Xingyiquan 形意拳 (Hsing I Chuan) is the most ancient of China's internal martial arts, it is believed to have originated in the early 1600s.

It is known to be a very powerful method it is classified as an internal system like its sister arts Taijiquan and Baguazhang. However, Xingyi's mindset is aggressive in nature.

Where Taijiquan yields and and blends with an opponent's attack, and Bagua circles and evades, Xingyi's preferred method is to drive right through the opponent in a direct fashion with continuous unrelenting attacks.

Xingyiquan is a straight forward fighting system it is relatively easy to learn, but difficult to master. The key to developing effective skill is understanding correct body mechanics and generating a strong will (YI).

In Xingyi the practitioner's power is generated from the ground in the legs, directed up through the body and out through the arms. The aim of practice is that when the practitioner strikes, he/she is striking with their entire body, not just his fists.

The core practices of Xingyi are, first and formost, Poststanding 站椿 "Zhan zhuang" the Five Phase Fist Forms 五行 "wu xing" and Twelve Animal Shapes 十二 動物形 . Practice is also supplemented by other training drills such as the Eight Skills.

Post standing is a form of standing meditation, it can be performed in a variety of stances, the most common one being the Santishi 三體式 posture.

The Five Phase Fist Forms are short and repetitive, each one is associated with one of the Daoist five phases (elements) of Pi-split (metal), Beng-crushing (wood), Zuan-drill (water), Pao-pounding (fire) and Heng-crossing (earth). The five phases also correspond to one of the five "yin" internal organs of the body, as classified in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

To become proficient in the martial arts you must practice all year round, no matter what and practice arduously.  Practice to strengthen the body and fill it with power.  Therefore Xingyi Quan emphasises the internal energy (nei jing).  Value quality, not quantity. 

Practice should also contain a degree of physical conditioning. The conditioning should balance the development of a good level of general strength and flexibility.

Strength training should not be based on heavy weight training as this creates

bulky, stiff and slow muscles. The training should be on natural strength. It should be remembered that when this martial art was developed, life was much more physically demanding than it is today. If you spent your daily life walking or riding wherever you went, cutting wood to burn, carrying water to drink and harvesting the food you ate, you would not need to train strength.

Flexibility training is important, again in part because modern lifestyles; sitting at computers, driving cars, watching TV etc, cause our muscles to be unnaturally short and stiff and because a flexible body is more relaxed and is therefore more capable of generating speed and power and is less prone to injury.

Value simplicity, not complexity. 
     

The YI in Xingyiquan

Whatever aspect of XYQ you are engaging in the most important thing to remember is intent (Yi). Practice should never be carried out in a casual or careless manner.

Every aspect of your action should be deliberate and mindful. Developing Yi starts with Post Standing. Standing, like sitting (meditation), can cause the mind to wander and drift. Only persistant practice can overcome this. Once developed, this focus should be used in the performance of the five fists, again every element of each posture should be carried out with total clarity. XYQ requires almost endless repetition and each repetition should be carried out with the same focus as the one before.

As well as the above mentioned practices there are further training drills and partner work. Regardless of what you are practising each skill must correspond to the principles outlined in the Four Extremities, Eight Characters and Nine Songs as explained below.

THE FOUR EXTREMITIES.

Inside man's body blood, flesh, bones, and sinew make the extremities.  The tongue makes the flesh extremity.  The teeth make the bone extremities.  The fingernails make the sinews extremities.  The hair on the head is the blood extremity.  It the four extremities are strong, then what is common can quickly change.

1. The Blood Extremity: Angry Qi fills the breast.  Upright hair on the head pushes up against the helmet.  The blood circulation quickens.  The enemy's courage gives way.  The hair on the head is small.  Yet, to push the enemy is easy.

2. The Flesh Extremity: The tongue lifts up and the Qi descends.  The strong mountain also moved.  The flesh is firm like iron.  The mind is brave and bold.  A word's awesome power.  His spirit will fall and lie will be afraid.

