Yiquan
Encyclopedia
Yi quan, also known as dacheng quan, is a martial art system which was founded by the Chinese xingyiquan
master, Wang Xiangzhai
(王薌齋).
with Guo Yunshen
in his childhood, Wang Xiangzhai
travelled China
, meeting, comparing skills with masters of various styles of kung fu. In the mid-1920s, he came to the conclusion that xingyiquan was often taught wrong, with too much emphasis on 'outer form', neglecting the essence of true martial power. He started to teach what he felt was the true essence of the art using a different name, without the 'xing' (meaning form). Wang Xiangzhai, who had a great knowledge about the theory and history of his art, used the name "Yiquan" (意拳) as it had already been used in historical texts, such as "liuhequan xu" (foreword to the six harmonies boxing, said to be written by Dai Longbang himself : "When Yue Fei was a child, he received special instructions from Zhou Tong. He became skilled in the spear method. He then used his spear art to create a fist method and called it Yi Quan. Mysterious and fabulous, nobody had never had such skills before...")
In the 1940s one of Wang Xiangzhai's students wrote an article about his "school" and named it "Dachengquan" (大成拳) which was supposed to mean "great compilation boxing". This name was no longer used by Wang Xiangzhai at the end of his life and, thus, his students came back to the first name of their master's teaching (Yiquan) after his death.
In the 1930s in Shanghai, Wang studied medicine and culture with Qian Yan Tang, a famous scholar and doctor. It was here that Qian introduced the idea that further exploration of Zhan Zhuang (standing practice) might be fundamental to the development of Yiquan. Wang researched this idea in the doctor's library, which was full of classic texts. Wang was always changing the practice and method of Yiquan, always innovating based on natural principles.
, meridians
, dantian
etc., are omitted, the reason being that understanding one's true nature happens in the present, and that preconceptions block this process.
Yiquan seems to have been influenced by various other arts that Wang was exposed to, including Fujian hèquán
, T'ai chi ch'uan, bāguàzhǎng, and Liuhebafa . Other arts as well, such as the swimming dragon posture, present in shiao jiao, is transformed through feeling, understanding, and the condition of the practitioner. In fact, typical movements and postures from other systems abound in yiquan. It was the internal core of these other arts that made them effective. This core is what Master Wang decoded. In essence, there is only one principle of merit in all martial arts, one core, one moment of truth, one Natural Fist.
Principle of Nature: All truth and action occur in Shunjian, the split second of now. Everything before and after this moment is 'Wu', the Void, and thus, uncontrollable or unknowable. All objective and preconception is fixed and not in accordance with this undetermined state of Nature.
"The Dao that is called the Dao is not the eternal Dao".
), the Li Jian Yu (李見宇) School, the Da Cheng Dao (大成道) School，US. Teachers of modern yiquan include Yao Chengguang (姚承光) and Yao Chengrong (姚承榮), twin sons of Yao Zongxun
(姚宗勛) and Cui Ruibin of Beijing. Teachers in the USA include Fong Ha of Berkeley, CA (student of Han Xing Yuan), Andrew Plack (Han Shi Yi Quan), Glenn Pasion (Han Shi Yi Quan) of Hawaii, Sifu Gregory Fong of Portland, Oregon, Sifu John Koo of Portland, Oregon, and Master Wang Ren Gang(王仁刚, Queens, NY.
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
master, Wang Xiangzhai
Wang Xiangzhai
Wang Xiangzhai ) , also known as Nibao, Zhenghe, Yuseng, was a Chinese xingyiquan master, responsible for founding the martial art of Yiquan.-Biography:...
(王薌齋).
History
Having studied xingyiquanXingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
with Guo Yunshen
Guo Yunshen
Guo Yunshen was a famous Xingyiquan master. He represented the xingyi martial philosophy of preferring to become highly proficient with only a few techniques rather than to be less proficient with many techniques...
in his childhood, Wang Xiangzhai
Wang Xiangzhai
Wang Xiangzhai ) , also known as Nibao, Zhenghe, Yuseng, was a Chinese xingyiquan master, responsible for founding the martial art of Yiquan.-Biography:...
travelled China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, meeting, comparing skills with masters of various styles of kung fu. In the mid-1920s, he came to the conclusion that xingyiquan was often taught wrong, with too much emphasis on 'outer form', neglecting the essence of true martial power. He started to teach what he felt was the true essence of the art using a different name, without the 'xing' (meaning form). Wang Xiangzhai, who had a great knowledge about the theory and history of his art, used the name "Yiquan" (意拳) as it had already been used in historical texts, such as "liuhequan xu" (foreword to the six harmonies boxing, said to be written by Dai Longbang himself : "When Yue Fei was a child, he received special instructions from Zhou Tong. He became skilled in the spear method. He then used his spear art to create a fist method and called it Yi Quan. Mysterious and fabulous, nobody had never had such skills before...")
In the 1940s one of Wang Xiangzhai's students wrote an article about his "school" and named it "Dachengquan" (大成拳) which was supposed to mean "great compilation boxing". This name was no longer used by Wang Xiangzhai at the end of his life and, thus, his students came back to the first name of their master's teaching (Yiquan) after his death.
