Murphy Martial Arts

When I first started learning internal systems from a legitimate master of internal systems, one of the first and most significant things taught was the Six Harmonies.

A major difference in internal systems, and external systems is the emphasis on “Everything starts together, and everything stops together”. It is a common thing constantly repeated with most internal martial arts. This includes Liu Ho Pa Fa, Hsing-I,  Bagua, most styles of Taiji, etc..  Once you’ve learned proper structure/alignment you need to learn how to move.

There are six External Harmonies, and six Internal Harmonies.

External Six Harmonies:

Shoulder/ Hip

The shoulder and hip move together. They start and stop together. the alignment is right shoulder and left hip, left shoulder and right hip.

Elbow/Knee

The same relationships exist between the elbow and knee, as the shoulder and hip. The elbows should never extend past the knees.

Hand/Foot

The same relationships exist between the hands and feet, as the shoulder and hip. If any of these six are moving, all should be moving. If one is not moving, none should be moving. Keep in mind the proper relationships.

Internal Six Harmonies:

Heart/Mind

If you want to kill the mind must turn cold.

Mind/Chi

Chi is directed anywhere in the body by the mind.

Chi/Strength

The muscles and bones join together to produce power.

These principles work with other principles to produce greater power.  Each teacher/system may manifest the six harmonies with their own flavor. You must have a qualified teacher to truly learn them.

In order to learn any of the internal systems, there are certain fundamentals that must be learned. Hsing-I starts off with the eight fundamentals.  I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR , EVEN HEARING FUNDAMENTALS/PRINCIPLES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRULY LEARN THE INTERNAL SYSTEMS WITHOUT A QUALIFIED TEACHER. It is possible to improve what you have, but you will never get a true understanding, or get to a high level without the right teacher. Some things are generally true of external systems as well as internal systems. The amount of emphasis is different.

The three press ups:

1)The Head.

1a) The head must lift up. As a general rule I would think of being pulled up by a rope/string from the crown of your head. There is a very different sensation by imagining being pulled up, then there is by pushing up the head. Pushing up is wrong. The chin must be pulled in, and the neck straight.

1b)  The tongue must be pressed to the palate.  This allows Chi circulation.  It will make you stronger, I’ll talk more about this in some thoughts on Chi Kung.

1c) The Palm.  When pressed outward properly will help chi to extend to each part of the body.

2) The Three Supresses:

2a) Shoulders.

The shoulders suppress so that the front of the chest will feel empty. Strength will then flow down to the elbows. In the internal systems, when you hit, structural alignment is very important. For example, when I hit regardless of which element/animal I might not move the front part of the body, but stretch the back side of my body as I hit.  This re-enforces my structure, and lets me hit with everything I have from to ground to the target. It also allows me to rotate my joints into the strike, using reeling silk. Etc. You need to understand that this is not externally visible. Unless I choose to show you. Again you need the right teacher. BS is everywhere.

2b) The hands and feet work together. Suppress the hands with  with the upper arms. Stay relaxed.  The feet back and waist are integrated.

3) The Three Rounds:

3a) The back is rounded. You need to be relaxed, so that your ready.

3b)  The chest is rounded (concave).  This gives full strength when you hit/block.

3c) The hands must be rounded, and relaxed so that you feel proper chi flow.

4) The Three sensitives:   Eyes, heart, hands

4a)  Eyes are the windows to the sole, and can give you away.

4b)  The heart controls the mind.

4c) The hands are sensitive. To develop a high level of skill, you must have feeling.

5. The Three Holdings

Tan-Tien, breath, and arms

5a) The Tien should be filled with Chi.

5b) Holding the breath will bring many rewards.

5c)  Holding the arms in the proper way, will build up strenght and endurance.

6) The three sinkings: Chi Shoulders, elbows

6a) Sink the chi to the Tan Tien

6b) Sink the shoulders with suppressing the Tan Tien.

6c) Sinking the elbows will protect the ribs.

7) The Three Curves: Elbows, Wrists, Knees

7a) The elbows curve and fill full of energy.

7b) The wrists curve, and allow unrestricted chi flow.

7c) The knees curve, and the cycle of poer is complete

8) The Three Straightens: Neck, Spine, Knees

8a) The neck is straightened, the head is upright. The energy flows to the top of the head.

8b) The spine is straightened. Chi will flow throughout the entire body.

8c) The knees curved and firmly rooted, one will surely feel the power of chi.

As you can see these are just a few fundamentals, but each is very important. Without them, your progress will be limited.