Santishi Part One

Sun style Santi connections:
Builds upon the wu chi and Tai Chi postures
In addition to the 6 directions, there are many lines, triangles, etc. within the internal mechanics of Sun style Santishi. Yi Jin Jing is also a deeper component to Sun style. This requires the guidance of a teacher to do. Santi can also be done in a "yin/nutritive intention" or a "yang/force discharge intention". This also requires the guidance of a teacher to do.
Here are a few internal connections to get started. I hope to post more as time allows. As usual please feel free to contact me for more information.
Look up the point locations somewhere on the web if you are not familiar with the names.
Triangles:
1.) lead hand shenmen, tip of elbow, and heart one
2.) hip, knee cap,heel

Straight lines:
1.)baihui, huiyin, that line projected to earth
2.)shenmen, mingmen, heel

Don't forget to keep the spine/Du Mai extended and the Ren Mai relaxed. This last part is probably the most important.

Skillsets for the complete modern Internal Martial Artist

Here are some skillsets that are important for today's Internal Martial Artist. Depending on your interests, additions and subtractions should be made where appropriate. These are three legs of the same stool. They support each of the other facets of training. Traditional Medicine is vastly important. First, training injuries occur in every school that is contact oriented. Secondly, it is a significant link to the meditative aspect of training. Without mending, clearing, and healing the body and meridians it is difficult to bring about true harmony with the mind.
A short note about the Meditation part of this list. Meditation is extremely important so to maintain balance in everyday life. It can keep you from being a one sided hot headed person. Meditation is a skill that takes every bit of the practice, determination and disciplin that "real" martial arts training requires.
After gaining a good amount of these skills it is a good idea to go out and study with other martial arts teachers. For example, spend 6 months in a BJJ school, judo, or kali school. Train with a karate or TKD school to see how they kick and punch. Observe strengths and weakness. See how your body works in a different set of skills. Contrast learning is very effective.

Here is a list:

Martial Arts
Structure and Body Mechanics
Physical Conditioning: "external" strength and cardio,
Qigong: yi jin jing and other methods, stretching, neigong
Breathwork
Self Defense: defense grabs, pushes, etc. takedowns and takedown defense, jab-cross counters, defense against short knife and stick, work against multiple opponents
Throwing and dragdowns, combinations, moving between ranges, aggressivity and desensitization training, entries and closing the gap, enter and finish practice (finish meaning to complete throw,combinations or takedown,etc.)
Breakfalls
Iron Body
Qinna: basic joint locking techniques and lock flows
Anatomy: nerves, organ, artery and vein locations.
Important acupoints
Classical weapons

Traditional Medicine:
Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory: qi, blood, body fluids, meridian theory, acupoints, 3 treasures, 5 element theory, 8 prinipals, etc.
Chinese Medical massage (tuina) or it's equivalent
Guasha
Cupping
Moxabustion
Externally applied liniments
Tonifying herbs taken internally
Basic knowledge of Patent medicines

Neigong:
Meditation:Shamatha, Vipassana type techniques
Awareness training
Qigong meditation methods of visualization
Sound Healing
Light Healing
Dantian Development
Breathwork
Silk Reeling
Iron Body
Advanced Qigong

Internal Connections of Sun Style Tai Chi posture Part 1

Next in line is the Tai Chi posture of the wu chi, tai chi, santi progression.
Here are a few simple connections of the tai chi posture to get you started:
Finger tips forward, ming men backward
Wrists up while sitting the sacrum down
Have the intention of the low back (kidneys) expanding side to side
Of course the chin is tucked causing GV 20 to be lifted, the ren channel is relaxed as the du channel is pulled tight by the above stated connections.

Internal Connections of Sun Style Wu Chi posture Part one

Here are just a few of the many internal connections that are within the wu chi posture of Sun style hsing yi chuan. As far as I know the connections appearing on my blog are not posted anywhere including the Sun style hsing i book. These connections are essential for developing wholebody power. Please work with them to see what you come up with. The clinic is slow right now so there will be time to write more connections for the taichi and santi postures.

In the interest of time I will give just a few for each of the 6 directions. You will notice these are yin/yang pairs:

Up: Bai Hui, tip of tongue to roof of mouth
Down: sacrum, shoulders
Forward: tip of thumbs
Backward: Mingmen (kidney region)
Side to side: scapula, heels split the earth
At all times relax the ren channel as the du channel has the intention of going upward.

If you have any questions please write.

Sun style and Wudang lineage chart

Sun Style Hsing I Chuan Peng Jin training

Sun style Internal Martial Arts has a pretty unique way of training fajin and pengjin which includes lines, triangles and partner testing. These lines, triangles, etc. are first studied in the Wu Chi, Tai Chi and Santi postures. Most schools (including Sun style) have the usuall Chicken Leg, Tiger's embrace, bear shoulders, etc. What sets Sun style apart from other schools is the multitude of geometrical connections that stem from the 6 directions. The 6 directions are forward and backward, up and down, and finally side to side. Every inch of the body follows these directions in coordination with the three dantians. The first three postures of this training are the Wuji, Taiji, and Santi standing methods. Please check back soon for a list of a few connections from each of these postures as well as find out how they can be put to work in your martial arts training.

Military history of hsing yi chuan

Famous practitioners of this art in China were almost always connected to some military organization or another. With that in mind, notice that it is possible to do all of the movements in Hsing yi chuan standing shoulder to shoulder with someone else. It would be easy for rows and rows of men to fight next to each other in an infantry situation. The moves are easily translated into a variety of infantry type weapons like the spear and sabre. The body mechanics required for the practice of hsing yi allow a person to put a tremendous amount of force into a weapon which would be necessary to fight someone with armor. Also the percussive strikes and drag down/takedowns would probably be useful. The percussive hits allow you to transfer force through armor. The drag downs, lateral throwing, and takedowns disrupt the men in front of you which would cause major diruption in the opposing armies ability to mount any sort of organized resistance.
After keeping this pet theory in my head for a few years I happen to come across a U.K. practitioner and teacher named Damon Smith. He confirmed my theories as his teacher taught him how to use all the animals and elements with weapons. Each animal has teachings of specific associated battlefield strategies. Hsing Yi practitioners interested in the historical origins of that art should definitely obtain a copy of his first book. It really gives a lot of history that many of the U.S.lineages just don't know about or have access to.

It is important to keep the historical application of your chosen art in mind.
Next I hope to talk about Sun Lu Tang's contribution to the development of the art.