In the 1930s in Shanghai, Wang studied medicine and culture with Qian Yan Tang, a famous scholar and doctor. It was here that Qian introduced the idea that further exploration of Zhan Zhuang (standing practice) might be fundamental to the development of Yiquan. Wang researched this idea in the doctor's library, which was full of classic texts. Wang was always changing the practice and method of Yiquan, always innovating based on natural principles.
The style
Yiquan is essentially formless, containing no fixed sets of fighting movements or techniques. Instead, focus is put on developing one's natural movement and fighting abilities through a system of training methods and concepts, working to improve the perception of one's body, its movement, and of force. Yiquan is also set apart from other eastern martial arts in that traditional concepts like qiQi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
, meridians
Meridian (Chinese medicine)
The meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as "qi" is believed to flow, in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.- Main concepts :...
, dantian
Dantian
Dantian, dan t'ian, dan tien or tan t'ien is loosely translated as "elixir field". It is described as an important focal point for internal meditative techniques.There are various points of dantian...
etc., are omitted, the reason being that understanding one's true nature happens in the present, and that preconceptions block this process.
Yiquan seems to have been influenced by various other arts that Wang was exposed to, including Fujian hèquán
Fujian White Crane (martial art)
White Crane Boxing is a Southern Chinese martial art which originated in Fujian province and is now practiced throughout the world. According to oral traditions, the creation of this style is attributed to Fāng Qīniáng , a female martial artist...
, T'ai chi ch'uan, bāguàzhǎng, and Liuhebafa . Other arts as well, such as the swimming dragon posture, present in shiao jiao, is transformed through feeling, understanding, and the condition of the practitioner. In fact, typical movements and postures from other systems abound in yiquan. It was the internal core of these other arts that made them effective. This core is what Master Wang decoded. In essence, there is only one principle of merit in all martial arts, one core, one moment of truth, one Natural Fist.
Overview
The actual training in yiquan can generally be divided into:- Zhan zhuang (站樁) Standing pole postures where emphasis is put on natural condition, working to improve listening to the body and on developing hunyuan li, "Natural living force" or "all things that make the whole".
- Shi li (試力) Testing force moving exercises, trying to bring the sensations of hunyuan li developed through Zhan zhuang into movements.
- Moca bu (摩擦步) Friction stepping Shi li for the legs.
- Fa li Emission of force a practice later dropped by Wang.
- Shi Sheng Producing sound with voice a high level occurrence, only relative to those with formidable understanding already in place.
- JiJi Fa Real combat not sparring.
Principle of Nature: All truth and action occur in Shunjian, the split second of now. Everything before and after this moment is 'Wu', the Void, and thus, uncontrollable or unknowable. All objective and preconception is fixed and not in accordance with this undetermined state of Nature.
"The Dao that is called the Dao is not the eternal Dao".
Schools
Famous schools include the Han Xing Yuan (韓星垣) School, the Han Xing Qiao (韓星橋) School, the Han Shi Yiquan school (founded by Han Jing Chen), son of Han Xing QiaoHan Xing Qiao
Han Xingqiao was a famous martial artist born in Shanghai. Famous for his tutelage under Wang Xiang Zhai and Wu Yi Hui , Han propagated the style of Yi Chuan under his own personal branch of the art called Han Family Yi Chuan.-Biography:His martial arts training began from his father Han You Sun,...
), the Li Jian Yu (李見宇) School, the Da Cheng Dao (大成道) School，US. Teachers of modern yiquan include Yao Chengguang (姚承光) and Yao Chengrong (姚承榮), twin sons of Yao Zongxun
Yao Zongxun
Yao Zongxun was the formal successor of Wang Xiangzhai, founder of the martial art Yiquan Father of Yao Chengguang and Yao Chengrong both currently teaching in Beijing, China....
(姚宗勛) and Cui Ruibin of Beijing. Teachers in the USA include Fong Ha of Berkeley, CA (student of Han Xing Yuan), Andrew Plack (Han Shi Yi Quan), Glenn Pasion (Han Shi Yi Quan) of Hawaii, Sifu Gregory Fong of Portland, Oregon, Sifu John Koo of Portland, Oregon, and Master Wang Ren Gang(王仁刚, Queens, NY.
External links
- About Wang wiangzhai's teaching
- Grandmaster Wang Xiang-Zhai (1885-1963)
- Wang Xiangzhai - General Principles for Dachengquan
- Wang Xiangzhai’s directions in verse for Dachengquan
- Yiquan's Mocabu friction stepwork
- Han Shi Yiquan Hawaii Homesite
- Chinese Healing Arts, Sifu Gregory Fong
- Beijing Yiquan Academy, Master Yao Cheng Rong
- Orange County Fight Center
- French Academy of Kung Fu Wushu and Qi Gong (French)
- Yiquan and Qigong Institute Walter Marek (German)
- www.fongha.com
- Internal Martial Arts Association of Serbia
- Russia Yiquan Academy
- Da Cheng Dao(US)
- Chinese Fistology, Sifu John Koo
- Russia Centr Yiquan
- Yiquan Club Munich