Xingyi (hsingi)
A general overview of Xingyiquan (hsingichuan) as an Internal Martial Art Form. Written by Mike Patterson
XingYiQuan
(Form Intention Boxing)
XingYiQuan or HsingIChuan is the first of the "three sisters" of Neijia, or Internal Martial Arts (Kung Fu) practice. The Neijia School of thought is comprised of Xingyi (hsingi), Bagua (pakua) and TaiJi (taichi) as primary disciplines.
There are three primary styles of Xingyiquan being practiced today. The ShanXi Style, the HeBei Style, and the Honan Style would be the most widely recognized branches.
Each style of xingyiquan is distinctly different in flavor and appearance from the other methods, or families, as they are sometimes called.
The ShanXi style is considered by most to be the original method (credited by many to General Yueh Fuei, circa 1100 A.D.), although this cannot be substantiated historically and is probably more likely a convenience than a fact. ShanXi style is known for its vigorous and powerful movements and abundant releases of fah jing energy. This method is tight in frame keeping a well-guarded movement structure which is quick and extremely powerful. It can be more complex in form and nuance of the three different families. This is especially evident in its twelve animal structures. But it is perhaps the most rare of the Xingyi styles found today.
HeBei style, in contrast to the ShanXi style, typically uses much larger frames and can appear slower in practice. Its stances are more open than the ShanXi style, and there will generally be less appearance of fah jing energy in the practice of the forms. The HeBei style is said to delineate from the ShanXi method, but this link remains unclear. Many people practice the HeBei method today. And chances are if you meet a practitioner of Xingyi, they will likely be of the HeBei method over any other. HeBei Xingyi's expressions of the Five Elements are more simplistic than those of the ShanXi and the Twelve Animal stuctures are much more simplified by and large.
The last style, known as the Honan style, is a very simplified style of Xingyi practiced exclusively by the Muslim Chinese community for generations. It has only Ten Animal structures which are extremely simplistic one or two movement forms only. The Five Elements are present only as concepts in this method, having no movement representations at all.
There are also several mixed lineages in wide propagation today which often show characteristics of several different Xingyi methods in practice. These hybrid systems are often quite unique in terms of how the best attributes from the three main branches of the art are put into practical use.
There are several recognized spelling and/or renderings of this arts name. The most common being XingYiQuan from the newer PinYin system of Chinese phonetics, or, HsingIChuan from the more antiquated Wade/Giles phonetics. Other common spellings include the abbreviated XingYi or HsingI and also the hyphenated Hsing-I. On occasion an apostrophe is added, as in Hsing I Ch'uan to further emphasize the pronunciation.
Let me share with you a few of our perspectives on the key aspects of the Chinese Internal Art forms of kung fu... Follow the other links within the Xingyi section... Body, Characteristics, Goals, History, Mind, Spirit or Internal Vs. External, to learn more about this internal martial art form.
Here is a video sampling of Xingyi (hsingi) movement and application.
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at both one quarter and half speeds of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. The essentials of Hsing I are explored on this video. The five forces element forms of Pi (Splitting), Tsuan (Drilling), Peng (Crushing/Penetrating), Pao (Pounding) and Heng (Crossing) are all covered in thorough detail. This video goes to great lengths to give you a very in-depth overview of the five force elements of Hsing I. A host of ways to apply the five elements as strikes, throws, locks, nerve and point attacks are demonstrated. A very informative video. A must see for the serious Hsing I student. A tremendous help for studying the five forces elements in depth and an excellent starting point for the base of the twelve animals of Hsing I Chuan.
Running time = 52 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at both one quarter and half speeds of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. This video builds upon the Hsing I Five Elements video by delving into the five forces linking forms plus the Lien Huan (continuous combinations) form. Complete sequential breakdowns of all applications are demonstrated, plus possible combinations and attack strategies using the five force elements for fighting. This video contains the necessary steps a practitioner must take before beginning to study the twelve animals of Hsing I Chuan.
Running time = 32 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles
This video has been digitally re-mastered from the original archival footage to enhance clarity and resolution. Additional footage from Multiple camera angles utilizing digital slow motion, at both one quarter and half speeds of live movement are portrayed for amazing insights into body mechanics never before seen on an instructional video. Additional voiceover scenes have also been added to the presentation. Together, these techniques are employed for a complete learning experience. This video contains the five elemental combinative form of Ba Shih (Eight Methods). This form will teach the Hsing I practitioner methods of combining the Five Forces Elemental movements for practical usage and develop further understanding of the Five Forces. Also contained in this video is the form of San Guan Chuan (Dual Hand Fist) which is one of the oldest sequential forms in the Hsing I System. The practice of San Guan Chuan will instill fundamental qualities of the Twelve Animals of Hsing I as well as develop higher level footwork. We utilized multiple camera angles to portray the forms fully, at very slow speed utilizing voiceover to point out potential trouble spots. The linked forms are presented once at normal practice speed and also once in digital slow motion, at one quarter live speed, so that you may see the true measure of the body mechanics, continuity and fluidity of the method. A thorough, sequential breakdown of the applications follow each form. This is a must for the Hsing I enthusiast. A very helpful video for the intermediate to advanced practitioner striving to understand the main concepts of Hsing I movement structures.
Running time = 40 minutes.
All performances on video are of Shrfu Mike Patterson; two time All Taiwan Full Contact Chinese Kuoshu Fighting Champion; Trainer of 37 International & World Kuoshu Full Contact Champions 1981 - 2000; Chosen as Inside Kung Fu Magazine's Hall of Fame Coach of the Year 1997.
Product Details
Format - Color, NTSC
Language - English
Region - All Regions
DVD Features -
<>Menu interfaced for easy access
<>Digitally re-mastered for increased clarity
<>Digital Slow Motion Enhancement
<>Voiceover Narration
<>Multiple Camera Angles