LINKED BROCADE BOXING

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連環錦套
LINKED BROCADE BOXING
順德黃漢勛編著　演式
text & performance by Huang Hanxun [Wong Honfan] of Shunde
黃子英攝影 1972•1•30
photographed by Huang Ziying on Jan 30, 1972

[translation by Paul Brennan, Jan, 2023]

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引言
FOREWORD

近人著書攻擊苦習拳套之非，務以三五月間即能站上比武臺上耀武揚威，此乃急功近利之論調耳！學拳與讀書雖然文武殊途，其實一理也。譬喻讀書是升官發財作為最終目標，則不必讀至大學或以上之學位，但求如何逢迎，如何作冒險之企圖便可得達所願矣。學拳與苦練拳套，有人指出每套拳之間是許多重式，是多餘者，其一年級與二年級所讀之書內文又何嘗不是許多重字與重文？習拳初期務必多認識招式，變化，順逆，左右，前後俱有不同之組成，同時更可刺激練習情緒，使習者時常有新的變換，新的認識，又何嘗不可以增益於學者？迨至認識旣深時則歸納其精要，或喜愛某種方式而向此邁進自可得達理想目標矣。凢事見仁見智實不必攻許某種方式也。
黃漢勛於螳螂樓　一九七二年一月卄四
Recent authors have attacked the practicing of boxing sets as being counterproductive, saying that students put in a few months of hard work simply to be able to show off on a stage at a tournament, that it promotes a mentality of expecting quick results. This is not true in martial arts training any more than it is in academic studies.
　　Since the ultimate goal of academic studies is attainment of position and wealth, why bother going to college or aiming for a degree instead of just seeking a position right away? Because it is easier to get one’s foot in the door when one has qualifications, an unlikely gamble when one does not. Within martial arts training, there is always somebody who points out that every boxing set contains so many kinds of techniques that most of them are superfluous. By the same token, within the first couple of years of studying literature, are there not so many words to learn that most of them seem superfluous too?
　　In the beginning of the training, it is necessary to learn many distinct techniques in order to become adaptive, to know when to move along with an opponent or move against him, to be able to move in any direction, left or right, forward or back, and so on. This accumulation of information also makes the training more interesting, the continual input of new material and new knowledge reinforcing a sense of accomplishment, which is surely beneficial for the student’s motivation.
　　Once one’s knowledge has deepened, there will be a clear understanding of the essence of the art. Based in that general awareness, some students might then come to favor specific parts of the art over others, habitually giving more practice to those things, and thus will naturally be able to more easily master the skills that they have discovered they have more affinity for. As in all matters, people see things differently, and so it would just be a waste of your time to criticize them for doing things differently as well.
　　- written by Huang Hanxun at the Mantis School, Jan 24, 1972

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第一式：四平雙蓄勢
Posture 1: FOUR-LEVEL POSTURE, BOTH FISTS STORING POWER

說明：
Explanation:
假如我擇定東方作開式者則背東，面西，左南，右北而立，雙手收拳於腰部，注視前方，如「定式圖」
Stand in the eastern part of the practice space with the east behind you, west in front of you, south to your left, west to your right. Your hands pull back to your waist as fists. Your gaze is forward. See photo 1:

功用：
Application:
蓄勢以俟拳式之展開，調和血氣俾竟全功。
Store power in readiness to perform the boxing movements. Bring harmony to your blood circulation and breath in order to make it through the whole set.

第二式：七星右補捶
Posture 2: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT FILLING PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，開右腳以成右七星步，右拳自腰部打出，至中途與左掌相碰而發出「劈拍」之聲然後抵達定點，如「定式圖」
Your right foot steps out to make a right big-dipper stance as your right fist strikes out from your waist, your left palm slapping loudly against it on the way. See photo 2:

功用：
Application:
螳螂拳之有補捶甚為普遍，抑亦表現本派之特徵，實用上是一式兩用，左掌撥去來手，右拳則進攻對方，是連消帶打之法也。
The filling punch is very common in Mantis Boxing, and so this serves as a display of one of its signature movements. The technique functions in two parts: the left hand deflects an opponent’s incoming hand, the right fist goes forward to attack him – a continuous flow of defense and offense.

第三式：登山右挫捶
Posture 3: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT SUBDUING PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，右前腳略移前以成右登山步，左手先出自上封下，右拳則曲肘由下抽上，如「定式圖」
Your right foot shifts forward to make a right mountain-climbing stance as your left hand goes out and seals downward, your right fist withdrawing and then shooting out upward, the elbow staying slightly bent. See photo 3:

功用：
Application:
彼以手來招我補捶，我即順封閉之，右拳曲肘自下逆抽其下頷。
The opponent sends out a hand to block my filling punch, so I seal off his hand and send my right fist shooting out upward to his chin.

第四式：七星右腰斬
Posture 4: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT SLICING THROUGH THE WAIST

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，進左腳以成左七星步，左手自右肘下穿出（是為引針）右手先縮後，再變掌斜撇過左下方（是為切腰掌）如「定式圖」
Your left foot advances to make a left big-dipper stance as your left hand threads out from below your right elbow (“drawing the needle”), your right hand pulling back and then flinging out downward to the forward left (“slicing the waist”). See photo 4:

功用：
Application:
此式是整體之柔手，若非引針封得來手及七星步入馬緊靠馬則雖有切腰之掌亦等於零，須覓得適當機會始可施用，否則寧可改用他法亦勝於勉強用之也。
This whole technique uses softness. Unless you draw the needle, sealing off the opponent’s incoming hand, and use the big-dipper stance to trap his front foot, then the waist-slicing palm will amount to nothing. You have to find the right opportunity to use this maneuver, otherwise switch to something else instead of trying to force this to work when it does not fit.

