[Martial Arts] Lingzi Step Three Hours

Author: Jeffi Chao Hui Wu

Time: July 18, 2025, Friday, 3:04 PM

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[Martial Arts] Lingzi Step Three Hours
My daily walking style has become completely different from most people's. Now, whether it's a morning stroll, daily outings, walking the dog, or grocery shopping, 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 its 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 manuals, ancient texts, or teachings. Rather, it is a natural movement style that emerged from my years of practice in standing post, Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, and structural independence. It is not a product of deliberate training, but rather a result of the body spontaneously evolving into this state after achieving structural clarity.
At this point, people often curiously ask, "What exactly does this walking style 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" coordinating and regulating itself during movement.
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 align without relying on muscle strain or generating impact load, forming a stable base that is vertically aligned and symmetrically balanced. More importantly, as the pelvis subtly moves and the spine gently rotates, the breathing pattern gradually adjusts, allowing the qi and blood to flow upward, gradually forming an organic pathway for internal circulation throughout the body. Ultimately, the fascial tension network automatically adjusts its distribution with each step, achieving a micro-balance of structural tension, traction, and counterforce throughout the body, resulting in deep, low-consumption, high-efficiency 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." It is "standing naturally while walking" and "continuously optimizing structural pathways in daily movements." It does not rely on force or pursue speed of steps; rather, it is the body's instinctive choice for the most energy-efficient, effortless, and 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, performing a set of Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, horse stance, and golden rooster standing on one leg, after which I usually arrange for a longer distance walk in the morning or afternoon—either running errands or casually shopping. Each outing lasts three hours, with a unified gait throughout, a naturally light rhythm, and no 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 "recovering while walking" 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 do I need to switch walking styles; 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 technique" has never been about how the legs move or how the feet walk, but rather how the entire body structure coordinates actions to achieve a system that facilitates the transfer of center of gravity and the minimal energy path.
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 technique"; instead, my body spontaneously operates along this rhythm. Some friends who have not practiced martial arts for years can also observe the signs; 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 instinctively 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 cultivated 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 a choice made by the body. When a person's structure is well-practiced, 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 motion; 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 "Lingzi Step Three Hours"—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 manifestations of my years of internalized practice.

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