Hao Family Concepts of Hard & Soft

Now I will elaborate on the concepts of "hard" and "soft" energies. I will attempt to convert the fortune cookie sounding similes into practical reality using movements from popular Mantis forms.

“Use hard energy like Mt. Tai pressing down on the head: urgent like lightning, sharp like a spearhead."

Taishan is one of the five great mountains of China. It is located in Shandong province and is situated north of the city of Tai'an and south of the city of Jinan. The phrase "Like Mt. Tai pressing down on the head" refers to crushing force. If you were to think of trying to withstand the crushing weight of a mountain being dropped upon you or standing against the rushing force of an avalanche or landslide, you get the picture.

Examples of the use of hard energy in mantis:

The form, Small Wheeling, begins with a right downward chop followed by a left reverse punch and a right side-ward punch that are meant to overwhelm the enemy with a quick succession of strikes aimed at the enemy's center-line. The actions of the reverse punch and side-ward punch are rapid and piston-like in execution.

In the forms, Plum Flower Road and Essentials #1, we have a combination known as, "The Phoenix Pecks Three Times". In the technique, the practitioner advances forward with a left punch to the neck, a right punch to the bladder and a right vertical backfist to the face. It is a sudden flurry of techniques which are meant to rush through the enemy's defenses by striking him at various levels of his centerline in rapid succession. The onslaught of techniques is quick, powerful and linear.

The Mainland form, White Ape Steals the Peach, begins with a powerful combination of strikes that demonstrate hard energy type attacks. The practitioner advances forward with a right downward chop, a left reverse punch, a high right hook punch, a right hook, left seal and right lead punch, all followed by a right waist chop. Facing this overwhelming whirl of strikes which rush straight forward would be like trying to stand unmoving against a rolling boulder.

"Use soft energy like a butterfly passing through flowers or a bee dancing in the air.”

Moving like a butterfly through flowers or like the dancing of a bee means to employ circular patterns in one's movements or taking a circular rather than direct route. This can include the circling of the arms, the waist or the entire body.

Examples of the use of soft energy in mantis:

One of the most common strikes found in mantis forms is the "helping elbow". There are two typical set ups for employing this technique. Both of which are found in the Hao family form, Praying Mantis Exits the Hole. In the first instance, the enemy strikes at me with a straight punch aimed at my chest or stomach. I use both of my arms to redirect his force downward, then I strike his flank with my helping elbow to topple him. In the second instance, the enemy strikes at my chest or face with a straight punch. I use both of my palms to redirect his arm upward (mantis offers the peach), then drop under his attacking arm to strike his flank with my helping elbow. In both instances, I redirect his force with soft, circular motions that transform into powerful strikes. These methods represent the soft principles: 撲 手 而 入 手 - "Press a Hand Downward and Advance a Hand" and 挑 手 而 入 手 - "Lift a Hand and Advance a Hand".

In Essentials #2 there is a technique known as 闪 步 斜 圈 捶 - Dodge Step with Slanted Circle Strike. It's application is a good example of using a soft response to a hard attack. The enemy uses his fist to strike my center area. I use my left hand to pluck the enemy’s wrist, as my right foot dodges to the front. Then I use my right fist to circle strike the enemy’s temple. Rather than meeting the enemy's attack head on, I dodge and strike. This is also seen at the beginning of the Seven Star Mantis version of Crushing Step. The enemy uses his fist to strike my center area. I immediately dodge to his right side and strike him in the flank with my right fist. These techniques demonstrate the soft principle, 見 剛而囘手 - "Yield the Right of Way to the Hard".

The Taiji Tanglangquan version of Eight Elbows contains a technique in the beginning of the third line that is called 左 插 掌 - Left Piercing Palm. The enemy uses his fist to strike my center area. I use my left hand to hook the enemy’s wrist and softly redirect his oncoming arm side-ward. Then, I strike forward with my left arm to hit the enemy's face. This is a clear use of the soft principle, 直 統 而 抅 手 - "Attach the Hook to Straight Attacks".

I hope this gives students a greater understanding of the concepts of 刚 劲 - gāng jìng - "hard/firm energy" and 柔 劲 - róu jìng - "soft/yielding energy" as it relates to Tanglangquan.