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The Li Family's Sensing Hands Exercises
Most Chinese Martial Art systems either the External or Internal styles all have various training methods that develop tactile awarenes for a high level of fighting skill. Likewise within the Li Family's martial arts systems of Taijiquan, Feng Shou Quan and Shuiajiao. We practise an exercise that we call "Whirling Arms" ( Lun Bi ) also known as "Rolling Arms" ( Gun Bi ). This particular exercise is a form of sensing hands (Jue Shou) training as it develops the individual's awareness of both defensive and attacking sensitivity energies known as (Jin). The practise mainly develops Sticking (Nian Jin), Listening (Ting Jin), Coilling (Chan Jin), Controlling (Na Jin) and Issuing (Fa Jin) energies.The practise of Whirling Arms involves two individuals maintaining contact with each otther through the use of their arms, uasing a single, changing or double arm method. While, rotating their arms around in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise circle using large or small coilling actions around each others joints. As they continue to rotate the arms around they both rock their body weight from front leg to back leg. After a period of time of practising just whirling their arms around and changing from a single to a double arm method, each individual will learn to develop the Sticking energy of ( Nian Jin) and the Coilling energy of (Chan Jin).
It is only when both individuals begin to strike at each other with in the Whirling Arm exercise that they will begin to develop their own Listening energy (Ting Jin). Sadly, the striking aspect of the Whirling Arms exercise seems not to be taught by many of the teachers of the Li Family's martial art system. This is because they choose to keep it as gentle and non-threatening exercise as part of Taijiquan for health. Or, they where never taught how to apply the striking aspect into the Whirling Arms exercise by Master Chee Soo, hence then, they are practising and teaching just the basic elements and can not progress the development of the sensing hands skill any further.
The striking aspect of Whirling Arms is done at anytime by each individual as they rotate their arms around in small or large circles and colis. As soon as one of the individuals decides to break contact and strike. It is then up to the recieving individual to use his or her Listening energy skill to quickly react to the angle and speed of the in-coming strike and maintain his or her contact and then be able to re-direct the in-coming strike away from its intended target and then either he or she can then immediately strike back or maintain contact and control by using Sticking and Coliling energy and chose the best opportunity when to counter attack back.
Obviously the use of Issuing energy (Fa Jin) is used within the strikes that are aimed at various areas of the attackers body that can cause the serious damage. When practising the strikes on each other within the sensing hands exercise they are kept controled, but involve using different areas of the palm, fist, forearm, elbows and shoulders. This type of Issuing energy (Fa Jin) is a sort of short powerful shocking energy (Zhen Jin) that can cause a lot of trauma to the receiving individual. It is not a type of long energy (Chang Jin) as used in the Taiji Push Hands exercise (Tuishou) where the individuals is bounced several feet away.
Within the practise of the Whirling Arms exercise there is also the opportunity and occasion to apply "Seizing and Controlling" (Qinna) joint locking techniques. This can happen at anytime while both individuals are rotating their arms around. But the real skill is learning to use your Listening, Sticking energies to react against your attackers in-coming strike and then apply any (Qinna) joint locking technique that you wish to apply. To be able to apply any joint locking technique after your attacker strikes takes a very high level of sensing and controlling skill.
Below is an example of a typical Whirling Arms self defence application against a punching attack.
1. Both individuals stand facing each other in a relaxed stance. Then one of the individuals attacks with a straight punch towards the defending individuals face. The defending individual then reacts by deflecting the in-coming punch to his inside using his right arm.
2. the attacker then attempts a low palm strike to the defenders groin. The defender maintains his contact by using his Sticking (Nian Jin) and Listening (Ting Jin) energies to react to the attackers low strike and again use his right arm to deflect the in-coming strike away.
3. The defender then carries the circling action of his right arm to bring the attackers striking hand into an outward wrist locking technique and follows up with a right "Buffer" kick to the attackers knee joint.
Above is just one example of many martial art fighting techniques that can be found within the practise the the sensing hands (Jue Shou) exercise of Whirling Arms (Lun Bi) as taught by the Li Family Internal Arts Association.
