–
雄拳折法
SELECTED TECHNIQUES OF HERO BOXING
高興方
by Gao Xingfang
[This little book is clearly being described in an 1829 entry in the Canton Register, and so it was obviously made no later than that. Until further information arises to help date this document, I will treat it as “circa 1829” for the time being, though it could have been made much earlier.]
[translation by Paul Brennan, Feb, 2020]
–
雄拳演法論
HOW TO PERFORM THE HERO BOXING SOLO SET
此拳法開演之時先合脚立定精神一拱手然後两手揸寔拳頭如墜千觔之力合脚立地似竪中流砥柱之势食緊週身氣力五指撒開双手漸漸橫推出至尾尽力一發如推山把手脛力扭两轉揸囘拳頭𠬧回在腰部位立定子午踏開右馬坐腰力双手向地一搥轉身依前又双手向地一搥慢慢𠬧回剳寔腰力立定子午進右馬右单枝手打出撒手把手脛一扭隂手打出陽手𠬧回在腰部進左馬左单枝手打出依前左右三進三打𠬧回手轉身進右馬右单枝打出撒手把手脛一扭隂手打出阳手𠬧回腰部進左馬左单枝手打出依前凢左右三進三打𠬧回轉身一仰掌在中腰打出進左馬用左掌一拍手𠬧回仰掌一仰進右馬一批㬹打出用左手傍㬹𦔳势一綑㬹向子午而出用拳背一打又用左手傍住𦔳势扎寔腰力䟎馬通天拳冲上𠬧回轉身瀉馬于後用左手干字一撇轉馬靣向后進右馬用右手鷹爪手一擒𠬧回手一干字撇下退右馬于後𠬧手归心窝一干字撇出進右脚坐馬一拱手而𠬧
When performing this boxing set:
[1] Start with your feet together, standing stably and with your mind focused, and salute. [See drawing 5 below.]
[2] Then your hands scoop up, forming firm fists, and seem to be holding up a thousand-pound weight. With your feet together, you stand as upright and indomitable as a pillar made of rock. [See drawing 6.]
[3] Your fists open up, your fingers spreading, and your hands slowly push out to the sides to their fullest reach, using the power of your whole body, as though pushing mountains over.
[4] Grasp your hands into fists, rotating your forearms, and scoop with your fists, gathering them in at the sides of your waist.
[5] Then step straight forward with your right foot, sit into your stance [a right bow stance], expressing the strength of your waist, and send both fists punching toward the ground.
[6] Turn around [to the left] and again send your fists punching toward the ground [in a left bow stance], then slowly withdraw your fists.
[7–9] Driven by power from your waist, step straight forward with your right foot and strike out with your right fist, the forearm rotating so that the center of the fist is facing downward, your left fist at the same time pulled back to your waist with the center of the fist facing upward. [This technique is the same as the exercise in drawing 1.] Then step forward with your left foot and strike out with your left hand [as in drawing 7, also the exercise in drawing 2]. Perform the technique in this way on both sides for a total of three times [right, left, right], advancing while striking with one hand and withdrawing the other.
[10–12 (repeat of 7–9 in the other direction)] Turn around [to the left], step forward with your right foot and strike out with your right fist, the forearm rotating so that the center of the fist is facing downward, your left fist at your waist with the center of the fist facing upward. Then step forward with your left foot and strike out with your left hand. Again perform the technique in this way three times [right, left, right].
[13] Turn around [to the left, step forward with your right foot,] and send out a palm strike from your waist [with your right hand].
[14] Step forward with your left foot and send your left palm slapping out, your right palm withdrawing. [This technique is similar to Person A in drawing 11, but using the other palm.]
[15] Step forward with your right foot and strike out with a swinging elbow, your left hand meeting the elbow to assist the posture. [See drawing 9.]
[16] Roll your right elbow over, keeping it in the centerline, and strike out with the back of your right fist, your left hand bracing your right elbow to assist the posture. [This is the same technique as in drawing 8, except on the other side.]
[17] Driven by power from your waist, now send your right fist thrusting upward with a “through the sky” punch.
[18] Withdrawing your right fist, turn around [to the left], flow downward into a low horse-riding stance, and send out your left hand slashing across as you turn in your stance to face to the rear. [This technique is similar to Person B in drawing 11.]
[19] Step forward with your right foot and send out your right hand with an eagle claw attack [similar to Person A in drawing 12].
[20] Withdraw your right hand [as you lower into a horse-riding stance] and then send your right hand slashing across below [similar to drawing 10].
