Hsing-I emphasizes all aspects of the mind to increase its forms and fighting movements. It is an equally potent healing practice because it makes people healthy and then very strong. Its five basic movements are related to five primal elements or phases of energy – metal, water, wood, fire and earth – upon which Chinese medicine is based and from which all manifested phenomena are created.

The Chinese general Yue Fei created this powerful and effective martial art in the thirteenth century. Hsing-i (also known as xing yi) emphasizes all aspects of the mind to create its forms and fighting movements. It is an equally potent healing practice because it makes people healthy and then very strong.

Five Movements and Five Energies

Its five basic movements, although they appear simple, are both challenging to learn and difficult to do well. They are related to the five primal elements or phases of energy—metal, water, wood, fire and earth—upon which Chinese medicine is based and from which all manifested phenomena are created.

Five Hand Techniques

Each different five-element movement utilizes a particular hand technique that moves power along a specific physical force vector. Each of the five has a slightly different way in which it is done: high (to the opponent’s heart or above), middle (between the heart and the Lower tantien), and low (to the opponent’s hips, groin, or legs).

No Wasted Moves

Hsing-i’s training is based on a linear, militaristic approach: marching in straight lines, with a powerful emphasis at the end of every technique on mentally or physically taking an enemy down. Efficiency is the key - there are no wasted movements. The obvious external attributes of punching and striking are inherent to the way hsing-i is practiced. For many external martial artists who are not satisfied with the slow-motion form practice of Tai Chi, hsing-i done at normal speed fits the bill.

Power Without Anger

As with tai chi and Ba Gua, rather than using muscular tension or anger for power, hsing-i focuses instead on utilizing relaxation, chi, and stillness of mind to accomplish the pragmatic martial goal of winning in a violent confrontation.

Yang Energy and Relaxed Mind

However, hsing-i does not focus on the yin (soft qualities of tai chi), but rather on the yang (hard) internal energies in its tactics of repositioning, finding an effective fighting angle, and utilizing formidable internal power. Hsing-i, tai chi and ba gua all require soft and relaxed muscles and never use muscular contractions. The terms "hard" and "soft" within the Internal martial arts do not refer to muscles at all but to the quality of the internal energy flowing within them. More information on hsing-i can be found in The Power of Internal Martial Arts.

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The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi[Book]

Bruce Frantzis shows his encyclopedic knowledge of the martial arts of tai chi, hsing-i and ba gua. He tells fascinating stories about his remarkable teachers and the rigors of training with them. Product Details...