Xingyiquan Paired Practice Forms (對練套路)

These are some of the xingyiquan forms that we practice. Comments mix information from the "Xingyiquan Encyclopedia" (形意拳術大全) published by the Shanxi People's Publishing House (main editor: Wu Dianke 吳殿科) and my own observations and experiences.

Wu Hua Pao (五花炮) - "Five Flower Cannon"

• Wu Hua Pao uses "wrapping" (guo quan, 裹拳), "drilling" (zuan quan, 鑽拳), "trampling" (jian quan, 踐拳), "chopping" (pi quan, 劈拳), and "overturn back"(fan bei quan, 反背拳) fists. The first three fists are known as Dai style's fundamental "Three Fists". While the routine is comparatively easy, it's value in actual usage is great.
• The guo quan ("wrapping fist") happens just before the zuan quan. It cuts across and presses down on the opponent's forearm from the outside in. At the same time, your other hand grasps your partner's wrist. This grasping hand then turns over and drills (zuan quan, 鑽拳) toward your partner's nose. Next comes tiao shou jian quan (挑手踐拳), which basically is the "opening" portion (2nd half) of a pao quan (炮拳). Pi quan (劈拳) your partner's shoulder and then fan bei quan (反背拳) to his temple. The fan bei quan is a heng quan with strong horizontal power.

Jiu Quan (九拳) - "Nine Fists"

• This form gets it's name from the nine hand techniques found in the form:
  1. "pierce the ear" (guan er, 貫耳) - A slap to the ear. This technique is done several times with a retreating step in response to your partner's attack.
  2. "chopping fist" (pi quan, 劈拳) - One of the five elements.
  3. "carry elbow hit ribs" (duan zhou da lei, 端肘打肋) - A defensive lifting of your opponent's elbow to beng quan his ribs.
  4. "stirring hand" (bo shou, 撥手) - A hooking of the opponent's incoming hand to the side. It's used in conjunction with "pierce the ear".
  5. "raise yin" (liao yin, 撩陰) - A groin slap.
  6. "drilling fist" (zuan quan, 鑽拳) - One of the five elements.
  7. "carry elbow kick groin" (duan zhou ti dang, 端肘踢襠) - A defensive lifting of your opponent's elbow with a groin kick.
  8. "swinging strike" (shuai chui, 甩捶) - A spinning backfist. Can also be done like baguazhang's single palm change. I prefer the second method as it allows for a better recovery.
  9. "hook hand" (diao shou, 刁手) - A hooking and grabbing of the "swinging strike".
• Additionally, there is a hidden technique in the form. In xu bu pai jiao fan shen shuai chui (虛步拍腳翻身甩捶), the slapping downward of the opponent's foot just before you turn around can be used as a method of catching his foot instead. Simply pass your hand underneath his foot and scoop it up instead of slapping it down.

Wu Xing Pao (五行炮) - "Five Element Cannon"

• This two man practice uses all 5 elements as the core and thus is called the "5 element cannon" form. Not only does it teach the techniques of "eagle form" (ying xing, 鷹形) defeats beng quan and "overturn pi quan" defeats pi quan, but it makes the hands more lively.

Ai Shen Pao (挨身炮) - "Close Body Cannon"

• This form is called the "Safe Body Cannon" (an shen pao, 安身炮) by Hebei practictioners. Because one of the characteristics of this form is striking the body from close range, and it uses a lot ofpao quan, it's called the "Close Body Cannon" form. Not only does it use lu shou pao (捋手炮), ban shou pao (扳手炮), gun shou pao (滾手炮), and fan shou pao (翻手炮), it also contains Che Yizhai'sju ma pin (拘馬拚) method. During advancing and retreating, the "lively step" (huo bu, 活步) is emphasized.