Hsing Yi Chuan
A Summary of Basic Terms and Applications
A Summary of Basic Terms and Applications
Organization and Purpose
The first half is simply a glossary of important terms discussed in the book which are discussed in the book. These are meant to be referential in purpose.
The second half serves to summarize and interpret the applications of the 5 Element Fists as they are described in the book.
Aside from a comment or two concerning my own curiosity about the text, this information is all derived from the text itself.
Important Terms
- Hsing- The shape, the external movements, imitative of the 12 animals.
- Yi- The mind, both emotional and wisdom combined.
- Chi- Universal Energy; Bio-electrical energy; heat & electromagnetic energy.
- Wu Chi- “No Poles;” a state where nothingness is distinguished from everything else; a state of emotional neutrality free of conflict with the self and others.
- Two Poles- Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang.
- Tai Chi- The state of Wu Chi when impulse or motion are is introduced. In this state, Yin and Yang can be differentiated. It means “Supreme Ultimate.”
- Three Bodies- Heaven, Earth, and Man. Head, Spine, Waist. Shoulder, Elbow, Hand. Hips, Knees, Feet. Root, Middle, End.
- Three Postures- Hands, Body, Feet. Head, Body, Legs.
- Four Techniques- Body Techniques, Hand Techniques, Leg Techniques, Stepping Techniques.
- Four Phases- Four basic hand techniques: Head Punch (Tour Chuan), Pluck and Lead (Tiau Liing), Eagle’s Seizing (Ing Juo), and Sticky Hands (Jan Shoou).
- Four Extremities- The Tongue, Teeth, Hair, and Nails.
- Five Patterns- Pi (Chopping Fist), Tzuann (Drilling Fist), Beng (Crushing Fist), Pau (Cannon Fist), and Hern (Crossing Fist).
- Five Jings- Tsae (Stepping), Pu (Leap), Guoo (Enwrapping), Shu (Binding), Jyue (Thrusting).
- Five Phases- Metal (Lungs), Wood (Liver), Water (Kidneys), Fire (Heart), and Earth (Spleen).
- Six Unifications- Hips, Knees, Feet. Shoulders, elbows, hands. (External) Yi, Hsin (Internal)
- Seven Speeds- Eyes, hands, feet, Yi (Wisdom Mind), postures, advancing and retreating, body movement (Torso)
- Seven Stars- Head, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, knees, feet (aka Seven Bodies).
- Seven Followings- Proper body movement. Shoulders push elbows, elbows push hands, hands push fingers. Waist pushes hips, hips push knees, knees push feet. Head pushes the body. Top and bottom are connected. Internal and external are combined.
- Eight Postures- Diing (Press), Tyi (Hold Up), Kow (Arc/Grab), Yuan (Round), Baw (Embrace), Chwei (Drop), Hern (Sideways), Shuenn (Smoothness) Tzuann/Fan (Drill/Turn Over). Also Miin (Acute), Cheu (Bend), and Tiing (Thrust).
- Eight Important Points- There seem to be two version—Internal and external. The internal emphasizes clearing the mind of thoughts and distractions to enter a state of emptiness in which the Chi can flow freely. The points include Hsin Ding (Steady Emotional Mind), Shen Nien (Calm Spirit), Hsin An (Peaceful Emotional Mind), Ching Jiing (Cleanness), Wuu Wu (Nothingness), Chi Hsing (Chi Transportation), Jyue Shing (Stop Imagination), and Jyue Ming (Clear Feeling). The external includes the following.
- Inside must be lifted
- Three centers together
- Three Yis together
- Five Phases must be smooth
- Four extremities must be uniform
- Hsin must be leisurely
- Three tips must face each other
- Eyes must be venomous
Principles
Forms
- Three Bodies Posture
- Pi Chuan
- Tzuann Chuan
- Beng Chuan
- Pau Chuan
- Hern Chuan
Applications
- Pi Chuan: In this book, Pi Chuan seems to be applied as a shoulder lock or palm strike. The basic application is as follows.
- When a punch is thrown at your face, use the arm closest to it to drill upwards. This redirects the punch from your face.
- Turn the drilling hand and grip the foe’s arm and pull down towards your center.
- Simultaneously, step through into a three postures stance with the opposite foot from the catching arm and use the opposite palm to lock the opponent’s shoulder. If pressure is applied, you can dislocate the shoulder.
- Alternatively, you can strike the opponent’s face with the opposite palm as you pull the foe’s arm down.
- Tzuann Chuan: In this book, Tzuann Chuan seem to be applied as a cross downward block followed by a drilling fist or uppercut to the foe’s chin, nose, or jaw.
- When the foe throws a fist at your face, block it down with the fist that is to the outside of the foe’s punch.
- Step forward with the same foot as the blocking hand and hold the foe’s fist down as your free hand drills upward and strikes the foe.
- Beng Chuan: In this book, Beng Chuan seems to be applied as a cross downwad block similar to the one in Tzuann Chuan followed by a stepping fist to the foe’s midsection.
- When the foe throws a fist at your face, block it down with the fist that is to the outside of the foe’s punch. Direct the punch to the outside with the same hand.
- Step through with the leg on the same side as the blocking hand and shoot a Beng Chuan Punch to the foe’s solar plexus.
- When applying this, your opposite leg should follow the leading leg and step down hard, hitting the ground to bounce the Beng Chuan, thus increasing its power. This is similar to the drill in Beng Chuan in which the rear leg steps up and hits the ground as the fist is launched.
- Pau Chuan: In this book, Pau Chuan seems to be applied as an upward block and punch.
- When the opponent throws a punch at your face, use your closest hand to block the punch upwards and lead it to the outside and step to the outside.
- The other hand punches the foe in the solar plexus with Pau Chuan fist.
- Hern Chuan: In this book, Hern Chuan is applied as a cross block and a side strike with a Hern Chuan Fist.
- When the foe throws a punch at your face, use your closest fist to block it down and circle it to the outside.
- Step with your opposite leg and use a Hern Chuan Fist (which sweeps sideways) to strike the foe’s body.
SOURCE:
Shou-Yu, Liang, and Yang Jwing-Ming. Hsing Yi Chuan: Theory and Applications. Jamaica Plain: YMAA Publication Center, 1990.
Print.
