Hi Tim,
Since you read Sun Lu Tangs's martial arts books,
can you explain what he meant by "rising and drilling, falling and overturning , must be clearly distinguished". I think he mentioned it as a 9th principle in practice, in at least 3 books (His Xingyi,Bagua and Taiji books)?

Thanks

Old question, many people don't understand this. Can someone explain this please?

Force is generated through spiral/twisting movement. When you extend your arm upward (rise), it should also twist (drill) from palm down to palm up for example. This type of twisting motion will allow you to express the power of your whole body, and will deflect the opponent's incoming force away from your center.

After you make contact with an opponent's arm, you need to start lowering your arm (fall) before you turn your hand over (overturn) to grab the opponent's wrist for example, in order to obtain superior leverage and preserve your whole body power. If you lift your elbow and attempt to grip the opponent's wrist while your hand is still raised upward, you will lose your leverage advantage and weaken your position.

Therefore, rise, drill, fall and overturn are done in a coordinated sequence, and can't be mis-sequenced if you want to maintain whole body power and mechanical advangage.

This is great information Tim!

I have seen a few instructors on you tube who change it to rise, drill, overturn, fall as if it doesnt matter. Yet, i knew the creators of the art sequenced it like this for a reason.

I can see how a person with poor understanding of body mechanics can easily make this mistake. I agree with you and the old masters. This confirms it Thanks for keeping the knowledge pure!