A Question of Size, a Question of Time

筋道不舒長，欲伸而筋不能伸*

When the fascias channels are constrained and short, one cannot stretch at will

手屈而不伸者，其病在筋**

He whose hands are bent and not extending, its illness is in the fascias

To furthermore understand what is sought for in the search of straightness, and even elasticity more generally, it may be interesting to explain furthermore the first quote, from the Fascias Change Canons, more known as the YìJīn Jīng. Indeed, it contains a few keys to understand what is sought for when working with fascias. As it has been mentioned in a previous post, martial enigmas always hold more than one meaning (hence, the above translation of the first quote was meant to illustrate a former post). Then, from a basic understanding, one can try to expand certain characters.

Heavy and Penetrating

錘槊之勇不可敌

One cannot match the fierceness of the mace and the long spear

Training heavy, fighting light; training long, fighting short.

Acrobatic Die

未学功夫，先学跌打

Before studying skills one shall study acrobatics

One shall keep in mind, as it was reminded in Standing, that old schools used to be for professionals, their usual students were teenager, if not kids, whose body could be transformed very quickly. Hence, the extreme flexibility required of martists described in the quote was something so obvious that the reasons behind it and part of their training methods have been lost in our modern leisurely times.

Training acrobatics was a way to improve one's elasticity as well as reconnect all the fascia lines, allowing more freedom and smoothness in one's moves. It was also a means for the losing battle against ageing and gravity. Nowadays, students being most of the time adults and the heavy stretching exercises often demoted from their status of basics to useless acrobatics, it may be necessary to remind what were some of their former goals and how can we get back some key points in our trainings without having to aim for an acrobatic flexibility.

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.

One for Essence

不怕千招會，就怕一招精

Do not fear the thousand skilful moves, fear the perfect one 

Old practices are about changes, not multiplicity.

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.

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.

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.

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.