket Lifting Arts;
Iron Bullock Arts and
Stone Pointing Arts
Both Yin and Yang Kungs tend to have separate and distinct levels of progress and attainment which all students need to pass through to achieve their goals. The full list of 72 Shaolin Temple Secret Fighting Exercises or Kungs also embodies a Yin/Yang balance reflecting this principle's importance.
Internal and External
External (Yang) Kung Fu is extremely physical, its Internal (Yin) counterpart is termed 'spiritual', as invisible, internal forces are involved moving 'mysteriously', unseen within us. 'Faith' in Teacher/Teachings is required in the latter case. Further, harder-to-measure Internal progress takes longer to show and consequently more dedication and will-power are required to acquire the desired skills.
Cultural issues also need taking into account before Internal/External comparisons are made. Kung Fu has been known and trusted for millennia in China and the Far East, where Teachings are instantly and unquestioningly followed, according to 'the Way'. Western student-traditions differ-involving proof or explanations before things are accepted. To the uninitiated, Internal Kung Fu Qi-Training Theory is harder to understand and demonstrating Qi's existence 'scientifically' to beginners harder still (an existence automatically accepted in China). This may well be due to the West's comparatively short acquaintance with Kung Fu. More prolonged exposure to traditional authentic Chinese Martial Arts Training should cause this 'resistance' to disappear over time.
Supporting evidence relating to Hama Gong/Toad Exercise applied in action is presented. However, the deadly delayed-death touch of 'The Vermillion Palm Technique' means we have to turn to Chinese Martial folk-tales and film-histories for evidence of the circumstances and effects of its use.
The Vermillion Palm Technique
This is perhaps the most deadly of all the 72 Consummate and Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple aka its Secret Fighting Exercises or 'Kungs'. The Vermillion Palm is also one of the most difficult to acquire, demanding much from the student in terms of will-power, persistence and determination. The Vermillion Palm falls into the category of Yin/Rou Internal Energy Training and is a specific exercise of the palm.
Technical Analysis
The technique has long been associated with dim-mak or 'delayed death touch'. Reputedly, if applied by a Master, whilst no external evidence of any strike being made would be initially apparent, bright red palm marks would appear on the victim's body within 3 days and death would be inevitable, after no more than 10-15 days at most, brought about by internal organ damage.
Also known as Red Cinnabar Palm and Plum Blossom Palm, the Vermillion Palm requires 15 years practice to acquire, plus a dedication never to abuse it. It should not be confused with Black Cinnabar Palm as medical treatment can help those injured thus-for the effects of The Vermillion Palm, there is no cure.
Stage 1 Concentration and Qi Gathering
Take a shallow open bowl or other similar container part-filled with fine sand and place this on a table before you. Rub your hands constantly with the sand until exhausted and repeat this practise daily. When you can rub your hands together 1 foot away from the bowl and cause the sand to move and swirl, Stage 1 is complete.
Stage 2
Replace the fine sand in the bowl with coarse and repeat the exercise until similar results are obtained. Next use rough iron-sand and grit in the same manner. Finally use small pieces of scrap iron until these respond similarly to your palm-rubbing. At this point the Art has been attained.
Overall
Learning the Vermillion Palm makes one stronger and healthier overall, improving the functions of the 5 major internal organs. However, the Qi directed to one's palms by the exercise causes damage to the internal organs of those they strike. This exercise is part of Shaolin 'Soft' Internal Kung Fu Training.
Kung Fu:Toad Exercise
Toad Exercise aka 'Hama Gong' uses weights as apparatus. This is the Shaolin Temple Secret Fighting Exercise or 'Kung' most compatible with Western Weight-Lifting and Weight-Training methods. Strengthening and developing all parts of the body, Hama Gong relies purely on External Physical Strength, Power Training and effort for results, with the aid of key visualisations.
Technical Analysis
The wrist, arms, shoulder, back and abdomen are the first-exercised body-parts, using an upright stance. Next come the legs and thighs, requiring a Horse Stance (Ma Bu) instead. Previously, circular stone weights and bamboo 'bars' were used, the latter's inbuilt flexibility encouraging development of the Kung. Nowadays, traditional metal bars collars and gym-weights suffice.
Method
Stage 1 Strength Development
Concentrating strength in the arms and wrist, students lift bar and weights overhead repeatedly (as above) until tired. Progress to the next stage when this can be performed easily.
Stage 2 Transporting Strength
Make fists with your hands and imagine you are gripping and lowering a heavy weight. You will feel strength flow into this area as you do and flow back up into your arms and shoulders when your grip is released. Rest, relax and then repeat this exercise.
Next, perform the exercise using the chest, abdomen and other body-parts in turn, as specified above. Regarding the legs and thighs, horse-stance (Ma Bu) practice whilst holding the weights should come first. Holding, using visualisation, imagining the weights are still being carried, before lowering this imaginary weight, should then follow.
Appropriate use of visualisation is essential to ensure transportation of strength to arms, shoulders, legs and thighs at this Stage. Each time, perform the exercise once, rest, relax and repeat it again.
Hama Gong/Toad Exercise in Application
Late, lamented, Honourable 'Longfist' Grandmaster Leong Fu, (1) Changquan 'Si Jo' (Style Founder), from Ipoh, Malaysia, famously used huge natural stones of irregular size and weight to assist development of this and related 'Kungs'. Si Jo Leong Fu was also 3 Times Undefeated World Middleweight Wrestling Champion 1959-62, before retiring (Undefeated) in 1963.
An awesome testimony of such Kungs' effectiveness, this is merely a partial picture of the strength, potency and versatility of Grandmaster Leong Fu and his teachings(2). Also a Master of the Internal Arts, Leong Fu was unmistakable in his insistence of their superiority over their External equivalents and the necessity to acquire a balanced blend of both.
Overall
Once Toad Arts/Hama Gong has been successfully achieved strength can be instantly transmitted, at will, to any of the body-parts thus trained. Masters of this Art are very difficult to attack as they can concentrate strength in any part or region, reinforcing this and preventing injury.
Conclusions
External Yang 'Hard' strength and power-building Shaolin Secret Arts tend to be easier to acquire (although the requirements to do so are still daunting indeed) and progress tends to be more obvious, more easily measured and demonstrated. Moreover, the methodology involved tends to be easier to understand and the methods used more direct. Such Kungs frequently lead to gains in physical power, strength and resilience.
Some of the Shaolin Temple Internal Secret Arts cause internal damage when applied, The Vermillion Palm being No. 1 in this List! However, as in this example, they can also lead to improvements in various aspects of internal body-functioning. In this case, improving the 5 major internal organs' quality increases health and longevity of the practitioner. Internal organ failures are major causes of sickness and death. The study and acquisition of Internal skills, always valued above their External counterparts, embraces both ability to cause and avoid such failures.
The methodology involved in acquiring Yin/Rou Kungs is more sophisticated, the methods used sometimes more indirect and learning times much more extensive. However, prolonged internal study may have 'transformational' effects on individuals who discover profound inner truths.
The 72 Consummate Secret Arts of the Shaolin Temple are still little known in the West. Internal Kung Fu, in general, similarly neglected, is rated superior overall in China, Kung Fu's birth-place and the Far East. However, it is when Yin and Yang are in balance that optimum health and Kung Fu progress may be achieved. So, in Dragon Year 2012 try to increase your Shaolin Internal Kung Fu knowledge and attainment levels, 'awaken your Inner Dragon' and help ensure balanced progress in your Martial Arts Training.
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