Following is a continuation from previous newsletters of Professor Coy's explanation in the design of Shen Chuan and theory behind the "four fists' of Shen Chuan", beginning where we left off in the last issue; the soft-hard fist:

In the previous newsletter I carried you through the theory behind the third of the four fists' of Shen Chuan, the soft-hard fist. That brings us to the last level, that being the soft fist.

SOFT FIST

Talking or writing about this level of Shen Chuan is very difficult. You must experience it to understand.

The human example of Soft Fist is the reaching of what some refer to as old age. The ability of physical body has been greatly reduced so they rely on their mind to get things done. Of the four Fists of Shen Chuan this is the most difficult to achieve and master. It is the zenith of Shen Chuan. A Soft Fist practitioner makes a technique look much like any great artist makes the creation of a masterpiece seem like nothing out of the ordinary.

This level is the same for everyone but the feel of it may be different. The focus of Soft Fist is the use of truly minimal effort to achieve maximum results. You don't really learn anything new you just apply the concepts and principles you've already mastered differently. Misdirection moves attacks without contact, the slightest touch causes a throw or a lock or a damaging strike. The feeling on the other end of a Soft Fist response is one of utter confusion. You don't know what happened. You punched at the person and right when you think you hit them they are gone and you are on the ground most often in pain. The stories of this or that master disappearing and reappearing are nothing more than the use of this level of martial arts. Some people foolishly believe that it is some mystical talent causing the confusion even though it can be replicated by other non-mystical people. The real cause of the apparent magical power is an awareness of your body's maximum potential. You have relaxed physically to the point you gain maximum elastic potential out of your muscles. This allows you to be supple and flexible which gives tremendous speed, power and penetration from what appears to others as being a minimum of effort. What they don't realize is that you are utilizing your muscles maximum efficient output. Another reason for maximum muscular output is the fact that your subconscious is running the show and it is very efficient at coordinating your whole body into an action. A practitioner of Soft Fist looks like a snake in that they seem to move all over or nowhere and things happen. Bad things happen.

Concepts and Principles of Soft Fist

1. Be patient - The only way to move through the Four Fists of Shen Chuan is to be patient. You are where you are and you will reach the next level when you are ready. If you push too hard you will meet stiff internal resistance and you will tend to get frustrated and most likely you will quit. You should always strive for the next level but don't miss out on the experience of the level you're at now. The beauty of the martial arts is that you can spend a lifetime and never master it, don't focus on the destination so hard you lose track of wonders of the path.

2. Minimize to Maximize - You should minimize your motion so it will be 100% efficient. This is done in the subconscious. By minimizing you maximize your output.

3. See the result - This means to let your subconscious do what it wants don't force anything. The training you have had until now will be there. You will begin to make things happen that you had no idea you could do.

4. The hand is quicker than the eye - When you want to misdirect the motion of a person you must put your hand in a position in which it is picked up by the vision of that person. When you do this while the person is any dynamic motion their subconscious will cause them to follow your hand and you will guide them where you want.

5. Slow down to speed up - When you gain efficient motion you will find that you tend to be ahead of everything the attacker does. You will need to slow down or you will not be able to let yourself do anything. Your mind will slow the action down for you but you will need to be aware of slowing down your responses in some situations. When you get it right you will feel that you are moving in molasses and your assailant will not really even be able to see what you are doing.

This concludes the series on the "Four Fists' of Shen Chuan".

Thank you Professor Harry for this invaluable insight into the intricacies of Shen Chuan and the heart of our system.