第四式:一字手

(防治神經衰弱)

這是一項極簡單的運動方式,但它的功效則不簡單。

  1. 「一字手」是左右手向左右平伸如一字,手臂伸直,十隻手指也伸直,要用力伸直十指,然後,將頭向左側扭向左方,雙眼望向左手的中指,口中叫「一」,左手的中指向下用力彈一下,口中叫「二」,左中指又向下用力彈一下,彈一次叫一次,叫至十為止,即彈左中指十次止。
  2. 將頭扭向右方,雙眼望著右手的中指,將右手中指向下用力彈一下,口叫「一」,再彈第二下,口叫「二」,每彈一下,彈十次為止。

無論彈左中指或右中指時,左右手的各手指必須用力伸直,彈左中指時,雙眼全神貫注左手中指,彈右手中指時,雙眼也全神注視右手中指,腰要挺直,頸亦直,只頭向左扭望左中指,彈左中指後又扭向右,望右中指後又扭向右,望右中指彈動。

佛家有「一指禪」功,是將眼、心、手集中於一隻手指上,目的在心手眼合一,使精神集中。古時無神經衰弱這名詞,說「一指禪」可以令人精力充沛,實即是治療神經衰弱的運動。但佛家的「一指禪」是豎起一隻手指,何瓊師傅的六通拳是彈中指,其餘各指伸直,這比佛家的「一指禪」更符合科學。因為我們的中樞神經在健全時能任意指揮某一部分動作,先彈左中指十次,後彈右中指十次,眼力全神注視彈動的中指,是鍛煉中樞神經的指揮功能。中風後體力漸復的人,中樞神經指揮功能仍未完全康復,做這「一字手」時不易心手眼合一,但若每天鍛煉,即漸漸能恢復其指揮功能,是以有物理治療作用。初時彈中指時可能其他手指也一齊彈動,但天天練習,持之以恆,就會達到只彈中指的目的。

 

Posture 4: Arms at Horizontal Position

The fourth posture of Luk Tung Kuen known as “Arms at Horizontal Position” is a simple exercise with great effects.

Starting position: Standing, arms at sides, feet apart at shoulder width.

Movement 1: Raise the arms slowly from the sides until they reach a horizontal position, with palms facing downward. Keep the elbows and fingers straight. Use effort. Turn the head to the left with the eyes looking at the middle finger of the left hand. When count “one”, press down the middle finger only. When count “two”, press it once again. Repeat the movement for ten times.

Movement 2: Turn the head to the right, with the eyes looking at the middle finger of the right hand. When count “one”, press down the middle finger. Repeat the same movement for ten times.

It is worthwhile to note that no matter whether one press down the middle finger of the left hand or the right hand, the other fingers, the waist and the neck should be kept straight. Concentrate on the right hand when pressing the right-hand-middle-finger and concentrate on the left hand when pressing the left-hand-middle-finger.

In the Chan sect (禪宗) of Buddhism, there is one skill known as Yi Zhi Chan (one finger skill 一指禪), that is the prolonged and deep concentration of the eyes, the hands and the mind on one finger. The main aim is to achieve a deep meditation and intense contemplation. In this way, one can concentrate on one’s own mind. In ancient time, there is no such term as neurasthenia but Yi Zhi Chan can reinvigorate a person, thus attaining the function of curing neurasthenia. But the Yi Zhi Chan of Buddhist is to hold up one’s own mind. In ancient time, there is to press down the middle finger only. It is because our central nervous system is able to command movement of every part of our bodies. The pressing down can, no doubt, strengthen our nervous system. For those who are recovering from cerebral haemorrhage, their central nervous system has not recovered yet. During the first stage when doing this movement, it is not easy to concentrate one’s mind, but if one keeps on doing, one can recover from one’s nervous system. This is similar to the functions of physiotherapy.