[Martial Arts] Lingzi Step Three Hours

Author: Jeffi Chao Hui Wu

Fecha: 18-7-2025 Viernes, 3:04 PM

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[Martial Arts] Lingzi Step Three Hours
My daily walking style has become completely different from that of most people. Now, whether it's a morning stroll, daily outings, walking the dog, or even hiking in the mountains, I hardly use the traditional heel-to-ground or toe-powered walking methods. Instead, I adopt a state where the forefoot lightly touches the ground, with slow and steady steps, and my body is naturally guided forward by the skeletal structure. I call this gait, formed from the inside out, "Lingzi Step."
Many people, upon first hearing the name "Lingzi Step," often think it is some special martial arts routine or a technique developed through systematic training. In fact, it is neither. It is not a new term I created, nor is it a skill learned from any martial arts manual, ancient texts, or lineage, but rather a natural movement that my body has "walked out" unconsciously after years of practicing stance work, Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, and achieving structural independence. It is not a product of deliberate training, but rather a result of the body spontaneously evolving in a dynamic state after the structure has been properly aligned.
At this point, people often curiously ask, "What exactly does this walking method train?" I can answer this very clearly: what Lingzi Step trains is not the superficial muscles or physical endurance, but the overall structural function from the three arches of the foot, the fascial chains, to the spinal column, and even the entire circulatory system. It is a complete "internal network of the body" self-coordinating and regulating during its operation.
First, it directly activates and strengthens the three-arch structure of the foot—the medial longitudinal arch, the lateral longitudinal arch, and the transverse arch of the forefoot. Each step carries a slight elastic rebound, continuously training and repairing the elastic support capacity of the foot. Subsequently, the ankle, knee, and hip joints naturally return to a neutral position, relying neither on muscle strain nor creating impact burdens, forming a stable lower body that is vertically aligned and symmetrically balanced. More importantly, as the pelvis moves slightly and the spine gently rotates, the breathing state gradually adjusts, allowing the qi and blood to rise smoothly, and the whole body gradually forms an organic pathway for internal circulation. Ultimately, the fascial tension network automatically adjusts its distribution with each step, achieving a microscopic balance of the overall structural tension, traction, and counterforce, resulting in deep, low-consumption, and highly efficient systemic coordination.
In other words, the essence of this gait is not "a certain way of walking" or "light power techniques," but a "dynamic structural self-sustaining state," a "natural stance while walking," and a "continuous optimization of structural pathways in daily movements." It neither relies on force nor pursues speed of steps, but is the body's instinctive choice for the lowest energy consumption, least effort, and most stable way to move forward.
Currently, I almost have two complete "three-hour Lingzi Step" sessions each week. I wake up at five in the morning to practice, and after a set of Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, horse stance, and golden rooster standing, I usually arrange for a longer walk in the morning or afternoon—either running errands or casually shopping, with each outing lasting three hours, maintaining a unified gait throughout, with a natural and light rhythm, without any deliberate adjustments or special reminders; my body maintains structural flow on its own.
After walking for three hours, my feet may feel slightly sore and swollen, but there is no discomfort or fatigue in key areas such as the knees, spine, or shoulders and neck; after a normal rest that night, I wake up at four the next morning as usual to continue practicing by the sea, not only without any delay but feeling even more clear and focused. This "walking while recovering" effect is something I have never experienced in any traditional endurance training or restorative exercise over the years.
What is even more surprising is that even on rugged mountain paths, soft grass, or gravel slopes, my body still naturally enters the "Lingzi Step" state, without needing to consciously think about the route or landing points, nor needing to switch walking methods temporarily; each step remains with the forefoot gently touching the ground, the skeleton guiding the center of gravity, and the structure transitioning stably. At that moment, I fully understood that true "walking method" has never been about how the legs move or how the feet walk, but rather how the entire body structure coordinates actions to achieve the transfer of center of gravity and the system's embodiment of energy's minimal path scheduling.
More realistically, this state is not a temporary technique on the training ground, but a natural norm in my daily life. Even if it's just a 40-minute walk with the dog after dinner, I do not remind myself to "enter the walking method," but rather my body spontaneously operates along this rhythm. Some friends around me, who have not practiced martial arts for many years, can also observe the clues; they say, "You walk without making a sound, yet it feels particularly stable and heavy," while I know this is the silent efficiency driven by structure.
I never practice so-called "long-distance endurance walking," yet I can walk for three hours continuously without feeling fatigued; it is not through willpower but rather the body consciously perceiving this method as the most effortless and natural choice. More importantly, the entire process requires no recovery, no massage, and no warm-up; after walking, I can live normally and practice as usual, without any delay.
Therefore, I often say that Lingzi Step is not the result of "walking out," but rather the "structure developed through practice" that allows the body to automatically decide how to walk. It is not a "skill," but a "rhythm"; it is not artificially controlled, but rather a choice made by the body. When a person has properly aligned their structure, the body will initiate this optimized operational scheme on its own, without intention or motivation; as long as it moves, it will naturally start.
I believe that if one day you also enter this state, you will suddenly realize: it is not you using your feet to walk, but your entire body structure that is in operation; it is not you wanting to practice, but the practice has already integrated into your life, unconsciously accompanying every breath and every step.
This is my "Three Hours of Lingzi Step"—not fast, yet extremely transparent; seemingly effortless and natural, yet deeply training; it does not show off or flaunt skills, but is one of the true embodiments of my years of internalized practice.

Source: http://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=696930