Chu Gar Boxing - Four Words Secret
Late Master Dong Yat Long, Circa 1970

Float, Sink, Swallow, Spit

HANDS ARE A PAIR OF DOORS

Open the Doors and invite them in.

Close the Doors and send them out.

FLOAT
The sudden release of force, explosive energy, which is capable of bouncing the opponent away in full weight.

Skillfully applied the opponent will feel like being afloat on water and is easily thrown aside.  This energy bounds out in waves. It is similar to "peng" or ward off in Taichi or I Chuan (dachengquan).

In mantis this is supplemented by the heavy iron bar rolled over the forearms - pop it up, catch, roll it to the fingertips ...or by multiple heavy iron rings on the arms. Two man training is primary.

This is expressed as fic/ping shu in training. The arms flick upward or outward like the insect...strength comes from the ground through the feet and spine...

SINK
This is more difficult to master because it depends on one's natural ability to learn "feeling" or perceive the opponent's exertion of force.  He who has mastered this is capable of rendering his opponent completely immobile, thus putting him under absolute control. 

When the opponent moves one simply sinks the center into him.

This is trained in the "three" form. Energy is expressed from the lower "Dan Tien" behind the navel.

SWALLOW
The exertion of flexible force usually in circular manners, and linear, so that you intercept the opponents blow by causing it slide and miss the target, rather than intercepting it by force against force.

This is practiced in all mantis hands.

SPIT
to strike;
to strike using the
borrowed force of the opponent;
to strike in such a way
that the opponent feels
swallow and spit, sink, float,
in one strike.

If skillfully applied some say
this feels like the opponent is being
shocked by electricity.

These four characters,
FLOAT, SINK, SWALLOW, SPIT
sum up the secrets of Mantis.

Next
Chu Gar Feeding Hands

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