CHOPPING PALM

Dr. Xie Peiqi’s comments on the YSB Qian/Lion System Chopping Palm

Transcribed by Rand Cardwell

Note: This article is provided to YSB students in an effort to promote a greater understanding of the Chopping Palm of the YSB Lion System. This is a transcription of the YSB Lion System DVD series available through the Association of Traditional Studies. Any errors are my own.

Dr. Xie Peiqi: Everyone knows chopping is like the force of an ax, hacket, or knife. The force is chopping open something, but in Yin Style Bagua chopping must also contain entering power. So, aside from chopping down, there is also moving forward. Chopping down and directly entering. Chopping open then entering. This combination demonstrates its speed and accentuates Yin Style Bagua’s personality of cold, crisp, and fast. It must, of course, also contain stability, accuracy, and viciousness.

Because the force of chopping is so powerful, it has to be as chopping open a mountain.  Chopping as to split apart the mountain. The force of the chop must be exceptionally explosive. The force must fully reflect the lions bold, strong, and powerful personality. 

Usually a chopping strike is hard to block and hard to counter. This is

Pi - It is a combination character with the symbol for knife represented on the bottom. The symbol on the top is a phonetic hint to the pronunciation. Meaning is cleave or split.

because its power is overwhelming and flowing. It has an overwhelming, continuous power. It contains splitting the mountain power and thus the average opponent cannot block it. It is important to know that aside from a straight attack the chop can also create seizing, grasping, countering, opening, and entering opportunities in infinite combinations.

Talking about the chopping strike. If He Jinbao comes to strike, I can chop the attack. I disperse his attack with a chop, then I can chop him. If He Jinbao grabs my arm, grabbing with both hands, I can also use chopping motion to break the grasp and then chop him or if he was to grab me, I could chop open the attack and then seize him having created an advantageous position.

It is important to understand the connection of practice and application. It is very scientific and reflects a very high level of understanding. Again, if he grabs me, grabbing with two hands, I could do a downward arching chop to break the attack and again create an opening to seize him.

Its applications are flexible and astounding and without end. In understanding its limitless greatness we see its worth. You and I both practice, but it not the same. Though each person may train, the one with clarity will be superior.