Chapter 11: A difficult movement of the leg (1/2)

Chapter 11: A difficult movement of the leg

“There are countless variations to Bagua Zhang, but when all is said and done, there are still only 8 stances. Look at my demonstration.” Tang Zichen began to stand in position by bending both knees and spread out her hands to form an open palm before slowly pushing outwards and then pressing and kneading the air.

Following the legs slowly turning the body, her eyes followed the foremost hand with a swift motion and then looking around in a nimble manner.

“Double Exchange Palm, Single Exchange Palm, Following Posture Palm, Returning Body Palm, Rotating Body Palm, Lifting Yin Palm, Grinding Body Palm and Soft Body Palm. These are the 8 stances of Bagua, take a look at my footwork!”

Paying close attention to Tang Zichen’s feet, Wang Chao noticed that from start to finish, her legs had never lifted from the ground and had instead glided across it.

“Every single guoshu must refine the art of the leg. You should not fall, your legs should be like iron and hold you firmly to place. The upper body should be constantly in motion and should never fall. Even boxing is the same! Even this movement of mine is called “Mud Wading Step”. It is like walking in mud. One must be light, calm, and careful. If you step too heavily, then the mud would be disturbed.”

Tang Zichen had been demonstrating the stances she had been doing in the park. Each of the 8 stances had involved her hands raising up to the space between her eyebrows before slowly falling down to her abdomen with a sharp exhale.

Wang Chao slowly followed suit, and after two hours, he too had managed to imitate the eight stances.

Bagua Zhang had eight different stances, but Wang Chao had slowly memorized it. As he practiced, he slowly began to feel like he had the proper stances, causing him to feel proud of himself. But just then, Tang Zichen had slammed down on his head, “Even though you’ve learned the stances, but even if you practiced for a thousand years, it will all be in vain without the three integrals!”

“What!” Wang Chao cried.

“Your posture is fine and your movements decent, but why aren’t you moving your vertebrae correctly!? Internal martial arts require you to keep in the Qi, that is why it is called internal!” Tang Zichen spoke once more as she demonstrated as she pressed her hands against Wang Chao’s.

“When practicing, the footwork must be correct, the eyes correct, and the vertebrae even more correct! Did the horse stance and three integrals you learn all disappear into nothingness? I see that you don’t understand anything! When practicing, you must show your mastery of the three integrals as well!”

Tang Zichen spoke out with a harsh tone.

“Oh! So you must incorporate the way you stand into martial arts. The three integrals is like being given a formula, and martial arts is the subject where the formula is applied! When you use the formula to solve the problem, then the three integrals and martial arts are combined!” Wang Chao spoke in realization.

Tang Zichen looked astonished, “This little idiot finally understands! Now that you know, hurry up and learn the style!”

Nodding his head, Wang Chao systematically began to practice once more. The arms began to move while the legs followed on the ground. Finally, he grew extremely familiar with the proper postures and footwork. With each palm change, his entire body began to emit heat, but then his skin would instantly gain goosebumps and seal the pores.

As the heat followed with with palm and receded when his hand receded, Wang Chao began to feel like a pitcher of water as the heat constantly rebounded inside.

Wang Chao had felt this feeling the last time, but that was restricted to only the upper half of his body. This time, he had felt it in th the entirety of it.

Right now he could feel a hot and cold sensation from his hands and legs before it spread to every other part of the body.