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Hsing-I, Pa Kua and Tai Chi: The Deadly And Rare Internal Martial Arts of China
By Sylvie Strong
If you have not experienced the powerful internal martial arts of Hsing-I, Pa Kua and Tai Chi, you owe it to yourself to at least give these disciplines a try. As a preliminary matter, you may also found them written as Xingyi, Bagua, and Taiji. It is the same thing, and depends on whether the Chinese is translated to English in the Wade-Giles or Pinyin translation method. Good instruction in these arts is rare, but I have found it a journey worth taking. Before I first tried these arts, I had spent several years studying Okinawan karate. In these arts I found a compelling combination of everything I could want in a system and have not gone back. I am much better able to defend myself and my body is more open and healthy. Each of them is a complete system of fighting skills and applications, including striking techniques, throws, joint locks, and pressure point strikes. They also have a rich tradition of meditation, body alignment and knowledge and chi gung. Chi gung describes the circulation of internal energy in your body for health and longevity. Hsing-I is the most martial seeming of these arts. Indeed, if you do not know what to look for, it will similar to karate or an external chinese kung fu system. Hsing-I originated as a spear art and is thought to be thousands of years old. The practitioners walk in straight lines with a series of relatively simple forms. The core of the system can be broken into 5 forms called the "5 elements," and a series of 12 advanced forms called the "12 animals." There are branches and styles of Hsing-I that have more or less forms, but the Hebei branch of Hsing-I, which is the most common, has these forms. Hsing-I is relatively easy to learn but takes very long to master. One distinct feature is that Hsing-I uses the intercostal muscles to generate power. The power of these small muscles is very difficult to harness but once you create the right alignments your striking power is incredible. Pa Kua practitioners practice their form by walking around in a circle facing inwards towards an imaginary opponent. There is a tremendous amount of twisting and circular movement in this form. Tai Chi is a martial art many of you have likely heard about. But your perception may be that it is a health exercise. Unfortunately, it has become so diluted that even for many teachers this has become a reality. But you have to remember that in China Tai Chi originated as an overwhelming fighting art. I have personally seen Tai Chi practitioners that are great fighters, although I find it personally hard to use that way at this point in my development. If you have any interest at all in the martial arts, I urge you to consider the three internal arts of Hsing-I, Pa Kua and Tai Chi. I developed a life long love for them, and you may too. |
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May, 2012
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