SHANG STYLE XING YI
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About Shang Style Xing Yi
Xing Yi Quan（形意拳）is one of three major internal martial art in China, and ranked as number one among one hundred and thirty eight traditional Chinese martial systems. The term Xing means Shape, body. The term Yi usually translated as "mind", however the term mind does not interpreted true meaning of Yi accurately. Perhaps "one's divinity" might be the closest interpretation for Yi. The term Quan (pronounced as "CHUAN") means fists which in extended--means "bare hand forms" or simply "forms". All three terms combines together means "a form harmonize one's shape and divinity."
Xing Yi is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese heritage, the philosophy of forms profoundly expresses rich senses of Chinese culture and martial knowledge. The range of expression that can be found in the philosophy of Xing-Yi Quan includes intellectual disciplines comprising: nature, human physiology, kinematics, anatomy, hematology, traditional Chinese medicine (meridian internal and external connections), and the Chinese philosophies of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. There are three major branches in Xing Yi Quan based on locality He-Nan (河南 pronounced as Hueh-Nan) style, He-Bei (河北 pronounced as Hueh-Bei) style, and Shan-Xi Style. Shang Style Xing Yi Quan (尚氏形意拳) was founded by grand-master Shang Yun Xiang (尚云祥， 1864-1937). He inherited the famous nickname "unbeatable half-step Beng-Quan" from his grand-master Guo Yun Shen (郭云深) due to his real-life combat experiences and his ability to generate exceptionally strong explosive power. Shang style Xing Yi came from He-bei style, but different than He-bei style. An experienced Shang style practitioner generate bursts of power intended to overwhelm the opponent, there is no blocking in Shang style Xing Yi movement, because attacking and defense happened in simultaneously. |
Forms/Weapons
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Shang style Xing Yi Quan is a completed internal martial system. The core practice comprised five major standings (桩功), five elements forms (五行拳) with extended thirty-six variations (五行三十六变), twelve animal forms (十二形), and other bare hands forms such as five elements linking form (五行连环拳), eight style form (八式), and twelve flooding-punches form (十二洪捶) and many others.
The system also has a great weapon system. one characteristic of Shang style weapons forms is that every bare-hand form has at least one corresponding weapon form. Weapons practiced in Shang style comprised of the sword, the straight sword, stuff, spear, tiger-tail stick, deer horn knives (cresent knives), E-mei thursts, wolf teeth mace, unicorn knives, hand sticks, Gwan-Dao, and many others. |
Shang Style Xing Yi studied by Us
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Our study follows the traditional path. Shang style are focused more on internal discover than external forms. Just like an old Xing Yi phrase said: "found one, got everything (得其一， 万事毕)", there is no such thing called basic or advance in Shang style. All advanced stuff is already embedded in most basic techniques waiting for one to discover. For example, a tri-body standing (三体式) usually is first standing most Xing Yi practitioner learned, but it is also the best way to harmonize one's internal energy with external body, a Shang style practitioner will have to refine his or her tri-body stance through whole life, there are always more detail to dig in the stance.
Our teaching method follows what our master taught us, always start from standings, acquire the internal energy first, and then add piece by piece. During the new form teaching, we always go back to previous teaching, make sure standing is served in the form, and form applied in the stance (桩中有拳，拳中有桩). |
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Shang Style Xing Yi Curriculums
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Standing and Bare Hands Forms
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Weapons Forms
Grandmaster Li Wen Bin (李文彬) was Practicing Five Elements Linking Straight Sword
Grandmaster Shang Zhi Rong (尚芝蓉）was practicing Xingyi Spear
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