Kun energy is highly sophisticated. To develop this energy requires extensive practice. Six Harmonies Praying Mantis draws heavily from this kind of energy. There are particular exercises, which can help one to develop this ability to wrap up an opponent. The following is one of these exercises.
This exercise is approached in a similar manner as the “lion playing with the ball”. The arms move on a vertical plane in front of the body. The motion can be separated into four distinct parts. These are: Zuan (drilling), An (pressing), Zhang (expanding), Chen (sinking).
The practitioner drills forward along the centerline, intercepting and dissolving the oncoming force (Zuan).
The practitioner continues by pressing forward and slightly downward (An).
The opposing arm then covers over the top and wards off, catching the root of the opponent (Zhang). After the opponent’s root is caught, the arm continues to circle outward while matching this with a downward sinking force (Chen) in one fluid movement, dispersing and disrupting the opponent’s force.
ZUAN-DRILL
AN-PRESS
ZHANG-CHEN, GROW-SINK