Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang changes are a great subject for home study. Guo’s emphasis on the Yao, is incredibly useful for the development of Shen Fa and power. Interpreting Guo’s Ding Shi movements from his writings and accompanying drawings is a fantastic exercise that opens up many avenues of research and internal development. This month we present the last three of Guo’s Ding Shi Changes changes for the Heaven Facing Palm, Yin Yang Fish Palm and Millstone Pushing Palm.
Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang: More Palms for Home Study (Part 1): CLICK HERE
Guo Gu Min’s Ding Shi Ba Gua Zhang: Palms for Home Study Part 2: CLICK HERE
Heaven Facing Palm (朝天草 Chao Tian Zhang)
1) Walk counterclockwise along the circle as the two hands move upward from the level of the pubic bones to the stomach and chest. As they raise, the palms combine and turn to face upward, and then the arms separate and open to the two sides. The palm centers and the crooks of the elbows are level and face upward at the height of the shoulders. The eyes look forward (Figs.12-13).
Main Points: Sink the shoulder and drop the elbow; the chest is empty, the back is taut; the two arms are loose (Fang Song). Combine and unite the two sides and draw out the root of the shoulder.
2) The Yao, shoulders and knees twist and turn back toward the center of the circle and the eyes look forward (Fig. 14).
Main Points: Twist and turn back to the maximum toward the center; the whole body loosens. Do not use stiff, stagnant force.
3) Walk the circle any number of time. To change direction, turn left and kou bu with the right foot. The eyes look forward (Fig. 15).
Main Points: Kou bu and turn the body. This movement must be coordinated and smooth
4) Bai bu with the left foot while the left arm rotates inward and backward tucking behind the body from the left armpit, with the palm center facing outward. The hand points to the right rear. The right arm bends and rotates inward and the palm center turns inward. The hand points to the left front. The eyes look forward (Fig. 16).
5) Step the right foot forward into Ma Bu (horse stance) so that the back faces the center of the circle. Simultaneously, bend both arms and the arms rotate, the left turning inward from the back to be in front going over the right arm with the palm center facing outward. The right palm rotates and stretches toward the left armpit going under the left arm with the palm center facing upward. The eyes look at the right palm (Fig. 17).
Main Points: In Ma Bu the step closes and the knees gather together. The two arms stretch with Wrapping Jin (Guo Jin), which begins in the spinal column.
6) Bai bu with the right foot on to the line of the circle and turn to the right while the left arm rotates outside and the right arm rotates inside coming from underneath the left arm. The arms pass in front and shake outward (Dou Jin – Shaking Jin) to the two sides, transforming into Heaven Facing Palms. The palm centers and the crooks of both elbows face upward, and the eyes look forward (Fig. 18).
Main Points: Shaking/Trembling Jin (Dou Jin抖劲) is sent outward from the spine. The step moves in harmony with the arms as they go out and shake to the two sides. The movements most be coordinated.
7) Yao, shoulder and knee turn as one toward the center of the circle, but without turning past the center of the circle (Fig. 19).
Main Points: Twist and turn back to the maximum toward the center; the whole body loosens. Do not use stiff, stagnant force.
8) Walk the circle any number of time. To change direction, turn right and kou bu with the left foot. The eyes look forward (Fig. 20).
9) Bai bu with the right foot while the right arm rotates inward and backward tucking behind the body from the right armpit, with the palm center facing outward. The hand points to the left rear. The left arm bends and rotates inward and the palm center turns inward. The hand points to the right front. The eyes look forward (Fig. 21).
10) Step the left foot forward into Ma Bu (horse stance) so that the back faces the center of the circle. Simultaneously, bend both arms and the arms rotate, the right turning inward from the back to be in front going over the left arm with the palm center facing outward. The left palm rotates and stretches toward the right armpit going under the right arm with the palm center facing upward. The eyes look at the left palm (Fig. 22).
11) Yao, shoulder and knee turn as one toward the center of the circle, but without turning past the center of the circle (Figs. 14 and 15 ).
Yin Yang Fish Palm (阴阳渔掌 Yin Yang Yu Zhang)
1) Walk around the line of the circle counterclockwise without stopping. The right arm embraces in a rounded ball shape in front of the abdomen. The left arms bends and rotates inward, coming from above and going dowward, left and behind the body with the palm center facing outward and the fingers pointing to the right. The arm embraces in a rounded ball shape behind the back (yao). The eyes look forward. (Fig 54).
Main Points: The steps and the movement of the arms must be nimble and coordinated. The rear palm has an upward lifting force and a backward stamping force.
