"Swift as the wind. Quiet as the forest. Conquer like the fire. Steady as the mountain."
What is
Xing Yi Quan?
Xing Yi Quan (Form-Intention Boxing) is an internal Chinese martial art (Neijia) known for its direct, explosive, and linear fighting style. It focuses on cultivating internal energy (𝑄𝑖) and intent (𝑌𝑖) in order to generate power.
the mind's intention dictates the body's shape and movement.
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Style: Linear, aggressive, and efficient, often described as spear-like in its application.
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Core Concepts: Uses standing meditation (
ZhanZhuang
𝑍ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑍ℎ𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑔) and "mud-stepping" to build internal strengt
While the precise origins of Tai Chi are not known, there are a variety of colourful legends about its creation that in turn adds to the mysticism surrounding this beautiful system.
One Legend attributes Tai Chi to Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-14th century Taoist monk who supposedly created the art after witnessing a fight between a snake and a crane.
The earliest well-documented practice began during the Ming-Qing transition at Chen Village and Zhabao Village in Henan on the North China Plain. This was a region where centuries of rebellions, invasions, and adverse economic and social conditions nurtured the development of a wide range of martial arts, including those of the Shaolin Monastery on Mount Song.
Most modern styles trace their development to five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun. In the early 20th century Yang Chengfu, Wu Jianquan, Sun Lutang, and others promoted and standardized the art for its health benefits in programs supported by the Nationalist government, an approach that was further expanded and institutionalized by the Chinese government after 1949.
Within Tai Chi can be found the Taoist concepts of 'softness overcoming hardness' and of Wu Wei - effortless action, as well as the Taoist essence of spiritual self-cultivation.
In 2020, Tai Chi was included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
