A quick look at three close relatives in internal Chinese martial arts.
This is a rough outline, I’ll add more to it later:
Eldest brother: XinYi Quan
- Shanxi
- Heart and willpower are at the basis of training
- Difficult – Requires a high level of control/manipulation of the emotional, heart orĀ Xin.
Middle Brother: Xing Yi Quan
- Hebei
- Create physical postures or “shapes” that align with attack, defense or health outcomes.
- Slightly more accessible for most people than it’s siblings, with a deceptively subtle depth.
Youngest brother: Yi Chuan
- Wang Zhanzhai
- Fewer forms but very thorough Zhuang Fa, or standing training methods.
- In one way this art simplifies and streamlines it’s two elder brothers.
- However it requires a direct and faster than normal connection between one’s intent and the physical reflexes. Difficult to learn. Easy to over do hard muscular force and loose progress.