chi kung in jow gar

[summay]

Hi all

I've been doing jow gar for a while but I've hit upon a question which I'd love some advice on. Also please forgive my lack of canto terminology

So when I do my forms and I go through the sections near the beginning with chi kung (exhale while pushing out, inhale on the retract), I don't know whether I should be using a hung style kiu sau, or flat palm or what! Can anyone give me advice on this? I hope that makes sense...

Thanks a bunch

[Xiaobian]

The hand is an exceedingly complex part of the body, and there are so many connections. When I was taught kiusau, I was taught that it is not the muscles which are being tensed (although they happen to get tensed as a consequence), but the tendons and ligaments in the arm and hand.

Pulling your fingers back in kiu sau vs. not, you should be able to feel the difference in the stretching of the tendons. The pointer finger is the furthest from the curve of the arm through the wrist, and is the most important to hold out straight, but the palm should be flat too.

I like the jow ga method of kiu sau, because it is harder to do properly and helps remind me to flatten my whole wrist. You could also use a claw. What is important is the stretching of the tendons (you should be ale to feel it in your hand and the back of your forearm).

There are some jow ga forms which use the hung ga one-finger version, but the flat palm is a safe bet.

[dc_jowga]

you should do what your teacher told you to do.