This is a general name given to postures which one holds in place for prolonged periods of time - anywhere between 2 minutes and 2 hours.[34] These postures are related to postures used in actual fighting, and are sometimes identical to them. Initially, these postures are taught as static training stances. After a short amount of time though, the...

Xing Yi uses movements called the five classical Chinese elements to metaphorically represent five different states of combat.[23][35] Also called the "Five Fists" or "Five Phases," the Five Elements are related to Taoist cosmology although the names do not literally correspond to the cosmological terms. These five movements make the 'base' of the...

FormsThere are numerous qigong forms. 75 ancient forms that can be found in ancient literature and also 56 common or contemporary forms have been described in a qigong compendium. The list is by no means exhaustive. Many contemporary forms were developed by people who had recovered from their illness after qigong practice.In 2003, the Chinese...

TechniquesWhether viewed from the perspective of exercise, health, philosophy, or martial arts training, several main principles emerge concerning the practice of qigong: Intentional movement: careful, flowing balanced styleRhythmic breathing: slow, deep, coordinated with fluid movementAwareness: calm, focused meditative stateVisualization: of qi...

The concept of the taiji ("supreme ultimate"), in contrast with wuji ("without ultimate"), appears in both Taoistand Confucian Chinese philosophy, where it represents the fusion or mother[2] of yin and yang into a single ultimate, represented by the taijitu symbol . T'ai chi ch'uan theory and practice evolved in agreement with many Chinese...

Shi Jidong (史计栋, 1837-1909), styled Shi Zhenbang, was from Xiaozhai village in Ji county in Hebei. Because he was the sixth child in his family, people called him Shi Liu (six).In his youth, he studied tantui with the famous master, 'Iron legs' Qin Fengyi. In just a few years, he learnt the whole art from M Qin. Later on, Yin Fu started...

T'ai chi ch'uan's martial aspect relies on sensitivity to the opponent's movements and centre of gravity dictating appropriate responses. Effectively affecting or "capturing" the opponent's centre of gravity immediately upon contact, is trained as the primary goal of the martial t'ai chi ch'uan student.[8] The sensitivity needed to capture the...

Like the usual system of Chinese martial arts, Shaolin combat methods are taught via forms (套路; tàolù). Some forms, like Small Hongquan, have just one section, and some, like Big Hongquan, have 3 or maybe more smaller parts, which every part can be considered a form itself. Some forms that are technically closely related are coupled together...

Weapons have always featured strongly in Shaolin kung fu training and are one of the most popular parts of our syllabus – even in the modern era. You can try your hand with knives, swords, axes, hammers, spears and a variety of unique pole arms. Training starts with simple basics such as how to stand, grip the weapon etc. and extends to cover...

Forms      小念頭 Siu Nim Tao (小念頭/小念头; xiǎo niàn tóu;Yale Cantonese: síu nihm tàuh; "little idea" or "little imagination") or Siu Lim Tao (小練頭/小练头;xiǎo liàn tóu; Yale Cantonese: síu lihn tàuh; "little practice").The first, and most important form in Wing Chun, Siu Lim Tao, is the foundation or "seed" of...