第五式：撇掌右揪腿
Posture 5: FLINGING PALMS, RIGHT SCOOPING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，右掌伸前，左掌在右肘之下同向前右方斜撇，並出右腳以揪腿方式向前左方揪去，如「定式圖」
Your right hand draws back and flings out to the forward right, your left palm also going to the right to be placed below your right elbow, as your right foot goes out to the forward left with a scooping kick. See photo 5:

功用：
Application:
與雙刁手揪腿同一功用，但雙刁要刁得來手始可運用，此式則不管如何祗要雙掌齊出，短消長打中即揪對方前馬，是比雙刁更便利易用也。
Unlike doing the scooping kick with double hooking hands as in Posture 32, which requires first using the hooking hands to snare the opponent’s incoming hand in order to set up the kick, this version of the kick does not need to wait for anything, the hands flinging out at the same time, one hand at short range, the other at long range, while the kick trips out his front leg, therefore making this technique easier than the double-hooks version.

第六式：入環右滾膀
Posture 6: KNEELING STANCE, RIGHT ROLLING FOREARM

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，右前腳落步以成右入環步，右掌收回，改拳曲肘橫出，同時以左手拳緊貼右內腕直向前推，如「定式圖」
Your right foot comes down to make a right kneeling stance as your right palm withdraws, becoming a fist, the elbow bending to place the forearm across in front of you, and pushes out forward, your left hand also becoming a fist and assisting at the inside of your right wrist. See photo 6:

功用：
Application:
我旣出腿攻敵，不論得手與否下路必感空虛，迅即落步用滾膀法力推之，旣可免除空隙又可藉此組成另一攻勢。
Once I kick out, I have created a gap in my lower area that he might exploit, so regardless of whether the kick has hit or missed, I immediately come down and push out forcefully, thereby covering an opening by closing in with another attack.

第七式：入環窩肚捶
Posture 7: KNEELING STANCE, PUNCH TO THE BELLY

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步回頭轉馬以成左入環步，左拳曲肘橫架頭上，右手拳以「日字拳」向腹部打出，如「定式圖」
Turn around to the left to make a left kneeling stance as your left fist blocks over your head [going to the right shoulder according to the photo], and your right fist punches out to the opponent’s belly with the fist upright. See photo 7:

功用：
Application:
彼自我後方以泰山壓頂之勢迎頭劈來，我若待回身換馬已為時間所不許，因此乃用最迅速之變馬回頭法及上攔下統以還擊其腹部。
An opponent behind me chops down toward my head with the technique of MT. TAI CRUSHES THE HEAD, so I turn around, simply switching in my stance to the other side since there is no time for anything else, while blocking up and striking out below to counterattack to his belly.

第八式：右亮翅踢腿
Posture 8: RIGHT SWATTING WINGS, KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，再沿右方轉過後方，雙手化掌，右長在前，左短而貼於右肩之內，同時撥向前右方，跟住出右腳，如「定式圖」
Turn around to the right and deflect to the forward right with both hands, your right hand at long range, your left hand going to the inside of your right shoulder, as your right foot kicks out. See photo 8:

功用：
Application:
此亦為後方被襲之應急方法，我窩肚捶乃下勢，彼必自我上路攻來，我用亮翅雙掌旣可撥消來手，又可拍擊彼面部，再出腿踢之，使彼難以兼顧矣。
This is another emergency response to an attack from behind. Since my punch to the belly was a lowered position, I would likely be attacked above, so I send out both palms with a “swatting wings” action in order to deflect the opponent’s incoming hand, or to slap his face, and also send out a kick so that he has too much to deal with at once.

第九式：跨虎右挑掌
Posture 9: SITTING-TIGER STANCE, RIGHT CARRYING PALMS

說明
Explanation:
循上式，乘起右腳之便而往後小跳，著地變成右跨虎步，掌由右，左，右三次挑起以成如「定式圖」
Your right foot withdraws with a small hop to the rear [your feet coming down in the order of right foot, left, right], finishing in a right sitting-tiger stance, as your hands carry upward – right hand, left, right. See photo 9:

功用
Application:
彼欲乘虛突擊，我立即往後小跳，並迅即佈式以俟。
The opponent tries to take me by surprise once he perceives an opening to take advantage of, so I immediately hop back and get into a guarded position in readiness for what he will try next.

第十式：雙刁手踢腿
Posture 10: DOUBLE HOOKING HANDS, KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，再次轉過後方，沿左方轉，雙掌化刁，左前右後刁去，
Turn around to the left as your palms become hooking hands and hook aside to the left in succession, your left hand, then right hand. See photo 10a:

同時起右腳，如「定式圖」
Then your right foot kicks out. See photo 10b:

功用：
Application:
彼繞過我後方自中路攻來一拳，我亦隨之繞步返身，雙手齊刁使彼難以解脫，同時更出右腳踢之。
The opponent circles around behind me and attacks my middle area with a punch, so I turn around and snare his arm with double hooks, making it hard for him to escape, and then send out my right foot to kick him.

第十一式：入環右仰膀
Posture 11: KNEELING STANCE, RIGHT PRESSING FOREARM

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，踢起之腳落步以成右入環步，右手曲肘，拳鋒向上，左拳貼於右腕之內，隨步推出，如「定式圖」
Your right foot comes down forward to make a right kneeling stance as your hands become fists and your right forearm pushes out forward, the fist pointing upward, your left fist assisting at the inside of your right wrist. See photo 11 [which shows the rolling-forearm position and should instead be showing an upright forearm as in photo 27]:

功用：
Application:
滾膀是橫出，仰膀則企出，兩者俱是緊壓敵方來手而推去，其功用同一理矣。
The rolling forearm is placed across, whereas the pressing forearm is placed vertically, but both have the same function of crowding the opponent, pushing away his incoming hand and following through into him.

第十二式：七星左刁手
Posture 12: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, LEFT HOOKING HAND

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，沿左回頭，原步變成左七星步，收右拳，左手隨步而刁去，如「定式圖」
Maintaining your location, turn around to the left to make a left big-dipper stance as your right fist withdraws and your left hand hooks aside. See photo 12:

功用：
Application:
彼自後擬攻我中上路，我迅即回頭刁去之。
An opponent tries to attack my upper area from behind, so I quickly turn around and hook aside his incoming hand.

