Chapter 7: Iron Winged Eagle Chen Pengtao

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  National martial arts practitioners strengthen their bodies and health, but all profound internal martial arts can change bones, change tendons, and change marrow, corresponding to the three realms of alchemy: refining essence into energy, refining energy into spirit, and refining spirit back into emptiness. The goal is to achieve the effect of strengthening the body, being healthy, prolonging life, and benefiting longevity.

  What is Yi Gu (Changing Bones), Changing Bones means to practice and refine the essence, transforming it into Qi, making the entire skeletal system as strong as iron and stone, upright and stable like a mountain.

  What is the practice of refining essence and transforming it into energy? A simple example is eating, taking the essence of grains and transforming it into energy. Of course, the "essence" and "energy" in the practice of refining essence and transforming it into energy cannot be summarized by the two words "essence" and "energy". Daoist internal alchemy believes that the source of essence is divided into two types: innate and acquired. Innate essence is received from one's parents, which is the foundation of human beings, but innate essence needs to be supplemented by acquired essence to ensure that a person's essence is not depleted. Acquired essence comes from the nutrients in food. Daoist internal alchemy believes that energy has two meanings: it refers to both the subtle and invisible substances circulating within the body, as well as the functional abilities of the various organs and viscera of the human body. Energy is one type of functional ability of the organs and viscera.

  After refining the essence and energy, how can we make our entire skeletal system as strong as iron and stone, upright and stable like a mountain? Each school of Chinese martial arts has its own secret methods, but generally speaking, it is to make the skeleton reasonable first, then make the skeleton harmonious, and finally make the joints flexible.

  A reasonable skeleton is one that can maintain balance. When people move, they usually divide a part of their muscle strength to maintain balance, which makes it impossible for them to exert their full force in making a technical movement. A reasonable skeleton can solve this problem. This is why martial artists often say that standing upright and being centered is the key. In martial arts, stances are used to solve the problem of having a reasonable skeleton, so the correctness and importance of stance training go without saying.

  The integration of skeletal strength is to have five bows, with two in the arms, one in the torso, and two in the legs, making up the five bows. When the bow force is continuous, the power is continuous. Having a body with five bows can keep the skeletal structure in a state of readiness at all times, like a tightly strung bow, and when activated, it's like an arrow shooting off the string. In national arts, the method to integrate skeletal strength is through training stances, footwork, and fist techniques.

  Joint rotation is self-evident, making joints flexible and versatile. In Chinese martial arts, the method of making joints flexible is to practice fist methods and step methods.

  It takes more than three feet of ice to form in a day, and changing one's bones is a long-term process. Three years of horse stance training is just the beginning, three years of pole training is just a glimpse into the doorway, and three years of fist and footwork training is just a rough understanding. Only those who persevere can expect to change their bones.

  What is Yi Jin, Yi Jin is to stretch the tendons and exercise the fascia. It is said that if the tendon is long by one inch, the strength will increase by ten times. It is better to practice one inch of tendon than three feet of flesh. Many famous martial artists are short and thin but have great power because they have achieved Yi Jin. Those who have achieved mastery in martial arts can release their whole body's power with a slight tremble, and their entire body will feel like a spring, with every part of the body having a spring-like feeling.

  Each martial arts school has a secret method of "Yi Jin" that can forcibly lift the major meridians throughout the body, increasing overall strength. In martial arts, there is a saying "stretching tendons and pulling bones", such as Wing Chun, Wu Zuquan, Xingyiquan, etc., which have specialized methods for stretching tendons and pulling bones, which can pull open the spine to achieve the purpose of lengthening tendons and increasing strength. Additionally, through the teacher's guidance by touching the body, bones, and tendons, and then using the "弹筋法" (rebounding tendon method) and "揉筋法" (rubbing tendon method), one can quickly lift the major meridians, causing them to rapidly thicken and grow in a short period of time. Finally, by using the "缩筋法" (contracting tendon method), the previously lifted and lengthened major meridians are made to sink back down and adhere to the bones, making the muscles' strength even, while also allowing the muscles to stretch and lengthen along with the tendons and bones synchronously.

