Talk:Zhan zhuang
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I've tried to describe zhan zhuang in simple terms on the one hand, but to include mention of the main aspects of the practice.
[edit] Moved from article
The following is probably better off at Yiquan than here, as it only describes how the techniques is used in that style. Most other Chinese styles use post standing, and use it in different ways for different purposes:
The Yiquan method falls into two categories: Yangshen zhuang, health postures; and Jiji zhuang, combat postures.
The health postures are so called, because the body is allowed to become very relaxed while maintaining the posture. This relatively relaxed state is beneficial to health due to the calming effect on the mind and due to other effects such as the lowering of blood pressure and of heart rate.
Small adjustments are made to the posture that one has adopted, in order to minimise any localised muscular tension. As one becomes more proficient at achieving the relaxed state, one may become aware of a floating sensation due to the lack of any localised tension. Although many practitioners focus on the Yangshen postures as health methods, these postures are nevertheless considered to be useful for combat training, since the lack of localised tension allows any part of the body to be able, instantly to move in any direction, rapidly, without having to make any intermediate adjustments.
The Jiji zhuang, or combat postures have a different purpose from the health postures. In these postures, the practitioner adopts a stance similar to a health posture, i.e. with no localised tension, but now the practitioner tries to move every part of his body towards a particular direction, as if pushing or pulling; and at the same time he tries to prevent that movement from happening. The essential similarity with the health postures is that there is still no localised tension, even though mechanical work is being done. Since no movement occurs, the forces remain in a state of static equilibrium.
This training can be varied in several ways, whereby the direction of attempted movement is changed rapidly to improve responsiveness, for example; or where the degree of effort in the attempted movement is increased, in order to build strength.
--Fire Star 16:27, 10 January 2006 (UTC)
I tried to edit the page, but somehow things got screwed up (01:28, 26 January 2006 Mcherrill)
