霍文学：谈霍氏八极拳中的蹲小架

Small Jar is the basic fist set of Eight Pole Fist, with 32 movements, it is the most fundamental fist technique of Eight Pole Fist. It is the foundation of Eight Pole Fist, just like Golden Eight Styles.On May 5, 2002, I met renowned old boxing master Qijiu Nuo in Beijing during the Asia-Pacific Folk Traditional Martial Arts Exchange Conference. She was a student of Nanjing Central National Skill Hall. When talking about the history of boxing, Master Qijiu Nuo reminisced:‘When we were in Nanjing Central National Skill Hall, we practiced Eight Pole Fist and Small Jar, which were compulsory courses. This kind of fist is very demanding and good for building a foundation.’ We practiced… Small Jar could be a compulsory course in Central Nanjing National Skill Hall, indicating the importance of Small Jar in the fist.In his youth, he entered the Whip Stick Room, activated his waist and hips, and then started to practice Golden Eight Styles and Small Jar.

Small Jar usually has two training methods: one is slow and steady, without force, striving for accurate posture, mainly in the middle or low stance. Teachers correct actions, and depending on the student's grasp, they require air to sink into the dantian, shoulders to drop, elbows to bend, and practice ‘Crossed Fist Power’. The other is to require steady, quick, and agile movements with force, achieving a combination of force and air, with powerful and clean movements. Teachers correct actions while mastering the timing of each movement. This training method requires accurate movements, concentrated minds, and is best done in group practice (about eight people).After practicing Small Jar, he often adopted the second method, on one hand, mastering the movement skills, and on the other hand, mastering the method of releasing force, achieving a combination of air and force, sinking air into the dantian. Some practitioners spent a long time without knowing how to generate power, while

Practicing Eight Pole Fist is a very important step to master how to release force. Eight Pole Fist emphasizes six harmonies, and the combination of air and force is key. Small Jar extended the time to strengthen basic skills.Standing Posture is a characteristic of Eight Pole Fist. The posture requires stability while also passing Eight Pole Fist’s ‘Crossed Fist Power’, ‘Falling Fist Power’ and ‘Wrapping Fist Power’ through each movement.

‘Falling Fist Power’ is to channel all the force through the lower limbs into the two feet, both feet firmly grasped the ground like Mount Tai. ‘Wrapping Fist Power’ is to wrap the upper body, the lower limbs gradually ‘grasp’ into the ground, with the intention of one thought leading to another, the heat flows down from the ground, and the body remains stable. This heat is hot and stable, and light.Some practitioners often use several movements of Small Jar to practice Small Jar stance, such as the ‘Embracing the Baby’ in the Horse Step D, ‘Two Palm’ and ‘Throwing Hand’ postures. This practice method is due to the limited number of movements, so the squatting time can be slightly longer. Mr. Zhang Yuheng, an old senior of Luo Tuan Eight Pole Fist, practiced the ‘Two Palm’ horse step for up to two or three hours, and young people couldn’t push him, which was truly stable like Mount Tai. Of course,When practicing, you must always remember ‘to use the dantian air method,’ and pass it through every movement.The Eight Pole Fist people all considered Small Jar as their foundation-building technique, and attached great importance to it.

The traditional Small Jar training method adopts ‘one step one stance’ form, also known as ‘Small Jar’, ‘Stance Jar’, ‘Drain Jar’, to nourish and strengthen Qi and blood, and strengthen muscles and skin.In addition, my teacher, Mr. Huo Wenxue, in ‘Eight Pole Fist Manual · Nourishing Techniques’ said: ‘Eight Pole Fist belongs to internal and external development, with intention, shape and both internal and external development. It can strengthen the body and has strong combat capabilities. Practicing Eight Pole Fist requires internal and external firmness, with a focused mind. Through correct posture, it should combine external movement, breathing and consciousness appropriately, so that the meridians can be opened, promoting the flow of true Qi, strengthen breath regulation, then the atmosphere can change into the innate Qi, to achieve condensing, solidifying, adjusting blood and Qi, strengthening both internal and external aspects, thus enhancing the effectiveness of boxing training. Specifically, nourishing techniques include dantian technique and number breathing technique. Dantian technique uses intention to guide air to the dantian, while reciting acupoints in the mouth, so the flow of blood and Qi follows the meridian along with intention, one circle is one time. Number breathing technique is to stand in a posture, and then use the nose as an entry and exit port, first let the pulse and breath be calm, reaching the small abdomen and dantian, and then count one to five or one to ten, depending on the actual situation, not too much.

PS:

The opinions of all martial arts seniors and friends recorded on this platform are only for personal study. Due to the lack of clear attribution of some individual graphics and texts, they have not been named. Please forgive me. Respect the copyright of original authors, and hope that friends can leave a message to inform us of the comments.Warm tips:Combine your own physical condition, whether it is suitable for you, and view it dialectically, don’t blindly follow. Wish you all martial arts have a glorious future!”