A HIGHLY ADVANCED FORM?

 By Phillip Starr

In the system of gong-fu that I teach (Yiliquan), there exists a training routine that is very similar to a form; it must be memorized and practiced relentlessly. However, it isn't listed as a proper “form”, per se. There are no punches, blocks, or kicks of any kind in it. It's translated name is “Nine Steps Form”, although it isn't really regarded as a form.

Jiubuquan (the name of the set) is made up entirely of fundamental stances and basic footwork (steps). It's taught during the earliest stage of training in Yiliquan and drilled repeatedly even into the senior stages. There's hell to pay for a senior who's forgotten any part of it, too.

It's fairly short – only 25 movements (on each side) but repeated practice fosters the development of stability, balance, and agility...all essential ingredients for acquiring real martial skill. But there's more to it than the aforementioned items...

To perform the set skillfully requires that a student “move from the dantien (in Japanese, tanden)”, which is a special skill than absolutely must be mastered. Moving from the dantien is the ONLY way in which the entire body – from the crown to the heels – can move as a single, integrated unit. This is a very powerful way of moving, much more so than the usual method(s) that feature “broken” forms of movement wherein the limbs move independently of the rest of the body.

Moreover, to acquire and maintain stability in any given stance or when moving, proper breathing is essential. Unless one knows how to breathe correctly, balance and “root” are all but lost. Repeating this routine over and over will (unconsciously) teach a student how to breathe in the right way. Although they're taught how to breathe in the right way in the very early stages of training, constant training in Jiubuquan “cements” it so that they don't have to consciously “think” about how to do it.

Does your chosen martial discipline have a similar training routine?