http://taichi.hood.org/yiquan.htm
What is Yiquan?
Wang Xiangzhai (1885-1963) did not even have a name for his style when
he first started teaching it. It was difficult to classify his system of
teaching since it included as its essence Zhan Zhuang (Standing
Mediation) and other qigong exercises, martial arts training, and an
emphasis of spiritual enlightenment.
He was not teaching a pai (branch or sect) but rather "a
principle that can be applied to daily life." This openness allowed
students of many different schools to train with him. Studying a
"no-name, no-lineage" style mitigated fears of betraying loyalties to particular clans,
families, or other qigong or martial arts schools.
Yiquan, "Mind-Intent Boxing," stressing the primacy of awareness and volition,
known in Chinese as the yi . "If you use your mind correctly, you are using real
strength. Awareness is power."
It was while teaching martial arts to Army cadets in Shanghai in the early 1920s that
Wang had a key insight into the nature of human potential, and turned his attention
once again to the realm of health. Wang realized most students paid too much
attention to specific postures and patterns of movement, but neglected training their
minds and spirits. Their movements may have been swift and powerful, he
observed, but their movement were nonetheless "empty," and not as effective as
they could be. Moreover, such physical training devoid of mental and spiritual
training, Wang felt, created imbalances that could lead to illness and injury, if not
psychosis. It was only the mind, consciousness if you will, trained and refined and
focused, that could fill the emptiness Wang saw in his students' movements, and
correct the imbalances.
Wang thus set out to eliminate from his Gongfu (Kung Fu) anything that wasn't
essential, that might interfere with his natural ability to respond naturally to whatever
life might throw his way, be it aggression, disease, injury. The result of that process
of synthesis and refinement was Yiquan. It became known as the "style of no style,"
a nicely ambiguous description that captures some of the quirky Daoist worldview
that lies beneath the practice.
He was teaching Zhan Zhuang and martial arts exercises in the
parks. Through Zhan Zhuang, students could improve their health, be cured of
debilitating diseases (as Wang himself had recovered from asthma), and develop
the self-awareness, rootedness, and integrated power necessary for martial arts
skill. Naturally, students who wished to perfect the martial arts had to apply their
qigong to full-speed sparring.
"The goal of Yi Quan," Wang Xiangzhai,
Han Xingyuan, and Fong Ha have stated, "is to concentrate the spirit and stabilize
the mind. Find the natural, inborn abilities. Action originates in inaction and stillness
is the mother of movement. Avail yourself of the force of the universe, and bring
your instinctive ability into full play."
Here is a verse written by Wang Xiangzhai himselft to help guide those who are
studying this internal art:
Integrated with spirit and mind,
With plain truth easy to understand,
It is both interesting and enlightening.
It has no method yet every method,
for in boxing all methods are of no avail.
With profound knowledge it helps you to mold your temperment,
Cultivating you in faithfulness, sense of justice, benevolence and bravery.
Propelled by natural strength,
you are as strong as a dragon.
Inhaling and exhaling naturally and quietly,
You perceive the mechanism of all movements.
Be neither too familiar nor too distant towards others,
Show them courtesy, modesty, and respect.
Avail your self of the force of the universe,
And bring your instinctive ability into full play.
Stand at the center holding the key,
Act according to circumstances without trace.
Eyes seeing nothing and ears hearing only your breathing sound,
You train your mind and regulate your nervous system.
In motion you are like the angry tiger,
In quietness you are like the hibernating dragon.
Your expression is as awesome as that of a leopard,
Your strength is as powerful as that of a rhino.
Preserving the heavenly wisdom and maintaining the state of meditation,
You are ready to act in response to all possible situations.
Yiquan and the Nature of Energy - The Fine Art of Doing Nothing and Achieving Everything by
Fong Ha and The Way of Qigong by Kenneth S. Cohen and Dachengquan by Wang Xuanjie)
http://pw2.netcom.com/~jmoy/yichuan/frpage.htm
Yi Chuan goes directly
to the central elements;
to the development of
energy and structural
construction; and to the
formation of a good
relationship between the
"earth" (gravity), the
"sky" (space), and the
"human" (our balanced
structure). Updated January 24, 2000
Yi Chuan is a much more direct method
and gets to the heart of fighting ability by stressing the
appropriate utilization of space and gravity through a
balanced body structure. The attention is not on
movements or techniques, which are of secondary
importance, but rather, on their essence in terms of
rooting, internal energy ("chi") development, centering,
balancing, and expressing
explosive power. Yi Chuan
goes directly to the central
elements; to the development
of energy and structural
construction; and to the
formation of a good
relationship between the
"earth" (gravity), the "sky"
(space), and the "human" (our
balanced structure).
Combining and balancing the
three elements of "sky," "earth," and "human" will
result in a good martial art, good health, good balance,
and good mental attitude.
In the end, Yi Chuan is a liberated and revolutionary
system and is based on the belief that everyone already
possesses what it takes to succeed in any venture.
Knowledge and understanding take precedence over
size or brute force. The sooner that students let go of
their opinions and preconceptions, the quicker they will
empower themselves.
YI CHUAN TRAINING METHODS
There are seven basic categories of Yi Chuan training.
"Standing." Called "Jom Jong" in Cantonese, this
is a method for constructing a physical framework
by molding your body in certain formations and is a
chi kung in itself.
"Sensing Strength." This utilizes imagery,
pressure from the air, and gravity through one’s
structure to create a sensation of magnetic force.
"Footwork." Although Yi Chuan
does not have any prearranged
forms, it does utilize footwork
patterns for delivering the
framework and strength in all
directions.
"Push Hands." This serves as a
tool for sensing strength between
two people to improve one’s
balance and sensitivity.
"Explosion Strength." This utilizes the preceding
four categories concentrated into the shortest
amount of time and distance.
"Sensing Sound."
Certain sounds and
tones are used to
enhance linkages and
togetherness in the
body.
"Actual Fighting." This is learning to use Yi Chuan
as a martial art without any prearranged
conditions.