"The Authentic Wujing Archery" - Even Method and Light Method

On the method of evenness, part 3

Evenness means that the front and back shoulders and arms are evenly spread out. This is the final achievement of teaching, and the skill of light injection after that (when even, the error is still immersed before shooting). Nowadays, when people draw the bow and shoot, their joints are exhausted and their muscles are exhausted. They shoot at will, so why bother to pay attention to the work of dipping and evenness? Evenly spread bows are not added. When shooting arrows, they are drunk and unclear, so they don’t have time to pay attention to the size of the arrows. If the arrow is biased, the effort of shooting is useless. After this hub, it should be followed by evenness. And the work of even opening is the most urgent.

However, the method of evenness is to use the shoulders, but not the arms. The arm strength is small and the shoulder strength is strong. When drawing the bow and shooting, the muscle strength is exhausted. It is impossible to make the two arms spread out evenly. Only when the shoulder strength is strong, can the movement be long (there are tips for movement, which cannot be exhausted in words). When the bow is in the center, the arm strength is about to run out, and the shoulder strength is used to continue. The front shoulder is rolled down with all its strength (rolling forward is called rolling), and the back shoulder is kept open. Then the arrowhead will slowly move forward from the middle of the bow, like water dipping. Isn't this the correct way to be even? Nowadays, after the bow is in the center, people only use the arm strength to separate. The arm strength is small, how can it be opened? It will be necessary to pull out all the strength, and the arrow will move forward quickly, exciting the forearm, and the arrow will be slanted, and all the previous efforts will be wasted. Therefore, it is said that the best way to be even is to use the shoulder, not the arm.

The ancients said: "The flesh in front of the chest is open and the flesh in the back is tight." This is the work of evenness. Nowadays, people talk about evenness, but not the work of evenness, so it can be said but not practiced. What's the point of talking? The work of evenness is a secret that only the wise can get.

The journey is long: when the bow is in the center, the arm strength is exhausted, and only the front shoulder is rolled down to reach the top and shoot the arrow. The back shoulder is raised and the arm is moved, and the bowstring is released from the high position. At this time, the force is applied to both shoulders, which are solid and condensed into one. The front shoulder is lowered and the back shoulder is relaxed, and the two are opened slowly. It is hard and soft, fierce and slow. Therefore, it is said that it is a long and swirling movement.

The flesh in front of the chest is open and the flesh in the back is tight; the detailed annotations are in the fourth volume of Zhimi Ji or the eighth chapter of Wen, which are not included here.

On the fourth chapter of the light method

The light means that the back fist and the front palm correspond to each other, and the arrow is released easily. However, the light skill is very delicate. When releasing the arrow, if you want to be light but dare not use force, you will inevitably spit it out if you lose the area. Even if you do not spit it out and settle it, you will feel that you have no energy when releasing the arrow. If you are weak, the arrow will be injured when it is released. Fearing that it is too small, you will use a little force, but the force will be too weak and the arrow will not move forward. Fearing that it will not move forward, but trying hard to move forward, it will inevitably be pulled out. According to the temperament, the spirit is impulsive and cannot be focused. The arrow cannot be less than the side.

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So after the balance, when the back shoulder is relaxed, the arrow can reach the middle of the bow, and the key to hit the target lies here. The back fist must tighten the muscles to match the front palm. The front and back shoulders must exert their strength and be firm and solid. Gently move the back fist to be even and even with the front palm. The back elbow must also be lowered to the back. If the elbow does not hang down after the fist is flat, the arrow will have no power. In this way, the elbow hangs down and the fist is flat, and the temperament of fireworks is not revealed. Like a dragonfly touching the water, light and lively. Like a ripe melon falling off the vine, it is all natural. Loose and crisp, the arrow is as small as a bean, and it rushes to the target. This is the skill of using lightness in the lower hand. The ancients said: The back hand shoots the arrow, and the front hand is unaware.