Anatomical Planes, Channel of Chinese Medicine, and Movement

The channels (meridians) of Chinese medicine are oriented along anatomical planes. Understanding this arrangement helps understand the channels roles with movement.

The Western anatomical planes can help understand the arrangement of the channels on the body. The sagittal plane divides the left and right halves of the body. If this is a midsagittal plane (along the midline), then the plane would enter the body at the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and exit at the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). If the plane were moved off the midline, it would cover the Spleen, Stomach, Lung or Large Intestine channels, depending on how far lateral or medial the sagittal plane is located. 

Note that for this to work for the Lung and Large Intestine channels, the person would need to be standing with the arms down by the side and the palms facing inward as opposed to standard Western anatomical position where the palms face forward. This more natural relaxed palm position is how the Chinese system references channels. With the palms facing inward, the radial aspect of the arm is forward and the sagittal plane would penetrate at the Lung and Large Intestine channels. These channels are anteromedial and anterolateral (radial, ventral and dorsal surface of the arms). These channels parallel their related Spleen and Stomach channels on the lower extremities which are also anteromedial and anterolateral.

Line represents the rectus femoris, a muscle
of the ST jingjin. It performs hip flexion and 
knee extension, which are sagittal plane
movements.

The channel sinews (jingjin) of these four channels include muscles like the biceps brachii (LU), rectus femoris (ST), rectus abdominis (ST), tibialis posterior (SP), flexor hallucis brevis (SP), and pectoralis minor (LU). These muscles all attach approximately where the sagittal plane would enter the body, and they move the body in the sagittal plane. They govern elbow and shoulder flexion, hip flexion and knee extension, and trunk flexion; they lift the arch, and move the toes.

This same plane would exit the body in the back and would access the Urinary Bladder, Small Intestine, Heart, and Kidney channels. The Kidney channel does have a portion on the front of the abdomen and chest and we will return to it, but these channels generally counter the action of the front channels. Included are things like the extensor carpi ulnaris (SI and HT), triceps brachii (SI), the erector spinae (UB), the hamstrings (UB), semimembranosus (KID), and the gastrocnemius (UB) and soleus (KID). These channel sinews extend the back and hip, extend the shoulder, perform ulnar deviation of the wrist, and perform plantar flexion of the ankle. 

Line represents the biceps femoris, a muscle
of the UB jingjin. It performs hip extension and 
knee flexion, which are sagittal plane movements

A portion of the KID channel does travel in the abdomen, I interpret this to be the transverse abdominis, which wouldn't so much flex or extend the trunk, but would support and lengthen the spine along the midsagittal line. This works with the Urinary Bladder channel to give upright posture. The channel also travels into the chest and allows the chest to open in upright posture. Below is a video that highlights a chest opening qigong pattern which alternates between the back and the front channels, all creating movements in the sagittal plane.

The frontal plane separates the body into front and back halves. It would enter and exit the body along the sides, the lateral and medial portions of the extremities, and lateral aspects of the head and torso. This plane would travel through the shaoyang channels (Gallbladder and Sanjiao) on the lateral aspect of the extremities, torso and head, and the jueyin channels (Liver and Pericardium) on the medial aspect of the extremities.

These channels would include muscles like the abdominal obliques (GB and LIV), hip abductors (GB), hip adductors (LIV), coracobrachialis (a shoulder adductor in the P jingjin), the deltoids and upper traps (SJ and GB), and the finger extensors (SJ).

These sinew channels would move the body in the frontal plane, performing such actions as side bending, hip abduction and adduction, and shoulder abduction and adduction.

Careful examination of the muscles that side bend the body, and abduct and adduct the hip shows something interesting. These muscles, such as the abdominal obliques, zigzag around the body. While they are indeed active in side bending, they also spiral around the body and perform rotation, a transverse plane movement. 

Muscles like the serratus anterior (P), the gluteus maximus (GB), the pectineus (LIV) and other muscles can be involved with side bending, but they can also rotate the body. Check out the video below to see an example of a qigong movement called the tuō yāo which highlights rotational movements involving these jingjin.

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Adding Rotation and Resistance to a Foundational Qigong Pattern

A look at movement through the lens of Chinese Medicine: Channel-sinew (jingjin) and Dūn Yāo

The Dun Yao is a qigong pattern that involves a rising expansion and falling compression. Yao is spine (or waist) and the loose translation for this is 'spine squat'. Emphasis is thus on the spine, and the rise and fall helps create a growing circulation up the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) and down the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). 

