Try this:  Assume a one-legged standing posture with all your weight on your left leg, then, circle your right leg and foot clockwise and simultaneously circle your right forearm and hand counter-clockwise, you will either find the combined motions to be very awkward or impossible to do; this combination is opposed to your innate neuromuscular coordination.  In fact, your neuromuscular coordination is “hardwired” for certain movement while some other movements are definitely un-natural.  According to the doctrine of Yiquan to enhance your spontaneous and innate fighting ability (Fa Hui Ben Neng, 发挥本能), it would be foolish to attempt to develop fighting/combat maneuvers/techniques consisting of un-natural movement.  Effective fighting/combat maneuvers/techniques are made up of instinctive, spontaneous, and natural movement. 

 

Validating natural biomechanics, Yiquan maneuvers/techniques use proper body mechanics (Shen Fa, 身法); use curved physical form to deliver linear balanced force (Xing Qu Li Zhi, 形曲力直) from a properly aligned and connected whole-body (Zheng Ti Lian Tong Xie Tiao, 整体连通协调).  You must use whole-body movement (Zheng Ti, 整体), moving each element only as part of your whole-body (Yi Dong Wu Bu Dong, 一动无不动), taking up power from the ground (Li Cong Di Qi, 力从地起).  Though it is not readily visible, you must “drill” (twist) your legs (Tui Si Zuan, 腿似钻) into the ground, to push off the ground to initiate most maneuvers. 

 

Before proceeding further, we need to define the terminology to be used to describe the natural twisting (drilling) force (Luo Xuan Li, 螺旋力).  Start with your thumbs pointing up, palms facing each other, and your toes pointing forward.  Rotating your thumbs or toes away from your central line (Zhong Xian, 中线) are defined as “twisting/drilling outward” (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋) i.e., rotating your right thumb or right toes clockwise, your left thumb or left toes counter-clockwise are all defined as twisting (drilling) outward.  Rotating your thumbs or toes towards your central line are defined as “twisting/drilling inward” (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋) i.e., rotating your right thumb or right toes counter-clockwise, your left thumb or left toes clockwise are all defined as twisting (drilling) inward.

 

The typical muscular layering and musculoskeletal structure dictate that all natural movement consist of twisting of your torso (rotation) and limbs (drill) in multi-dimension spirals (Duo Mian Luo Xuan, 多面螺旋).  Yiquan maneuvers/techniques use and develop natural movement in which every element of your whole-body twists and turns simultaneously (Yi Dong Quan Shen Zhuan, 一动全身转).  Even though some twisting (drilling) are not readily visible (Luo Xuan Li Wu Xing, 螺旋力无形), these natural twisting of your core (Yao Ru Che Lun, 腰如车轮), drilling of your limbs and rotations of your joints (Guan Jie Li Gun Si, 关节力滚丝) are essential in taking up power from the ground (Li Cong Di Qi, 力从地起), transmitting the force components through your properly aligned and connected whole-body (Zheng Ti Lian Tong Yi Guan, 整体连通一贯) to discharge/release your balanced force (Hun Yuan Li, 浑元力; see my blog: Yiquan Twist, Nov 5, 2007).  They help to merge your force components into one (Quan Shen Li Yi, 全身力一), to provide directional stability for your blows, and to re-direct/deflect your opponent’s attacking force (Gai Bian Dui Fang Li Xiang, 改变对方力向).   

 

Yiquan emphasizes whole-body synthesis:  combining proper musculoskeletal alignment, upper and lower body (core) connected-ness induced by appropriate internal isometric opposing force pairs (Shen Nei Zheng Li, 身内争力), and natural rotation of your core and limbs to act as one harmonious unit.  To gain a better understanding of the natural musculoskeletal twisting, we should start by exploring the twisting (drilling) of your legs to take up power from the ground.  From the small step fighting posture (Hun Yuan Zhuang, 浑元桩), we can categorize maneuvers into four classes:       

 

1.         Both legs twisting inwards (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋), squeezing the imaginary spring between your knees:  This is usually associated with shifting your hips (weight) forward (Tu, 吐), pushing both hands forward (双手齐出) with forearms twisting inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋) as in forward push, or pushing both hands upward with forearms twisting outward (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋) as in Bo Shui Shi Li (拨水试力).  Here, the inward twisting (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋) of your knees are not readily visible.  

 

2.         Both legs twisting outwards (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋), stretching the imaginary spring between your knees:  This is usually associated with shifting your hips (weight) backwards (Tun, 吞), pulling both hands backwards and upwards with forearms twisting outward (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋) as in Gou Gua Shi Li (勾挂试力) or pulling both hands backwards and downwards with forearms twisting inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋) as in Bo Shui Shi Li (拨水试力).  Here, the outward twisting (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋) of your knees are not readily visible.    

 

3.         Lead leg twisting inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋), rear leg twisting outward (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋), stretching the imaginary spring between your knees (相连相争):  This is usually associated with using the lead hand to attack (单手独进); forward or downward with forearm twisting inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋) as in lead hand forward or downward punches; or with the lead hand attacking upward with forearm twisting outward (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋) as in lead hand upward punch.  Here, the rear guard hand may pull backward, upward, and outward while twisting the forearm inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋).

 

4.                  Lead leg twisting outward (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋), rear leg twisting inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋), squeezing the imaginary spring between your knees (相连相争):  This is usually associated with shifting your hips (weight) forward (Tu, 吐), with your rear hand attacking forward or downward, forearm twisting inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋) as in rear hand forward or downward punches; or with the rear hand attacking upward with forearm twisting outward (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋) as in rear hand upward punch.  Here, the lead hand may pull backward, upward, and outward while twisting the forearm inward (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋), as guard.

 

Thus, we note the following general rules.  To take up power from the ground, the natural twisting (drilling) movements are:

 

a.                   To push off the ground for forward/upward force, drill your legs inwards.

 

b.         To push backwards or when sinking your weight onto your leg, drill/twist your legs outwards.

 

The rules for the natural twisting (drilling) movements of your hands are:

 

a.         (起手如钢锉)

When pushing/thrusting your hands forward, twist your forearms inwards (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋).

 

b.         (回手似钩杆)

When pulling your hands backward, twist your forearms outwards (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋).

 

c.         (起是钻)

When thrusting your hands upward, twist your forearms outwards (Wai Luo Xuan, 外螺旋).

 

d.         (落是翻)

When thrusting your hands downward, twist your forearms inwards (Nei Luo Xuan, 内螺旋).

 

To be an effective maneuver/technique, the combining of the rotation of your core and the twisting of your limbs must result in a natural movement.  You are unique, what is instinctive and natural to you may not be for others and vice versa; you cannot blindly copy or mimic external forms; you must cultivate and develop pathways for the transmission of your balanced force (Xun Zhao Jing Lu, 寻找劲路).  The proper way to gain competence is through trial and feel (Shi Li, 试力) exercises.  Use slow motion movement, like pulling silk from a cocoon (运劲如抽丝), to experience and nurture the natural-ness of every movement of maneuvers/techniques.