The snake coils its body, so this model connects through the body by coiling the arms. The snake manner of moving and techniques can be applied directly to mandarin duck (deerhorn) knives, using the knives much as a double-headed snake. Once you are comfortable with the single-hook walking and changes, you can pick up the knives and know how to use them. Snake techniques also move like a swallow, with the ‘wings’ always connected through the keel. On the external level, it develops the back and arms and stretches the arms open, and prepares the body for Ma Gui's famous wrist striking.
Snake circle-walking
Tuck the rear shoulder under with the hand hooked up and held parallel to the line of the circle, or pointing away from the centre (pointing away develops the shoulders more, and develops the connection through the upper body more). Turn the body to place the leading hand into the centre of the circle, palm up, at shoulder height. Tuck the thumb in slightly, to prepare for wrist striking techniques by pushing into the end of the arm. Twist the arms, the front palm rotating towards the thumb (external rotation) and the rear palm rotating away from the thumb (internal rotation). The body does not turn much into the circle, as this would take away from the development of the shoulder/upper body connection and tendon changing.
There is a special way to make the hook that gives power to the hooking arm. Press the thumb on the proximal section of the middle finger and press down into the wrist. This prepares the strength and qi flow for wrist striking.
