Hsing Yi

Hsing Yi Chuan (form and will boxing,) is one of the three primary internal martial arts of China, the other two being Tai Chi Chuan and Ba Gua Zhang. Legend credits General Yueh Fuei (circa 1100 AD) with the development of Hsing Yi, however the documented history doesn't begin until the end of the Ming dynasty (1644 AD). Ji Long Feng, a martial artist from Shaanxi province, claims to have discovered a text called the "Fist Fighting Classic" (Chuan Ching), while visiting an old hermit on Zhong Nan Mountain. In this book are descriptions of martial techniques immitating twelve animals, this book is said to have been authored by General Yueh Fei himself. After learning the techniques found in the Chuan Ching, Ji Long Feng used his previous martial arts knowledge to create a more complete martial art, beginning the verifiable history of the Hsing Yi style.

Hsing Yi is a non-nonsense martial art which was developed to be used on the battlefield and is very straightforward in approach. There are three primary styles of Hsing Yi Chuan being practiced today - the Shanxi, Hebei, and Henan province styles. Each style of Hsing Yi Chuan is distinctly different from the other methods, or families, as they are sometimes called.

The Shanxi style is considered by most to be the original method and is the most rare of the three styles. Shanxi style is known for its vigorous and powerful movements and abundant releases of fah jing energy. This method is tight in frame keeping a well-guarded movement structure which is quick and extremely powerful. It is by far the most complex in form and nuance of the three different families. This is especially evident in its twelve animal forms (dragon, tiger, monkey, horse, water lizard, chicken, harrier, swallow, snake, ostrich, eagle, and bear.)

Lee's Academy of Chinese Martial Arts
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