What an amazing find your channel has been. I first started training Hsing' I by accident back in 1985 through a dear friend that turned in to my teacher. RIP Bush. To hear you talk about this internal boxing art reminds me much of him and although his knowledge was maybe not as broad, it was quite deep and he taught it well. I can now say that, partly thanks to you, because I have found your movements and postures to be very similar to the way he trained/taught and many of the things you say to be so true. For instance not practicing the elements in its generative or destructive sequences and not focussing on application as much, because through a lot of correct practice the body will learn the movements to the point of instinct, like you mentioned. In my case this art was a lifesaver, I do not think I would or could have made the choices I did from the point where I studied internal boxing, mostly Hsingh'I for 3 years every morning in the park. Most of the first year I studied only basics and the first two elements, Pi an Beng in this case; again something I immediately recognised. (My teacher always told me it was Sun Lu Tang who changed the order of training Beng at some point...?) It healed my body at an amazing speed, which was the reason I started training in the first place; a back problem that caused me to not be able to run anymore at age 15. Most of all it rooted me, which displayed through fixing my self confidence, giving me way more understanding, enhancing inner peace, and strengthening my connection with earth. Sounds floaty I guess but it's true... For some reason or another I stopped training as much, but have recently picked it up again, one of the reasons being your content and vids. Valuable information like this was not available on youtube back in 85', I mean only a few people I knew had even heard about Hsingh' I and even fewer were training it. I thank you for changing that and for all your wisdom. It feels like I am watching the blueprint of life sometimes when I listen to you. Keep doing what you do, please. Peace.
Hello,. thank you for spending your time to share your experience with us. I definitely appreciate it. Yes, I will keep working on sharing this information. Thanks again.
Another outstanding lecture. It takes a lot of knowledge, experience and intellectual ability to address so many key topics and present them in such a succinct way that is much easier to understand than any other resources that I have studied. I go back over each lecture and take many notes that have really helped me so much. Your passion for martial arts and dedication to teaching others shines through your work. Thank you! Keep those lectures coming!
Thank you for your comments. I hope you are doing well. I will definitely keep working on this work and put more materials online regularly. Thanks again.
Brilliant and concise. It is generous to express knowledge. And it takes humility to come with an empty cup for the veteran practitioners. What I enjoy is that Xing Yi isnt to hard to recognize what is going on no matter the school. It is the quality of movement due to the focus that's created in refining the same fist that over time, my teachers movements look just like plain old...however he is able make these subtle changes and have beng chuan feel like he is grabbing and twisting. But it's still a closed fist. Much gratitude!!🙏
I so desperately want to practice the internal arts. Your explanation of these arts in layman terms is excellent. please keep us posted instructional videos.
Another excellent video! This information is like gold to people who study Xingyi. I’m glad you explained the depth of philosophy and understanding needed to develop Xingyi skills. I feel that sometimes Bagua and Tai Chi practitioners look down on Xingyi. They think Xingyi is not sophisticated. They don’t know or understand the theory and philosophy behind Xingyi. Thanks again!
Thank you for your comments. I practice three internal styles in an equal efforts and love them all. I think, if we talk about theory and concept, xingyi is the best well developed among the three. Thanks,
Hi SIfu Hai Yang, Thanks for sharing the details behind the 5 types of forces in the elements. I find that even good practitioners focused excessively on "Inch Power" in their elements that the other types of forces become neglected. From my understanding, the 5 types of forces involves more on manipulating the body structure & mechanics behind the technique, Pi (Metal force), adjusting body structure to be stiff & unyielding just like metal. (Useful for applying "Bone force" that you talked about in another video) Zuan (water force), fist is whipped up fluidly like water followed by sudden braking force to transfer power Beng (Wood force), Bodyweight is thrusted & crashed forward to produce heavy blunt force Pao (Fire force), chest & shoulders are extended violently in opposite directions to mimic the explosive nature of fire. Heng (Earth force), focuses more on "rooting" stability to simulate the grounded nature of earth element. 1 Question that I have is, is it necessary to practice the elements in a cyclical order? I've read from many sources that states it can be damaging to one's health and practice should one practice in a randomized order. From a martial perspective i find that this doesn't make any sense but I might be wrong.
