Eight Kun (Eight Sections of Brocade) is a renowned guided movement technique in China, highly popular and widely circulated. It's a treasured gem within traditional Chinese health culture, with significant fitness effects.

This particular set of Eight Kun includes the song lyrics and variations of movements passed down through generations, leading to differences in both the movements and their sequence. Furthermore, a three-section preparatory exercise is omitted before each session, focusing solely on the main content.

Sixth Style: Crouching Fist, Fierce Eyes, Increasing Vitality

1. Starting Position: Extend legs shoulder-width apart, with a slight bend at the waist. Hands are held in front, palms up.

2. After rising from the squat, assume a horse-riding stance (ma bu) simultaneously holding fists at the chest, clenched tightly. The left fist is on the inner side, and the right fist is on the outer side.

3. Slowly inhale as you rise, while simultaneously turning the shoulders and waist forward to extend the left fist, focusing on the eye socket (quan yan), while the right fist is drawn back to the lower side of the abdomen. This movement should be performed slowly, with the rise and outward extension of the fist synchronized. During the extension, the body's center of gravity gradually tilts forward, as if resisting a force ahead.

4. After standing upright, extend the arms to their maximum extent, then exhale, relaxing the fists and the body. Repeat the horse-riding squat, with hands clenched at the chest, right fist on the inner side, left fist on the outer side. Then inhale, rise, turn the shoulders and waist, and extend the right fist, focusing on the eye socket, mirroring the previous action.

5. Perform each side once, totaling 8 sets.

Action Points

1. While squatting with clenched fists, maintain a firm grip on both fists until you exhale and relax them upon rising and extending the fist.

2. During the outward extension, turn the shoulders and waist to fully extend the arms, creating a separation between the left and right arms.

3. While extending the fist, focus your eyes on the eye socket, gradually pushing the fist outward.

4. During the outward extension, imagine pushing against an imaginary obstacle in front, so that the body’s center of gravity also gradually moves forward.

Benefits Explanation

“This style primarily increases vitality and concurrently addresses the liver. The liver governs tendons, sight, and anger. Therefore, when extending the fist, one must ‘fiercely gaze’ and widen the eyes, inhaling simultaneously to fill the eyes and fists with air, allowing the liver’s energy to flow out through the tendons. Strong tendons result in a strong body, and strong tendons yield strength. Individuals seeking to increase their vitality should practice this technique, while those with stagnant liver energy can also benefit from its restorative effects.”

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Any medicinal formulas contained herein should be used under the guidance of a physician.

Article Author: Qie Qingyun

Article Editor: Jie Geng

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