Body-Being is a large study that is subset and component of an art called Cheng Hsin, which was founded by Peter Ralston. Although, what is challenging to get across here in writing, is that body-being ins’t it’s own system, but a byproduct of enquiry and investigation into what makes for effortlessly effective movement and power? It is a discovery of principles and dynamics that facilitate the fore-mentioned outcomes. The principles can be applied and trained across a broad scope of movement disciplines, or anything you do with your body, to great effect. Or not depending on the commitment, intelligence, and training level of the individual.
The video I have provided here is a really small sample of a couple of exercises that you can do on your own. There is much more available, and you are invited to join me in that, or write me if you have any questions. The spirit of this work involves a strong invitation for you to question and discover for yourself the truth of the matter and put in a lot of training hours to really make a difference.
- Relax– The letting go principle. You can apply this to let go and relax body tissue which has many benefits in terms of fluidity of movement, changeability, speed, and more.
- Center– All movement happens from the center of the body. The literal center. It helps make movement more efficient, powerful, and easy. There is also a by product of calming the mind when one focuses on this area of the body. It also helps with being able to feel the body and be present with objective reality.
- Whole Body– Moving the whole body all together, This is the unity principle. It helps a lot with generating power.
- Ground– Get connected with the ground. An often overlooked source of power in any movement. (This applies differently in a striking domain than it does in a grappling domain.)
- Calm– This is like the relax principle being applied to the mind. A calm and undisturbed state is highly functional when it comes to movement.
- Knee with toe– Point your knee in the same direction as your toe.
- Knee into heel (or ball of the foot)– Relate your knee to your foot so that your force can go into the ground and not compromise the structure of your knee.
- Pelvis between the feet– Keep the pelvis relating to the feet, either on a line between or directly over one foot.
- Shift the weight underground– To move the weight from foot to foot, shift into the ground rather than push off of it.
- Rotate the pelvis and body on the weighted hip. (Explains itself)
- Vertical spine– When in motion this is a good default. However, if somebody tries to hit you in the head, duck.
- Hand up you down– When in motion or reaching with a limb, keep energy and attention focused as much downward as up and out. This has implications for not losing balance when engaging in activity. It also helps maintain a connection with the ground while in motion and is the direction we use when utilizing effortless power.
(Please note- These points apply differently or not at all if you take standing on your feet out of the picture, as in rolling on the ground, grappling etc…)
Thank you for this opportunity to share some of what I am passionate about with you. It is not my intention to tell you what is right or correct to do with your body, but more to invite you to start to consider and question for yourself how this material may apply to your specific discipline.
Warmly,
Brendan Lea