Slanting" posture (斜中寓正) and Breathing

Slanting" posture (斜中寓正) and Breathing

In the Wu style "Slanting" posture (斜中寓正), your ribs act as the "bellows" that maintain internal pressure. Because the torso is inclined, the diaphragm cannot drop vertically as it does in the upright Yang style. Instead, you must use Rib Opening and Closing (開合呼吸 - kāihé hūxī) to support the flexor-extensor toggle.

1. The Theory: Horizontal vs. Vertical Expansion

In the Yang style, breathing is often "Abdominal" (腹式呼吸), focusing on the downward expansion of the Dantian (丹田). In the Wu style slant, if you only breathe into the belly, the weight of your internal organs "sloshes" forward, making you limp (懈) and heavy in the front.

To stay "Suspended," you must breathe into the sides and back of the ribs:

• Inhale (吸 - xī): The ribs expand laterally (開 - kāi). This "props up" the torso from the inside, engaging the extensors of the back.

• Exhale (呼 - hū): The ribs slightly contract/close (合 - hé). This connects the chest to the "Empty" leg via the flexors, creating that Magnetic Attraction (相吸).

2. How to Practice "Breathing of the Ribs" in the Slant

1. Assume the Slanting Stance: Weight 70% on the front, torso forming a straight line from the back heel to the crown of the head.

2. Locate the "Floating Ribs": Place your hands on the lower sides of your rib cage.

3. Inhale to the Back: Feel the breath widening your back (expanding the Bá Bèi - 拔背). This prevents you from "collapsing" your chest into a limp state.

4. Exhale to the Groin: As you breathe out, feel the ribs "tuck" slightly toward the opposite hip. This "closes" the front (Hù Zhūn - 護肫) and keeps you from becoming stiff and top-heavy.

3. Comparison: Wu Style vs. Yang Style Breathing

Feature	Wu Style (Rib/Lateral)	Yang Style (Abdominal/Vertical)
Primary Direction	Horizontal/Lateral. Expanding the "sides" of the cylinder.	Downward/Vertical. Sinking the Qi to the "bottom" of the cylinder.
Internal Effect	Tensegrity. Maintains the "Suspended Bridge" tension.	Mass/Weight. Increases the "Heavy Root" feeling.
Martial Use	Agility. Supports the Téng Nuó (騰挪) state for rapid pivoting.	Power. Supports the Fā Jìn (發勁) from a solid base.
The "Feel"	Like an accordion expanding and contracting.	Like a balloon being filled and emptied.

4. Why this supports the "Two Legs as One"

When the ribs open and close laterally, they pull on the fascia (筋膜) that connects to the Psoas (the deep core muscle connecting the spine to the legs).

• This creates a physical "string" between your chest and your "Empty" leg.

• If you breathe only in the belly, this connection is "slack."

• With Rib Breathing, the connection is "taut," allowing the "Empty" leg to move the instant the chest turns.

Summary of the Wu Style Master's Secret:

The slant is not a "lean"; it is a "stretched arch." Without the rib breathing, the arch has no internal pressure and will either snap (stiff) or sag (limp).