第十三式：七星右劈軋
Posture 13: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT CRUSHING CHOP

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，進右腳以成右七星步，右拳由後向前，自上劈落，至中途與左掌相碰而發出「劈拍」之聲，然後抵達定點，如「定式圖」
Your right foot advances to make a right big-dipper stance as your right fist goes to the rear, upward, forward, and chops down, your left palm slapping loudly against it on the way. See photo 13:

功用：
Application:
我旣已刁得來手乃即進馬以居高臨下之勢而力劈其上路。
Once I have hooked aside the opponent’s incoming hand, I then advance to take control of the situation and powerfully chop to his upper area.

第十四式：登山右仰膀
Posture 14: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT PRESSING FOREARM

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步拖前以成右登山步，右手繞過左前方半圈然後再轉向前正方推出，左拳貼於右腕之內，如「定式圖」
Slide forward into a right mountain-climbing stance as your right fist draws a half circle to the forward left, then realigns directly forward and pushes out, your left fist assisting at your right wrist. See photo 14:

功用：
Application:
原步拖前勢順而捷，手祗繞半匝即後推進亦與步同其快速。
In order for this to be effective, the stance sliding forward has to be done nimbly, and the hands arcing in and then pushing out should be done with just as much quickness as the feet.

第十五式：登山右圈捶
Posture 15: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT SWINGING PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，略提前腳再原步標前，仍為右登山步，左手自內向外撇出，右拳由上轉下繞半圈，再上前方橫掃過左上方，至終點則以左掌力抵之，如「定式圖」
Your right foot slightly lifts and then your whole stance darts forward as your left hand flings outward and your right fist lowers, arcs upward and inward in a semicircle, sweeping above across to the left, your left palm forcefully bracing against its wrist once it crosses the centerline. See photo 15:

功用：
Application:
對方以手來封我手，我用左手封去之，並即用右手橫捶掃向對方太陽穴。
The opponent sends out a hand to seal off mine, so I use my left hand to seal off his sealing hand and sweep my right fist across to his left temple.

第十六式：登山右仰膀
Posture 16: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT PRESSING FOREARM

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步再拖前，仍為右登山步，兩手緊貼繞過左前方半圈再反手仰膀法向前推出，與十四式相同，如「定式圖」
Maintaining your stance, slide forward as your right fist arcs to the left, rolls over, and pushes out forward with the forearm, your left hand going along with its movement, becoming a fist, and assisting at the inside of your right wrist. It is the same position as in Posture 14. See photo 16:

功用：
Application:
彼低頭避過我圈捶，我不俟其有仰首機會迅即原手力壓而下使彼難於迎架。
The opponent ducks his head to evade my swinging punch, so before he has a chance to lift his head back up, I quickly use the same hand to press down on him so forcefully that he cannot manage to brace it away.

第十七式：入環左滾膀
Posture 17: KNEELING STANCE, LEFT ROLLING FOREARM

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，進左腳以成左入環步，左拳曲肘在前橫推，右拳貼左腕之內，如「定式圖」
Your left foot advances to make a left kneeling stance as your left forearm now pushes out forward, your right fist assisting at the inside of your left wrist. See photo 17:

功用：
Application:
與第六，十一等式相同。
Same as in Postures 6 & 11.

第十八式：七星右崩捶
Posture 18: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT AVALANCHE PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，沿右斜方轉身以成右七星步，左手隨步向後封去，右拳曲肘自上打下，左手收於右肘之內，如「定式圖」
Turn around to the right rear corner, making a big-dipper stance, as your left hand goes out with a sealing action and your right fist strikes downward, the elbow staying slightly bent, your left hand withdrawing under your right elbow. See photo 18:

功用：
Application:
彼自後突擊，我迅即回頭用崩捶從上力劈之。
An opponent suddenly attacks from behind me, so I quickly turn around and chop down powerfully with an avalanche punch.

第十九式：右低牽蹬𨁏
Posture 19: RIGHT LOW DRAGGING, PAVING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，左手自右肘下穿出，右腳略提起，如「過渡式圖」
Your left hand threads out from below your right elbow, your right fist lowering, as your right foot slightly lifts up. See photo 19a:

再右手拳反手向左下方掃返，至定點則以左掌抵之，同時提起之右腳以後踭部往後斜方蹬去，如「定式圖」
Your right fist sweeps across to the lower left using the back of the fist, your left hand bracing against the arm when it reaches its final position, as your right foot presses away to the rear corner, the heel scraping along the ground. See photo 19b:

功用：
Application:
此是手腳并用以跌撲對方者，低掃捶是襲擊對方陰部，蹬𨁏是後彈腿法之一種，互相配合自有意想不到之抄處。
This is a technique of using hand and foot together to throw the opponent. The low sweeping fist is an attack to the groin, while the paving kick is a kind of snapping kick to the rear. When used together, the effect is extraordinary.

第二十式：登山左統捶
Posture 20: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, LEFT THRUST PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，先將右腳後移正面以成右登山步，右手則隨步封去，再出左拳如「定式圖」
Your right foot shifts back to the straight line to make a right mountain-climbing stance as your right hand seals off and then your left fist goes out. See photo 20:

功用：
Application:
彼避過我蹬𨁏後繞過我右方攻來，我即移步挨勢迫之，并先出右手封去來手，再出左直統拳還擊之。
The opponent evades my paving kick and then attacks me from my right side, so I shift my right foot to crowd him, first using my right hand to seal off his incoming hand, then counterattack by sending my left fist thrusting straight out.