3. The Bone Extremity: There is bravery in the bones.  With cutting teeth then issue.  The enemy's flesh is eaten.  The eyes protrude.  Only by the skill of the teeth.  It causes men to become dizzy.

4. The Sinew Extremity: The tiger's awesome power, the eagle's fierceness.  They use claws like hooks.  The hands grab and the feet tread.  The power of the qi is abundant and brave.  When the fingers arrive anything can be accomplished.

THE EIGHT CHARACTER MYSTERY.

Pushing up [Ding], Bending [Kou], Rounding [Yuan], Quickness[Du], Embracing [Bao], Suspending [Chui], Curving [Clu], and Stretching [Ting]. (Inside each character there are three methods.)

Pushing up [Ding]: The head pushes up, it has the bravery of shooting to heaven.  The hand pushes outwards and has the skill to push mountains.  The tongue pushes up and has the looks of a hungry lion swallowing an elephant.

Bending [Kou ]: When the shoulders bend, then the qi and strength reach the elbows.  When the elbows bend, then the qi and strength reach the hands.  When the fingers and toes bend, then the whole body strength is complete.

Rounding [Yuan]: When the back is rounded then the inner strength pushes the body.  When the front of the chest is rounded then both arms' strength is complete.  When the mouth is are rounded then there is a brave and fierce outward appearance.

Quickness[Du]: The mind is quick like an angry cat catching the mouse.  The eyes are quick like the hungry eagle seeing the rabbit.  The hands are quick like a hungry tiger catching a goat.

Embracing [Bao]: Bravery must be embraced by the body, then when you draw near the enemy you will not be afraid.  If the dantian embraces the qi, then the qi will not be dispersed outwards.  If both elbows embrace the ribs, then leaving and entering will not be confused.

Suspending [Chui]: If the qi is suspended, then the qi descends to the dantian.  If the shoulders are suspended, then the qi and strength arrive at the elbows.  If the elbows are suspended, then both arms are naturally curved.

Curving [Chu]: Both arms should be curved.  If both arms are curved, then the strength is abundant.  Both knees should be curved, if they are curved then the strength is sufficient.  Both wrists should be curved, if both are curved then the strength comes together.

Stretching [Ting]: If you stretch the energy, the sticky qi permeates to the top.  If you stretch the waist. the qi permeates the whole body.  If you stretch the knees and both feet, the strength is stable.

THE NINE CHARACTER SONG 
 

(Body, Shoulder, Arm, Hand, Fingers, Legs, Feet, Tongue, Anus)

Leaning to the front or back, this posture is not good.  Leaning to the left or the right is a sickness.  Straight and yet like diagonal; diagonal and yet like straight.

Shoulders: The top of the head wants to push up, the shoulders need to hang down.  If the left shoulder completely twisted then the right shoulder follows with it.  For the body strength to arrive in the hands, the shoulder place is where it happens.

Arms: The left arm reaches out to the front.  The right arm is by the ribs.  Like curved but not curved; straight but not straight.  If they are not in the right place the strength will be insufficient.

Hands:   The right hand is by the ribs.  The left hand equal with the breast.  In the back pressing down, in the front reaching out.  Both hands equally together use strength.

Fingers:   The five fingers each separate.  This form is like hooks.  The tiger's mouth is round and open.  Like hard, like soft.  Strength must arrive in the fingers and cannot be forced.

Legs: The left leg is in the front, the right leg supports in the rear.  Like straight, but not straight; like bowed, but not bowed.  Although it looks inadequate, each looks like a chicken form.

Feet: The left foot is in the front-, aslant or sideways is wrong.  The right foot posture is diagonal. Front precedes opposite the shin.  A foot distance is probably right.  The toes are fixed like hooks.

Tongue:   The tongue makes the flesh extremity.  If it is lifted up, then the qi descends.  The eyes are wide-open and the hair stands on end.  The dantian increases, the muscles are like iron, inside the organs are strong.

Anus: If the anus is raised up, then the qi permeates to the four extremities.  Both legs twist and wind so that the flesh of the buttocks comes together.  If it is low then the qi separates,  therefore it ought to be somewhat high.