Here I will say thank you, I have followed your work for years now as an insight into the truth. I often have directed my students to your videos for help an encouragement into there own practice. I am very excited to now see your new content emerging in this format, it is great work and I know it will be of great help to all those interested in following these arts. Again, Thank You!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video for us all. I learned Hsing Yi 5 elements for the first time 18 years ago, but this explanation clarified a lot none the less. It is also good to have some inspiration to keep practicing regularly during these unsettling times, when so many classes are closed. Please keep guiding us.
Though I've never formally trained in Xing Yi, I've always admired the practicality of its approach to training in that its forms and routines always seemed very clearly connected to application in a real situation, especially as compared to many other kung fu styles. This is most exemplified, for me, by the fact that a majority of its movements are practiced with the distinct san ti stance and its relatively small set of associated steps/footwork. There is something to be said for not devoting too much of the training regimen on stances and footwork that would be able to be used only very rarely, if ever, in an actual combat situation. Very often, other styles will teach an additional 'fighting' stance which is supposed to represent a combination or fusion of all the longer or lower traditional stances and often moving in this fighting stance can feel quite disconnected and very different from the vast majority and variety of stances and steps one practices in the forms. The fact that so much of Xing Yi forms and routines are performed almost purely with san ti and its associated footwork has always made this art's methodology seem extremely practical and efficient, for lack of a better term. I was very happy to hear you say that you do not think that very much emphasis should be placed on the particular creative/destructive relationships between the elements when considering application and that instinct should ultimately guide you towards the next optimal movement. I've seen some systems that try to push the idea that this element should always naturally lead to this other element, or this element should always counter this element and that has always seemed a bit contrived when compared to the no-nonsense approach to training that Xing Yi promotes. I also find the idea that the ultimate goal is to unify the elements/forces very deep and one that can motivate our training for an entire lifetime. As always, Sifu, an informative and entertaining presentation. Thanks again and I hope you are doing well.
Thank you for your input. Like we both agree that in any practice, we train our skills, knowledge, instincts and so on, not the fixed patterns... this is why I am very happy to know that someone like you agree upon it.
Thank you very much ..... I appreciate your great work ..... it is a great help and a great guide in these times. Please continue ... It is one of the few means I have to study such wonderful art.
OMB! You have just blown my mind with the last part of Wu Xing He Yi! Thank you very much Good Sir! I will remember this forever until I can achieve union in my practice. Also love the poetry that comes with the lessons. They are catchy and easy to remember. I hope to be well versed in the internal arts and be able to teach one day 🙏
Thank you for the upload, lots of things to work on and aim at it, allowing a different focus so the elements are integrated over time, over the last couple of years I have been playing with the transition and change between the elements this would add another layer to training,very insightful and useful.
You nailed the 5 elements in this video. Now, let me ask a question about applications in the demonstration sequence> When you apply the techniques, is the power applications of the foot stomp, where the power comes from? Your power seems to come from the foot application, Is this correct? Thank you for another great video.
👏🙏 thank you for another life's worth of knowledge in a half hour video. I wish there was someone putting out this kind of in depth look on wing chun with the purity and passion you have with the internal styles. I only say this because I love and practice wing chun and even though everyone says it's not an internal style I almost feel like it is without trying to be. At any time in the day in any atmosphere I can stop and practice siu nim tao and feel balanced, relaxed, strong, and more in tune with myself. I can only imagine how good it will feel when I someday can start learning xing yi. I am not sure if you have already but I am wondering if you could do a short video on how to enter San ti stance and exact posture to hold while there. I have tried to start practicing it but I always feel that I am a little off. I don't mean to ask more of you as you already give us so much. Thank you. Amituofo!
