Legend says that General Yueh Fei of the Southern Sung Dynasty created the Xingyi system. Mr. Chi Lung Fung of the late Ming Dynasty went to Chung Nan Shan and met a man who gave him the book of Xingyi. This book covered the five elements and the twelve animals of Xingyi. After obtaining the book, Mr. Chi returned to his home in Pu Chou (Shansi Province) and practiced by himself.
Later, Mr. Chi taught Mr. Tsau Ji Wu, who was a military officer. After retirement from the army, Mr. Tsau taught two students, Mr. Dai Lung Bang, and Mr. Ma Shuey Li. Mr. Dai spread the art in Hebei Province and the Shantung Province area.
In the meantime, Mr. Ma returned to Henan Province and spread the art in Henan and Shansi Provinces. Today, there are three main branches of Xingyi in China.
Xingyi means Form and Mind or Form and Meaning. It is also called Xingyi Liu Ho Quan, or Form and Mind Six Coordinations. There are three external coordinations (wai san ho); the foot with the hand, the elbow with the knee, and the shoulder with the hip. There are also three internal coordinations (nei san ho), the mind coordinates with the Qi which coordinates with the strength. Each move should demonstrate the six coordinations together.
Wuxingquan (Wu Hsing Chuan), the Five Elements Fist, represents the major ways which Xingyi expresses power and compares to the Chinese five-elements cyclical theory of nature (metal, water, wood, fire, and earth). The physiological corollaries of the elements (in order) are the lungs, kidneys, liver, heart, and spleen (practicing the five elements exercises each of these organs). The actual five ways of hitting are chopping, drilling, crushing, cannon fist, and crossing. The Twelve Animals, which martially are comprised of movement techniques involving the five elements, are also noted for exercising and developing the neural system and the internal organs. Xingyi is not only a kind of fighting technique, but is also a kind of physical therapy to keep the body strong. Therefore, it belongs to the internal martial school.
San Tsai Shih (Three Essentials Posture) is the basic standing form which is used as the starting posture of each form and for the training of internal strength. The requirements of the posture of San Tsai Shih is that the head stretches to the heavens, the hand faces the opponent and the feet root to the ground.
The purpose of stretching the head to the heavens is to keep the neck bones and backbone straight. In order to keep the back straight, it is also required to pull in the hips and stomach to make the lower back straight.
The hands are in the correct position when the arms are slightly curved, the fingertip of the front hand is at nose level and over the forward toe, and the rear hand has the thumb at Dan Tien. The fingers of both hands spread out as much as possible.
The two legs are slightly bent and the feet root to the ground. The front foot supports about 45% of the body weight and the rear foot supports about 55% of the weight.
The tongue curves up, touching the palate behind the upper front teeth. Breathing should be deep and long, as in most meditation, and the concentration is on the tip of the index finger of the front hand.
There are four stages of achievement in practicing Xingyi. In the first stage, the practitioner will feel that the muscle coordination is better, the movement is easier, and the strike is also more powerful than before.
In the second stage, the practitioner will feel that the body is more energetic and has better endurance.
In the third stage, the practitioner will feel that he will not be affected by allergies, colds, flu, etc.
In the fourth stage, the practitioner's mind will calm down and reach the condition of empty, so that he will not be irritated by outside factors. All the achievements will not stay forever though. Therefore, one should practice regularly to improve or maintain what he has.