The rising movement is driven from an involvement of the Urinary Bladder jingjin (channel-sinews, or myofascial component of the channels) and the Kidney jingjin.. Key muscles involved are:

• Gluteus maximus and hamstrings (BL jingjin): Hip extension while rising
• Erector spinae (BL jingjin): back extension while rising
• Cervical extensors and suboccipitals (BL jingjin): involved with drawing the head back and allowing energy (and lift!) to rise to DU 20 (Bai Hui).
• Lower and middle trapezius (BL jingjin): Retracts and depresses the scapulae (shoulder blades) to make you taller.
• Transverse abdominis (KID jingjin): creates a stabilizing 'girdle' around the midsection to stabilize the spine. A sign that it is active is a drawing in of the abdomen towards the diaphragm. But one should look for this and not 'suck the abdomen in'.
• Psoas major (KID jingjin): This is an interesting muscle for so many reasons. It has dynamic, hip flexion based fibers AND it has spine stabilizing fibers, It is almost two muscle. The stabilization aspect, particularly, is part of the KID jingjin.
  
  

The sinking movement is driven from an involvement of the Stomach and Spleen jingjin. While it is subtle, there is a slight bowing and compression in the torso on this sinking face. Key muscles involved are:

• Rectus abdominis (ST jingjin): This muscle has a slight engagement on the sinking phase. It is like a gentle and soft 'abdominal crunch', yet it should be natural and not forced. 
• Posterior rectus sheath and abdominal obliques (SP jingjin)). The abdominal obliques are part of many channels and we will see their rotational, unilateral involvement when we look at the Liver jingjin. Bilateral involvement that compresses the abdomen is part of the SP jingjin. Interestingly, the fascia of these muscles meet at the semilunar line which is at the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis and is the location of the Spleen primary channel in Chinese medicine. The fascia splits (bifurcates) and travels superficial and deep to the rectus abdominis, but I feel the deep layer is associated with the Spleen channel.
• Serratus anterior (SP jingjin): Like the obliques, this muscle can act unilaterally as part of a rotational force and associated with the Pericardium jingjin. But bilateral activation is part of the Spleen jingjin role and causes a protraction of the scapulae.
• Quadriceps femoris (ST and SP jingjin): part of the hip flexion and really active in both the sitting and standing, but in terms of its Yangming-Taiyin role, these are associated with the sitting phase.
• Tibialis anterior (ST jingjin) and tibialis posterior (SP jingjin): Eccentrically loaded while sitting to allow foot pronation. This loads the spring of the foot.

The Dun Yao is traditionally down with a palm up, hand rising during the rise and a palm down, hands sinking during the fall. In this case, the above structures are involved. Adding the macebell not only adds weight and resistance, but also introduces rotation to the pattern. Particularly, this rotation is in the shoulder girdle and the torso with an emphasis on the lower ribcage movement. This massages and mobilizes the diaphragm, liver, thoracic spine and pericardium; and it is driven by the Liver and the Pericardium jingjin. 

These channels include myofascia that is part of the list above, yet they are active as part of a functional pairing with other rotators which are part of these channels. Included are:

• Rhombo-serratus sling (P jingjin): This includes the fascially connected rhomboids and serratus anterior which actually continues to the opposite side splenius cervicis and capitis. This manages position of the scapula in rotation patterns.
• External obliques (LIV jingjin): This is associated with rotation of the torso
• Psoas major, quadratus lumborum, adductor longus and brevis (LIV jingjin(: The psoas can also have a dynamic role, particularly associated with rotation patterns as there is opposing lengths between the left and the right. It is active with the QL and adductors and all of these are involved with rotation.

Check out the video below and you can look for these channel activities!

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Liuhebafa (Lokhupbafa) Standing Set

Liuhebafa (LHBF) is one of the main systems of  internal martial arts from China. It has elements of taijiquan, xingyiquan, and baquazhang in it, particularly focusing on the turning generated from core muscles such as the abdominal obliques and shoulder girdle muscles such as the serratus anterior. The particular tradition I practice and teach comes from Liang Zipeng who was also a well known yiquan practitioner, so there are elements of that in it as well.

This particular practice has much to offer for martial artists practicing with applications in mind, but the gentle turning and spiraling offers much for those interested in health and wellness. This standing set is something I put together to focus on the health aspects and it is particularly useful in online classes as many participants do not have the space to study liuhebafa when streaming in from a computer or casting to the TV. It still contains the general principles. 

Check out the video and if you are interested in attending class, click here for the schedule.