第二十一式：馬式右補捶
Posture 21: HORSE-RIDING STANCE, RIGHT FILLING PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步標前變成騎馬步，右拳自腰間以補捶法打出，如「定式圖」
Maintaining the configuration of your legs, dart forward into a horse-riding stance as your right fist strikes out from your waist with a filling punch, your left hand withdrawing to your right shoulder. See photo 21:

功用：
Application:
此馬式補捶乃黑虎偷心捶之一，勢猛而迅捷易使對方措手不及也。
This filling punch in a horse-riding stance is an example of BLACK TIGER STEALS THE HEART. This technique is fierce and fast, and will easily catch the opponent by surprise.

第二十二式：登山右崩捶
Posture 22: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT AVALANCHE PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步標前再變為右登山步，左手先封出，右拳曲肘由內轉向外崩去，如「定式圖」
Maintaining the configuration of your legs, dart forward into a right mountain-climbing stance as your left hand goes out with a sealing action and your right fist rolls over inward and then crashes down outward, the elbow staying slightly bent. See photo 22:

功用：
Application:
崩捶雖曲肘使用，驟視之似為短手，其實善用者亦能致於遠，蓋利用步法與身形也。
Although the avalanche punch is performed the elbow staying slightly bent,
making it look like a short-range technique, skillful practitioners can actually reach very far with it, the key being in properly complementing the hand action with the footwork and body movement.

第二十三式：右閉門腳法
Posture 23: RIGHT DOOR-CLOSING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，崩捶收回貼身，坐後馬，出前右腳，但腳尖必須斜向前左方，否則與普通踢腿一樣，祈萬分注意之，如「定式圖」
Your avalanche punch withdraws close to your body as you sit back and send right foot kicking out forward, though be sure to point the toes slightly to the left, making it slightly different from an ordinary forward snapping kick. See photo 23:

功用：
Application:
閉門腳乃認陰而入之腳法，無論敵方徧斜至何程度我須以踢到彼陰部為止，否則便非閉門腳，如辦不到時寧可捨之勿用。
The door-closing kick is a means of finding the opponent’s groin. Regardless of how angled he might be standing, I should still be able to find a way in with this kick, though if I cannot make it happen, it would of course be wiser to let it go and try something else.

第二十四式：跨虎右挑掌
Posture 24: SITTING-TIGER STANCE, RIGHT CARRYING PALMS

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
與第九式同
Same as in Posture 9. See photo 24:

第二十五式：扭步低掃捶
Posture 25: TWISTING STANCE, LOW SWEEPING PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，沿左方扭過便成扭步之勢，右手拳隨步自下掃過左方，如「定式圖」
Turn around to the left to make a twisting stance as your right fist sweeps across below to the left. See photo 25:

功用：
Application:
敵人自我後方以腿踢來，我迅即扭馬迎之，并且用右手捶掃之。
An opponent behind me attacks with a kick, so I quickly twist my stance around to confront him, using my right fist to sweep his attack aside.

第二十六式：低掃捶撩腿
Posture 26: CONTINUING FROM SWEEPING PUNCH, RAISING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原手不動，出右腿自下撩上，如「定式圖」
With your hands maintaining their position, your right foot goes out upward with a raising kick. See photo 26:

功用：
Application:
我旣已將來腿掃消，乃即以其人之道還給其人，迅即順勢出腿撩之。
Having swept away the opponent’s incoming kick, I follow his example and quickly send a kick back to him.

第二十七式：入環右仰膀
Posture 27: KNEELING STANCE, RIGHT PRESSING FOREARM

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
與十一式相同
Same as in Posture 11. See photo 27:

第二十八式：登山掛統捶
Posture 28: WITHDRAWING STEP, HANG & THRUST PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步往後倒撤變成右登山步，右拳曲肘橫架於頭上，左拳直統而出，如「定式圖」
Your left foot withdraws to pull you into a right mountain-climbing stance as your right fist blocks over your head, the elbow bent to place the forearm across, and your left fist thrusts out. See photo 28:

功用：
Application:
彼乘我低馬仰膀時即用上路攻擊法迎頭打落，我立即倒撤以解其勢，同時更用蒙頭法遮去上路，并出左拳還擊之。
The opponent takes advantage of my low position by attacking my upper area with a downward strike toward my head, so I immediately back off to diminish its power, at the same time covering my head to block it away, and send out my left fist to counterattack.

第二十九式：右劈左軋腳
Posture 29: RIGHT CHOP, LEFT CRUSHING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，右拳斜向前左方殺落，同時用軋腳法橫出左腳，如「定式圖」
Your right fist smashes down to the forward left, your left fist withdrawing to your waist, as your left foot goes out with a crushing kick, the foot turned out sideways. See photo 29:

功用：
Application:
彼將上路拳滑落再向迎胸進擊，我亦將上手順落就其勢而劈消之，又出左腳以襲其前脛骨。
The opponent ducks my punch to his head and counterattacks to my chest, so I chop down with my raised fist to dispel his attack while also sending out my left foot to attack the shin of his front leg.

第三十式：登山左統捶
Posture 30: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, LEFT THRUST PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，先撤回左腳仍為右登山步，收右拳，出左拳，如「定式圖」
Your left foot withdraws to make a right mountain-climbing stance as your left fist thrusts out, your right fist withdrawing to your waist. See photo 30:

功用：
Application:
與卄式卄八式略同
Mostly the same as in Postures 22 & 28.

第三十一式：馬式右補捶
Posture 31: HORSE-RIDING STANCE, RIGHT FILLING PUNCH

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
俱與二十一式相同
Same as in Posture 21. See photo 31:

第三十二式：雙刁右揪腿
Posture 32: DOUBLE HOOKING, RIGHT SCOOPING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，沿左便轉身，左手先刁，右手再刁，兩手轉向右方撥去，同時出右腳如七星步狀向左前方揪去，形成手腳異途，如「定式圖」
Turn around to the left and hook with your left hand, then your right, both hands deflecting away to the right as your right foot scoops away to the forward left, resembling a big-dipper stance with the front leg rising, your hands and foot moving across in opposite directions. See photo 32:

功用：
Application:
左手先刁去來手，右手抓彼喉部，再用抅入其前鋒馬，三個動作合而為一，務使對方有顧此失彼為止。
I use my left hand to hook aside the opponent’s incoming hand, my right hand to seize his throat, and my right foot to kick out his front leg – three actions working in unison, thereby causing him to have too many things to deal with at once.

