huh???

Meynard,

It's easy, since Heng is more about storing it is related to the bear which stores fat to hybernate throught the winter, rather than the eagle, which is about striking and sticking it's talons into the soft flesh of baby bunnies. Once you understand that, the metaphor of a spring becomes clear.. obviously if compressed it stores energy like a bear, but if it is pulled too far, it also wants to pull back it's energy. All this makes me think of a slinky. So, Heng is like a slinky.

Do you get it now?

Nope...

I just don't understand xing yi the way you intellectuals do.

I just know that I'd probably break your elbow if I did heng quan on you in a nasty (non-sparring) way.

Maynerd are you freakin' dense or what? It is so easy to understand. Heng is like a bear, that is like a mechanical spring, that is also like the seasonal spring. A bear is fat yet powerful. It stores lots of fat but is quick and can strike with deadly force. A mechanical spring is the same way. If a spring is big enough, it can kill a person. Also think of a gun. The firing pin is held by a spring but when the hammer hits the firing pin, it can fire a deadly bullet. The season Spring is the most dangerous season because of the blooming of energy through the flowers, rivers, and pollen. Maynerd, if you don't understand this concept after my explanation, your IQ is somewhere way south of Forest Gump's.

Bunnies, by defination, are babies. However, adult bunnies are a diferent sort of animal, a type which you children may not appreciate.

Not exactly what i had in mind but it'll do, is that the bastardised version..?

I think Heng is the hardest of the elements to get correct because most 'bear movements' invovle compression, and eagle is the opposite, extension by way of 'releasing' that compression (not fully so always maintain a little bear in eagle and vice versa). However in Heng the bear action 'storing' is through extending and the simplest way i can explain it, is by comparing the feeling of Heng to that of pulling a spring apart from both ends.

I'd then argue, that type of movement doesn't have the power for crushing ribs, but is meant for applications invovling controlling an opponent or for deception, .i.e appearing to do an attacking eagle type motion.

I'm not seeking to be obscure or confusing, its difficult to put complex movements into words and i don't think going into detailed biomechanics helps much either. Obviously pratising is the way to go, but with practice i might get better at this as well, just thought some posters 'concept' of Heng was of the mark.

The teachers of the hsing-i style that I have had a taste of stated that crossing was both the hardest to master and the most central of the five elements. From my limited experience with a variety of training partners, I would certainly agree.

As to martial function... they could use it to set up a throw; deflect punches with it while stressing the attacher's elbow as well as use it in a short power type strike against the short ribs.
From skill comes versatility ...

oh, c'mon...Chris Seaby.

Just give it man. Who understand all you non-sense.

Slowly read what you said out loud and listen to yourself...go ahead.

Now, don't you think you sound a little weird with you descriptions?

Chris Seaby, actually I think that there is a more eagle than just a little in Heng. There is approximately 60% bear and 40% eagle.

Meynard, it makes perfect sense. I've repeated out loud to myself what Chris Seaby wrote 10 times. I will admit that the first three or four times, it was a little difficult to understand but by the fifth or sixth time repeating it out loud, it made perfect sense.

oh I get it. After the tenth time repeating it to myself I finally get it. You're right Koreankiller. it is 60% bear and 40% eagle give or take a percent or two.

On the 11th repetition I started to channel the energy of the bear.

Meynard, you now understand. You are now ready for the deathmatch in the Phillipines. Good Luck!

Different backgrounds i guess Meynard. Unless you want posts to look like Mike Taylor's..., you've got to make a few assumptions and give the reader some credit on being able to read between the lines a little. I was under the assumption that the bear and eagle concept was pretty common in Xing Yi.

I think the ratio of bear/eagle in all the elements varies according to a number of factors. In my case i've had to do alot of solo practice at various times, so i've used the pole and spear alot to 'test' issuing power, so that probably has had a significant influence on my views on power generation.

I'd agree with Heng being the central element, 'literally'. Also, I'm not saying that Heng can't be used on the ribs, but more as a rib 'tickler' than a breaker, and i've tried to give some hints why.

Thanks for the hint, but I'd rather use a feather as a rib tickler.

You've had way to much solo practice with your pole.

'Rib tickler' means something funny were I am from. so would I burst out laughing if I saw any of you guys doing this heng stuff. Meynard You said break the arm using Heng would you give me an example of the mechanics involved. were is your intention placed in hsingyi.

After Pi, Heng is my strongest jin, talking in terms of the 5 elements. (Though I do 10 animal)
I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to produce a breaking kind of power with it. I've heard this before. People say they can't get muchpower into their heng... don't see why not... I think maybe they could find different ways to train it- more expansive perhaps, really working dantian, then downsize it again as necessary...? I don't know - I don't do wu xing as I imagine you guys do...

M.

Okay so heng is a small movement but what about the mechanics. which way would you bend the arm to break it.

Qui chu ji, if I understand your question. The mechanics resemble an outward forearm block in okinawan karate. However, the ideas and methods are completely different. By the way, where are you from?

Sorry, martial arts lessons are only given in the classroom.

BTW,it doesn't resemble and outside forearm block!

SleepyDragon and Qui chu...

If you truly understood how the bear stores fat and that heng is like a slinky, you would understand how to use it to break an elbow.