The theory of "Yin and Yang in Fist Techniques" in combat

Wudang martial arts have been deeply influenced by the Taoist idea of the unity of Yin and Yang in opposition, thus forming the combat theory of "Yin and Yang in Fist Techniques". Taoism regards the world as a whole that is both opposing and unified. This phenomenon of opposition and unity is summarized by the I Ching with the two characters "Yin and Yang". The two opposing aspects of Yin and Yang combine with each other, thus giving rise to endless and unceasing changes. Wudang martial arts highly promote Yin and Yang both theoretically and technically. In terms of boxing techniques, every move and posture of Wudang Boxing is fundamentally based on Yin and Yang. "Eight Trigrams Rotating Palms discuss Yin and Yang, the harmony of the Five Elements is hidden within", "Internally, Qigong is divided into three sections; externally, there are techniques to distinguish Yin and Yang" (Sha Guozheng, "The Eight Seals Rotating Palms Song"). "The eagle competes with its will, taking the form of boxing, Yin and Yang in harmony, and the three sources of form and meaning" (Li Cunyi, "The Song of the Two Instruments of the Mind"); "Tai Chi is born from the infinite, the mechanism of movement and stillness, and the mother of Yin and Yang." (Wang Zongyue, "On Tai Chi Chuan") Wang Peisheng put it even more clearly: "The essence of any law, no matter how it changes, will never depart from Yin and Yang." For instance, the forward and backward movements in boxing represent Yin and Yang. When the center of gravity shifts, the void and the solid are both Yin and Yang. The law of repetition and layering is even more inseparable from Yin and Yang (Shi CAI, "Qian Kun Wu Ji Gong"). That is to say, every movement in Wudang martial arts such as Xingyi Quan, Tai Chi Chuan, and 八卦掌, whether it is open or closed, dynamic or static, hard or soft, hidden or visible, empty or real, slow or fast, all changes based on the fundamental law of Yin and Yang. Therefore, "practicing martial arts starts from the infinite, and carefully seeking the opening and closing of Yin and Yang" (Feng Zhiyang, "Selected Tai Chi Chuan"). Without understanding Yin and Yang, one cannot practice martial arts. In combat, Wudang martial arts emphasizes the application of the yin-Yang opposition tactic, viewing both the enemy and oneself as a whole of yin-yang opposition. Based on the changing laws of the yin-Yang sides such as attack and defense, progress, front and back, left and right, up and down, movement and stillness, hardness and softness, forward and backward, opening and closing, and according to the characteristics of the opponent's movements, corresponding countermeasures are taken to ensure one's own invincibility. Wang Zongyue's "Treatise on Tai Chi Chuan" states, "When in motion, it is divided; when at rest, it is united. There is no excess or deficiency. It stretches according to the curve. When the other person is firm and I am soft, it is called 'walking'; when I follow and the other person backs, it is called 'sticking'." It is also said: "Sticking is walking, walking is sticking. Yang does not depart from Yin, and Yin does not depart from Yang. Only when Yin and Yang complement each other can one truly understand the force." Only by understanding the principle of the transformation of Yin and Yang can one have the method of resisting the enemy by sticking away. In the face of the enemy, one can take advantage of the situation, handle it with ease and change things freely. Or "Avoid the strong and attack the weak", or "introduce and let go", or "extend as the curve bends", or "launch later and arrive first", or "first build up strength and then launch to strike the enemy, store up inside to strike outside, store up above to strike below, store up in front to strike behind" (Cao 's 八卦掌 spectrum). In conclusion, by understanding the changes of Yin and Yang, one can take advantage of all favorable positions, directions, angles, and postures, either by maneuvering and flailing, or by leveraging external forces to strike back, or by using a small force to move a large weight, to avoid a fatal situation, put the enemy in a difficult position, and make the aggressor fall. Cheng Dingyuan, a successor of the Huaihe School of Wudang, said, "All palm techniques that mainly rely on Yin and Yang, remain calm to control movement, grasp the direction and path of the opponent's attack, and then respond with a gentle and weak counterattack fall within the scope of internal martial arts."