[21] Step back with your right foot, withdrawing your right hand to your solar plexus, and slash across with your left hand [again similar to Person B in drawing 11].
[22] Step forward with your right foot and sit into your stance [as your right hand moves across to meet your left hand]. Then [bringing your left foot forward so that your feet are together,] salute [again as in drawing 5] and finish [i.e. lower your hands at your sides and rest].
–
[PART ONE: FOUR EXAMPLES OF BODY CONDITIONING]
推墙倒壁
KNOCKING DOWN THE WALLS
踏定右脚馬右单枝手打出𠬧回右手再左单枝手打出週而復始是也
Plant your right foot and strike out with your right fist. Withdraw your right fist and strike out with your left fist. Repeat this action over and over. See drawing 1:
金龍伸爪
GOLDEN DRAGON EXTENDS A CLAW
進左脚馬左单枝手打出𠬧囬左脚又𠬧回左手再進右脚馬右单枝手打出
Step forward with your left foot and strike out with your left hand. Withdraw your left foot and left hand, then step forward with your right foot and strike out with your right hand. See drawing 2:
烏鴉展翼
CROW SPREADS ITS WINGS
合定脚一坐馬双牌一拱手扭側身立定子午食寔週身氣力左欄右挡𠬧囘右馬一轉身週而復始
From your feet standing together, step with your right foot into a horse-riding stance, holding both shields in a salute position. Twist your body sideways, staying where you are, making a forward stance [i.e. bow stance], and use the strength of your whole body to block to the left and right. Then withdraw your right foot, turn around, and repeat on the other side. See drawing 3:
鉄樑掛鐘
HANGING A BELL FROM AN IRON BEAM
盤降法势用週身氣力
This is a method of coiling over the pole and coming back down to the ground, using the strength of your whole body. See drawing 4 [which somewhat fails to convey a controlled descent]:
–
[PART TWO: HALF A DOZEN EXAMPLES OF POSTURES FROM THE SOLO SET]
將軍掛卬
GENERAL HOLDS UP HIS SEAL
先合脚立定一拱手
Stand with your feet together and salute. See drawing 5:
扳雲折桂
SCHOLAR RECEIVES HIS DIPLOMA
两手如墜千觔一般合脚立地似竪中流砥柱
Your hands seem to be holding up a thousand-pound weight. With your feet together, you stand as upright and indomitable as a pillar made of rock. See drawing 6:
金龍出洞
GOLDEN DRAGON LEAVES THE CAVE
進左脚馬左单枝手打出𠬧回拳頭進右馬轉身右单枝手打出
Step forward with your left foot and strike out with your left fist. Withdrawing your left fist, step forward with your right foot, and with a twist of your torso, strike out with your right fist. See drawing 7:
酔漢敲門
DRUNKARD KNOCKS ON THE DOOR
一抱㬹向子午出用拳背一打用右手傍㬹𦔳势
Roll your left elbow over, keeping it in the centerline, and strike out with the back of your left fist, your right hand bracing your left elbow to assist the posture. See drawing 8:
鳳凰撒翼
PHOENIX LASHES OUT WITH A WING
進右馬一短㬹打出用左手傍住𦔳势
Step forward with your right foot and do a short-range strike with your right elbow, your left hand meeting the elbow to assist the posture. See drawing 9:
金鐘墜地
GOLDEN BELL FALLS TO THE GROUND
左右脚立寔四平馬食寔腰歩力𠬧手归心窝用右手一干字撇出
With your feet standing firmly in a low horse-riding stance, use power driven from your waist to send out your right hand slashing across [as though cutting the rope suspending a bell], your left hand withdrawing to your solar plexus. See drawing 10:
–
[PART THREE: A DOZEN EXAMPLES OF PARTNER DRILLS – BOTH UNARMED AND ARMED]
餓虎擒羊
HUNGRY TIGER CATCHES A SHEEP
進左脚入馬用右手掌一拍出
Person A [on the right in the drawing, performing the role of the tiger], step forward with your left foot and slap out with your right palm.
立寔左右四平馬用左手一刀掌撇出右手归胸𦔳势
Person B [on the left in the drawing], with your feet standing firmly in a low horse-riding stance, send your left hand slashing out using the knife edge of the palm [to cut away A’s attack], your right hand withdrawing to your chest to assist the posture. See drawing 11:
飛鷹抓鳥
SWOOPING EAGLE SNATCHES A SPARROW
退右勾脚馬用右手鷹爪手一擒
A [right, performing the role of the eagle], pull back your right foot, hooking back on B’s front foot, and send out your right hand with an eagle claw attack.