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Rotate Torso to Improve Health

Turning Pelvis, Lower Ribcage, Shoulder Girdle

In taiji and liuhebafa, rotation is evident in many of the movements. This is especially true in liuhebafa which really highlights rotation and it features rotation in three main centers in the body; the pelvis, lower ribcage and shoulder girdle.

There are many martial applications with this type of rotation, but the health benefits are evident. Included are:

• Mobilization of the the innominate bones (the main pelvic bones on the right and left) leading to better function of the sacroiliac joint and lumbar spine,
• Mobilization of the low ribcage which engages the abdominals, improves health of the respiratory diaphragm and massages the internal organs like the liver, stomach and spleen.
• Mobilization of the shoulder girdle leading to better shoulder health, a strong and stabile shoulder girdle and better health of the thoracic and cervical spine.

Check out the tutorial to start learning and practicing the basics and click here for in-person classes in Temple Terrace or my zoom classes online. 

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Three Primary Functional Movement Patterns

The Acupuncture Channels Organize Movement

The image above describes 3 groupings of acupuncture channels (sometimes referred to as meridians). These channels in each grouping are all related and anyone who studies Chinese and East Asian medicine, including things like acupuncture, tuina, qigong and herbal medicine, would see and understand something about these groupings. 

The major functional movement patterns are organized by these 3 groupings and you do not need to have studied Chinese medicine to understand this. I can use a bunch of technical jargon such as describing the 3 networks by the names in the graphic above, but I can make it far simpler by describing the basic movement patterns that these channel parings do. These three groupings produce the following three movement patterns. They:

1) Expand, extend, and propel the body forward, 

2) Compress, flex, and hollow the body; and they

 3) Side bend and rotate the body. 

Expansive movements which propel the body forward:

We can look at something relatively simple such as a pull up for an example of this movement pattern. This movement engages muscles of the back of the torso and shoulder girdle. And, if your form is good, there is engagement of core. This relatively straightforward movement primarily involves expansive movements that lift and propel the body forward. These movements lift the body up (literally, in the image below), but also lift you into an upright posture when standing and walking; and they also stabilize the spine.

 

Photo by Ruslan Khmelevsky: https://www.pexels.com/photo/muscular-sportsman-doing-pull-up-exercise-in-gym-4608157/

Compressive movements which hollow the body:

Other movement patterns compress and hollow the body. They protract the scapulae, depress the chest, and flex the torso and hip. There are many calisthenic and gymnastic exercises which illustrate this movement pattern. Hollow body holds, L-sits, a front kick, and many other movements fall into this category. The image below shows a gymnastics moves called a planche which is being performed on gymnastics rings. These movements protract the scapulae (round the shoulder girdle), depress the chest, and they flex the torso and hip. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-male-gymnast-practicing-on-gymnastic-rings-3763702/

These movements also balance the expansive ones described above and there are many exercises that move back and forth between these two groupings. For instance, rowers would move back and forth between these phases; going into a compression so that they have more range as they engage the back, expand and propel forward as they pull the paddle through the water. You have to compress and load the spring before you expand, especially if you want to do it explosively. The spinal wave from White Crane qigong is another example of this ebb and flow and you can watch my video by clicking here. 

Movements which side bend and rotate the body:

Sidebending and rotation are two separate movements....., sort of. Major joints of the spine and pelvis couple these two movements which means that if you perform one of these movements, you are doing the other. Some movements are more apparently side bending, while others are more about rotation, but from a kinesiology standpoint, these movements are very integrated together and not as easily separated. 

These movements involves trunk and neck side bending, but also abduction and adduction of the limbs, along with rotational movements. To fully understand this category, you also need to understand that this movement pattern involves preventing too much movement by stabilizing the sides of the body. It involves the muscles which allow us to stand on one leg, even momentarily such as when we are walking or running, without the hip buckling and failing to support this weight. Walking or running is actually a great example of this patterns since the rotation of this hips and spine is so integral to healthy gait.

Another very simple example is in a video below where I am swinging on monkey bars. This exercise emphasizes rotation, but you will also see side bending if you watch the video.

Photo by Los Muertos Crew: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-doing-sports-at-sports-hall-10039561/

Check out my Youtube channel where I will be exploring many of these concepts. If you do visit, especially if you find the information useful, please subscribe, like the videos, and comment on the videos. All of this helps build my channel and allows me to put the time into producing more content. Besides this, I appreciate the comments since it helps be continue to organize this information and we can all learn together!

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