A Look at one of the Hands of the Wu Bei Zhi ("Bubishi&

[shifucrane]

Wu Bèi Zhì Liù Ji Pái

Article Wénzhing Èrshí of the Wu Bèi Zhì ("Bubishi" to some) illustrates and describes the 6 Ji Hands Liù Ji Pái .

Ji has been misinterpreted many times, even so far as to mean "energy".

This character translates to actually mean:

1/. Flexible natural application intention, opportunity (Drive, Crucial-point).

There are, of course, many other translations, but in the context of martial arts, these are the most appropriate, with Flexible natural application intention being the most fitting as the crucial-point.

Sadly, most translators of the Wu Bèi Zhì have seriously overlooked the importance of these hands and the hidden secrets the illustrations hold within! Unfortunately, casual readers of the WuBèi Zhì overlook the importance of these hands and not-so-obvious details they contain. This is the result of some of the translators having no deep training and understanding in Báihèquán (White Crane Fist Boxing).

Therefore they can then only arrive at what can only be viewed as a “creative interpretation”. Transmission from a legitimate teacher is all too important.

This in itself is not surprising as most of these so-called “translators” (More like “Creative-interpreters”) do not have any background in the arts of the Wǔ Bèi Zhì, namely Luohan quan which means "Arhat Fist" and White Crane Boxing. Many have simply interpreted these hand forms from a limited, base level i.e. Spear-Hand, Knife-Hand etc. They have looked upon these hand forms from a Karate perspective and therefore failed to see what these hand forms and illustrations reveal.

The descriptions given also hold many clues but one must approach this from the mind-set of a Monk / Crane Fist stylist and also from the time and culture of these explanations. The descriptions given also hold many clues but one must approach this from the mind-set of a Monk / Crane Fist practitioner and also realize that the results are expected to be lethal, or maiming at the least, as would be expected in ancient China.

Very little has been written on these actual hand-forms, and their true intention mainly because the devil is in the details of training. Their energetics, and the forms from which they are contained, are essential components of the White Crane Gongfu Arts.

This is not surprising given these facts:

FACT 1/. The ancient arts were lineage driven and therefore highly secretive.

FACT2/. The Martial Arts of today have become far more acrobatic, fancy and complex. FACT 3/. It is fundamental to have six returning into one.

So what about the so-called “Blood Pool Hand?”

One “translator” calls it a Karate-like “Ridgehand Strike” whilst the other states it is used to “twist and pull at the eyes, genital area” etc! Yet another “Kyusho Pressure Point” Master states it is used to pull the ribs out of place so one can get at the internal organ underneath …. Good God!

Both views are wrong! Most feel the technique, as its name implies is to strike at those areas known as “Blood Gates” or vascular areas of the human body. Such areas are where both Nerves and Blood Gates converge. This has a two-fold effect upon both the nerve and the vascular region resulting in often deadly results.

However, the original translation of “Olive Branch Hand” yields a far more important aspect of the Hand Weapon. Canarium parvum and Canarium album is the name of the Olive which grows in Southern China from where White Crane Gongfu originates.

“OLIVE BRANCH HAND” / “IRON CRANE WING HAND:

This Hand Form is one largely mistranslated by many of the so-called “Historians” who have “interpreted” the Wu Bèi Zhì. The sentence transliterates: "This hand name says Olive Branch Shaped Seizing Hand."

The second last character, lan3, means “to seize”.

This is a MAJOR discovery which changes the understanding of this Hand Weapon!

In China, the fruit, nut, seed, and root have historically been used for medicinal purposes.

Traditional Chinese Medicines utilizes Chinese Olive fruits for their anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties as well as their ability to relieve sore throats, chronic coughs, fevers and excessive thirst.

They are also used for an oil resin varnish known as 'elemi' and for printing inks.

In Traditional Chinese Martial Culture, Canarium parvum and Ganlan Fructus Canarii Chinese White Olive oil is widely regarded as health oil that can help prevent cardiovascular disease; decrease cholesterol; delay senility and prevent cancer. It is also regarded to remove heat and cure sore throat, to promote the production of body fluid, and counteract toxicity.

It is considered to be a Water Element symbolizing life. It is associated with the Liver and Gallbladder and indicate of a Spleen Qi deficiency.

In some Chinese Cultural aspects it is also associated with the “evil eye”, a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause injury.

Now let’s examine the significance of this vitally important discovery!

Working off the information arising from Traditional Chinese Culture (TCC) and relating that to Traditional Chinese Martial Sciences and Culture we arrive at a different viewpoint of the functions of this Hand Weapon.

Firstly it is not only a Metal aspect of the Five Moving Forces or Energy (Elements) it also embodies the Water aspect meaning that it is used to flow through the intended target and also embodies a “wave-like” energy expression.

It is associated with the Liver, Gallbladder and Spleen … indicating that these are some of the “area’s” that it can be used to effect. It can be used in regard to the Qi (energy) in the area of creating a deficiency. It has a connection to the use of the eyes in the form of the “Evil Eyes” i.e. the use of the Yi or intention into the given strike to cause injury.

The Olive Branch Hand is a hand weapon well suited to deeper penetration into the body targets or Dian Xue cavities using the forward rotational almost “biting” action of the first two knuckles into the chosen target areas. The knuckles can also be used in a straight in penetrative action.

It can use the classic whipping back action as well as a Descending Palm Strike!

