How to practice the Zhengshen diagram of the Yijin Jing well

Dear Mr. Kongde: I have read your translation "Comprehensive Commentary on Yi Jin Xi Su" from beginning to end several times and practiced it with the illustrations for nearly half a year, but I still feel that my skills haven't improved much. Could it be that just these few sets of gymnastic movements can produce the divine strength like that of Yue Fei? The movements in the picture description neither regulate breathing nor have any intention. A full-body picture description is completed in just a few minutes, just like doing a set of gymnastics. Some movements require force, but can one develop martial arts skills by exerting force first without good luck? However, this movement method was created by Bodhidharma over a thousand years ago, which makes me dare not doubt its correctness. I'm a qigong enthusiast. I've taught myself many exercises, but I've never found a good one. From ancient times to the present, "Yi Jin Xi Su" has been cherished by martial arts practitioners as a secret manual in the martial arts world. Today, people have obtained it, but they don't know how to practice it to achieve results or how to verify its power. Mr. Kong De, I hope you can spare some time from your busy schedule to solve these mysteries. How do you practice martial arts and what are the effects? Could you please share your own experiences of practicing martial arts? Teacher Kong De replied: I have already mentioned in the preface of the "Comprehensive Commentary on Yi Jin Xi Su" that when I make annotations, I try my best to make readers understand, and it is impossible to repeat each one. However, there are still readers like you who come to ask from time to time. To avoid disappointing you, I have no choice but to give some more responses. I think all the readers who asked questions made a common mistake, that is, they did not merely seek quick success and instant benefits by choosing a specific exercise method when learning and practicing "Yi Jin", but did not read the entire book carefully to understand its essence and connotation. It is to separate "Yi Jin" from "Xi Su" and not to carry them out simultaneously. Therefore, the benefits of fitness and health preservation are not obvious. It must be pointed out that, regardless of whether it is Buddhist or Taoist martial arts, the highest principle is the cultivation of both life and nature. Therefore, the cultivation methods are also all-round and systematic. First of all, one must thoroughly understand the theory and master the effective methods. Then, in practice, one should cultivate both life and nature, movement and stillness, and internal and external aspects simultaneously. Only in this way can there be results. Just like you, if you merely follow the pattern of the main body and practice without any sense of inner energy, of course it's no different from gymnastics. Practicing dynamic exercises has this drawback, and so do those who practice static exercises. Some monks and Taoists practice meditation all their lives, but what they practice is "dry meditation", with nothing at all. When it comes to the issue of breathing in practicing martial arts, it is a crucial matter, and the beauty lies in the "interdependence of mind and breath". This is both a natural thing and an effective way to practice martial arts. However, for the average beginner, it is not easy to talk about adjusting breathing. Because when it comes to adjusting breathing, beginners find it hard to grasp the principle of "neither forget nor help" - half natural and half man-made. They often fall into the trap of being obsessed with breathing in their minds, which leads to problems. So, I have no choice but to teach beginners not to emphasize breathing or concentration, so as to ensure that no problems arise. Since the first half of the book is quite clear about the principles and methods, there is no need for me to repeat them. I only hope that every practitioner does not have the heart of being eager for quick gains. They must study the theories carefully and meticulously, and acquire the methods on the basis of understanding the principles. This way, one won't encounter difficulties everywhere. Here's the brief summary.