第三十三式：七星右腰斬
Posture 33: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT SLICING THROUGH THE WAIST

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，落右腳，進左腳以成左七星步，左手變拳拉過左下斜方，右手化掌自右腰斜向前左方切出，如「定式圖」
Your right foot comes down and your left foot advances to make a left big-dipper stance as your left hooking hand becomes a fist and pulls across downward to the left rear, your right hooking hand becoming a palm and cutting from the right side of your waist out to the forward left. See photo 33:

功用：
Application:
揪腿後而用腰斬乃絕少見之運用，進馬入馬而切腰如有機可乘將乃絕佳之手步運用，否則寧捨勿用也。
The scooping kick followed by slicing the waist is a rarely seen combo. Advancing to trap the opponent’s leg and then slicing his waist while he is stuck is a superb piece of teamwork for the hands and feet, but only if used when there is an opening to exploit, otherwise it would not be worth attempting.

第三十四式：登山左圈捶
Posture 34: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, LEFT SWINGING PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，開前馬以成左登山步，左後拳橫向前右方掃去，至中路定點時與右掌相觸，如「定式圖」
Your left foot steps out to make a left mountain-climbing stance as your left fist sweeps across to the forward right, your right palm forcefully bracing against it once it crosses the centerline. See photo 34:

功用：
Application:
彼避過我腰斬，我迅即開馬逼前并以左手捶橫掃彼太陽穴，上式為絕柔，此式為大剛，互相輝暎頗使敵難予捉摸也。
The opponent evades my attack to his waist, so I quickly step out to crowd him and swing my left fist across to his right temple. The previous technique employed softness, but this one is all hardness. The two states complement each other, because switching between them makes it very difficult for an opponent to read you.

第三十五式：登山左崩捶
Posture 35: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, LEFT AVALANCHE PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步不變，左拳轉內，再曲肘向外，反手由上打下，右手拳收於左肘之下，如「定式圖」
Without changing your stance, your left fist rolls over inward, outward, and downward with a backfist strike, the elbow staying slightly bent, your right fist withdrawing under the elbow. See photo 35:

功用：
Application:
彼低頭避去我圈捶，我乃改橫掃為反手崩下，若彼抬頭有所圖謀時剛值我崩下也。
The opponent ducks his head to evade my swinging punch, so I switch from sweeping across to crashing down. If he happens to lift his head back up at this moment, he will run right into the full force of my avalanche.

第三十六式：七星左刁手
Posture 36: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, LEFT HOOKING HAND

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
俱與十二式同
Same as in Posture 12. See photo 36:

第三十七式：七星右補捶
Posture 37: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT FILLING PUNCH

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
與第二式同
Same as in Posture 2. See photo 37:

第三十八式：登山右崩捶
Posture 38: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT AVALANCHE PUNCH

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
但與卄弍式相同
Same as in Posture 22. See photo 38:

第三十九式：右閉門腳法
Posture 39: RIGHT DOOR-CLOSING KICK

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
但與卄三式相同
Same as in Posture 23. See photo 39:

第四十式：跨虎右挑掌
Posture 40: SITTING-TIGER STANCE, RIGHT CARRYING PALMS

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
但與第九式卄四式相同
Same as in Postures 9 & 24. See photo 40:

第四十一式：進式磨盤手
Posture 41: ADVANCE, MILLSTONE HANDS

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，進式是由跨虎變為登山步標前，磨盤手則是合三掌組成，即是先右再左，再回後右，俱用掌外旁向右撇去，如「定式圖」
Dart forward into a right mountain-climbing stance as you do three continuous palm motions, flinging outward to the right side – right hand, then left hand, then right. See photo 41:

功用：
Application:
磨盤三手是基本彈腿十四路中之第十四路，是具有連貫性之一組手法，螳螂拳五組手法中之一組，乃未經化出者，在變化中可化為二十五手，多練之不但對搏擊進步，且對螳螂拳有更深刻之認識也。
This technique is the same as in line fourteen of Fourteen-Line Tantui. It is performed as a continuous flow of movements merged into a single action. This is one of the basic kinds of techniques in Mantis Boxing, from which further techniques are derived. Therefore practicing it a lot will not only develop your fighting skill, it will also give a deeper understanding of the art.

第四十二式：進式磨盤手
Posture 42: ADVANCE, MILLSTONE HANDS

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
但與四十一式同
Same as in Posture 41. See photo 42:

第四十三式：穿手右撇掌
Posture 43: THREADING HAND, RIGHT FLINGING PALM

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步再標前，仍為右登山步，左掌自右掌之下向前穿出，右掌縮後，再向前撇向左前方，如「定式圖」
Maintaining your stance, dart forward as your left palm threads out forward from under your right arm, your right palm withdrawing and then flinging out to the forward left, your left palm withdrawing to the inside of your right elbow. See photo 43:

功用：
Application:
不論彼以手來架我磨盤手或欲施擒捉，我俱可藉穿出而消去之，乘機將右掌撤回，再伸前力撇其頸項間。
Regardless of whether the opponent blocks or grabs my attacking right hand in the previous technique, I can send out my left hand to push it away so that I can pull back my right palm and then powerfully fling it forward with a strike to his neck.

第四十四式：撤式左統捶
Posture 44: WITHDRAWING POSTURE, LEFT THRUST PUNCH

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步倒後撤仍為右登山步，收右拳，出左拳，如「定式圖」
Maintaining your stance, scoot back as your left fist thrusts out, your right fist withdrawing to your waist. See photo 44:

功用：
Application:
與所有統捶俱同一理。
Same as in the previous thrust punches.

