Yiquan means "spirit martial arts" and was developed by Wang
Xiangzhai (1885–1963) in the mid-20th century. It is a fusion of the Hsing-I-Quan, Bagua Zhang, Taiji Quan and Qi Gong styles as well as Zen Meditation.
Yiquan does not have any forms. The focus is on developing the internal power and spirit (Yi). Yiquan is divided into the following
build-up steps:
Zhan Zhuang – also widely used in many Qi Gong styles – is the core of Yiquan. The focus is on internal work assisted by various static stances. "Movement in non-movement" is what’s being sought. Aided by images, like being fused with a tree and moving it, the various directions of power such as pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering, opening and closing are perceived as mental movements and a sense of power is developed within the non-movement. With this it’s essential that the whole body remains as relaxed as possible.
Zhan Zhuang has positive influences on the nervous system, breathing, haematopoiesis and metabolism. Good results have been observed particularly with cronic diseases.
Zhan Zhuang is the foundation of Yiquan!
With Shili, the – previously imagined without movement – sense of power in slow movements, similar to Taiji Quan, is implemented. But different to Taiji Quan, the movements in Yiquan are very simple. This allows us to fully focus our imagination (Yi) on the movement content, that is to say feeling the different directions of power in every moment, without being distracted by difficult movement patterns.
Here legwork is trained. We work with power resistance, for example by imagining standing in water and slowly moving forward.
Mocabu is Shili for the legs.
We combine Shili with the footwork and move back and forth.
Fali is important for free-fighting. The qualities previously acquired through Zhan Zhuang and Shili, such as tensioning and relaxing the entire body musculature and internalizing it into the nervous system, are explosively implemented here. Fali should only be practiced if a sound foundation of Zhan Zhuang and Shili already exists.
In Tui Shou we practice with a partner. The point is to convert the acquired abilities from Zhan Zhuang and Shili into real experience with a partner. Intuition and balance are trained. Tui Shou is also important for free-fighting, to develop the ability to control the attacks by the opponent. Tui Shou is practiced single-arm and
two armed.
In Sanda, all acquired abilities are put to the test. Only punches, kicks and close distance occur.
The build-up steps 1–4, and under certain conditions also 6, also have a therapeutic component. Furthermore, they are important foundations for the martial art. This makes Yiquan a martial art with a future, as both the health aspect as well as the need for self-defence, so altogether the development of one`s own potential, is allowed for.
It`s thanks to Wang Xiangzhai and the following generations, that they developed this scientific martial art with their profound efforts, which has great significance in our hectic and waste oriented society.
Yiquan is part of the Kung Fu training to develop the body stucture and to refine the energy.
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