The "Dust-Guarding Technique of the Cave" - The Chapter of Rubbing the Handlebars

The chapter "Five Elements at the Back of the Hand" in the handwritten copy of the Xinyi Gate's passed down boxing manual "Guarding the Cave Dust Technique" (preface by An Daqing in Chang 'an in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty). 1. The right hand rubbing technique with the Five Elements in the back: This is a method of sitting in a sitting position. Choose a stool, about one foot (half a foot) high, which may vary slightly depending on the height of the person. The height of the stool should be determined by the horizontal height when sitting with the knees not exceeding the thighs. Sit on a stool with only your left arm (which should be your buttocks) in front, cross your thighs, and place your right leg on top of your left leg. The right (it should be the left) foot should be bent firmly with the toes raised. The hips (legs) should roll towards each other. The elbows should be as close to the ribs as possible. The left arm should be slanted and protected in front of the chest. The (left) palm should face up, with the fingers spread out and fastened, and the palm should be slightly closed. Spread the five fingers of the right hand as well, exert force from the base and edge of the palm, and rub it towards the left palm. When rubbing, the right shoulder should be twisted forward in a natural direction, the right elbow should be close to the rib, and with the force of the upper body pressing down, the right arm, along with the shoulder, back and body, should be pushed and rubbed down in one breath. When the root of the right palm is rubbed over the tip of the left palm, both hands are turned to the right simultaneously, with the right palm facing upwards. The left palm is gently placed on the back of the right forearm. Then, the right shoulder is twisted back, and the right waist and chest are also opened. The right palm is pulled back towards the upper right back with a gentle force, and the two palms are lightly brushed past until the tip of the right palm touches the abdomen (front). Then, both palms are turned over and the grip is hung again. As mentioned earlier, if the right palm rises and falls together, with the upper part being the pulling of the hand and the lower part being the rubbing of the handle, it is called one stroke. Fix your eyes on your palms. The method of breathing: One inhalation is inhaling, and one rubbing is exhaling. Inhalation represents weak force, while exhalation represents real force. The head stands upright, fully concentrated. The force: One pull and one push, similar to twisting a rope (twisting a rope), thus it is called "twisting the handle". This is an excellent technique for cultivating inner strength. Long-term practice can make the dantian as firm as iron and the shoulders astonishingly powerful. Only those who are just starting out but have a weak foundation in boxing should not take martial arts lightly, as it may damage their internal organs. If they attempt to improve, it will backfire. They should be cautious. It is best to practice at dawn. Open the window to let the indoor air be fresh. After urinating and washing, take off your clothes and belts, sit on a stool and concentrate fully on your dantian. The arms and waist open and close in one go, and the dantian exerts force. If it is just right, otherwise, if one only focuses on the movement of the arms, a slight mistake can lead to a huge difference. At the beginning of the training, do the left and right exercises, each for 30 repetitions. Gradually increase the number, with 180 repetitions on each side, totaling 360 repetitions, which is in line with the number of days in the cycle. It is strictly forbidden to exercise on an empty stomach or to defecate or urinate without cleaning up, which may damage internal organs. The best time for exercise is three to five times a day, and sexual activity should be avoided. Therefore, the effect is particularly significant. If you choose the second best option, you should moderately restrain your desires to maintain your spirit. The growth of dantian skills depends on the proper cultivation of the original spirit. Otherwise, if you are strong on the outside but weak on the inside, you will only have the strength of your limbs and the health of your internal organs and spirit, which is of no benefit at all. For instance, when trees encounter fierce winds and heavy rain, they are all unbreakable. Laozi said, "The body relies on hands and feet. The smaller ones are sufficient to defend against enemies and protect oneself, while the larger ones are sufficient to strengthen the body and resist diseases. Therefore, the key to prolonging life and achieving immortality lies in giving them up." The Boxing classic states: "Nourish the spiritual root energy and the spirit, and the primordial Yang will not deviate to its true nature." "Cultivate the dantian to cultivate treasures for a thousand days, and do not share ten thousand taels of gold with others." " The ancient martial arts masters passed on their teachings to later generations in a concise and profound manner. However, we often tend to overlook them because we cannot follow this path. Though gentle, one must be firm; though weak, one must be strong. May all readers encourage this. Usage: The powerful flicking and the movement of holding force must be guided by the technique of rubbing the handles. Those who have mastered it are extremely important to practice diligently. This is truly the art of Xinyi Liuhe Quan. Once successful, the dantian will be full and one will reach the importance of intense training throughout the body, achieving a state where every part of the body is filled with spring. At this state, the dantian is like a treasure basin. Therefore, when defeating the enemy, one's heart and mind follow. The fist touches the person's body, transforming into force. It is truly like destroying the dry and the rotten, as if no one else is around. Second, the left rubbing method: Just like the right method, only the left and right positions are reversed. That is, sit on the stool with your left arm, and cross your left leg over your right leg, but use your right palm as a cushion and your left palm for pulling and rubbing. Rotate the right waist open and close. Turn your left shoulder forward and backward, focus your eyes on your palms, and then turn to the right posture. (Practice in this cycle)