The Punch Comes from the Heart – And the Second Heart

The soleus and the gastrocnemius muscles form what is known as the calf muscle, also referred to by health professionals as the ‘second heart’ due to its significant role in ideal circulatory system function. The martial art of Ving Tsun (wing chun) Kung Fu uniquely develops the health, strength and functional abilities of the calf muscle, in addition to the whole body and mind. The physical fitness from Ving Tsun Kung Fu is good self-defense for human health, in addition for developing efficient and effective fighting skills, without relying on size or strength.

Second Heart - Soleus cardiovascular function. Source: https://veinatlanta.com/your-second-heart/

Circulatory System and Human Cardiovascular Health

The heart is a powerful muscle. It takes just seconds for the blood from one pump to reach the feet, assisted by gravity when a person is upright. With strong, healthy arteries and veins, the blood is liquid in a closed system under directional pressure, and it will eventually return to the heart, but it’s given a valuable assist by active calf muscles, especially when walking or running.

Healthy, active calves also protect against venous insufficiency, which can lead to swelling, cramping, pain and more serious problems such as ulcers, spider veins, varicose veins and potentially life-threatening blood clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis). People who are sedentary or obese are especially at risk. The good news is that calf muscle health and function can be improved with certain physical exericses, such as Ving Tsun Kung Fu, the way it’s practiced in the Moy Tung lineage.

Cardiovascular Function of Gastroc/Soleus Calf Muscle

The soleus muscle is innervated by important larger veins in the legs that carry blood returning from the feet to the heart. This muscle works the most when people are walking or running, and the combined action of the soleus and gastrocnemius contracting-and-releasing works both to move the ankle, and to pump blood through the one-way veins. Once out of the legs, the gut helps the blood overcome gravity to reach the heart.

When muscles engage to do work they contract and shorten. Simultaneously, the brain signals antagonist (opposing) muscles to relax (reciprocal inhibition), for efficient functioning. The Soleus and Gastrocnemius Calf muscles both attach at the heel, and at the other ends, the Soleus attaches to top of the lower leg and Gastrocat the bottom of the thigh bone. Both muscles plantar flex the ankle, i.e. make the foot point down. Gastroc assists the Hamstrings in flexing the knee, i.e. bending it. When the toes are engaged simultaneously with the calf muscle, this energizes and assists the calf muscle contraction.

2022 research at the University of Houston found that, “When activated correctly, the soleus muscle can raise local oxidative metabolism to high levels for hours, not just minutes, and does so by using a different fuel mixture.”

And the second heart can be activated to improve brain function and mental health, in addition to the cardiovascular system: “… soleus muscle insufficiency can be reversed, resulting in improved cardiac output, cerebral perfusion, and the prevention of cognitive aging.” (Cerebral and Cerebellar Cortex, 2021)

Soleus in Ving Tsun Training

More Siu NIm Tao - Kung Fu Fxbg Ving Tsun

Interestingly, Ving Tsun (wing chun) Kung Fu’s most basic stance, the Yee Gee Kim Yeung Mah ‘front horse’, trains the calf muscles to engage actively while maintaining a relatively lengthened position. This increases the natural range of calf muscle ability, a muscle mostly used to maintain standing posture, or to walk/run. Further, even as the distal/ankle end of the Gastrocnemius muscle relaxes to allow the ankle to dorsiflex, it is engaging at the proximal/knee end, assisting the hamstrings and gravity in keeping the knees bent.

Note that the Hamstrings and the Abs are also involved in the posterior rotation of the pelvis, as the Glutes do hip extension and push the pelvis forward. When muscles are engaged or relaxed appropriately in this horse stance, the triangular structures of the stance become very strong, and the muscles are trained to hold the stance with a relaxed, powerful Kung Fu energy.

When in Ving Tsun stances, stepping and other footwork, if a foot is load-bearing (back foot), the weight is generally on the heel, grabbing the ground with with the toes, with the knees bent, and the center of gravity lowered. This lengthens the calf muscle, but it’s not relaxed; it’s actively involved in maintaining balance and posture. By doing this, the calf muscle can also assist Ving Tsun foot movements such as shifting and stepping, even when not engaging to point the toes, as in standard walking or running.

Conversely, the calf of the non-load-bearing front foot has a more phasic role (movement-oriented) when in stances such as the Ving Tsun back horse (Hau Mah); triangle horse (San Kwak Mah) and side horse (Jor Mah/Jow Mah). In these stances, the front ankle becomes somewhat plantar flexed, shortening the calf muscle. The front foot can rest on the ground, and it can also be pressed into the ground, engaging the calf muscle even more.

Ving Tsun training includes stationary dynamic ‘isometric’ muscle training in the first form, Siu Nim Tao, and basic two-person exercises (Pak Sao through Jip Sao Jow Sao). In more advanced forms (Chum Kiu, Biu Gee, Muk Yan Jong, Luk Dim Boon Kwan, Bat Jom Doa) and two-person training (Toi Mah through Chi Sao and Mai Sang Jong), training includes stepping, kicking and shifting balance/direction, while maintaining or adjusting horse stances. All of these exercises require the calf muscles to work with the knees bent in and center of gravity lowered, with weight on the heels, and with the toes engaged to grab the ground. Deep breathing is maintained throughout. Ving Tsun Kung Fu has many ways to elevate the heart rate, i.e. cardio.

Ving Tsun develops the whole body and mind. Everything is trained to work together efficiently and effectively. The heart and second heart are not trained in isolation; as important compenents of the human body, they get trained with everything else to their full potential, with the entire range of training methods in the Ving Tsun system. Ving Tsun Kung Fu is good for the heart and soleus, and the whole human being.

References

Uhl JF, Gillot C. “Anatomy of the veno-muscular pumps of the lower limb.” Phlebology. 2015 Apr;30(3):180-93. doi: 10.1177/0268355513517686. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24415543/.

McLeod, Kenneth J. “Reversal of Cognitive Aging through Enhancement of Cardiac Output.” Cerebral and Cerebellar Cortex, Edited by Stavros J. Baloyannis. 2021, Feb 13. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.95947 https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/74951.

“Your Second Heart.” Vein Atlanta Blog. https://veinatlanta.com/your-second-heart/.

Fickman, Laurie. “Discovery Unlocks Potential of 'Special' Muscle: 'Soleus Pushup' Fuels Metabolism for Hours While Sitting”. 2022. https://stories.uh.edu/2022-soleus-pushup/index.html.