broadsword, needles, and the halberd. In addition, a Hebei stylist will also
learn the basics of bagua, including forms called “walking the circle” and
the “Eight Palms Form.”
Training normally starts by learning the basic standing exercises,
starting with the fundamental stance, called san ti (three essentials). This
develops posture and alignment. The basic exercises (dragon turns head,
looking at moon in sea, boa waves head, lion plays with ball, and the turn-
ing exercise) are taught next to introduce the student to proper body
movement. The five fists are then taught, introducing the student to the
concepts of generating power in various directions. After that, the student
is introduced to other exercises and the forms. Three one-man forms are
taught: the Five Element Linking Form, the Twelve Animal Form, and the
assorted form. Several two-man forms also exist and may be part of the
training: These include Two Hand Cannon, the Conquering Cycle Form,
and others.
Many exercises and drills exist to help the student learn these tech-
niques and applications involving striking; throwing and grappling are also
learned from the forms. Shifu Kenny Gong of the Hebei style asserts that
xingyiquan has three special attributes: the ability to sense and take an op-
ponent’s root, or balance (“cut the root”), to act and strike instantly
(“baby catches butterfly”), and to stun an opponent with a shout (“thun-
der voice”). The first two are said to give the xingyi practitioner the look
of not fighting when he fights. The third ability is reputedly lost to the cur-
rent generation.
Kevin Menard
See alsoBaguazhang (Pa Kua Ch’uan); Boxing, Chinese; External vs.
Internal Chinese Martial Arts; Ki/Qi; Taijiquan (Tai Chi Ch’uan)
References
Cunyi, Li. 1994. Xing Yi Lianhuan Quan.Pinole, CA: Smiling Tiger Martial
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Frantzis, B. K. 1998. The Power of Internal Martial Arts.Berkeley, CA:
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Hsieh, Douglas. 1983. Hsing-I Chuan.Beijing: Unitrade Publishers.
Jianhua, Lin. 1995. Form and Will Boxing.Tokyo: Japan Publications.
McNeil, James. 1990. Hsing-I.Burbank, CA: Unique Publications.
Miller, Dan, and Tim Cartmell. 1994. Xing Yi Nei Gong.Pacific Grove, CA:
High View Publications.
Patterson, Michael, ed. 1994–1997. The Hsing I Journal.La Mesa, CA.
Sawai, Kenichi. 1976. Taiki-Ken, the Essence of Kung Fu.Tokyo: Japan
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Shou-Yu, Liang, and Jwing-Ming Yang. 1990. Hsing Yi Chuan: Theory and
Applications. Jamaica Plain, MA: Yang’s Martial Arts Association.
Smith, Robert. 1981. Hsing I: Chinese Mind-Body Boxing.Tokyo:
Kodansha International.
Smith, Robert, and Alan Pittman. 1989. Hsing I: Chinese Internal Boxing.
Rutland, VT: Tuttle.778 Xingyiquan (Hsing I Ch’uan)