Yiquan (pronounced yee chuan), also known as Dachengquan, was created by Wang Xiangzhai (1890 - 1963) after a lifetime of practice and research into martial arts. Wang Xiangzhai trained in Xingyiquan under a famous master Guo Yunshen. After Guo's death, Wang travelled extensively around China looking for top teachers.
As a result of his research into the essence of martial arts, he became convinced that far too much time and effort was spent on learning pretty movements and empty forms. He based his teaching on Xingyiquan but kept simplifying and modifying it to put greater emphasis on mental training rather than outer form. He therefore decided to drop 'xing' (form) - from Xingyiquan and called his new system Yiquan - where Yi means Mind or Intent and quan means boxing.
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).
History: Having learnt xingyiquan with Guo Yun Shen in his
childhood, Wang Xiangzhai travelled China, meeting and 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 worked to return to what he felt was the true essence of the art using a different name, without the 'xing' (meaning form), and began teaching and practicing accordingly.
The style: Yiquan is essentially formless, containing no fixed sets of fighting movements or techniques. Instead, focus is put on developing ones 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.
Another thing that sets yiquan apart from other eastern martial arts, is that traditional concepts, like qi, meridians, dan tien etc. eventually were discarded to make place for new explanations and ideas rooted in Western science, medicine and psychology. Much of this came about due to one of Wang Xiangzhai's key philosophies, which was that yiquan was a science of martial arts, and that there always would be room for improvement. If new methods or explanations are found that help produce better results faster, they should be adopted.
Yiquan seems to have been influenced by various other arts that Wang was exposed to, include Fujian hèquán and bāguàzhǎng.
Overview: The actual training in yiquan can generally be divided into:
Zhan zhuang (站樁)
- Motionless postures, where emphasis is
put on relaxation, working to improve
perception of the body and on developing
Hunyuan Li, or "all round
force". Zhan zhuang can also be
divided into two different types of
postures; health postures and combat
postures.
Shi li (試力) -
Slow moving exercises, trying to bring
the sensations developed through zhan
zhuang into movements.
Moca bu (摩擦步)
- Shi li for the legs.
Fa li (發力) -
Exercises that teach the use of
explosive force.
Shi Sheng (試声) -
Breathing exercises, including shouting
("testing sound")
Tui shou (推手) -
(Pushing hands) Shi li with a partner.
San shou (散手) -
Free fighting practice. (Also known as
San Da)
Duan shou (斷手) -
Fighting techniques, including strikes
and kicks.
Schools: Two of the foremost teachers of modern yiquan are Yao Chengguang (姚承光) and Yao Chengrong (姚承榮), twin sons of Yao Zongxun (姚宗勛), whom Wang Xiangzhai appointed to be his successor. Others include Cui Ruibin of Beijing and students of the late Wang Xuanjie. Schools include the Han xing Yuan(韓星垣) School, the Li Jian Yu (李見宇) School and Han xing qiao (韓星橋)School.
Practice:
Acquiring
whole-body strength. explanation: This is achieved by
practising Zhan Zhuang (Standing Pole)
exercises. These are standing postures with
the body swaying essentially in a passive
manner whilst maintaining a balanced
position. The mind is used to create a very
calm and tranquil feeling whilst directing
attention to different parts of the body as
is required.
Maintaining the whole-body
connection and strength whilst moving. explanation: This is achieved by
practising Shi Li (Testing Strength)
exercises. These are similar to Zhan Zhuang
but the movements of the body are bigger and
active, rather than passive. A feeling of
moving against a certain resistance is
created. Often the stance used is a 'combat
stance' to practice connection to the ground
while shifting weight.
Maintaining the whole-body
connection and strength whilst stepping. explanation: This is achieved by
practising Mo Ca Bu (Friction Step)
exercises. A feeling of dragging one's feet
through mud is maintained whilst stepping.
One can think of it as Shi Li for legs.
Learning
to propagate power around the whole body at
will. explanation: This is achieved by more
practice of the previous exercises but also
as a result of Hun Yuan Zhuang (Universal
Stance) and similar exercises. These
exercises are sometimes called Mo Li
(Sensing Strength) exercises.
Releasing strength - basics. explanation: This is achieved by
practising Fa Li (Releasing Strength)
exercises. These are similar to Shi Li but
practised faster. To begin with, in a soft
and relaxed manner, later on with an
explosive force. The whole-body connection
must be maintained throughout!
Releasing strength in any
direction with any part of the body. explanation: We practise directing
the power to any part of our body - so we
can use feet, knees, hips, back, elbows,
shoulders, hands, head - in fact (nearly)
any part of our body for attack or defence.
Both Fa Li and Mo Li exercises are relevant
here.
Manipulating an opponent. explanation: This is achieved by
practising Tui Shou (Pushing Hands)
exercises. There are only two types of
Pushing Hands - single and double, both in a
fixed stance and with steps. All the
previous skills can be tried and practised
with a partner. We have to learn to maintain
the whole-body connection whilst being
pulled and pushed and also whilst pulling
and pushing. In addition we learn control of
the centre line, sensing and neutralising
opponents' power.
Augmenting strength using breath
control. explanation: This is achieved by
practising Shi Sheng (Testing Voice)
exercises. Until now the breathing was
performed in a soft and natural manner. To
further aid the body integration and power
production, muscles used in breathing
(thoracic intercostal muscles, the diaphragm
and the abdominal muscles) and muscles of
the lower back are used in Fa Li (Releasing
Strength) exercises. Voice is used as an
external feedback to indicate how breath is
used. Later on the techniques are performed
in a voiceless manner.
Learning to fight. explanation: This step is only
applicable to those students who wish to
learn fighting either for self-defence or in
order to enter competitions. Fighting
strategy, tactics, controlled and free
sparring drills are taught and practised.
