Sunday 9 July 2017

Tiger Lady, Expanding Characters



急著,目光閃急,如線穿空,劍貫重甲,清利而直銳也*
He who are fast (the eyes), a fast shiny gaze, as a line piercing the sky, a sword piercing a heavy armour, sharply, thoroughly and incisive.

眼要毒,心要狠
The eyes must be fierce, the heart ruthless.




At least three characters may be expanded: 之, 奪 and 懼. Indeed, since 之 originally meant "to come out", one can wonder what rule then applies to what comes in. 奪 and 懼 are interesting because while not being the most common way to express their respective intended meaning they both contain the radical 隹. It seems then that they may have been chosen for such purpose.

Saturday 1 July 2017

One for Essence


不怕千招會,就怕一招精
Do not fear the thousand moves skilful, fear the perfect one 




Old practices are about changes, not multiplicity.

Wednesday 28 June 2017

Tiger Lady, Lady Meets Tiger


In a Feminine and Masculine principles (Yin and Yang) relation, there are always connections with the Feminine and the Masculine and one principle also always exists inside the other one. Lady is obviously the Feminine while tiger the Masculine. In this particular case, it is mainly dealing with the issue of check and balance as well as being able to instantly switch from one state to another. Therefore, as ladylike one would look, it will still be a spirited and unpredictable one who would fiercely preserve her integrity. Furthermore, using the absence of empathy will be one of the way to calmly endure insults, threats and bulling. As far as the tiger is concerned, as wild and insane one would behave, self-control and vigilance would remain. Furthermore, as the oxymoron method dictates, the more fierce, cruel and insane one was outside the more calm, smiling and mild one had to be inside.

Saturday 17 June 2017

Tiger Lady, Fierce Tiger


武本無德,有德也空 
(See just below)




"The martial is by essence without virtue, any virtue would be in vain" is an old saying pointing out the ruthlessness of combat.

Saturday 10 June 2017

Tiger Lady, a Nice Lady



見之似好婦,奪之似懼虎

見 to appear to be something
之 "then" (之 has multiple uses as a particle, in some cases with no particular meaning. Translating it by "then" is just to avoid not mentioning it), to come out.
似 like (something, someone)
好  good, beautiful (so nice which can mean both). 
婦 women, delicate, to serve
奪 take by force, seize
懼 fear, dread, to threaten
虎 tiger.

Saturday 27 May 2017

From Head to Toe


练功先练桩,大鼎增力量
One shall first train pillars when training skills, upside-down adds strength




Training pillars to first fix one's posture.

Friday 26 May 2017

Full and Keeping One's Cool

內實精神,外示安儀。

內 inside, inner part, internal
實 full
精 essence
神 spirit
精神 vitality
外 outer, external
示 show
安 peaceful, at ease, undisturbed
儀 appearance, bearing

Sunday 21 May 2017

Don't Open the Door!


開門閉戶,陰衰陽興。


開 to open
門 door(s), outer door(s)
閉 to close
戶 door, inner door
陰 Feminine principle
衰 to decline, to become weak
陽 Masculine principle
興 to prosper, to flourish 

Monday 15 May 2017

Changing Doors


One of the eldest texts known describing the martial arts theory is called "The Lady of Yue Talks About Fencing", a passage from the historical records called "Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue" written by Zhao Ye (?-around 83 A.C.). Later literary works inspired by this lady fencer figure, such as the one of the famous Hong-Kong writer Jin Yong called "Sword of the Yue Maiden" has made this passage quite famous, more than the one about archery that follows a few paragraphs later. Indeed, introducing a lady fencer in a male chauvinistic society which forbade teaching girls because they would marry into another family and having her teacher being an ape, a white gibbon, cannot but struck one's imagination.