進左脚入馬用左手一托右手在腰歩𦔳势
B [left], step forward with your left foot and use your left hand to prop away A’s attack, your right hand withdrawing to your waist to assist the posture. See drawing 12:
下挑棍势
STAFF CARRYING FROM BELOW
進左脚馬双手將棍挑上
A [right], step forward with your left foot and use both hands to send your staff carrying upward.
剳寔腰力两手將棍向脚扫出
B [left], driven by power from your waist, use both hands to send your staff sweeping out to A’s front foot. See drawing 13:
上截下欄势
BLOCKING BELOW & ABOVE
提髙右脚馬𠬧回两手向下挑住棍尾
A [right], lift your right foot high and pull back both hands to send your staff downward in order to carry aside the tail of B’s staff.
剳寔腰力双手將棍一架向脚一扫
B [left], driven by power from your waist, use both hands to send your staff sweeping across to block A’s foot. See drawing 14:
飛脚被刀势
KICK OUT TO DEFLECT A SABER
坐馬扭側身双刀盤在腰歩先挿左刀右刀用干字撇出
A [right], sit low, twisting your body to the left side, and swing your sabers along with the movement of your stance, first your left saber, then your right saber, slashing across.
剳寔左馬右脚提起被刀然後退回右馬
B [left], standing firmly on your left leg, lift your right foot and deflect A’s right saber arm away, then withdraw your right foot. See drawing 15:
双牌擋刀势
DOUBLE SHIELDS BLOCKING SABERS
進右脚馬右刀砍下左刀𦔳势
A [left], step forward with your right foot and chop downward with your right saber, your left saber positioned to assist the posture.
坐寔双馬剳寔腰力以被刀势
B [right], sit firmly in a horse-riding stance and use power driven from your waist to deflect A’s saber with your shields. See drawing 16:
青龍伏乕势
BLUE DRAGON SUBDUES THE TIGER
進右脚馬双手將刀砍下
A [right], step forward with your right foot and send both sabers chopping down.
進右脚馬两手將叉向刀架住
B [left], step forward with your right foot and use both forks [叉 (“cha”) being an abbreviated form of 釵 (“chai”), the same weapon as the Japanese “sai”] to prop up A’s sabers. See drawing 17:
二龍争珠势
TWIN DRAGONS FIGHT OVER THE PEARL
進右脚馬右手將刀一干字撇出
A [right], step forward with your right foot and send your right saber slashing across to the right.
進右脚馬右手將叉一干字隔開左手𦔳势
B [left], step forward with your right foot and send your right fork across to the right to block away A’s saber, your left fork positioned to assist the posture. See drawing 18:
飛牌擋鈀势
A SHIELD FLIES UP TO BLOCK THE TRIDENT
踏寔右馬双手將鈀砍下
A [right], step forward with your right foot and send your trident chopping down.
坐寔馬用左手將牌冲上右手傍身𦔳势
B [left], sit low and send your left shield thrusting upward, placing your right shield beside your body to assist the posture. See drawing 19:
鶻蚌相緾勢
SWAN GETS ITS BEAK STUCK IN A CLAM
進右脚馬剳寔腰力两手將棍尽力点出
A [right], stepping forward with your right foot and employing power driven from your waist, use both hands to send your staff poking out forcefully.
坐寔腰馬双手將牌向棍夹寔
B [left], sit firmly into your stance and send both shields pincering inward to trap A’s incoming staff. See drawing 20:
托樑煥柱势
PROPPING UP A ROOF BEAM TO REPLACE A PILLAR
立定子午两手向頭打落退囘右脚馬
A [right], moving stably into a forward stance, use both hands to strike downward to B’s head while retreating your other foot.
剳寔右脚馬两手提髙尽力架住棍尾用左脚打出
B [left], standing firmly on your right foot, use both hands to forcefully lift your staff high to block the tail of A’s staff, then use your left foot to kick out. See drawing 21:
伍員舉鼎势
WU ZIXU LIFTS THE CAULDRON
退左脚馬两手將刀照頭劈落
A [left], step back with your left foot and use both hands to send your halberd chopping down toward B’s head.
進右脚馬右手向刀架住一扭
B [right], step forward with your right foot and use your right fork to block A’s halberd, twisting your fork to trap it. See drawing 22:
–
–
–
Brennan Translation 