ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES

By John Bracy

The essential principles described here are from the internal martial art teaching system I developed over the last thirty years as a full time (+) professional. This was not something I did as a hobby, and for at least fifteen of those years I ran the largest internal martial art school in the U.S. The essentials I present here are some of the most important training breakthroughs I developed in those years for understanding and teaching internal martial art in close combat. In fairness, there are no doubt other great approaches and those represented here may not be the only solution to the puzzle of how to apply the rare and beautiful arts of Hsing I (xingyiquan), Ba Gua (Pa Kua Chang) and Tai Chi Chuan (taiqiquan) to true combat, but I do know these work and have been well received in seminars I've presented all over the world.

Many of these approaches are original and some challenge the conventional way of doing things, but I hope this does not deter the both serious student and more advanced martial art professional from thinking about the material with an open mind. The true internal martial art, what I believe was an accidental discovery in the late nineteenth century [read article], is in danger of extinction and these art in their true--non wu-shu dance--form can only continue to the next generation if sincere martial artists put aside their differences, research and extend this rare information to the next generation.

I hope the material presented here inspires thought on the subject and help others learn how to weed out the serious internal martial artists from the dilettante.

basic lessons

Empty Full

Defining principles of use
what fu zhong wen (top disciple of yang chen fu) saysHere, Fu Zhong wen describes the importance of empty full

If one is able to distinguish empty and full, the the body’s turning
motions will be light and agile, and there will be no wasted strength.
If one is unable to distinguish, one’s steps will be heavy and
sluggish, one’s stance will be unsteady, and one will be unbalanced by an opponent’s pull.

[add video of relaxed strike against grappler attack]

From Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan by Fu Zhongwen & Louis Swaim

This lesson is now available for free on a pdf you can download. Write back to me personally at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will send you a link that registered users to our site can download. Other lessons coming soon, here are some of them.



Tensegrity- “suspension” training

Tensegrity
The term tensegrity was coined by the famous architect Buckminster Fuller to describe how certain structures bear weight. A tensegruous structure is weight bearing due to a configuration that alternates tensional with strut elements. The classic example of tensegrity is a sailboat’s ability to maintain an upright mast.  In a case like this, it is not the strength of the mast the holds it upright, but the interaction of the mast with flexible elements such as the boat’s guide wires.


In 1977 D.L. Robbie, MD, proposed tensegrity to explain how the body, like the tensegruous structures designed by Fuller was likewise designed to carry weight. Applying the tensegrity model to the human frame, Robbie argued that vertebrae of the spinal column, in the same way as a sailboat’s mast, acted as discontinuous compression elements, and that the muscles, tendons and ligaments all act together to form continuous tensional system. Robbie’s theory is supported by consideration of the design of the vertebrae are not designed to support weight, but the instead that the ligaments and tendons around the spine lift each vertebra off the one below it.


Around 1996 or 97 I began working with principles of body connection training in new ways. The method I developed was inspired, believe it or not, by “surfers.” The large studio I operated at the time was only a few miles from the southern california beaches. consequently a fair number of students over the years were surfers. I observed that with  most of these, --at least the serious ones= there was something uncanny in the way they moved and were able to hit harder with more connected power than other students. I wanted to find out how they, as a group, were able to develop their skill. consequently, what I discovered was that, although as Robbie suggests, the body is designed to be tensegruous, in most cases with the exception of some atheltes like surfers and rock climbers, the body does not maintain tensegrity. since around the year 2000 I have been working with ways of reestablishing tensegrity for a variety of applications in and out of the martial arts including, but not limited to running, golf and basketball.

the video and pdf lesson on tensegrity now in the works will share these insights and teach you how to undo the denaturing tendencies of modern life that break your tensegrity.

Intercostal (ribcage) mechanics

In my opinion, the main reason that most internal martial artists can’t hit very hard is that  they mostly rely on their shoulders to provide strength and fighting force. I’m sure most of you old timers in the field are still amused by those who follow the mythos of a great magical striking power by a Hsing I Chuan (xinghyiquan) or ba gua zhang (baguazhang) practitioner. It is embarrassing to our industry to hear these individuals talk about their amazing power, when they are unwilling to really hit or be hit. 

As an example,  I remember meeting a senior student of a somewhat known instructor a few years ago. I observed one of his classes and before I departed, I asked him to demonstrate a  peng ch/uan (bengquan) on my shoulder. He looked at me incredulously and kept asking ?” are you crazy... are you crazy”  My relative sanity aside, I find it amazing that the internal martial arts is the only profession where you could teach someone for years without a demonstration of skill. This situation is somewhat akin to a piano teacher practicing on an imaginary piano keyboard that emanates no sound.  The teacher can correct you for a “reasonable” fee, but you still have no clue if you hit the right chord.  That’s just like someone claiming expertise who won’t demonstrate his martial skill.

