You've all heard of the word dan tien (among the martial artists) and that you should use your dan tien but how many people can actually use your dan tien? That is the question. People throw this word around like they actually know how to use it. You see karate masters spending 2-3 minutes (or sometimes 30 seconds) preparing their focus and finally strike to break the bricks. But seriously, in a real fight you don't have 30 seconds to prepare yourself while the other person stands still for you to strike. So much for karate. Let's throw that away.
The purpose is to be able to strike as a counterattack or as an attack and deliver the power in less than a split of a second from any angle of defense or offense. That is the essence of real Kung Fu. You deliver the power on 3 different axes (x, y, and z). You've obviously seen people punch on only one axis of power. You've obviously seen those kinds of punches bounce off people's chest like they were nothing.
Today, I was striking my favorite punching bag against the kitchen wall. A guest was in the bedroom and came running out saying, "What are you doing?" I said, "Oh I am just punching this." She said, "It feels like the bedroom was about to come crashing down." See my punch started 3-5 inches away from the wall and when it landed, it sent shock waves from the kitchen to one face freshening room, through the bathroom, to the second freshing room entering into the bedroom. It sent shock waves from the kitchen and finally the waves converge into the bedroom making it feel like the bedroom was coming crashing down. If this were to punch at the chest of someone where the heart is, the shock waves would travel to the heart and do the damage there. It would not leave any marks on the outside, but all the power would travel to the inside and converage. The person would die from 'natural causes' hours later (where you are not around) due to heart failure. This is called the Death Touch.
My hands have healed, thanks to Sifu's healing medicine, I can train strength and punches again. I usually like to strike at close range 3-5 inches where people are grabbing me, I chin na out of it and strike from there.
Today I was helping a friend move a treadmill to the second floor. My friend had problems moving it carry it up the floor since it was too heavy. I grabbed it on the heavy end with one hand walking backwards and upwards, the other hand to balance the machine and went all the way up.
I lifted a number of heavy items today with ease and then single handedly lifted a trailer. That is good use of the dan tien. :)
I enjoy kung fu strength training. It makes me feel powerful. In the days of old, it is said that some strongmen wrestled with bears and beat them more often than not (obviously the bears were de-clawed). That is my imagery when I am strength training. I feel like I am powerfully throwing (ripping) the bear.