Hello, it is alright to practice any style as long as it provides the benefits. I have some Santi video in my channel, you can check it out. Thank you.
Dear Master, very grateful for such a masterful explanation. It is with great pleasure that I subscribe to his channel. Kind regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I found a copy of Hsing-i Chinese Mind body boxing, by Robert Smith. Its been very captivating! Thank you very much for making clear demonstrations of the movements, and videos on the underlying theory
Thank you so much for those videos!!! As I said in your other videos, you are the most badass (awesome) martial teacher I know! Thank you again for this wonderful content!
@@HaiYangChannel I will try to diversify my expression from now on so that you can learn new ones and if you don't understand, let me know, I'll explain it.
Deep The way I was told was very similar,first thing was the basic standing position of 3 bodies and then I started with metal which is connected to breathing organ and splitting like axe ,in my experience 4 powers are combined and harmonised and this is producing 5 element ,also 12 animals are connected with that applying them in 3 bodies we have the 36 chambers which became famous by movie ,in fact the 3 sections in 9 different parts is a must for even starting to move forward,so a lot of standing is involved , building Heaven and Earth and Man in the middle , Heaven must go down , Earth must go up and they must Hang in the middle, this central heart is very important,all of the training was based on stepping first in the central gate of the opponent it said that even if he is a spirit he will get a lot of trouble with defence if you do that correctly, 7 parts with the feet and 3 with hands, people could not see that in the forms, but this is the basic concept , also the 3 types of power ,I will say breathing technique is very important and fundamental to be able to make it work ,in ordinary breathing people have the right exhale and wrong inhale ,in first type of power we make breathing technique right in order,in second type we make it connection with the heart and breathing with the heart naturally,in third power we must focus on emptiness and change make it sure that is becoming like something natural without any forcing it must flow as the real blood pressure without any monitoring or intended action ,just became a transform being the body parts are in harmony , breathing is right , energy is in the flow , when someone wants to kick or punching you the body reacts on its own ,I am very far away from this level , but I know about it, real people breathing from the heels- I have heard that proverb ,now I understand it correctly.
I ask you about Q and A or better proverbs: step in the central door/cave/heart first and even if your opponent is a spirit he will get a lot of trouble defending the position
I was specially waiting for explanations about five elements. I really highly appreciate your videos. You say that "practitionar´s body becomes strong and solid as Metal... practitioners´movement becomes dynamic and fluid like water... body´s structure becomes solid yet flexible like tree... able to make powerful explosion in martial arts ... and the whole body and stance are stable like mountain ..." So, I understand that those are the effects of practice. Question: My years question has been about the application of these elements in the stances and practice of elements, not as effects but as initiators. Example: Does Metal element come from some specific point of the body (accupoint, lungs, chest, back…)? Or Metal element becomes a reality after practicing the form? So, is the element initiatior or consequence? Respectfully, Alejandra Lucía Rotf, from Patagonia Argentina.