第四十五式：登山右疊肘
Posture 45: MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING STANCE, RIGHT PILING ELBOW

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步向前略標，右手曲肘向前左方疊去，至終點則以左掌接之，如「定式圖」
Maintaining your stance, dart slightly forward as your right elbow bends further and goes across to the forward left, your left palm slapping against it when it is reaching its final position. See photo 45:

功用：
Application:
與所有疊肘俱同一理，用登山步比較硬穩。
This has the same function as all the other “piling elbow” techniques, and doing it in a mountain-climbing stance increases stability.

第四十六式：七星大撤式
Posture 46: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, LARGE WITHDRAWING

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步向後坐變成右七星步，右拳左掌亦隨步之下而分左右撤落，如「定式圖」
Sit back into a right big-dipper stance as your right fist and left palm lower to the sides. See photo 46:

功用：
Application:
彼脫去我疊肘後擬起腳踢我，我迅即坐馬左右分向來腿劈下。
The opponent evades my elbow and then tries to kick me, so I quickly sit back and spread my hands to chop away his leg.

第四十七式：七星式低劈
Posture 47: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, DOWNWARD CHOP

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原步不動，右拳繞過後方再自上向前下方劈落，將至中途則與左掌相碰然後至終點，如「定式圖」
Staying where you are, your right fist arcs to the rear, upward, forward, and chops downward, your left palm slapping against it as it reaches the centerline and then withdrawing to your right shoulder. See photo 47:

功用：
Application:
彼腿為我大撤式所破，彼立即改以中平拳迫胸攻來，我順手繞轉返前力劈之。
To keep his leg from getting injured, the opponent immediately pulls it back and switches to attacking my chest with a punch, so I flow from my previous action by powerfully chopping forward.

第四十八式：走跳高挑手
Posture 48: HOP FORWARD, HIGH CARRYING HAND

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，先提後腳，右手拳自下向上挑，至中途與左掌碰觸，然後再向上，如「定式圖」
Your left foot lifts up as your right fist carries upward, your left hand slapping downward against it. See photo 48:

功用：
Application:
此式本來是在跳動中進行，與上式之低劈乃相反相成之法。
This technique is halfway through a leaping advance [which is completed in the following posture by the left foot coming down forward and the right foot advancing past it]. Together with the preceding technique, these two actions are opposite and yet complementary to each other.

第四十九式：七星右補捶
Posture 49: BIG-DIPPER STANCE, RIGHT FILLING PUNCH

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
但與第二式卅七式相同
Same as in Postures 2 & 37. See photo 49:

第五十式：跨虎上截捶
Posture 50: SITTING-TIGER STANCE, HIGH INTERCEPTING FIST

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，拉起前腳以成右跨虎步，右拳曲肘向後劈返，至終點則以左手承接之，如「定式圖」
Your right foot pulls back to make a right sitting-tiger stance as your right arm bends and the fist chops across to the left rear, your left hand catching the forearm as it reaches its final position. See photo 50:

功用：
Application:
彼拳自我左上方劈來，我用上截捶法破解之，又可以先用左手封去之，再用截捶劈其肘部，前者單純較易用，後者略難而予敵更嚴重之打擊。
The opponent sends a fist chopping to my upper area on the left side, so I use this intercepting action to block it away. This technique can also be performed by first sealing off with the left hand and then using the right fist to chop his elbow. Doing it without the sealing action is easier but doing it as a sealing & chopping maneuver can be used to break his arm.

第五十一式：截捶右撩腿
Posture 51: CONTINUING FROM THE INTERCEPTING FIST, RIGHT RAISING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，原手不變，踢出右腳，如「定式圖」
Without changing your position, your right foot kicks out. See photo 51:

功用：
Application:
不論封手與否我俱可以藉截捶之利而逕出腳襲之。
Whether or not I seal off the opponent’s attacking hand, the intercepting fist on its own is still useful, and I can capitalize on its effect by now surprising him with a kick.

第五十二式：入環右滾膀
Posture 52: KNEELING STANCE, RIGHT ROLLING FOREARM

說明　功用：
Explanation & Application:
俱與第六式十七式相同
Same as in Postures 6 & 17. See photo 52:

第五十三式：引針右腰斬
Posture 53: DRAWING THE NEEDLE, RIGHT SLICING THROUGH THE WAIST

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，從左方轉身以小跳法走前以成左七星步，左拳拖向左斜方，右手掌伸前斜撇左方，如「定式圖」
Turn around to the left and go forward with a small hop into a left big-dipper stance as your left hand grabs and pulls across to the left corner, your right palm flinging out to the forward left. See photo 53:

功用：
Application:
與第四式同
Same as in Posture 4.

第五十四式：雙刁右圈腳
Posture 54: DOUBLE HOOKING, RIGHT SWINGING KICK

說明：
Explanation:
循上式，向前踏步，右掌化刁向刁出，如「過渡式圖」
Come down forward onto your left foot as your left fist becomes a hooking hand and hooks inward toward your right shoulder, and your right palm also becomes a hooking hand and hooks aside to the right. See photo 54a:

再左手刁收於右肩之內，出右腳，由右斜圈過左方如「定式圖」
Your right foot swings across from right to left. See photo 54b:

功用：
Application:
與雙刁揪腿大同小異，揪腿是著地揪馬，此式則雙刁撩陰有異曲同功之抄。
Mostly the same idea as in Posture 32, except that the scooping kick unroots the opponent’s front leg [an opponent with his left leg forward], whereas the swinging kick attacks his groin [an opponent with his right leg forward].

第五十五式：跨虎右挑掌
Posture 55: SITTING-TIGER STANCE, RIGHT CARRYING PALMS

說明：
Explanation:
與第九式相同
Same as in Posture 9. See photo 55:

功用：
Application:
收式。完
This functions as the closing posture, completing the entire set.

– – –

[As a bonus, included below are three chapters from Huang’s Notes on the Mantis Boxing Art (1951).]

