Xingyi Quan is a form of boxing known for its strong combat effectiveness. It is widely acknowledged for its simplicity and quick mastery; some may develop considerable fighting ability within a year, while others might achieve it in just a few months. However, many Xingyi Quan enthusiasts today possess minimal combat skills, and there have been instances where individuals practicing for years have been severely beaten in street fights.
Why hasn’t the effectiveness of “being able to fight within a year” been demonstrated in these cases?
It turns out that modern Xingyi Quan has been enveloped in a thick layer of theory, binding practitioners to seek rules day and night; training focuses more on forms than on practical application, completely detaching practice from real combat. There is a trend where the development of boxing art is more focused on forms rather than on training methods.
As a result, many consider mastering the Five Elements Fist, Linked Fist, Twelve Animal Forms, and Miscellaneous Punches as the entry level to Xingyi Quan. They follow a low-efficiency path by practicing forms first and then learning fighting techniques in hopes of improving their combat skills. Based on my experience, I have found a method for quickly acquiring Xingyi combat skills: starting with stance training, moving on to individual Five Elements practices, and then progressing to sparring experience.
Mr. Wu Zizhen, the head of the Si Min Martial Arts Society, practices the Three-Body Stance.
Stance Training: The fundamental purpose of stance training is to strengthen the body and increase power. There are various stance practices in Xingyi, with the Three-Body Stance being the most important for combat. When practicing the Three-Body Stance, one should not initially focus on the “Eight-Character Secret,” “Nine Songs,” or requirements related to “meridians and qi paths.” Instead, focus on the essentials.
The key for the upper body lies in pulling up the back, wrapping, dropping the elbows, stretching, and pushing the hands; for the lower body and waist, focus on the scissor step and the 70-30 force distribution, along with integrating horizontal and vertical forces into one cohesive unit. After passing through stages of muscle soreness due to shaking hands and trembling legs, one enters a state of tranquility and unified qi, then aiming for external form and internal intent to be standardized.
As stance training deepens, one should seek to understand the overall force of Xingyi, aiming for a unified force rather than just the charging force from pushing forward and pulling back, which is a sign of only practicing forms without mastering stance training.
Five Elements Individual Practice:
The Five Elements Fist is concise, brisk, direct, and effective, meeting real combat requirements. It serves as a crucial phase for practitioners to transition from methodical to intuitive combat, quickly mastering basic offensive and defensive techniques for free application in real situations.
For combat beginners, mastering the individual and combined techniques of the Five Elements Fist is sufficient for overcoming opponents. However, the cultivation of the Five Elements Fist goes beyond technique application; it focuses on training and discovering internal strength.
It involves three steps: first, finding strength in a fixed stance, then in moving steps, and finally, transitioning between different types of strength. It’s crucial to practice with relaxation, naturalness, and harmony.
Sparring Experience: Boxing is an extremely practical sport. To develop combat skills, practical experience is essential. First, it builds a proper combat mentality, treating opponents lightly and confidently.
Second, through practice, one identifies strengths and weaknesses, whether in reaction time, speed, technique, or power, leading to rapid skill improvement.
Third, by adhering to Xingyi’s combat principles and continuously experimenting, one develops a personal fighting style. It’s important to discard the concept of winning or losing in sparring; the goal is to enhance skills, not to compete.
By following these steps, you can quickly develop combat skills and master Xingyi’s fighting abilities, ready to utilize its combat power in emergencies. This is based on my experience in practicing, teaching, and applying Xingyi Quan. Some may question, doesn’t Xingyi Quan advocate for reaching a state beyond conscious technique?
Indeed, Xingyi aims for spontaneous skill, but one must first master the overt techniques. Expecting beginners to perform with the same divine intent, energy, and effectiveness as Master Guo without even basic offensive and defensive skills is unrealistic. Without foundational combat abilities, how can one expect to excel in more advanced techniques?