  Muscles like springs, bones like needles is the small achievement of national arts. After further hard work, those who can change their bones and muscles are truly considered to be a master in the martial arts world, entering the hall as a high-ranking expert. At this time, the muscles and bones have acquired the power of twisting, drumming, and bursting, and can emit shocking force, shaking force, spiral force, and penetrating force, which is also known as hidden strength. Visible strength has sound, while invisible strength has no sound, injuring people in a subtle way.

  What is marrow washing? Marrow washing is the activity of practicing Qi to transform spirit and stimulate the vitality of bone marrow. Practicing Qi to transform spirit specifically refers to first practicing Jing to transform Qi, then practicing Qi entering bones. There is marrow in the bones, which is transmitted into the brain through the marrow, taking the brain as the sea of marrow. When the marrow is sufficient, the brain is healthy; when the brain is healthy, the spirit is sufficient. When the spirit is sufficient, one can live a long life.

  In the practice of Qigong, there are two approaches to nourishing the marrow. One approach is through the rotation and friction of joints, tendons, and bones, which stimulates the circulation of Qi and blood throughout the body, allowing energy to enter the bone marrow through the two small openings at the base of the tailbone, achieving the effect of nourishing the marrow with Qi. The other approach is to cultivate one's willpower by traveling extensively, enriching one's experiences, and tempering one's spirit. Ancient people placed great importance on the human spirit. As stated in "Su Wen - Yi Jing Bian Qi Lun", those who obtain the spirit will prosper, while those who lose it will perish. When the spirit is full, the body is strong; when the spirit wanes, the body weakens. When the spirit remains, one lives; when the spirit departs, one dies.

  When the marrow is full, the bones are strong; when the marrow is exhausted, the bones wither. The importance of bone marrow is self-evident. Masters of national arts usually hide their energy and vitality in their bone marrow, using it for health preservation in peacetime and explosive power in wartime. Those who cultivate their marrow through national arts can be full of energy, unaffected by hunger or fullness, cold or heat, and regain their youth. In modern scientific terms, this means activating bone marrow stem cells, maintaining the vitality of bone marrow stem cells as if they were young, and utilizing the ability of bone marrow stem cells to differentiate into various body cells to enhance resistance and delay aging.

  The ultimate goal that all martial arts predecessors strive for is to return to the innate state at birth, seeking the origin of human beings. This is the true art of longevity. It's like finding a way to swim against the current in the long river of time. People can pursue perfect answers and approach perfection, but they cannot reach it. It's like a road where people ahead can point out the direction for you, but you don't know where the end of the road is. What you need to do is to point out the direction for younger generations before you get old. The realm of "Lian Shen Huan Xu" has always been an intangible and indescribable thing that requires insight from one's own practice. This is actually what is called talent.

  The face is not old, it's easy to change bones, tendons and marrow, which is the ultimate expression of national skills.

  Inside Zhao's Martial Arts Hall.

  "The junior is Li Qingtian, and my family's teacher is Shaolin Jingkong. Thirty-six years ago, I was defeated by your fist, sir. This time, I have come to fulfill my teacher's last wish. Please, senior, teach me." Li Qingtian made a respectful gesture with his left palm and right fist. It was impossible for Li Qingtian not to be respectful, as Zhao Hongyuan had been famous in the martial arts world forty years ago, and now, at least sixty-four or sixty-five years old, still looked middle-aged, an absolute true master of national martial arts, a great figure who could found his own school. This kind of person would be admired by all martial artists.

  "Has Master Jikong passed away? Thinking back to the past... Alas." A thousand words and phrases turned into a sigh, Zhao Hongyuan shook his head and said slowly: "If you must fight with me, first exchange blows with my two disciples, now is the era of young people."

