Luk Ging: The Six Zones of Martial to execute techniques with both stability

Force Production and mobility. To ensure proper support, the

Ging refers to the totality of martial force practitioner’s weight is equally distributed
while luk is typically associated with muscu- between both legs, assisting the action of
lar intensity. The term ging is used to empha- linking the muscles of the core, back, and
size the production, execution, and applica- chest to optimize faat ging - the emitting
tion of integrated force. Luk ging, sei noi biu force.
ging, and baat ging all incorporate the ex-
pression ging within their descriptions to ac- Collectively, the waist and the core muscles
centuate the relationship that these principles known as yiu, in conjunction with the back,
share within the process of issuing force. or bui, facilitate the mechanics of the upper
body in this martial power circuit. As the ac-
The physical aspect of producing ging re- tions of the trunk turn and torque, close and
quires that the network of 6 specific areas of open, and compress and explode in unison,
the body act in unison. The Bak Mei stance, the force generated from these gestures trav-
customarily known as ding bat ding, baat bo els to the extremities known as sau, literally
baat, is the foundation from which all tech- the hands, to be emitted in an effective and
niques are derived. The exact translation of injurious manner.
this couplet is: not completely in the shape
of the Chinese character for person and not For the practitioner, this same damaging
completely in the shape of the character for force is kept from causing personal harm to
the number eight - referring to the place- the practitioner when the neck - geng, and
ment of the feet and width of the legs. This the teeth - nga, complete the physiological
principal position enables the practitioner circuit responsible for the production of faat
ging. These final two areas are defined as the adversary’s vulnerable state. On the other
critical components within luk ging due to hand, Chum, a sinking action, bears weight
their roles in securing an uninterrupted trans- onto the opponent in a suppressing man-
mission of force within the neck and skull ner. Again, this provides the practitioner the
when techniques are executed. It is essential opportunity to capitalize on the adversary’s
that the teeth are clenched to stabilize the submissive state.
skull so that the force will be strengthened
and reinforced throughout the entire body The concepts of Tan, Tou, Fau, Cham are
rather than dispersed and weakened through found in many Southern Chinese martial arts
a sagging jaw. and their combative interpretation can range
from isolated to integrated actions. Some
Say Noi Biu Ging: The Four Internally-Sup- styles translate this formula as an expression
ported Expulsive Forces of the extremities such as hand techniques
Defined as Say noi biu ging, literally the swallowing, releasing, raising, or pressur-
four internally-supported expulsive forces, ing the limbs of an opponent’s attacks. Oth-
the four characteristics are tan, tou, fau, and ers view this concept as one arising from a
cham. Within this context, the internal aspect holistic source based upon the principles of
is addressed by the structurally integrated connected and coordinated movements rein-
mechanics of luk ging. The issuing force as- forcing techniques.
sumes a directional charge derived from the
compressing and releasing dynamics of the Shrimp back
waist, core muscles, and back. The physical description of a practitioners
stance that can be found in all southern box-
Tun, literally meaning to swallow, redi- ing is known as Shrimp back or Dragon back.
rects an opponent’s incoming force into the This Shrimp back or Dragon back mechanic
ground. In essence, the practitioner grounds highlights the integrated structure of the bod-
the energy of an attack with this action. Tou, ies kinetic spring sections of Legs, Spine &
or to spit, corresponds to an outward release arms.
of force away from the body. Typically, tun
complements tou as a kinetic pair. Fou, to
float, is an uprooting force that disrupts and
displaces the opponent’s foundation. This
enables the practitioner to take advantage of
Bak Mei Salute -
“From 5 Lakes And 4 Seas, All Men Are Brothers”
TheMei
The Bak Four Sea’s
salute is unique among the Martial arts of southern
China if not the country as a whole. Its initial outward structure
is a juxtaposion of the classical salute found in other systems of
boxing: in the classical salute, the right hand forms a fist and the
left hand a palm, whereas Bak Mei presents the opposite hand
orientation.

Another more political detail of the salutation is that of a right

open hand on the left fist which in Bak Mei means “from 5 lakes
and 4 seas, all men are brothers”. This would have been a sym-
bol ofThe FivetoLakes
loyalty the Ming and the secret Hung Mun society that
was created to overthrow the Qing dynasty.
What is clear is that Cheung Lai Chuen spread Bak Mei kung fu
during the 20th century in Guangzhou, Macau, and Hong Kong.
Then his disciples spread it further in Vietnam and England.

Many reason for this are often given, most of which focus on the
aspects of political insugence. What is presented here, however,
will focus solely on the structural mechanics that relate to Martial
cultivation, Kinetic power generation, Nei Gung health practices,
and far more that is generaly unknown or overlooked.

To begin with the Bak Mei salute is one of the most heavily
encoded martial salute movements one can train, encompass-
ing not only the core fundamental energies of Float (Fou), Sink
(Chum), Swallow (Tun) and Spit (Tou), but also the primary line
facing and deployment structure neccesary for short shock power
(Gok Ging). The Bak Mei salute is a unique piece of Mass Mar-
tial communication, transmitting its knowledge to the dedicated
initiate.

