Power vs. Speed

[YouKnowWho]

I don't remember that we have discussed this subject before or not. It's a very important subject anyway.

This is the general MA trade off issue. The praying mantis is very fast but the power is not all there.

Praying Mantis Kung Fu - Brendan Lai Meihua Quan - YouTube

The Baji is very powerful but the speed is not all there.

Baji quan--Adam Hsu - YouTube

The reason is simple. If you compress to the maximum and then release, you will generate the maximum amount of power. Unfortunately in combat, you don't have that luxury to obtain a full "compression".

If you look at Chenyu's and CXW's power generation. It takes them about 1 second to generate power for each of their strikes. That 1 second is just too slow in normal combat.

Chen taiji quan fajin by Chenyu 陈�太�拳 - YouTube

https://myspace.com/431083890/video/...hniques/330713

Even the XingYi Liu He system, the power generation is still to slow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcqQ9KhMYFY

By comparing the most famous power generation systems in TCMA, the Baji, Chen Taiji, and XingYi Liu He, none of them can match with the speed generated in the praying mantis system.

This is why in the

- intermediate training stage, you want to use your body to push/pull your limbs. This way you can generate the maximum amount of power.
- advance training stage, you want to use your body to chase your limbs. This way you can generate the maximum amount of speed.

Here is a simple test. When a mosquito flies in front of you and you want to smash that mosquito, will you use your body to push your hand, or will you let your body to chase your hand? Which part of your body will move first? This is a good example that you want to achieve the maximum speed, but you have to sacrifice some of your power.

Since all TCMA styles will involve with power generation and speed generation issue, what's your opinion on this?