  Behind Zhao Hongyuan, two people stood up straight, who were none other than Zhao Hongyuan's second disciple Li Chen and third disciple Wang Junsheng. The eldest disciple Ma Jingyu had just finished a battle, but was being entangled by Luo Kai and couldn't break free, of course whether he still had the strength to fight again was also a question.

  "Haha, Brother Lie, why not let me, Chen Pengtao, give it a try? Perhaps Brother Lie will soon get what he wants." A voice cut in, and it was the middle-aged man who had come with Lie Jingcang who spoke up.

  Chen Pengtao's words were extremely arrogant, and he was actually hinting that he wanted to defeat Zhao Hongyuan's two apprentices separately, allowing Li Jingcang to fulfill his wish and fight against Zhao Hongyuan, which made the people of the Zhao family martial arts hall very dissatisfied, including one of the parties involved, Zhao Hongyuan's second apprentice, Li Chen.

  "I didn't expect that the Tianying Martial Arts Hall and Fujian's Tianying Gate had a connection. It's not easy for Iron Wing Eagle Chen Pengtao to come all the way from inland to Taiwan Strait, but it's good that you're here today. Let me meet you and see the style of a famous martial arts family from inland. Please, this way."

  Tianying Gate is extremely famous in Eastern Fujian, because Tianying Gate produced a great figure who shook the whole of Fujian, namely Iron Wing Eagle Chen Pengtao. This person has been practicing for over 20 years and his eagle claw technique is rarely matched by others. He was a martial arts champion in the seventh year of the Tongzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

  Wuju was an important way for the Qing court to select military officers. However, with the prevalence of firearms, bows and arrows have lost their advantages, and are no longer useful in battle.

  After the Opium War, in the frequent wars of resistance against foreign aggression, it had already become apparent that the traditional martial arts personnel could not adapt to the new warfare. Apart from the gap between long spears and big knives and sturdy ships and efficient cannons, the more important gaps were in basic quality and military thinking.

  But one thing is certain, that in a one-on-one bare-handed duel, the Qing dynasty's Wu Huo people have combat power that cannot be compared to special forces of later generations.

  "Master brother, you are so handsome! The few punches just now were like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, majestic and powerful. My admiration for you is like the endless Yangtze River, and also like the unstoppable overflowing of the Yellow River."

  With a classic phrase from his past life, Luo Kai suddenly changed the subject.

  "I don't know if Master can tell me some shortcuts for fist techniques, I'm not asking for great power, just having a third of the power of your previous punch would be enough."

  Lu Kai's face was full of admiration, and Master Ma Kengyu's few moves were simply enviable to Lu Kai. If this were placed in the 21st century, it would be an existence on a level that's like wearing underwear outside.

  If he could get his hands on some quick and effective martial arts techniques, then forming an ace special forces unit that could turn the tide of war would no longer be just a fantasy. Luo Ke couldn't stop thinking about his special forces plan.

  "If it's Master himself who teaches you, with your talent and hard work, reaching three-tenths of my skill is possible, and even reaching full mastery is not out of the question. Just dedicate yourself to foundation training for three years and fist practice for another three years, and you'll definitely become a third-generation master."

  Ma Yingyu thought for a moment and said seriously.

  "Can it be shorter?"

  For Luo Ke, six years was really too long. In 1881, the wind was strong and the clouds were flying high, there were too many things he wanted to do... too many...

  "Martial arts are no exception. To achieve something, it takes at least five or six years, and that's under the premise of focusing solely on practicing martial arts without any distractions."

  From Luo Kai's expression, Ma Jingyu already knew his choice and couldn't help but feel sorry for him. In fact, Ma Jingyu liked this little junior brother very much.

  "Alright, let's just watch Second Brother and that Iron Wing Eagle Chen Pengtao's martial arts competition for now."

  Haste makes waste, the burden is heavy and the road is long. With a deep sigh, Luo Kai turned around and walked towards the inner courtyard.

  There's still surprises waiting for you!

  I wish to find a brave warrior to guard the four corners...