Xing Yi Quan

The origins of Xing Yi Quan are as limpid as those of the various other styles: a hermit… on a mountain… The style nevertheless seems to go back at least to the first part of the 17th century, with the name of Ji LongFeng, on which all the currents of XingYi agree.

The figure is known as a Kung-Fu expert, even if the real characteristics of his practice escape us. One can still form an idea of them, because the three currents that emerge in the 18th century have many points in common. The three great currents:

• The SHANXI school: the SHANXI school, which still exists, is said to descend directly from the teaching of Ji Longfeng; it is the one that is said to have split into two branches.
• The HENAN school: Master Ma Xueli (1715-1790) is designated as the founder of the Muslim style of the Henan school. It is based on ten zoomorphic techniques and is distinguished by the importance given to the use of the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees and head in combat. Its best-known descendant is doubtless Lu SongGao, who settled in Shanghai, where he acquired a great reputation.
• The HEBEI school: this school gained great renown for the training of bodyguards intended for the protection of notable figures or for escorting caravans on the silk road. In the 19th century an important figure emerges, that of the expert Guo YunShen, renowned for his very great strength and his perfect mastery of the art; he is said to have gone to prison for killing an opponent (he too…) in single combat.

All the schools of Xing Yi Quan share obvious common characteristics. The basic stance (san ti she), which is also found in the footwork, is specific. The weight rests mainly on the rear leg at the beginning of the action as well as at the end.

It is from that leg that all the force of the body departs, projecting itself into the fist before returning to the initial position. The fist techniques are very numerous, but every student of Xingyi begins with the five fundamental movements, Wuxing (five forms), or Wuquan (five fists).

These movements refer to the five elements of Taoist alchemy: Bengquan (wood), Piquan (metal), Hengquan (earth), Paoquan (fire), Zuanquan (water).