Fa Jin (發劲)

I learned an important lesson about fa jin (發劲) on Sunday while training pao chui (炮捶 - 老架二路); don't over-reach the end-stop. It's a simple principle really, and an obvious one. Don't over-stretch the punch. Don't over-stretch an elbow, or a shoulder. Most of the 太极拳 fa jin expressions are design for use at very close range. Even strikes like that found in 掩手肱拳 (Hidden Punch) are close range attacks.

Mentally bringing my "target" two inches closer to my body made my expression of fa jin (發劲) in the punch so much sharper, and more balanced.

Pao chui (炮捶) was a lot of fun to train, but I'm not ready for it yet.

On a related note, while looking up the characterisation of 發劲 I found a wonderful short video of Chen Xiao Wang (陈小旺) demonstrating applications of the first Buddha's Warrior Attendant Pounds the Mortar (金刚捣碓).



And remember, kids; you can't 發劲 round corners.