Gong Fu Secrets

[Chan Wu Gongfu]

Yin Shou Guen Part III
Yin Shou Guen is the first staff form in a series of staff forms. It is essential that the body and the staff move as one. If your body moves faster than your staff your timing is off and you may hit or injure yourself. Moving as one gives all movements immense power. It is the power of the body creating force, that moves through the body into the staff and then outward from a strike. As always when learning a weapons form seek the teaching of a good Master, who can advise you, so that you comprehend the applications of the stances and movements of the form.


Resting on a Pillow

Move staff with right hand downwards to the right side of the body, making a circle, coming up circling to the front side of the body, moving into left Bow Stance (Gong Bu). Eyes looking towards the right, starring at the staff.

Golden Rooster stands on one Foot

Picking the right leg up bent at the knee, at the same time thrusting the staff quickly to the left and then to the right side.

Bird Circles in the Air

The right foot steps across the left foot, left foot moves forward one step in quick fashion. The staff moves forward and upwards, at the same time the body jumps straight up, turning by 180 degrees, landing in Gui Bu (the inner right knee is resting flat on the ground, the left knee is bent at 90 degrees) with the staff striking the ground in front. Eyes starring at the staff.

The Staff Blocks the Waist

Standing up shift into right Bow Stance (Gong Bu), with the staff level at the waist, both right and left hand hold the staff at the centre. The staff remains at the waist level while shifting into left Bow Stance. Shift weight onto the left leg, raising the right leg bent at the knee, pivot on the left foot to the right by 180 degrees, landing in right Bow Stance (Gong Bu). At the same time strike downwards with the staff. Head to the right, eyes starring at the right hand and staff.

Immortal Points Out the Way

Slide the tip of the staff along the ground past the front of the body, while pivoting into left Bow Stance. At the same time the left hand releases the staff and the hand changes to Sword Fingers and moves to the back of the body, creating a straight line between the left arm and the staff. Eyes starring at the tip of the staff.

Golden Rooster Stands on One Foot

Pulling the staff backwards towards the body, shift weight to the right leg. Raise the staff above the head, parallel to the ground, while the left hand moves to the left side of the body, parallel to the staff. At the same time the left leg is raised, bending at the knee and with toes pointed. Head is to the left, eyes starring down the left arm.

Huang Zhong Shoots an Arrow

The left foot touches the ground, the right arm brings the staff down to the waist, and the left hand catches the staff. The right arm bends at the elbow moving quickly upwards, and at the same time the right leg raises, bending at the knee by 90 degrees. The right hand moves the staff downwards, at the same time the right foot stomps the ground. The left foot rises, moving leftwards into Horse Stance (Ma Bu). Eyes watch the staff in front of the body.

Stab through the Heart

Shift into left Bow Stance (Gong Bu), the left hand slides down the staff, joining the right hand at the bottom of the staff. At the same time the staff is thrust forward in a straight line away from the body. Head and eyes stare at the tip of the staff.

Jade Girls Pierce with a Shuttle

Pivot the body out of Bow Stance (Gong Bu) to the right by 90 degrees. At the same time pull the staff quickly towards the body, allowing it to slide through the hands. When the staff becomes level with the shoulders (as if playing a flute), with the right arm extended to the right, shift the weight of the body is on the left leg shift into Ding Bu (a stance whereby the toe of one foot, in this case the right foot, touches the ground, precisely in the centre of the opposite foot). Head and eyes starring to the right looking at the staff.

Bird Circles in the Air

Jumping by 180 degrees to the right, land in Horse Stance. At the same time strike the ground with the tip of the staff in front of the body. Eyes starring at the staff. Repeat movement additional two times, to make three jumps in total.



Autumn Wind Sweeps the Fallen Leaves

Shift weight onto the left leg, step to the left with the right leg. At same time move the staff perpendicular to the body, right hand at the top, left hand at the bottom and turn the staff tip first by 180 degrees upwards to the right. Pivot the body so that it is facing the opposite direction and the staff continues to make a circle in front of the body. When the staff tip points towards the heavens the staff continues until it touches the ground. At the same time the left foot steps behind the right foot. The eyes are looking on the tip of the staff.


Golden Rooster Stands on one Foot

Weight is on the right foot. Pivot the body by 360 degrees to the left whilst raising the left leg at the knee. At the same time raise the staff until it is parallel to the ground at waist level, when striking with the tip of the staff the bottom of the staff comes to rest at the left waist. The eyes are looking forward at the tip of the staff.

Prodigal Son Kicks the Ball

Left foot touches the ground, the left hand moves to the bottom of the staff and the right hand moves forward. The tip of the staff moves upwards, circling backwards behind the body to the right side. As the tip of the staff moves to the front of the body the right foot kicks with a Snap Kick. The staff and leg are parallel to the ground. Eyes look at the tip of the staff.

Sitting on a Mountain

Right foot steps down close to the body, toes pointed by 90 degrees to the right. The tip of the staff moves downward, then circles upwards behind the right side of the body. The head and eyes follow the right hand until the staff tip points towards the heavens. The right arm is stretched out on the staff, the left leg is raised, and the body has completed the pivot. As the body lands in Horse Stance (Ma Bu) the head snaps to the left, eyes forward.

Ending

Draw the left foot in towards the right foot, left hand releases the staff and circles upward coming in to rest at the heart level. At the same time the right hand rests the staff on the ground to the right of the body. Left hand moves downward, with the palm facing inwards.