I think I see your question. They are different things regarding your question: overall result is the object of practice, not the local focus even though it may be fit to certain element. Thanks,
It is very strange that someone has thought about this, i.e. whether "the element is initiator or consequence", but pondering this issue does open some new channels of understanding. First off, I want to mention that not only the body becomes "strong and solid as Metal" but, possibly, more importantly it is the actual fist that becomes like an element it represents. The element here, with reference to marital application, can be interpreted as a quality: Fire -- hot, burning, explosive; Water -- cool, liquid, flowing; Metal -- hard, thin, sharp; Wood -- strong but flexible; Earth -- solid, potent, weight bearing. So each Quan should be viewed along those lines: Pao -- expansive, explosive, violent, 'bombastic', Zuan -- 'like a whirlpool', Pi -- stretching, tearing, and penetrating, Beng -- 'snapping', like an arrow released from the bow, or expressing the force of a stick breaking, Earth -- like a wrecking or demolition ball on a construction site. You certainly need to feel an element (its quality) within yourself before expressing it as energy and materializing it as an actual fist. There is no point punching with Pao using the flexibility and fluidity of Water, isn't it? And although I don't think that you need to necessarily match an attacking Zuan with a defending and counterattacking Heng (Earth 'overpowering' Water) in an actual combat as the theory dictates, I still do think that there is much scope for counteracting one force with the one that is most suitable for the purpose according to the Five Element theory. For example, evasive flexible snake-like Zuan can skate around and overcome Pao. But at the same time a powerful Pao can overpower Zuan. So if you want to respond to a boxer's hook or cross, you may need it within you some notion of what the most appropriate response you want to express and project. The other point that has some relevance but probably adds little or no weight to your idea of an element being the originator of a fist is the correspondence between fists and internal organs and related Qi meridians. You probably know that Beng is connected to the Liver, Heng to the Spleen, Pao to the Heart, Zuan to the Kidneys, and Pi to the Lungs. Practicing one fist at a time over and over stimulates Qi flow across the related organ, and naturally Qi becomes abundant in that channel. For instance, by 'exercising' Metal you boost Metal within (consequence), and having a strong lungs' Qi aids with your Pi Zhang/Quan (originator). Other than that you should understand that all power comes from 'strong' Xia (Lower) Dantian. When there is an ample reserve of Qi in there, the two vessels are full, and the 12 meridians are fed. By expressing, say, Metal or striking with Pi Zhang, you let the Dantian do the firing release of energy, but the Lung's Qi is also drawn upon and the Lung meridian that runs down the arm, if in a good healthy condition (no bloackages), transports this powerful energy to a target. Before striking with a Pi you sort of contract and thus charge your chest (Lungs) with power, upon release you expand and stretch out. Jin (as in Fajin) is generated exactly by this contraction and wrapping of internal energy/force on itself, and subsequent release. By this token, it seems, that it is the Metal element 'stored' inside that does the job.
I think you could probably look at the classification of all things according to the theory of the 5 elements to give more insight. All 5 elements have their corresponding viscera, bowels, organs, and so forth. Even colour, time of day and direction.
Love it love it !! Ha you got a cool fat fat walking around lol.. 5 different moves for each animal??!! 25 moves??!! Thank you for the information of that book. Im am looking it up. You have to be writing a book of some linage on paper to be passed down!! I will amazon that! I have been following you over 8 years now' since you introduced me to the explosive boxing style....Xing yi🌌☯️🌌
Sifu, could you elaborate on how practicing the 5 element fists help to strengthen the major organs from a TCM/scientific perspective? As described by master Sun Lu Tang.
Many thanks Master Hai Yang, very instructive. but beginners cannot absorb all the Mystery. Probably the Generative process is tofollowed first. of them. iThe destrructive process follows. Again, where to start. Paul,68
Michele D'Anella frome Rome italy . Good morning teacher , a question, because you often say there are three ( 3 ) internal styles ? There is also Yi Quan created by Wang Xiangzhai and start the studio with Xing Yi quan . The Yi quan is an internal style or is " the key " to accesso to Xing Yi, Tai chi, Ba Gua ? Thanks Teacher 🌹🌹🌹
Hello, Yi Quan developed based on Xing Yi. So, in my opinion, it is internal. But it is not necessary to practice Yi Quan in order to practice the 3 main internal styles.