–

世有萬能拳師乎？
NOBODY CAN MASTER EVERYTHING

天公造人有聰明與愚蠢之分，所謂天賦聰明及得天獨厚者是也，然而世上不少人自稱詩詞歌賦件件皆能，書畫琴棋無所不精，男婦方脈續筋駁骨，奇難雜病，無所不通，內功外勁與及十八般武藝盡皆通曉者，試舉一個例證，知其自欺欺人之技倆，而不攻自破矣，古謂：三年而通詞章，五載而暢詩賦者聰明人也，書畫之學，表似小技耳，唯一生窮究尚有未達豈可小覷哉，琴棋之術，雖屬遊戲性質，然世有若干人能精耶，漢仲景世稱醫聖，其遺敎之繁，其醫學之奧，非庸夫俗子所能畢讀，至夫續筋駁骨之道，雖有模型考據，但非歷久臨床實驗其能著手成春乎？奇異之病，誕怪之症，聞所未聞，見所未見，可能畢其所學乎？至於武功方面，實屬無底深淵，古謂「三年練腰馬，五載出拳頭」之說，單指拳腳之事已非旦夕可窺其奧，更何況輕言內功外勁者耶！百日練刀，千日練槍，萬日練劍，古有明章，其弓箭袖鑣之類，動輙十年八載苦功，始有成就，余浸淫武道已廿餘稔矣，自問一無所成，祗通其大略而已，以之訓廸初學者，或可為之，若以之臨陣應戰，實無把握之術，余誠天下之蠢子矣，世有不少年甫三十，便自誇文武兼資，醫藥冠羣，若以數學算之，豈非未面世而學有之基礎耶？然處今之世，惟誇大者可稱雄，憑良心講實際難覓立足之地，欺偽為成功之捷徑，是耶？非耶？希高明者自尋答案。
God made both smart people and stupid people. The lucky ones are deemed to be “uniquely talented” or “unusually gifted”, and yet somehow the world is full of people who consider themselves to be well-versed in all forms of poetry, or highly adept at music and chess, or qualified to give all sorts of medical advice and willing to tackle any illness, or powerful in both internal skill and external skill, not to mention able to expertly wield a multitude of weapons, and so on. With a few examples, we can dispel the delusions, and the grandeur will come crumbling back to reality:
　　There is an old saying: “Three years of studying prose plus five years of studying poetry equals a smart man.” Painting and calligraphy may seem like somewhat minor skills, and yet they cannot be looked down upon because they require a lifetime of commitment. Music and chess are common recreational pursuits, and yet there are very few who genuinely excel at them.
　　Zhang Zhongjing of the Han Dynasty is known as the “Sage of Medicine”. Due to the sheer amount of his teachings and the depth of his knowledge, a complete study is beyond the capacity of ordinary people. His treatments for sprains and fractures have been extensively researched, but without long-term personal experience, one will not be able to effectively treat every patient. How can one ever finish a study of medicine anyway since there will always be strange new illnesses that have not yet been seen or heard of?
　　As for martial skill, it is truly a bottomless abyss. There is another old saying, riffing on that other old saying: “Three years of practicing stances, five years of practicing punches.” This makes it clear that the training of fist and foot is not something that can be taught in a day, and indicates how much more the further work that goes into developing internal power and external power is not to be belittled. “A hundred days to learn the saber, a thousand days to learn the spear, ten thousand days to learn the sword.” Ancient people had wise standards. To become skillful with further weapons such as the bow & arrow or the sleeve dart each require a decade of hard work.
　　I have been steeping myself in martial methods for more than twenty years, and yet I wonder why I have not accomplished more, having attained only a general understanding that makes me just about qualified to give instruction to beginners, but when it comes to the pure art of fighting, I am still no master. I must be one of the stupid ones.
　　So many other men in their thirties have confidently proclaimed themselves as being thoroughly capable in both the literary and martial arts, as well as experts in medicine, but if we apply some accounting, how did they find time to learn it all? In this current generation, it is only the braggarts who gain a reputation, while those with honesty and integrity have a much harder time getting established. Deceiving oneself and others as a shortcut to success – is it right or wrong? I hope the smart ones will find a solution.