2) Walk any number of times counterclockwise around the circle. To change direction he left foot makes a kou bu in fornt of the right foot as the body turns rightward and the eyes look forward (Fig. 55)
Main Points: The kou bu step coordinates with the turning body. The movments must be smooth and harmonious.
3) Bai bu with the right foot along the line of the circle, and walk on the circle without stopping while the two palms make a cirular arc around the waist, until the left palm is in front of the lower abdomen and the right palm is behind the back (yao), both arms embracing in a rounded ball shape. The eyes look forward. (Fig 56).
Main Points: The steps must be in harmony with the movments of the arms, which must be round and circular. The rear palm has an upward lifting force and a backward
stamping force.
4) Walk the circle turning rightward (clockwise) any number of times. To change direction, the right foot makes a kou bu in fornt of the left foot as the body turns leftward and the eyes look forward (Fig. 57)
Main Points: The kou bu step coordinates with the turning body. The movements must be smooth and harmonious.
5) Bai bu with the left foot along the line of the circle, and walk on the circle without stopping while the two plams make a cricular arc around the waist, until the right plam is in front of the lower abdomen and the left palm is behind the back (yao), both arms embracing in a rounded ball shape. The eyes look forward. (Fig 58).
Main Points: The steps must be in harmony with the movements of the arms, which must be round and circular. The rear palm has an upward lifting force and a backward stamping force.
Millstone Pushing Palm (推磨掌 Tui Mo Zhang)
1) Walking around the line of the circle counterclockwise without stopping. The two palms rotate and twist inward. The wrist bone of the left standing palm drops downward, Hu Kou is round and the palm stretches toward the left front. The right arm bends so that the forefinger points at the left elbow. The eyes look at Hu Kou (Fig. 70).
4) Walk along the circle turning leftward (counterclockwise) any number of times. To change direction, the right foot makes a kou bu in front of the left foot, as the body turns leftward. The eyes look at Hu Kou (Fig. 71).
Main Points: Main Points: The kou bu step coordinated with the turning body. The movements are smooth and coordinated.
5) Bai bu with the left foot as the left arm rotates and twists outward so that the palm hangs under the left armpit with the center of the palm facing outward and the fingers pointing rightward. Drop and tuck the wrist behind the body. The right palm does not move and the two eyes look forward (Fig 72正- front view & Fig. 72 背 – rear view).
Main Points: Tuck the palm backward to the rear. The rear palm has an upward lifting force and a backward stamping force.
6) Walk clockwise turning rightward along the line of the circle without stopping as the left rear stamping palm goes forward rotating outward to the left and stretching outward and downward to combine with the right palm and poke forward. The eyes look forward (Fig 73).
Main Points: The right shoulder reaches leftward with a wrapping and poking force. Do not use stiff, sluggish force.
7) The right hand comes from underneath the left arm and lifts and poking (Tiao) upward to the right. The palm is vertical, the wrist sinks and Hu Kou is round. The palm stretches outward to the right front. The left palm simultaneously rotates and twists inward. The palm is vertical, the wrist sinks and the forefinger points at the right elbow. The eyes look at Hu Kou (Fig. 74).
8) Walk along the circle turning rightward (clockwise) any number of times. To change direction, the left foot makes a kou bu in front of the right foot, as the body turns rightward. The eyes look at Hu Kou (Fig. 75).
Main Points: Main Points: The kou bu step coordinated with the turning body. The movements are smooth and coordinated.
9) Bai bu with the right foot as the right arm rotates and twists outward so that the palm hangs under the right armpit with the center of the palm facing outward and the fingers pointing left ward. Drop and tuck the wrist behind the body. The left palm does not move and the two eyes look forward (Fig 76 正- front view & Fig. 76 背 – rear view).
Main Points: Tuck the palm backward to the rear. The rear palm has an upward lifting force and a backward stamping force.
10)Walk clockwise turning rightward along the line of the circle without stopping as theright rear stamping palm goes forward rotating outward to the right, stretching outward and downward to combine with the right palm and poke forward. The eyes look forward (Fig 77).
Main Points: The right shoulder reaches leftward with a wrapping and poking force. Do not use stiff, sluggish force.
11) The left hand comes from underneath the right arm and lifts and poking (Tiao) upward to the left . The palm is vertical, the wrist sinks and Hu Kou is round. The palm stretches outward to the left front. The right palm simultaneously rotates and twists inward. The palm is vertical, the wrist sinks and the forefinger points at the left elbow. The eyes look at Hu Kou (Fig. 78).