What’s wrong with a punch or takedown demonstration to the potential serious student? If internal martial arts is going to survive in the era of MMA real testing, then we must also develop ways to test and “prove” our abilities. The younger generation demands real knowledge and will no longer accept the magical power of a ba gua palm on faith alone. Remember the story about the highly regarded cheng man ching when he asked his master Yang Chen fu about the application of a particular technique?  As I recall, wasn’t the next thing Cheng remembered was waking up next to the wall that he was knocked against?  Even after years of devoted practice, If your power doesn’t work, find out why. Have the courage to find out what’s missing.


As for the the technicalities of the internal martial arts, for most people, one of the single most valuable things to do to improve your power is to incorporate intercostal (ribcage) mechanics into your strikes and takedowns. Consider these two photos.












I took these while teaching a student to incorporate abdominal and intercostal muscles into his punch instead of using only his shoulder. The left photo represents his standard way of throwing a punch before correction.  For martial art purposes, the intercostals are the greatest unused set of muscular mechanics in the body. The intercostals are the  meaty stuff you chew on when you are enjoying baby back ribs--the muscles in between the bones.

However, in most cases for those of us living the civilized life on flat and level ground, its as if the ribcage sits there as a dead, unused system.  The internal martial artist I know, Chinese master or otherwise, who are effective learn to incorporate rib cage-intercostal training into their training regimen.

It is interesting to observe the body change of the same student a few years later after
consistent work with this muscle development. In this photo the same student applies a takedown and choke that incorporates the ribcage training. He gained increased power and ability to express strength. By looking at the below photo taken a few years later and the change to his body, it’s  hard to believe he’s the same person.










A pdf series for this lesson is now in the works, but it is available now from our on-line store.   ADD TO CART BUTTON


OTHER BEGINNING ESSENTIALS FOR INTERNAL ART MASTERY
How hand shape determines power and ability




Intermediate Lessons

Neutralization[     MINIMUM FORCE TO DEFEAT AN OPPONENT

for a long time I believed that the defining test for internal martial artists was written by Li Yi-yu around 1880 when he penned what has become known by many as the “Tai Chi Classics”

(also see these pages)

Li, the first to describe tai chi as a Taoist yogic, “mind” and “chi” practice provides future generation the ultimate puzzle and challenge of the internal martial arts. Li describes an art where “only four ounces of force can defeat a thousand pounds.”

although some believe the secret of four ounces defeating a thousand pounds is only metaphor, I believe that Li Yi yu was was hinting at a new method of practice, one that brought effective close combat through apparent effortless. when Li said, use the mind instead of force, he was describing a way of effective combat engagement with minimal effort.

Ithe most important aspect to the secret, that of “neutralizing force.” I now teach my students that, by being still and calm in the midst of combat, through paying attention to subtleties of the opponent,  you can weaken him. There are several demonstrations of this skill on our website.

This training series provides valuable insight into how to weaken your opponent.
order VDV


wai san he
I’m not able to describe the secret behind wai san he in detail at this time in this medium since it’s the feature of an upcoming DVD project, but for now consider that it is the master key to how, when in two person close contact range, getting past the opponent’s the guard and deliver significant force without the opponent knowing what hit him. Some boxers such as Roy Jones, although he (probably) didn’t know what it was called, the method perfectly in his early career and most famous knock outs.  For this reason, if you are serious about the subject, I strongly recommend you study Jone’s early knock outs on his
NAME OF DVD and AMAZON link.

As way of introduction wai san he (the last word is pronounced “ha”)   appears in the classic texts, especially by Sun Lu-tang, but is  hardly more than translated. Literally it translated as outer three relationships. These relationships are the wrist to ankle, elbow to knee and shoulder to hip. When perfected, it delivers a blow that the opponent

Advanced lessons

One pointed Mind

note this material is very dangerous to the practitioner without proper training and coaching. Force should NEVER be felt on the body. Presented here for research and discussion only. First time presented on the internet. At this time, we only teach students who have undergone the requisite body training, but we/re working on a system that can be taught over the internet.

ability to project power to a highly specific point through an mostly relaxed body. for me this represents the merging of taoist yoga with martial arts. It requires to be very relaxed yet at the same time direct force to one narrow point against an opponent. what this means is that you can be extremely relaxed, move quickly out of the way, and without telegraph or tension apply force to an exact point against an opponet/s wrist, hip for control , or in combat to his temple or ribcage in a strike. It appears extremely fast, yet has the effect of being hit by a steel bar.


Military application.
for advanced practitioners it is essential to integrate taoist yoga and meditation into practice. for true internal martial arts to work in com  
the advantage of true internal martial art in close combat is reliance on light touch to defeat an opponent.  to achieve this, while in a relaxed state, force must be directed like a laser beam to one area, while at the same time keeping the body very relaxed. Over the last few years