Article published in Emptyflow er homepage in FEV/2002

M UTATIONS

An inside view of Xing Yi Techniques

In spite of what many people imagine, the
definition of the slightness for internal style is not
applied to the Xing Yi Quan. Of predominantly
aggressive feature, this martial art has its great
goal the work of Chi Kun incorporated to the
movements.
Kept in secret for that it has its domain,
taught in its full form only to few disciples, the
Xing Yi is much more of that the five fists (five
elements) and the twelve animals as it comes
being spread out.
I will clarify some important points in
relation to this subject, so that the people can
have a wide and real notion of the style.

Beng Quan

Each one of the five fists in its basic form is the expression of a force. In its
advanced form, a variety of mutations that are, in the reality exists for each fist, these
same basic, trained and applied forces in diverse methods. I cite as practical
example, the movement Pi Quan that represents the energy of the metal and has the
intention to crack and to cut. This movement in its basic form in the branch of Shanxi
is represented in the idea of an axe cutting something and executed with the
attacking hand closed. However, in the Hopei branch, the hand, that it attacks,
remains open in palm form. Even so internally the intention is the same one. Into its
advanced form the movement that represents the energy of the metal transforms into
diverse others techniques, being able, for example, to use the palm or forearm as
way to apply the force. Despite the external variations of the movement, the internal
intention, to crack or to cut, is kept.

Basic Pi Quan and two kinds of mutations.

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In the practice of the twelve animals this is evidenced well, a time that in the
animals themselves we find mutations of the five basic fists. As an example, the Tiger
and the Dragon, that use the same force of the Pi Quan. Its valley to detach here,
that the twelve animals also present its variations in form and method of trainings.
Not only in relation to the origins of each branch of Xing Yi Quan, but also in the
emphasis that each master gave in its personal training and the one of the direct
disciples.
The metals intention of cracking in three ways of applications.

Tiger technique in
a direct palm
strike.

Pi Quan in a
cutting forearm
technique.

Dragon technique
in a descending
palm strike.

In our School (kwoon), before initiating the study of the twelve forms it is
necessary the full domain of the five movements and its intentions, a time that in the
twelve forms these forces are gifts. It is necessary to stand out that even with the
different physical representation, the internal expression (intention) of the five
movements always is kept.
We give below examples relationed to the Tiger and the Dragon techniques.

TIGER TECHNIQUE

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DRAGON TECHNIQUE

Wrongly defined by those who do not know the completeness of this martial
art, as a strict linear style, the Xing Yi Quan in its proper universe of techniques,
offers options for any circumstance lived in a real combat.

Mechanically the style functions on the following way. When executing a

blow, the mind anticipates the movement (intention), making the body to execute it.
This force is generated in an only movement of single grain structure and its great
impact is possible, thanks to a peculiar system of coordinations that characterize the
proper style (feet - hands, shoulder - hip, elbow - knee). We can say then, that the
feet and the hands always arrive together. When hitting, the hand reaches the
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adversary together with all the body, making that the target receives, the impact of
not only the fist beating him, but of all the structure in set.
Old texts describe great fighters of Xing Yi, as being example of practitioners
of one technique alone, what it is an error of interpretation. It counts the history that
the Master Guo Yun Shan was a specialist in Beng Quan and my master always
emphasized that the Master Che I Zai trained a lot the Pi technique. It is an error
that many people think that these masters of the past were specialists of one
movement. They were specialists yes, not only in a movement, but in the use of this
force.
As I said before, each fist (element) develops a force (movement / external)
and an energy (intention / inner) that it can be applied in many forms through
innumerable mutations techniques (applications in combat).

By MARCELLO LUIZ TEIXEIRA

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December of 2001.
Marce llo's we bsite : XING YI TC HUEN

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