All chuanzhang drills must be heavy but not tight, light but not weak, go straight to the target, arrive as one action, release the shoulders forward, stay in the body not the arms, and keep a balanced structure. Almost always, the rear hand it kept at the elbow of the leading hand. The chuanzhang of the Ma Gui system hits harder than in most other bagua systems, with more oomph from the back.
Chuanzhang Drills, Setting Stake
1. In a mabu feeling stance, do repeat chuanzhang on the same side hand. You need to get power from the body core, with just a bit of spring from the legs, as you can’t use stepping to find power. Drop back only slightly into an empty stance, then shift forward to chuanzhang. Smooth chuan is aligned with the middle of the leg, not to the centre of the body.
2. In a mabu feeling stance, do repeat chuanzhang alternating sides. The chuanzhang may be palm down or sideways. Go to full extension for each strike, opening the upper back. Stay low in the stance. Keep the rear hand under the front elbow and strike directly from there. Keep the thumbs tucked in. Strike high, to about forehead height. Try to understand the connection between the hands, so that the two become one. This practice really reaches out to loosen up the shoulders.
3. Segue to daoishou. In a mabu feeling stance, do chuanzhang softly, with a smooth and gentle palm up chuan, then carefully close the hand to grab and daishou. Alternate side after a certain number of repetitions. Be sure to reach out the heel of the palm before closing to daishou. Do not over pull, just a small movement (this is not a full daishou, just learning the connection)
4. In a mabu feeling stance, stand facing a horizontal stick. Do a chuanzhang, then coil the forearm around the stick to grab.
5. Lion form chuanzhang. In mabu, roll the arms through from below in the lion posture. This helps release the shoulders and enliven the shoulder girdle.
Chuanzhang Drills, Moving
1. Inside triangle stepping to chuanzhang. Alternate left and right foot forward, bring the front foot back and out along the base of the triangle, setting it and stepping the other foot forward to the point. Bring the hand through to chuan. The weight is slightly forward but not to a bow stance. It should feel the same as circle-walking. Leave the arm extended and bring the forward foot back then over to the base of the triangle. Bring the other foot in past the supporting foot, then out to the apex of the triangle. Keep the body upright throughout.
2. Straight line stepping to alternate chuanzhang, with direct advancing step. Step the forward foot first, then step the other foot through and chuanzhang with the smooth side. All straight line stepping drills step the leading foot a bit first. This makes the opponent uncomfortable and may destroy his balance. If you don’t move in with the foot, then you may end up leaning, which should never be done.
3. Straight line stepping with same side snaking chuanzhang. With an advancing step, turn the palm over on each step. Keep on the same side and advance the leading foot, keeping the same side doing the chuan, rotating palm up and palm down. Coil the wrist around naturally as if around someone who is blocking your attack.
4. Straight line stepping with same side with yinyang chuanzhang. With an advancing step, turn the palm over on each step. Keep on the same side and advance the leading foot, keeping the same side doing the chuan, rotating palm up and palm down. Move the whole body in and screw the hand directly forward. Keep behind the arm and remain heavy. Push from the rear leg, do not shift back and forth to advance.
5. Straight line stepping to triple chuanzhang. Think of the hands as the head and tail of a snake. One follows the other. Make sure to bring the rear hand through from the body – do not just use the arms.
6. Stepping through with chuanzhang, direct stepping. Step directly into chuanzhang with no shuffle or follow in step. Do this with soft power.
7. Hook and liaozhang, turning to chuanzhang, to four directions. After the chuanzhang, hook the hand and step forward with koubu to turn around. Liaozhang the other hand then step forward to chuanzhang. The chuan is done continuously on the same hand in this drill.
8. Koubu to turn, then baibu with a palm up yazhang at shoulder height with the rear hand tucked near the body. Then step forward with a chuanzhang. Turn directly to dragon form in order to repeat on the other side.
9. Combinations following chuanzhang. In most drills, you can add a technique to the chuanzhang, to get used to following up with another technique.
with tanzhang
with daishou
with yezhang
with tuishou
with fanbeichui
10. Chuanzhang in lion form. Chuanzhang from below with a slightly rolling action with the palm up. Bring the other hand back in a rolling action. You can do straight line stepping in the lion form, using large or small circles, rolling the ball (coming through with the lower hand) or trundling the ball (coming through with the upper hand).
