Grab & Pull Exercise with Resistance Bands in Bagua Kuntao Silat

Even an observer of Bagua Kuntao Silat will notice the retraction of one half of the body while the other half of the body extends. This is most apparent with Striking Palm when uncoiling the hand out in what appears to be a straight line but is actually a flattening spiral. As one hand extends with the support of the other parts of the structure and joints that extend, the other hand retracts. The retracting hand is coiling with the other half of the body providing a base for the extending half of the body, or the support would simply collapse much like a crane swinging a wrecking ball, but without any base to support the crane arm and heavy ball swinging out with generated force. Without any base for support and root to the ground through gravity, the piece of heavy equipment would simply fall over. This video will teach a method of training with resistance bands to pull an opponent off balance in a single movement with great force.
As human beings with far more joint articulations that work on the principle of hydraulics, gravity, neuromuscular timing, energy (qi) movement, simple engineering, sensitivity and self awareness, we can generate much greater force considering the amount of mass we utilize than a machine when properly trained and skill has been acquired. While all eyes are usually on the crushing force that is explosively sent out to the opponent by a skilled practitioner, the “snatch your head off” implosion of force that is caused by the retraction movement to counter that explosive force is often overlooked or even forgotten. In Bagua Kuntao Silat this coiling force is often utilized when grabbing and/or pulling an opponent to destroy structure and seize control of their center, or simply throw them to the ground in hopes of ending a self defense encounter. The video I published, “Basic Arm Pulling Skill Drill in Bagua Kuntao Silat” demonstrates some basic uses and how to practice it with a partner in preparation for learning the Bridge Hands Sensitivity Drill Series learned later in the system.
When adequately skilled with the pulling method of the martial art of Bagua Kuntao Silat, the practitioner is able to utilize the entire body coupled with gravity, structure, momentum and the energy generated by the center with coiling joints to grab and implosively pull the opponent off their feet unless they are properly rooted with a good base. This implosive pull is performed in the blink of an eye in a real situation, however, if performed that way with training partners it will cause neck injuries such as whiplash from a car wreck, or unnecessarily slam people to the ground.
Using resistance bands, the consideration of damaging your training partner doesn’t exist and greater proficiency can be reached. Resistance bands, unlike weights, allow undisturbed internal movement in coordination with the required external movement of the body to facilitate the appropriate techniques. Start out with a light resistance band so that you’re not tempted to “muscle” the pull using external force only by using only the arms or shoulders or any part of the body. As an internal force movement, it should begin with the mind to desire the center of the body to move; the desire causes qi, or energy, to course from the center and when the center of the body moves the entire body should move at once in support with the proper root and shape, or jing/jin, to complete the desired movement without tension in any other part of the body except as required to support the body and complete the movement. Tension will result in unnecessary muscular contraction, locked joints, improper skeletal structure, slowness and other ills often called “obstructed qi” or “blockage” of the qi due to energy unable to flow throughout the movement robbing the practitioner of force and power. The reason sifus, gurus and masters of internal martial arts in the past forbade their students to engage in weight training was because it fostered external movement training by causing an initiation and reliance on muscle usage instead of internal movement which relies on energy, or qi, initiation and reliance. However, when properly training with resistance bands as shown in the video, you can improve your internal movement to have a greater effect in the external world without creating improper movement patterns and relying on too much muscle.
Reeling Silk is an excellent way to describe the movement when conducted properly. A smooth, pulling movement with the entire body that allows far more force to be generated, and when trained in conjunction with a resistance band, the force can be seen and trained with feedback that allows for correction and guidance without a training partner. Jerking movements will display in the band reaction as well as disjointed, external movements pulling the practitioner off balance. Root and full body, smooth movement is required and trained with this exercise.

[@JerryFallwell-bt3py]

greetings! yes it is hard to find a partner so i teach my wife she sometime has patience for this. We should try to teach our women in our communities.
Salute!