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Steel Wrapped in Cotton Wool |
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Written by siukee wan
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Many in the Kung Fu world will have come across the term 'Cotton Hands'or 'Steel wrapped in Cotton' which in essentially an analogy to the arms or body adopting a likeness to the softness and strength of cotton.
Through specific training methods, the overall concept involves the power of intent to bring into play a range of muscles, which we would not instinctively focus on when performing certain motor actions. The effect on our body is an improvement of functional strength to many areas of movement, which before, would not seem possible. And it is from these types of Internal training methods that has given rise to the famous Internal expression “Use four Ounces of force to move a thousand Pounds".
The other side and equally important is the disguise it can generate, effectively concealing our initial power signature. Essentially this is achieved by creating a constant flow of energy through the combination of intent and correct posture.
By relaxing we are able to join together all the various power vectors into a seamless flow of energy and when pressed it produces an effect likened to a soft cotton ball. This softness can as a result be used to disguise the origins of our power thus hiding our true centre. The inherent complexity and historic secrecy has limited these training methods to a relatively small circle of practitioners, and although these days the information is much more widespread, it still not yet common knowledge.
When we push against a practitioner using this type of Internal energy, we should feel like pushing against a big ball of cotton, soft to begin with but when pressed further compresses into a very solid immovable object. By training softness we literally change the mechanical way in which power is issued and received.
Whilst adopting a more relaxed state, we improve our ability to neutralise incoming force as well as improving circulation of our own energy and balance. Being relaxed in body and mind has the result of improving our stability and root. When we let go of tension we become more connected with the earth as we let gravity do its job. If we are tense we become top heavy and disconnected from the earth and are more easily pushed over. Many of us will know just how difficult it is to carry a person who is extremely relaxed as a result of being heavily intoxicated.
Our muscles work better when they are relaxed. A prime reason for this is that there is better connection with the ground, which is where the power comes from. Furthermore energy (chi) flows better through a relaxed body. As a result we gain the benefit of a healthier circulation and our bodies will function better. When we are relaxed we take in deeper breaths which deliver more oxygen to our muscles and organs.
Internal training is in effect a method of achieving increased physical strength without resorting to a program of power training. As we get older our muscular strength also naturally declines. As a result, historically this was probably a likely reason why some hard external kung fu styles evolved into softer Internal systems. In turn some of these softer Internal systems have evolved further to concentrate on the health aspect and as a result they are no longer practical as a self-defence system.
The universal nature of Ying and Yang is the existence of opposites in harmony and for this law to remain true in kung fu, the ‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ must be equal in power. It is not until we can truly understand softness can we tap into our body’s natural strength.
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