As per an Olive Branch, the hand form in question can be delivered in that of a penetrating whipping, springing form of energetics adding a new perspective to that of its use.

Yielding and then whipping / Springing back into shape and form just like the Olive Branch itself in nature.

Blood Gate related strikes require a far deeper penetrative level of energetic expression to reach the vascular areas. That is not to say that this is not a valid form of attack with this hand weapon, not at all.

It is just not the “main” aspect of this hand form as represented in Original White Crane and the pages of the Wu Bèi Zhì !

If one looks at *Illustration of the Hand Form from the Wu Bèi Zhì … one will immediately see that the hand is held in a downward positioning, fingers pointing downwards. I guess to some this looks like a “Karate Ridgehand” … Go figure!

In actuality, the illustration reveals many differing applications of the Hand Form. One is a “Cupped Hand” Strike utilizing the Cupped Palm form. A target would be the opponent’s ears causing disorientation and loss of hearing.

Striking here also activates a number of nerves in that area with great results. A “Cupped” Hand Strike can also be delivered to the top of the head or the Superior Sagittal Sinus and or the Arachnoidal Grandulation area.

These areas effect the Pre-Motor and Suppression, Somato-Motor and Somato-Sensory of the brain. Damage can also occur into the base of the Brain Stem (Reticular Activating System) and the spinal cord due to compression from such a strike.

Now we see the other aspect of the Hand Form, that of a strike using the Protruding Knuckles of the back of the hand.

An obvious strike is Renying or the “Man Welcomes” area on the opponent’s neck region. This area is one of those double areas in that it involves both the Nerve and Blood areas.

The superior thyroid artery, anterior jugular vein, internal jugular vein, carotid artery, the cervical branch of the facial nerve, cutaneous cervical nerve, the sympathic trunk and the ascending branch of the vagus and hypoglossal nerves are all found in this one area and can be struck in different ways.

Striking upwards and in will see the opponent tense the body resulting in the opponent lifting up and away loosing functional control on the side struck.

Striking down and in weakens the muscles causing the body to drop as the muscles totally relax.

Striking in an inward and downward manner cause a loss of vision and physical control as well as consciousness, (dropping the blood pressure rapidly causing a vaso vagal faint).

By striking in either direction with a stretching style of action, will greatly increase the reactions of the opponent. As with all techniques, the energetics comes into play in the delivery of these strikes.

Now once again let us look at a White Crane in nature!

The Crown of the Crane turns a brighter vermilion and swells in size when the Crane is intimidating or attacking and opponent. The White Crane will lower its head slightly to show this vermilion symbol to its opponent

This is also true of the energetics or kinetics of the Olive Branch Hand strike exactly like that of a White Crane in nature!

This hand position also appears in a Qing Dynasty Natural Fist Boxing Manual owned by the author that depicts the “Olive Branch/ Character Eight Hand” in application.

Daiying or “Big Meeting) is at the two branches of the Manidibular portion of the Facial Nerve in front of the Masseter Muscle.

Striking downwards to the upper branch root of this nerve at a 45 degree angle and inwards toward the neck will result in a shutdown of the opponent. A strike to the lower root branch up and inwards toward the center of the an opponent’s head with a twisting form of hand energetics will stretch the nerve out from under the jaw mandible to see it “pinch” of be compressed against the bone. This will result in cause the opponent withdrawing from the pain and weakening of the neck. When struck it will cause severe pain, altered vision, nausea a loss of body control and unconsciousness.

Another strike that can be delivered to the “Big Meeting” point known as Daiying mid-way along the jaw mandible on the anterior border of the masseter muscle is a move first introduced in the last third of the SanZhan Ba Xian Zhang form:

Yet another application and use of this Hand Weapons is in that of a specialized strike known in White Crane as the “Crane Strikes with its Head / Crown” and in some branches as “Carp Swims against the Current”.

It is a unique use of the Olive Branch Hand which sees the knuckles used in a protruding downward strike to either the Zhangmen “System’s Door” and or the Qimen “Expectation’s Door” both with decidedly deadly implications. It is located on a branch of the Lateral Cutaneous Nerve.

A Strike to this area is back and in toward the kidney against the floating rib. This point attacked at the same 45-degree trajectory can cause a weakening of the muscles on the same side of the body, a bodily withdrawal by the opponent, paralysis, nausea and unconsciousness dependent upon the energetics and the depth of attack. It can also cause internal bleeding if the rib punctures the Liver (right side body) kidney, spleen (left side body) left untreated can lead to septic infection and even death.

As it is referred to as an “Olive Branch Shaped Seizing Hand", it can also take on that of Seizing or Sealing the Breath or Blood areas.

Vital aspects of Báihèquán & the use of the Ji Hands:

• Physical Attributes: Tension destroys the transfer of kinetic energy into the target. Song is required for real energetic transfer.

• Spontaneity: Báihèquán practitioners train to be willing to change targets if one disappears and another appears. This stems from sensitivity training.

• Delivery Modalities: This is the 6 Ji Hands themselves, proper weapon for each target.

• Applicability: Báihèquán guides the practitioner to learn which weapons work best for them in each situation. Every scenario is filled with many variables, adaptation is key.

• The use of Shen-Fa or Body-Energy-Feel and Yi (Intention) is paramount.

[sensei8]

Firstly, I'd like to welcome you to KF, shifucrane; glad that you're here!!

Secondly, solid opening post!!