Another excellent presentation Master thank you. I appreciate your detailed explanation while explaining priorities when practicing. I have studied Pa Kua for years with a small amount of experience in the other arts. Which of your presentations would you recommend regarding the philosophical and practice similarities and differences between the three internal arts? Thank you again for your contributions
Thank you for the teachings Master Yang! This concept you elaborated is very enlightening for my practice. However, with my understanding of new things also comes questions. I have few if you do not mind answering: 1. The early times I practice the animal forms, sometimes the body and force comes naturally. When my moves feel like clogged pipe, I assumed what I am doing is wrong and vice versa. I practiced wuxing exclusively my first 6 months of practice. I wonder if this is because the animal forms are in some way built from the combination of the forces from the elements? Because if it is indeed so, then probably breaking it down to the elemental forces may help me practice. (I tried to do it once but I cannot find the points. It was over a year ago so probably I was lacking experience) 2. I do wuxing routine every practice. But every so often I feel like coming back to re-analyze it and find new things. As it is the foundation of XingYi, is what I am experiencing okay or should I focus more on it? I appreciate the Heng Quan correction a lot. I tried the chest expansion-contraction after learning about XiangXingShu. I thought it feels powerful but I am under the assumption that the chest contraction-expansion is XiangXingShu specific, I was afraid to mix and lose the correct essence of the movement so I stopped. Now I see that it is not so, I may try to use the force to empower my movements. I will be waiting for your videos on the variations of wuxing or other concepts of XingYi, also for the tea brewing video. Again thank you for sharing !
Thank you for your inputs. I would like to make a brief answer to your questions. 1, It takes years of practice before using the method that you described here: our body feeling can be deceptive as well, this is why we should not always rely on it. Especially, sometimes we make mistakes in practice but we feel "good" in our body... 2, Yes, I always find new things when practice 5 elements. However, these new discoveries should follow the xingyi principle. It is great to find now things! And it is the foundation for further progress. 3, Xiangxingshu applies some contraction-expansion motion. But xingyi has the same practice too. The problem is that many people do not focus on it. We have all of these theories in xingyi classic, but many people just do not read it anymore , in China... I will talk about those variations in future's video. Thanks,
Many practitionars of internal arts often criticize others´ performings (specially watching videos in you tube). And some times even masters are criticized because of their performings. I once heard that each Master has his own predominant element. So his way of practicing responds to that element. Do you think so? I would trully appreciate your vision. Respectfully, Alejandra Lucía Rotf, from Patagonia Argentina.
Hello, I think people should develop their skill evenly. I prefer a systematic approach.But most of time, xingyi school are famous for Beng element. thanks,
In martial application the mother fist can smother the son: too much water can cover wood , hindering its growth. Indoors I practice creation cycle Outside terrain dictates: I use metal or fire uphill water or earth downhill Wood or fire on flat ground earth in between Metal for getting somewhere Earth for being there Fire for surprise Water to undermine Wood grows thorns in the wake of an army Metal for working softer elements Ad infinitum
@@HaiYangChannel I am certain you are correct about the impracticable nature of my hsing yi ☺. She she ni In actual use it is my too many years training tai chi chuan joint hand operations I find always at the ready. I believe it was a good friend's desire to help me energize my lung meridian that lead him to instruct me in hsing yi metal, and wong fei hung tiger fork . We are all made fortunate by the good work done in development and maintenance of these arts.
Hello mr. Yang. I have a request. A friend of mine told me that practicing gong fu has relation to worshipping idols etc. Can you please explain if gong-fu really is sort of "worshipping idols" with the movements/katas/forms etc. Also about internal chinese arts, as their origin is from dao philosophy, but do they realy contain anything religious of worshiping the dao ? Thanks
This is a very interesting question. In my opinion, idol worshiping has nothing to do with martial art practice unless there is a kind of religious activity involved, which is totally fine. Also, I think there is not a tradition in martial art community to worship idols, instead, it is just a religious practice. Of course, the friend of yours may have different reasons, but I only can answer this question based on my personal experience. Thanks.
Are you currently in China? I’m a teacher in Shanghai this is something that could at least I hope… be extremely useful in my acting class. Please reach out if you are. 谢谢你老师
Thank you Master Yang for the details of 5 elements. Could you kindly tell me the Chinese translation for "Five Fists Creates Five Forces"? I couldn't figure out the Chinese for the word "create". Thank you in advance.