编者按：洪拳，广东名拳之首，威震岭南百余年。影视作品的热潮虽使其在国内外一度兴盛，但缺乏深入理论研究，只是表面的繁荣；尤其是李连杰先生演绎的夸张动作，对洪拳发展产生了极大的负面影响，甚至误导国际朋友错误地认为那就是真正的洪拳。这一现象让洪拳界的学者们感到忧虑，他们决定对洪拳进行深入挖掘和全面研究，以求有所建树。在此过程中，武术家周至誌先生的文章，为理解整体宏观水平提供了重要参考，对于追求深层次探索的武友而言，是一个难得良机。

"小成三年中，大成十年功"，任何武艺都离不开坚持和毅力，这也是南派称之为功夫的地方。林世荣先生在《虎鹤双形拳》自序中指出：“一道真功夫诚易学而难精”，必须先明规矩、习标准，然后用气力接桥。明了这一点，就能进步，再从横直吞吐、进退出入等四到之秘、五门之法、中八面形与生死路寻找奥秘。古人云“学武先求明师”，知其然又须知其所以然，加上气力并持恒，将其融会贯通，就是这道理。

洪家拳自扎马碌桥起，便是一门实实在在以气为本，没有虚假可言。“讲桥马，不讲快打”；“桥马是基础，佛家快打是修养”，这些流传下来的谚语更加突出了它离不开桥手和马步不可或缺性。前辈们在桥马上苦练三年的五载才算达到了要求。这想象一下，如果没有稳固的马步，一刮风就被吹倒，没有足够力量的一击，那怎能与人搏斗？因此，在简单实用的途径下学习桥马，并经过苦练琢磨才能领悟其中奥妙，就已经踏入了洪家的殿堂。

bridge-hand-and-martial-art,包括内外五要中的bridge-hand-law. 内五要即修身根本，也是技艺根本；外五要则为技艺应用法门。

Internal Five Essentials

精 (Essence): Core of the five essentials, responsible for vitality and strength.

力 (Strength): Derived from muscles and bones, reflecting in power and vigor.

骨 (Bones): The foundation of strength; bigger and thicker bones result in greater power.

气 (Qi): Life energy that flows through the body; essential for maintaining health and vitality.

神 (Spirit): Inner force that governs a person's actions; represents wisdom, courage, determination.

The five essentials are interrelated: essence leads to spirit which generates qi which supports life. Deficiency or excess can lead to imbalance.

External Five Essentials

Bridge Hand Law: Principle governing bridge hands in martial arts.

Martial Art Form: Basic movements learned by practitioners.

Skillful Technique: Mastery over techniques requires practice and patience.

Power Application: Utilizing one's internal strength effectively during combat situations.

Spirit Cultivation: Training the mind to focus on achieving one's goals while keeping emotions under control.

Each practitioner must master these external essentials to truly understand their martial art style as well as themselves."