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| ZhanZhuang - The standing pole is the most important and basic exercise in the
training of Yiquan. Zhanzhuang is
basicly
a non-moving exercise, as it seems to be when we look at a person who is doing
Zhanzhuang. But in fact there
is
a lot of movement going
on. In Zhanzhuang we "just" stand in different positions. But using our Yi - Imagination, Spirit to move our body. This move ments, even when very small and not catchable by the eye, still exist. And are not just a result of imagination. We just use our imagination to controll the movement. Where the aim is to be able to move in all 6 directions (forward/backward, up/down, left/right). As an example, we use our Yi-Imagination, that we are standing in the water, a big sea of water. And as the water moves we have to move against it or with it.The water pushes against your back so you moving slightly backwards, as the water now is gonna push you from the front we have to develop force to the front. And so on. While doing this the focus is on staying realxed and using as less muscles contracion as needed. The Yi is leading the movement, where as the body has to stay relaxed, but still provide strenght. During Zhanzhuang you will learn how to use your Yi to move your body, how to create strenght to all directions, how to maintain a whole body strenght. Your strenght will increase and your body and spirit will learn how to realx. Which are most basic demands in the training of ZhanZhuang. As said before, the balance of Jin and Song is very important through the training of Yiquan. To reach this balance ZhanZhuang is the basic exercise. --> see "Song er bu xie- Jin er bu jiang" (Yiquan section) Furthermore we have two basic forms of exercising. The JianShen Zhuang- Noutrishing Body Zhuang and the Jiji Zhuang- Fighting Zhuang, which is also called HunYuanZhuang. There is not such a big difference between those two forms of Zhuang. To say it simply, the JianShen Zhuang is more relaxed, whereas the HunYuan Zhuang builds up more strenght and make you get tired pretty quick in the beginning of the training. Besides Jin & Song, ZhanZhuang also focus on the whole body force Zhengti li. The development of this force is important in the training of Yiquan. "yi dong wu bu dong" - literaly " As soon as one part moces, there is nothing that doesnt move" or in a free sense "As soon as one part moves, everything else is moving". Which points to the concept that every part in our has force in every kind of movement. There is no part that is "force less". And "wu dian bu tan huang" literarly "no point as no spring" freely" no point has no elasticity" or "the whole body has elasticity". This concepts also focuses on the Zhengti li, the whole body foce and their balance of Jin & Song. ZhanZhuang itself seem simple, but it`s content is very rich. Exercising of ZhanZhuang, even not for the point of fighting skills, will have a will have a positive influence on your health body and mind in general. Through the training of ZhanZhuang, the body will realx and tensions gonna be smoothen. Which is why ZhanZhuang is often used as a therapeutic method in the chinese medicine. ZhanZhuang is natural and "simple" form of exercise. And can be adjusted to each practicinor. There are exercises in standing, sitting and lying positions. Where weaker persons can start very simple, like sitting or lying. And by slowly building up force they will naturally be able to stand up and maintain the ZhanZhunag longer and longer. |
