Xingyiquan Kungfu

Xingyiquan (形意拳) is a modern reinterpretation (approximately 200 years ago) of the ancient Xinyiquan (心意拳).

Its name means “boxing of form and mind,” while its older counterpart meant “style of the mind (intention) and the heart (emotion).”

Xingyiquan (形意拳) >> boxing of form and mind

Xinyiquan (心意拳) >>style of the mind (intention) and the heart (emotion)

Its Founder

The creator of this Kung Fu style was Li Luoneng (李洛能, 1807–1888).

This master was already skilled in Tongbeiquan and Bafanquan before beginning his study of Dai Xinyiquan at the age of 37.

After ten years of intense training, he gained great fame as a martial artist—so much so that he was nicknamed “Li the Magic Fist.”

In 1856, he began teaching his own version of the style.

Technical Foundation

The technical foundation of this style is the practice of the “Five Fists,” which are five different ways of expressing power in a strike—that is, five types of body mechanics, not five specific techniques as many practitioners today believe.

These five fists are called:

• Piquan – splitting or tearing fist

• Bengquan – crushing or explosive (colliding) fist

• Zuanquan – drilling fist

• Paoquan – cannon fist

• Hengquan – horizontal or lateral fist

  
  

It also includes the practice of techniques based on the 12 animals and the use of various weapons, all following the movement theory of the “Five Basic Fists.”

A Direct Style

Xingyiquan is a simple Kung Fu style with a very direct yet deep development of fighting skills.

Another important characteristic is the relatively short time required for practitioners to grasp the concept of fajing, or the explosive emission of power in strikes.

Many of the great fighters in China over the last 200 years were practitioners of this style.

Xingyiquan is one of the main Kung Fu styles within our training curriculum.

If you’re interested in learning it in a fully traditional way—focused on both combat and health—feel free to contact us through the contact form to receive information about our classes.

I also invite you to subscribe to our mailing list so you don’t miss any of the articles we’ll be publishing on the unique technical aspects of Xinyiquan and other Kung Fu styles in general.

Thank you for reading!

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