In traditional martial arts, every movement, every technique has its underlying meaning and rationale. In the finals of the 8th NTD World Chinese Traditional Martial Arts Competition, American competitor Liu Zichuan showcased the “Open Extreme Soul Pursuing Palm” with the same level of depth.
After a series of both soft and hard, tightly rhythmic open-fist strikes, Liu Zichuan concluded with a slight forward gesture of his left hand, followed by a twist of his body, and a few steps forward before bringing it to a close. He explained that the significance of this movement lies in the scenario of actual combat, where it symbolizes accurately striking the opponent’s throat, expressing a sense of “regret” after killing the adversary. This reflects the mindset of the original inventor of this fist technique at the moment of reluctantly confronting the necessity to kill the enemy.
“So traditional martial arts emphasize ‘martial virtue’ and ‘mentality’. You must be a kind person, someone who can protect others, escalate to safeguarding the country, extend to influencing culture on a broader scale, and ultimately reach the root of martial arts, which is about merging with the cosmic principles as spoken in ancient cultivation practices.”
Liu Zichuan noted, “While the flying and acrobatic skills seen in movies undoubtedly exist, they are not attainable by the average person or those who haven’t reached that level. If these abilities fell into the wrong hands, they wouldn’t be taught. Just like in modern society, high-level expertise is not entrusted to someone with ill intentions, right? It follows the same principle.”
He elaborated on the meticulous aspects of traditional martial arts, starting with the forms or routines, which are a collection of inherited techniques passed down through history.
“That’s just a small part of it,” Liu Zichuan said. “Then there’s the ‘mentality,’ which is the most crucial aspect as it embodies the entire spirit of the discipline, encompassing theories about the body, principles of fist techniques, such as the purpose and function behind each movement.”
The final segment comprises the most adept and formidable techniques used in actual combat situations.
“Your moral character is under scrutiny at this stage, as only when you’ve reached a certain level can these be passed down to you,” he stated. “At this juncture, you are deemed worthy to inherit this martial art, meaning you can carry it forward. Teaching you how to utilize these techniques at this stage is considered ‘inheritance,’ otherwise, it’s merely ‘learned’ but not ‘inherited’.”
Liu Zichuan’s “Open Extreme Soul Pursuing Palm” is a form he recently mastered, and his participation in the competition aimed to showcase support for the event while engaging in exchanges with fellow practitioners.
“The original style was a bit aggressive, and now it’s somewhat more restrained, with a softer palm technique and some variations. By sharing these subtle changes and exchanging ideas with others, one can unintentionally stumble upon new insights or identify areas with deficiencies; through such comparisons, one can distinguish between good and bad techniques.”
Liu Zichuan claimed the bronze medal in the men’s fist category at the NTD competition. He expressed his delight in seeing the NTD competition thrive for 16 years, attracting a growing number of participants, especially noticing the influx of younger faces.
“Modern martial arts have pushed traditional practices to the brink of extinction, yet the resurgence of interest in traditional martial arts by so many individuals reflects ongoing efforts to preserve cultural heritage,” he remarked. “Fellow martial arts enthusiasts from Europe, Taiwan, and China are all contributing to the revival of tradition.”