When posing the salute both hands convergr on the centerline

right palm on top of the left fist. The hands begin to drop and
arch to the left hip and assend up to the left nipple regine with
the ulna and raidila bones of each arm facing the torso.
Bak Mei Salute -

The human body manifests bi-lateral cemetery, If equally divided in half from the top of
your head to your groin you have two identical halves, as a result you also have a central
axis or “center line” running through the body from top to bottom.

This center line also represents the line of resistance that the body poses against gravi-
ties pull, the body is further divided into three primary kinetic springs, a kinetic spring
is much like a Bow, (Figure A) two of the three act as natural shock absorbers against
gravity, the three springs of the body are the Legs, the Spine and the Arms.

Relaxation is the most important factor in reaping the benefits of Standing Post exercis-
es, relaxation allows the following process to occur.

This process over time transforms the practitioners spine structure from one that express-
es the shape of the letter S to one that expresses the shape of the letter C.

This level of trainig intergrates and unifies the lower lumbar section of the spine stucture
with that of the upper cervical spine stucture.

(Figure A)
Bak Mei Fundamental form coupled with forearm rotation and wrist
flexion at the salutes end.
- Jik Bo
(Straight Step set) Second are the protocols of movement
possible in the Jin Kiu Sao or Scissor
Jik Bo Keun or the Straight step fist is Bridge hands. This movement inge-
considered by White Eyebrow practi- niously builds upon the salutation while
tioners to be the most important form adding vorticular wrist and forearm rota-
of the system. This form is not only the tion that expands outward in polarized
beginning and the end of one’s training, palm positions at the apex of the shoul-
it is the encapsulated culmination of the der line boundaries. Once deployed the
system’s knowledge, nei gung, and power arms contract with the same spring power
cultivation method. This form encom- returning to a fortified bridge arm guard
passes not only the core fundamentals of on the centerline. Now with a strong
Float (Fou), Sink (Chum), Swallow (Tun) reinforced bai Jong guard the Bak Mei
and Spit (Tou) energy but also the prima- practitioner can execute the Third tacti-
ry line facing and deployment structure cal detail
necessary for short shock power (Gok The movement series known as Biu jee
Ging). Jik Bien choi da strike or, Thrusting fingers
straight whip strike punch movement.
Tactically the Jik Bo Straight ste
step form Boxing Forms of other systems that share
cultivates not only a unique and uni- many Martial and Structural details are:
fied discharge of power but a method of
bridging that does not rely on classical
sensitivity training to be effective.
This effective tactical detail is based on
several facets of movement unique in
structure to Bak Mei. In life when faced
with a real attack there is no time at all
to implement a self defense movement
based on eye sight, purposely contrived
line facing or an ABC flow of counters.
Movements designed for effective self
defense rely on two primary details to be
effective. ONE is instantaneous adaptabil-
ity for endless applications and TWO is
the ability to dischage POWER.

This begins First within the form when

one trains the hallmark salute of Bak Mei
which focuses the discharge of power out
from the bodies center through the trian-
gular displacement of the attackers force,
• Okinawan Karate - San Chein (3 Battles form)
• White Crane boxing - Som Cheih (3 Tensions form)
• Southern Praying Mantis - Som Bo Jin (3 Step Arrow form)
• Dragon Shape boxing - Sup Look Tong (16 Straight set)
The series of illustrations ABC show the most common variations in the bridge
arm deployment and arm references found in the Jik Bo form.
• Positions A - expresses a very tightly focused centerline guard and a bridge
arm placement that rests along the centerline plane, that line which divides
the body in two identical bi-symmetrical halves forming the tactical combat
boundary. • Positions B - expresses a medium focused centerline guard and
a bridge arm placement that rests along the mid centerline, that line which is
found between the centerline and shoulder line boundary.
• Positions C - expresses a very wide centerline guard and a bridge arm
placement that rests along the Shoulder line, that line which is found at the
shoulder line boundary.

C
A

C
The Formula for Power in Southern the back (Hom Hon and Tan Hang) and swal-
lowing the chest, the scapula bones become
Chinese boxing
the source of and deployment point for the
arms’ striking power. This action and detail
If we look at the body’s ability to produce
of movement allows the practitioner FIRST to
power for striking, we can see that it is very
strike without the retraction of the arms that
important to access the body’s full mass.
commonly occurs in other systems.
The body has three parts that can be used as
kinetic springs—the legs, arms, and spine. In
comparison to the legs and arms, the torso or
spine contains the greatest amount of mass.

In practically the same way a medieval

catapult or French trebuchet utilizes a down-
ward, falling counterweight to generate
its ballistic power, so too does this boxing
method. It is through the first two polarized
energy extremes of float and sink that this is
accomplished.

Once the spring power systems of the stance

(legs) and torso (spine) are linked through the
rolled forward pelvic lift, it is time to unlock
the power within the scapula gate. The im-
age of a gate expresses an open and closed
polarity. Similarly, the compound lever ac-
tion of the scapula, trapezius, and shoulder
create an open and closed opposition. This is
acoomplished within the two primary polar-
ized states of Retraction and Protraction.

This very critical detail allows the practi-

tioner to access the body’s torso mass and
deploy the resulting power in the six major
ging directions. Through the act of rounding