Abdominal breathing
In Fei Jing you breathe with the abdomen; the chest does not take part. In abdominal breathing the diaphragm makes wide movements and massages the internal organs, and the lungs take in more air than in chest breathing.
The basic rule: at the moment the body tenses - in a strike or a block - the breath stops, whether you are breathing in or out.
The energy centres
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tan Tien | the main energy centre in the lower abdomen; this is where Yin and Yang mix |
| Upper Tan Tien | an energy centre in the head |
| Lao Gun | a point in the centre of the palm; when the fist is closed, the thumb "seals" it so that no energy escapes |
| "The nine palaces" | the throat |
| "The yellow court" | the solar plexus |
How the energy flows
In the "Contemplation" exercise, Yin enters through the soles of the feet, spirals up to the Tan Tien, then flows around the body and arms to the Lao Gun points and returns - forming a closed circuit. Yang enters with the inhaled air, descends to the Tan Tien and rises along the back to the Upper Tan Tien.
A basic principle: when the arms rise, the energy sinks, and the other way round. Energy cannot flow through a fully straightened arm or leg, so the limbs are never locked.
Breathing exercises in the syllabus
| Exercise | Grade |
|---|---|
| Monkey breathing | 3 |
| Tiger breathing | 3 |
| Dragon breathing | 3 |
| Snake breathing | 3 |
| Chi dao - the path of breathing | 7 |
| Breathing tao with the staff | 9 |
See also the philosophy of the style - how the pulsing between Yin and Yang gives speed with a minimum of force.