Shackled Training – Xing Yi Day 167

There is a great deal of benefit to Shackled training in Xing Yi.

• This entry will add a great deal of power to your movement.
• It will help you fix structural errors.
• Your movement will become more fluid.

Cover your body with great big shackles and chains.

Imagine your body is covered with great big heavy chains.

Feel the weight of these chains as they drape across your back, over your shoulders & around your chest. Feel them on your arms and over your elbows. Across your wrists and hanging from your fingers.

There’s a great big chain around your waist and many more hanging from your thighs, calves and toes.

Now practice your five fists.

You’ll find there are two problems.

The first is the weight. If you try to use muscular strength to support these chains you will wear yourself out quickly.

Instead relax into it and let your body sink. Make sure your posture is very correct so you can use your structure to support the weight.

The second problem is the length of the chains and momentum.

As you move, the chains will swing and sway with your movement. If you change direction or stop and start too suddenly the chains will continue moving and pull you off-balance.

To solve this problem you must move smoothly.

No sudden stops or starts.

Every corner and turn must be rounded so you can change the direction of the momentum without pulling your self off-balance.

Feel the chains hanging off your body.

The chains are imaginary but you must be able to actually feel them.

The key is practice. Start stationary and work through the five fists.

Feel gravity trying to pull your muscles from your bones and work your mind until you can feel the weight of these shackles and chains.

Now start to use very small movements with your arms until you can feel the swinging and momentum of the chains.

Now begin moving.

Use your 5 fists and begin slow. Work until you can maintain this body state while moving.

Then begin to increase your speed until you can move quickly and smoothly with this quality.