The Double Palm Strike of
Mantis Boxing
 Eighteen
great masters of kung fu passed on their best techniques
'for later generations to extirpate cruel bandits and
shatter injustice, the original intentions being mercy,
chivalry and righteousness.' The techniques are
arranged in descriptively titled groups such as ‘Seven
Maneuvers’ , ‘Eight Hard’ and ‘Seven Long’ as well as
methods of developing strength and vitality called
‘Eighteen Luohan Gung.’ There is one technique that
shows up in each of these groups. It is the double palm
strike.
The specialty of the ‘Eight Hard’ attacks is ‘to
advance without defense, only onward without retreat.’
The third technique of ‘Eight Hard’ is called ‘following
strike double palms.’
The ‘Seven Long’ attacks, supposedly descended from
General Han Tong (?-960), use full range of the arms to
attack. The 4th technique of ‘Seven Long’ says,
’Wrapping, sealing double palms; two hands unite and
wrap and the double palms rush straight out.’
‘Eighteen Luohan Gung’ emphasizes developing the mind,
body and spirit. ‘To accumulate strength, cultivate
the qi and perfect the spirit is the Luohan’s
accomplishment on the path of achievement.’
In ‘Eighteen Luohan Gung’ the double palm strike is
called ‘Push the Window Display the Trellis,’ and
contains four pages of descriptions and illustrations
with names like, ‘Following step double palm push’
which we see in ‘Eight Hard’ and ‘Wrap and seal,
unite the hands,’ which we see in ‘Seven Long.’
 |
| The window
trellis and door at Confucius Temple in Tainan
where author Kevin Brazier often trained. |
The Luohan Moves a Mountain
 The
idea of strength includes physical strength to perform
great feats, ‘Consider the strength to move Tai Hang
Mountain.’ It also includes an uncommon speed and
power. ‘Imitate the rushing wind and the joy of an
unbridled horse.’ The development of mountain moving
strength and the power of an untamed horse relies on the
development of the qi.
The
Tiger Riding Luohan
Wrap and seal, unite the hands, firmly compel the
qi,
For attacking and entering uses all the body’s
strength.
The overturning hawk rushes into the wind,
Coming and going like the pulling of a saw.
 Cultivate
the Qi
The proper exertion of force requires the coordination
of qi. ’The strength relies on the qi.’ Here, qi
simply means the respiration, the goal being to have an
even breathing with inhalation and exhalation being well
balanced and deep, in this way can the strength go
beyond the muscles and work to develop the sinews and
bones. To the right is an illustration from Luohan
Gung.
Adjusting respiration requires a returning and
rotating,
One coming and one going,
Nourish it to the union of qi and blood,
And one day your sinews and bones will be
strengthened.
 ‘Returning
and rotating’ is a reminder to keep the mind focused
on the point of change from inhalation to exhalation and
vs. versa. Because inhalation is yang and exhalation is
yin (the yin and yang which make up the two halves of
the taiji diagram at right) so it is said to be
‘returning and rotating.’
Perfect the Spirit
Spirit means an animated spirit or strong vitality which
we begin to acquire on mastering the ’returning and
rotating’ of our own respiration. To master the
respiration means not only while exercising, but keep
respiration even throughout the day and night. When the
respiration is always calm we have more energy to use at
that critical moment.
Raise
the qi, pass the shoulders,
Push past heaven and moon.
Changing your step burst into the yamen.
The yamen (above) was where government business of each
town or region was administered and where the judging of
civil and criminal cases took place. To the Chinese,
considered the second class of citizen during the
Manchurian ruled Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the idea of
vitality enough to burst into the Manchurian yamen might
have seemed appealing, yet Luohan Gung often stresses
calmness in the face of excitement.
Ride
the horse and pull the whip your hands raise the
reins.
While leaping mountains and jumping streams your
mind stays free of panic.
Finally, the
effect on the mind of proper deep breathing that is
maintained throughout the day is to expand your mind.
Polish the essence, refine your qi, open your
mind’s door.
 The
Luohan’s Palm Strikes
Though there is a strong emphasis on proper cultivation
of mind, thought and respiration, mantis boxing is
originally a collection of martial techniques, descended
from eighteen masters which were combined with seven key
maneuvers. Within these seven maneuvers we also find the
double palm strike called, 'following step push both
palms' along with an illustration attributed to
Sheng Xiao Dao Ren (right).
‘Seven
Maneuvers Gathered Within Continuous Fist Make The
Eighteen Combinations. They are seven types of
maneuvers that take the techniques of eighteen
styles and combine them into a way that continuously
interconnects without end.’
Though pushing with the double palms is both simple and
common, showing up not only in many areas of the oldest
collections of Mantis Boxing but also within Shaolin and
Taiji Quan. The double palm technique bursts through the
opponent’s gate and knocks him down, yet it is somewhat
safe as it is unlikely to cause permanent injury, No
wonder it is considered one of the most important
techniques in Chinese Kung Fu
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