A Discussion on Jing

Jing is in favor among martial art practitioners over physical power. This is so because the characteristics of jing such as sharp, penetrable, fast and powerful are better fit than physical power in combat situations. When one applies physical power to an object, it involves only the local area of the body to issue. Jing involves the whole body when come to issue. Therefore, it is more powerful. When apply this physical power to an object, it covers a larger surface area, this has less pressure and threat. Jing on the other hands, cover a smaller surface area. Therefore, it has more pressure and threat. This means that the jing has greater destructible ability. Physical power is something that we born with, it is slow in transmission and reaction. Jing is the result of body integration. It is quick in transmission and reaction. In martial art condition, all situations are unpredictable. The characteristics of jing perfectly fit situations like this. This is why martial art practitioners favor jing over physical power as the source of power.

In martial art, jing classified into many by their application and techniques such as fa jing, soft jing, hard jing, visible jing, invisible jing, yielding jing, yang jing and yen jing. etc. The martial art jing by definition is the product of physical movement following a specific conscious intension, breathing and muscle contraction. The conscious intension is referring to the respiratory system and muscular contraction under the nervous system's control. Specific instruction is referring to the breathing and muscle contraction following the order of a specific martial art movement or technique. The destruction of all physical movement or martial art technique rely on jing as a power source and the technique is control by the jing's direction, amount of power and range in long and short distance. A skillful practitioner can execute the Six Harmony Theory correctly in each movement to maximum the issue of jing. When the intent is there, the chi will be there and when the chi is there, the power will be there. Does not matter how the jing is name. It is root from the feet, control by the waist and manifested at the striking area. This mechanical procedure is similar to the industry assembly line. Input, transformation, output and feedback.

The input of power is from the lower body. The common method of producing jing and mobilize the body among martial art styles is to have the feet push against the ground as an initialization. Does not matter how powerful the strike or how long it last, it is root from the feet. Since the feet are the original source of jing's input, a strong fundamental in the lower body is very important to all martial art systems. This is why all martial art styles begin their students with horse stance as one of the basic training exercise to develop stronger legs.

The transformation of jing is based on the ability of the body, especially the waist. By way of tone or lubricate the body so that the jing will be transport efficiently to the striking area. In martial art training, toning the body is defined as make the body more nimble and flexible by way of stretching. If we assumed that the jing input is called eating, than the transformation is called digestion. It is a stage of utilization. Eating is the basic, the key is digest. Some people is poor in eating and digesting. This is so because the legs' and waist's skills are poor. Some people good in eating but poor in digesting, because the waist is weak. Some people can launch many strikes in a short time because they are strong in eating and digesting. The waist is the transformation and transport center for jing. The skill at the waist determined the quality, the amount of the jing manifest and the speed of the technique.

Output is the issue of jing which generated from the feet, transform and transport by the waist to the striking area and output as striking, kicking, punching, etc. The classification of jing described above is based on how this jing issue outward.

Feedback is a quality measurement, it measured how efficient the stages of the input, transport and output. It is the process to evaluate the whole system and to determine what need to work on to improve so that each technique will be powerful. In other word, this is the stage to determined the practitioner's skill of input in sensitivity, mobilization and reaction. The skill of transportation in body coordination, integration, flexibility and stretching. The skill of output in execution, timing and technique.

Does not matter what martial art style one is practicing, the philosophy is the same to all. It involved three steps: 1. pay closed attention to all the ingredients involve with this mechanical procedure. 2. When it is time for a practitioner to apply four ounce instant of 1000 pound, apply four ounces. This will prevent the unnecessary or excess transportation. In other word, a controllable solution. 3. When it is time to apply 1000 pound instant of four ounces, apply 1000 pound. This will prevent reduction due to transportation. In any competition, what is important is to come out as a winner. This is why people often said that there is no second place in competition and no first place in discussion.

Article By Master Vincent Chu
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