Xingyiquan

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Xingyiquan or Xing Yi Quan ( Chinese  形意拳 , Pinyin Xíngyìquán , W.-G. Hsing-i Ch'üan ) is a Chinese martial art and is one of the internal martial arts . Older names are Xinyi Quan, Xinyi Luhe Quan and Yi Quan, with Yiquan also designating a more modern internal martial art that arose from Xingyiquan, among other things.

Principles

The Xingyiquan techniques are explosive, straightforward and not particularly complicated in terms of the external process. Although the exercises are quick and powerful, the practitioner must remain relaxed and avoid using “gross muscle strength”. Therefore it is much more difficult to control the movements than it seems at first glance. The “inner aspect” of this martial art is also hidden here.

The footwork is based on a line. The front foot, the tip of the nose and the leading hand are kept in one plane so that the fighter approaches or enters his opponent directly. The weight is usually held on the back leg. The way of moving characterizes the strategy of Xingyi - the direct attack. As a result, there are hardly any techniques that involve steps backwards, because the opponent should be "like a tuft of grass that you run over". It is always important to consider the six harmonies (three external and three internal aspects):

  • The mind is in harmony with the intention.
  • The intention is in harmony with the qi.
  • The qi is in harmony with the force.
  • The hands are in harmony with the feet.
  • The elbows are in harmony with the knees.
  • The shoulders are in harmony with the hips.

meaning

Xing ( Chinese  形 , Pinyin xíng , W.-G. Hsing ) can be translated as "form" or "movement", Yi ( Chinese  意 , Pinyin yì , W.-G. i ) with "spirit", "will" , “Idea” or “attention”. Quan ( Chinese  拳 , Pinyin quán , W.-G. ch'üan  - "fist") in connection with a martial art style refers to a form of fistfighting or boxing. This allows one to get closer to the meaning and translate Xingyiquan as boxing of form and mind , boxing of movement and will , or attentive boxing of form . The idea behind this is that through intensive practice of the form, the student realizes that every movement arises in his mind, or that it is based on an inner idea that needs to be carefully followed.

Origin and history

The best-known legend of the origin of Xingyiquan tells that General Yue Fei (1103 to 1142) developed Xingyiquan during the Song Dynasty . Yue Fei was from Henan Province and was a national war hero who repulsed attacks by the Jin rulers. He is said to have developed Xingyiquan from spear fighting. Yue Fei is credited with writing a text on the fighting technique of Xingyiquan, although its authorship is doubtful. However, the description shows similarities with his writing about the "eagle's claw". Five hundred years after Yue's death, a young fighter named Ji Jike (also known as Ji Longfeng) is believed to have visited Xiongju Cave on Zhongnan Mountain, where he received a book on martial arts written by General Yue Fei. From these scriptures he learned Xingyiquan and later began to be the first to teach this martial art; at least this fact is undisputed nowadays.

In the course of time, three main schools / styles developed:

  • the Shanxi School, originated in Ji Jike's home province of Shanxi.
  • Heibei School goes back to Li Feiyu from Hebei Province , a student of Cao Jiwu, who in turn was a student of Ji Jike. This style is the most widely used today.
  • the Henan School founded by Ma Xueli, a student of Jike from Henan Province.

Techniques and exercises

The techniques of Xingyiquan are based on the “threefold position” ( santishi ), on which the “five elements” or “fist techniques” ( wŭxíng ) and, depending on the style, the 10–12 animal forms arise. These are also summarized in defined partner forms. There are also various forms of weapons, such as spear, stick and sword.

Santishi

Master Sun Lutang becomes Santishi.

The Santi position is the starting and end position of all Xingyi techniques and accordingly, special emphasis is placed on taking and holding this position for a longer period of time.

This should not only strengthen the physical endurance of the practitioner, but also promote the development of inner energy ( neigong ). The term "triple position" refers to the three sections of the body head, trunk / arms and legs, which according to the Daoist philosophy are assigned to heaven, man and earth. You should also concentrate on ensuring that the three points (tip of the nose, tip of the foot, index finger) are on the same plane.

When standing, the back must be straight, the chest arched slightly inward, the pelvis let down forward, and the body should be relaxed. Depending on the school, the weight lies on the back leg or between both legs, while the upper body is rotated about 45 °. The upper body is curled in from the opponent's perspective, but the hips frontal. The elbows are hanging and there is no muscle tension in the body. Both legs push outwards like a water strider on the surface of the water, so that the Xingyi fighter only has to lift one leg and can shoot in the respective direction.

Five elements

The five fist techniques of Xingyiquan are assigned to the Taoist idea of ​​the five-element theory . The idea here is that the character of the change phase is reflected in the exercise and application of the associated fist technique and thus describes a kind of alchemical process that the Qi goes through when exercising. Wood makes a fire burn. The ashes enrich the earth. Earth produces metal and metal revives water (nutrient cycle). The Qi is finally conducted to its destination via the water, "the river".

The techniques are:

  • smashing fist (beng quan), transformation phase wood
  • hammering fist (pao quan), transition phase fire
  • Crossing fist (heng quan), earth transition phase
  • splitting fist (pi quan), transition phase metal
  • piercing fist (zuan quan), transformation phase water.

Following the principles of the five phases of change, the techniques can create or destroy one another. The above order is the generating, while the destructive is: Pi Quan, Beng Quan, Heng Quan, Zuan Quan, Pao Quan. Metal can create water and destroy wood. These sequences are also of importance in Chinese Daoist health teaching, since each phase is assigned an organ. In the case of pi quan / metal, this would be the lungs, for example.

Animal shapes

These are fixed sequences of movements that are based on the five fist techniques and continue their principles. Depending on the style, ten or twelve animal forms are practiced. In contrast to many other animal styles, Xingyiquan does not place so much emphasis on imitating the external movements of an animal, but rather that the inner character (the spirit) of the animal flows into the movement:

  • Dragons
  • bear
  • Falcon / eagle
  • Rooster
  • monkey
  • horse
  • tiger
  • Snake
  • crocodile
  • swallow
  • crane
  • Sparrowhawk

Weapon forms

The types of weapons are varied and inconsistent, as they are mostly of recent date and were developed by different masters. The most famous weapons of the Xingyiquan are spear and long stick. Since Xingyiquan was at least temporarily used by the military, techniques for the bayonet were developed there. A long sword that is wielded with both hands is also common.

literature

  • Frank Allen: Xingyiquan: Fighting according to the five elements . In: Frank Aichsleder, Helmut Oberlack (ed.): Inner Martial Arts: A Special of the Taijiquan & Qigong Journal . a & o medianetwork, Hamburg 2005, ISBN 3-9808747-5-3 , p. 54-60 .
  • Lu Shengli: Combat techniques of Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua: principles and practices of internal martial arts; translated and edited by Zhang Yun . Blue Snake Books, ISBN 978-1-58394-145-4 , pp. 15-42 .

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