Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan: (Hsing I Ch'üan) is one of the major "internal" (Wudang) Chinese martial arts (an even broader term encompassing the internal arts is nèijiā). The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power. There is no single organizational body governing the teaching of the art, and several variant styles exist.
A practitioner of xingyiquan uses coordinated movements to generate bursts of power intended to overwhelm the opponent, simultaneously attacking and defending. Forms vary from school to school, but include barehanded sequences and versions of the same sequences with a variety of weapons. These sequences are based upon the movements and fighting behavior of a variety of animals.
The goal of the xingyiquan exponent is to reach the opponent quickly and drive powerfully through them in a single burst — the analogy with spear fighting is useful here.
It’s direct fighting philosophy advocates simultaneous attack and defence. There are few kicks except for extremely low foot kicks and some mid-level kicks, and techniques are prized for their deadliness rather than aesthetic value. Xingyiquan favours a high stance called Sāntǐshì literally "three bodies power," referring to how the stance holds the head, torso and feet along the same vertical plane. A common saying of xingyiquan is that "the hands do not leave the heart and the elbows do not leave the ribs."
The Five Elements of Xingyiquan
Splitting – Metal - Like an axe chopping up and over.
Drilling – Water - Drilling forward horizontally like a geyser.
Crushing – Wood - Arrows constantly exploding forward.
Pounding – Fire - Exploding outward like a cannon while blocking.
Crossing – Earth - Crossing across the line of attack while turning over.
Animal Forms:
Bear, Eagle, Snake, Tiger, Dragon, Chicken, Horse, Swallow, Goshawk, Monkey, Crane, Crocodile, Tai (bird), Blowfish, Turtle, Ostrich.
Weapons: Spear, Straight, sword, Sabre, Large Sabre (used by infantry against mounted opponents),
Long Staff, Short Staff (at maximum length you could hold between the palms of your hands at each end - techniques with this weapon may have been used with a spear that had been broken), Needles (much like a double ended rondel gripped in the centre - on the battlefield this would mostly have been used like its western equivalent to finish a fallen opponent through weak points in the armour), Fuyue (halberds of various types), Chicken-Sabre Sickle. This weapon was supposedly created by Ji Longfeng and
became the special weapon of the style.