XINGYI QUAN'S PRACTICE METHODS

THREE TYPES OF PRACTICE METHODS

1. Practice Jing (essence): In practising the martial arts one first must curb desire.  One cannot allow the distraction of alcohol and lust.  Therefore cut out lust and eating meat.  Everyone knows this. it is very good to start this as a child begins to practice.  As the youth becomes a man, lie definitely must have determination.  Regarding alcohol and lust, one cannot complete cut them off.  But one must, as far as possible, lessen them.  If not then you will plunder your body and cause the vitality [jingshen] wither and waste.  How can this not be?

2. Practice Qi: There are two kinds of practising qi.  One is nourishing qi.  One is practising qi.  Doing sitting elemental skills makes nourishing qi.  Early morning deep breathing, drawing in the morning air, is practising qi.  Many types of practice methods have been transmitted for generations.  There is striking method, and the twisting by rubbing method.  The root schools are then distinguished as having a small metal bell.  They mutually transmit the whole doctrine of Yue Fei.

3. Practice Shen: If indeed one relies on the true method then one will reach perfect.  Hopefully there is not any partial error in language.  For sure one can practice to arrive at the jing being full and the qi abundant.  Then the spirit will naturally fill and be copious.  All year around one cannot usurp its vessel.  Wind and rain cannot injure its body.  With this style, the benefits are longevity.  It is an unimportant matter to just hear about.  These words must be studied.  Pray take notice!

THREE STEPS GONGFU

(1) Ming Jing: Obvious Energy: First practice the basic body strengths.  When you have strengthened the energy, then you can advance and retreat with facility.  Otherwise it is just words.  An outgoing hand, a rising foot.  Make you become aware of qi floating and qi tramped.  Body breath of not relaxed.  What inward returning has superabundant strength?  Therefore, in the original school, first step gongfu puts importance on Obvious Energy.  A standing post works towards having the eight characters all be complete and the nine verses all totally complete.  Then the power will be naturally strong and you will terrify men.  Moreover this energy also gives a distinct strength to the body.  When the time is right you will naturally understand it.

(2) An Jing: Concealed Energy: After you have practiced and are good at Ming Jing, (you very much manifest a body and soul that are firm and strong. The vitality [jingshen] is full.) then advance and yet seek the return of the qi drawn throughout the whole body.  Do not esteem outer strength.  Moreover seek the inner energy.  The touch is soft.  If it is heavy then it is firm and hard like iron.  It the touch is hard, then it is also soft and yielding like cotton.  Investigate this area and make the above true.

(3) Hua Jing: Transforming Energy: Transformed energy has no form and no shape in the hand method.  He doesn't see it coming, and lie doesn't see it going.  As soon as lie comes into contact, lie cannot fathom it.  Without defending yourself, lie is thrown down.  Practice to arrive at this stage and your skill will be like magic.  The true proverb says : "The good stuff is hidden deeply.  The gentleman with abundant virtues appears like a silly fool." These words are important!

THREE DEGREES OF DAOIST PRINCIPLES

(1) Practice Jing Transforming to Qi

Practice qi, filling and consolidating.  Repeated practice of this causes it to travel up and consolidate in the Heavenly Gate.  By degrees it drops down to condense in the dantian.  It advances and permeates the whole body.

(2) Practice Qi Transforming to Shen:

Man has a heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.  They are all governed by the brain.  Regardless of whether the heart qi, liver qi, spleen qi, lung qi, or kidney qi is high, low or in the middle, it moves to consolidate in the centre.  Also all are guided by the mind's qi.  We, as a result, decide to practice qi.  The principle causes the qi to become fixed and the shen to become firm and complete.

(3) Practice Shen Returning to Emptiness:

When the five qi's are firm, then the shen congeals.  It becomes consolidated without separation.  I then return to emptiness and nothing.  There is no me, no thing.  Although the principles are three they are really only one and are to be experienced in man's body.

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