–

氣功練法及功用
ON THE TRAINING OF QIGONG SKILL

拳術家好作荒誕誇大之言積習深矣，世人不察視臥釘床，碎大石等便目之為了不得之「內功」，或逼爆鐵絲綑身，與夫纓槍鎖喉等皆內勁之表現，殊不知此皆「玩把式」江湖（好漢）之技倆耳。
林師伯之高足卲兄華亭於余初從羅師習藝時期彼任職於永樂西街義泰行山東莊，暇時亦常到精武受益於羅師，一次於表演會上，羅師笑指卲兄曰，汝之排氣功亦應在此盛會表演矣，卲兄不能卻，乃褪衣立於塲中，向衆請曰，各位可向吾痛擊矣？各同學面面相覷，弗敢上前，後經羅師解釋謂彼之氣功由頭至下皆可任人攻擊者，汝輩欲一開眼界，可隨意動手試騐，於是好奇之心驅使，紛紛上前擊之，凡十數拳之多，視之卲兄不但無所動，且無裝腔作勢的醜態，經各人實地試驗之餘，不禁起了羡慕之心，翌日聯同向卲兄請敎，卲兄細言羅師實此中之能手，特以汝輩缺乏勇毅之心，故不授而已，求諸於羅師又否認有此，求學者心切得此良技，再請卲兄傳之，卲兄乃引述其練法，蓋排氣功夫非朝夕之事，須克苦耐勞，三年方有成就，同時除基本吐納動作之外，尚須以竹作片遍體拍之，繼而刮之，使肌內之骨膜發生彈性作用，然後轉以操縱之法，譬如以心為總機紐，其開閉之機隨時皆能收發自如，全身皆有觸覺性能，任何一部有所觸及，自然發出一種抵抗能力，其練法繁複辛苦外，及天賦其性格有關，許多人因排氣不成反傷害身體，甚至犧牲其生命者為數不鮮，汝等欲練不難，但須自視其環境及能耐，始可嘗試。未幾，卲兄返里不來，余等便無緣領畧其功矣。羅師一生未嘗以此表演，人莫能知其是否亦精於此道也。
Martial artists tend to be pretty good at exaggerating their abilities. Ordinary people do not closely examine what they see to find out if a bed of nails is actually sharp or just somewhat pointy, or if a rock that is about to be impressively smashed has already been cracked through, they just blindly accept such things as amazing feats of “internal skill”. When they see a man bursting free of iron wire that has been wrapped around his body, or brace a spear tip against his throat and make the shaft bend, they always treat such thing as displays of internal power, ignorant that these are trick stunts, and that the men demonstrating them are not “heroes”, just crafty street performers.
　　When I started learning from Master Luo, his fellow student Lin Jingshan had a pupil named Shao Huating, who was then working for Yee Tai Hong’s Shandong import & export firm on Wing Lok Street. In his spare time, Shao often came to Jingwu to gain extra training from Master Luo. Once during a public demonstration, Luo smiled and pointed at Shao, saying: “You ought to show this group your Impact-Neutralizing Qigong.”
　　Shao was not in a position to refuse, so he took off his shirt, stood in the middle of the performance space, and asked the crowd: “Would someone among you please strike me?” Fellow students looked at each other uneasily, none of us daring to come forward. Master Luo then explained: “His qigong allows him to receive hits anywhere from head to toe. If you want to expose yourself to something new, give it a try.” Curiosity spurred us on and we came forward one after another to hit Shao. Dozens of punches not only failed to move him from his spot, he never gave any reaction at all.
　　After we had given him this practical test of his skill, we could not help but envy his ability. The very next day, we approached Shao and asked him to teach it to us. He told us that Master Luo also had this ability, but that he would not teach it due to a feeling that our generation lacked the level of courage required. We promptly went to Master Luo and asked him to teach it to us, but he simply denied that he had this skill, so the most eager of us went back to ask Shao again. Shao then explained his training thus:
　　”Impact-Neutralizing Qigong is no overnight achievement. It demands several years of very hard work to see any results. In addition to the basic breathing exercises, bamboo is used to strike and scrape every part of the body. This causes the layer of membrane between bone and muscle to become more springy. Then mental control of the ability to resist hits gets trained, so that you can be receptive or resistant to contact as you please, an energetic barrier that can be switched on and off. When switched on, the slightest touch anywhere on the body automatically activates a kind of resistance force. The training process is complicated and laborious, and is greatly affected by individual talent and temperament. Many people have ended up injuring themselves because they did not complete the training, and quite a few have died. You might hope that the training is not too difficult, but before you attempt it, you first have to consider if your circumstances afford you the time commitment required and if you really have the stamina to endure it.”
　　Shao soon went back to his hometown anyway and we never saw him again, and so we had no chance to gain a better understanding of his skill. Luo himself never demonstrated this ability, therefore nobody can know for sure whether or not he possessed it as well.

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赤手能抗白刃乎
CAN EMPTY-HAND FIGHTING DEFEAT BLADED WEAPONS?

余從許多拳師口中傳來俱曰空手能入白刃，經余指出下述理由之後多為之語塞，余曰當二人相拼之時其理智必不如平時之淸靜，斯時任何人皆無暇再計及處勢之優劣矣，雖傷及遍體，傍人見之尤不忍覩，但其本人卻若無其事者，迨相搏旣罷，血氣稍定時則痛入心脾矣，是可知當時已將痛苦忘卻也。
某拳師辯余曰我功夫優於對方便不畏其持有器械矣，余笑曰誠如此則距離論戰之道遠矣。
蓋凡論戰者必以彼此武功如一，身型年齒相等，始足併談，否則無啻以成年人而與小孩論，其理固顯淺極矣，若夫彼此武功相等，其一則手持雪亮之兵刃，其一祗徒憑赤手空拳，假使彼此每攻必得，試思刀與拳之威力孰為優劣，其成敗之功于此又思過半矣。
何況甫經接觸之後，著著受有威脅，處處屈居下風，又何能抵禦哉，但突受武器襲擊而僅作趨避或解圍者，雖彼此武功相等亦可以應急為用，若以之為比試高下直至勝敗判明為止者，我敢斷其絕無可能也。
I have heard many martial arts teachers claim that empty hands can defeat bladed weapons, but they usually become more hesitant to voice such an opinion whenever I point out the following reasoning: “When two people are fighting, they do not think in the same way that they would under normal circumstances, and this is because there is simply no time to think at all, to calculate advantages and disadvantages about the situation while in the whirlwind of it. Even though the empty-hand fighter receives so many cuts that it makes onlookers hide their eyes in horror, he fights on still, not even registering his wounds. Then once the fight is over, his adrenaline rush subsides and he starts to feel the pain.” A certain teacher dismissed this concern and argued against my point thus: “But my skill is better than my opponent’s, so I don’t need to fear him even if he’s holding a weapon.” I laughed and said: “If you really believe that, you have no experience of the reality of combat.”
　　To properly conduct a martial experiment, both opponents have to have the same skill level, and be equal in physical build and age. There will then be meaningful data to analyze and discuss. Otherwise it would be no better than an adult talking to a child, the deep thought of experience drowned out by the shallow opinions of innocence. So the parameters are: both fighters at an equal skill level, one brandishing a weapon, the other only relying on his empty hands, and most importantly, both successfully connecting with their attacks. Under those conditions, the key question becomes: which is more damaging, a punch or a saber slash? And now the winner is obvious.
　　For the empty-hand fighter, contact from the saber means guaranteed injury. How then could he decisively defend against it when his only realistic option is to just keep dodging and evading? Even though both opponents have equal martial skill, both being just as effective at drawing upon their skill in response to any other emergencies, it is nevertheless clear who is in the superior role in this particular situation. The empty-hand guy has no chance.

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