Notes on Bak Mei Breathing Technique

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Southern Chinese Kung Fu
21

Hi MoQ,

Great stuff. Just love the sharing spirit here. Would you agree?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>The body must be relaxed and supple until the moment of impact and then soft and sensitive immediately. Taoist arts are despised by many because of the devious/strategic lack of emotion. It’s simply too clever to be considered
“righteous”.[/quote]

Taoists are often highly educated people. No government ever like the intellectual because they would not be fool the the spin doctors. Likewise in martial arts.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>The “tensed arm” is called “3 border force” generated from the shoulder and/or shoulder,elbow,wrist in concert. Position of the body is not a factor with the 3-Border power.[/quote]

My understanding of “Sarm Kwan Ging” (3 border force) is similar to “Sarm Tong” in Lung Ying. Sarm Tong is not restricted to the upper limbs only. The whole body including each joint of the limbs is involved in this “Sarm Tong/Kwan” relationship. Good point, MoQ.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>The “8 area force” is 3 joints of leg, 3 of arm, waist and jaw, opening and closing the joints together to generate power.[/quote]

Excellent. The jaw “Ngarh Ging” is also a very important feature of both Lung Ying and Bak Mei. Besides helpping to generate power, it also serves the purpose of protecting the out going Ging returning to harm the brain. Thanks for the reminder, MoQ.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>The powers of Fao Chum Tun Tou represent 4 of the 8 Taoist directions of up,down, inward,outward, twist,turn, advance,retreat. These actions are meant to destroy the oppo’s balance from the inside. Of course, in conjuction with fist and claw, they can be quite damaging and add to the frighteningly “unexpected” actions these styles are known for.[/quote]

Gang Ging. Really appreciate what you’ve shared MoQ, more please?

Mantis108

Contraria Sunt Complementa

22

Great thread working on jek bo until friday when I go back to class for more lessons.

23

Amazing thread!!! I wish us in the wing chun section can have deep detailed and informative and civilized discussions such as this:)

It would be nice also to hear how other Hakka styles such as jook lum SPM, and fujian white crane differ in their use of the 4 powers tun, tao, chum, fao in comparison to bak mei and Lung Ying?

24

:eek:

A cool topic!!!

FWIW, I think that FCTT is just a different way to talk about good body mechanics. Obviously if you are pulling someone towards you, you are going to use pulling energy. A good way to compare would be to compare how one plays fctt in their forms and how one plays fctt in their fighting.

Breathing relates to both attack and defense, no matter the range a fighter is in. Learning breath control is good. Keeps you from losing your breath when someone hits you; which is hard to do sometimes, especially if you are expending it anyways. Those guys that get shot in the guts with cannons have the chi gung down. But if they didnt take care of their breath, they would be dim maked by that cannon ball.

:confused::o

25

Reverse breathing is the most natural breathing when lifting a heavy weight.
Powerlifters and ST athletes are taught it, though to be honest most do it naturally from the beginning.
Boxers are taught it when learning how to “take a shot”.
Many so-called “esoteric” concepts and principles exist in modern sports, they just have regular names and are simply “part of the package”.

26

Agreed, Fantastic thread!

27

Boxer Breathing is a little difficult to do out of the nose with the mouth closed, but it’s better for jaws.

Taking shots and breathing properly out your nose is difficult to learn, especially after the first round…

28

TTFC is a key characteristic of Pak Mei, yet there are different explanations. I guess the key is to do it the way your Sifu tells yo to do it.

29

[QUOTE=TAO YIN;994504]Boxer Breathing is a little difficult to do out of the nose with the mouth closed, but it’s better for jaws.

Taking shots and breathing properly out your nose is difficult to learn, especially after the first round…[/QUOTE]

It certainly is a tad tricky but getting hit in the jaw with an open mouth is no fun at all, LOL !

30

OLAF,

I agree there are many explanations and many kinds of ways to do it, especially in forms. But there are only so many ways to actually make it practical and develop it for fighting. Breathing in while punching out, and actually getting power out of it, is difficult to develop and takes time. It’s great to do though. Having FCTT, Power, and Breath all working naturally is what every fighter strives for.

With fighting, FCTT should be a natural occurence that relates to breath and kinematics. But because of the breath factor, it is difficult to keep flowing naturally after taking a few body shots. A lot of times, it just ends up being Chum after beginning to lose breath, becoming winded.

My point is, there is FCTT that has nothing really going on inside of it, no breath no kinematics. And there is FCTT that has everything going on inside of it, but is hardly noticeable.

Do wind sprints for a couple of hundred yards, then merry go round with your eyes closed for about ten times, then try fctt! If you can still connect your breath to the forces and keep bak mei principles, that is a good start.

31

Lots of good oil in this thread I agree. Mantis108 always made great contributions.

A few things I like to focus on:

Capturing a breath and using it fully. This also hardens your body in defence.

Not linking your movements with your breathing - hands are faster than lungs.

Being able to do anything on the inhale or the exhale - nobody said it was easy.

Not wasting power, strength or breath until its needed - more a mind than a body thing.

Breathing is where most Pak Mei students are weak, you can tell by listening.

TTFC is beyond breath, and the second and most obvious failing amongst PM students. Everybody talks the talk, but few indeed walk the walk. It is very plain to see, there are no rationalisations.

Those two elements are the difference between internal and external Pak Mei, naturally, they revolve around core body techniques, breathing, and snapping between tense and loose. Pak Mei starts external and becomes internal in time. Great for us old blokes…LOL.

Touching Pak Mei hands is similar to touching smoke, or iron bars, and from a good practitioner you will always get the opposite of what you expect.