Xingyi Quan, imitating the movement of the spear

[Bob]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCkcDjgH1Rc

Xingyi Quan is a well-known Quan (schools of Chinese martial arts) in Chinese traditional wushu. It is called the three famous Quan in the family together with Tai Chi and Bagua. Song is one of the schools of Xingyi Quan. Created by wushu artist Song Shirong in the late Qing Dynasty, it has been developed systematically. Fu Hongbo, is a "Wu" generation disciple of the Song's Xingyi Quan, he has been practicing wushu for over 30 years.

[GrahamB]

Good lord, the fantasy warrior samurai vibe is strong with him.

[Bob]

LOL - I try not to throw the baby out with the bath water but that can be tough when the kid is glowing!

[nicklinjm]

I have met the guy in the video (Fu Hongbo), true that he does like to cultivate a certain aura but his gongfu is rock solid - could not move him an inch in Santi and he easily launched me 2-3 feet in the air with his Tiger (hupu).

[Bob]

I believe you - The qiang training is part of the "secret" but not the whole part.

[Doc Stier]

At this point in time, any initial correlation between the movements of spear techniques and Xingyiquan movement patterns seems like an irrelevant debate to me, even if such a connection actually existed in the past, since spears are no longer carried as weapons of war today.

Additionally, most CMA styles have traditionally advocated the value of learning how to use their basic body methods and core principles in the applications of all fighting techniques built upon same accordingly, whether with or without any weapon in hand.

In this way, the use of different weapons essentially amounts to fairly simple variations on a foundational theme, with variable techniques and form expression, while maintaining a consistently familiar feeling in the shen-fa employed with all.

[origami_itto]

Well we don't carry spears anymore, true, but plenty of spear like objects laying around lol.

And an arm is practically a spear, right? Can grab it and work it the same way.

[Bao]

Well we don't carry spears anymore, true, but plenty of spear like objects laying around lol.

And an arm is practically a spear, right? Can grab it and work it the same way.

Yeah, true. Just think about how people back then in the 18th and 19th century used their bodies much more in everyday life. Everything was done manually. So I would believe that lots of martial arts practice was designed to enhance general body skill and movement, how to use the body more efficient. Also, you should be able to take everyday things and use them in different creative ways, because you almost never got what you need in different situations. IMHO, it's more likely that this kind of philosophy comes closer to the real essence of, and development of, Chinese Martial arts, than handling a specific weapon or learn specific techniques.

[Bob]

Bigger picture for power training, alignment, shen fa - if one can't see beyond weapon function then I guess it is indeed a pointless discussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEmt8XeL3m4

Dr. James Guo - Daqiang Exercise



https://youtu.be/NTJwT6J5oCY

Xingyi Spear and Pole Shaking



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBIQ6hlRNHc

In this exclusive Patreon video, Song Bao Gui teaches Jon some of the finer details of Song Family Xingyi's spear.
In this series, I team up with Paul Andrews of Xingyi Academy and Jon Nicklin to travel to Tianjin, Shanxi and Henan to explore the various styles of the art of Xingyi Quan. We will cover the Hebei Style of Li Cun Yi, Song and Che Family Xingyi in Taigu, Dai Style Xinyi in Qi County and Muslim Xinyi Liuhe in Henan Province.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPN-nlO8Crk

The Chinese gentleman in this video is my late teacher, master Zhou Jingxuan (1965-2015). Here we see master Zhou teaching the usage of the Big Spear from his Xing Yi Quan and Baji Quan systems. Master Zhou was known in his day to have been one of the most skilled practitioners of both Baji Quan and Pigua Zhang in China. | Master Zhou's legacy and teachings live on: http://www.bluejadesociety.com



Just for historical fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1SViJzSes

Dr. James Guo

[origami_itto]

At this point in time, any initial correlation between the movements of spear techniques and Xingyiquan movement patterns seems like an irrelevant debate to me, even if such a connection actually existed in the past, since spears are no longer carried as weapons of war today.

Additionally, most CMA styles have traditionally advocated the value of learning how to use their basic body methods and core principles in the applications of all fighting techniques built upon same accordingly, whether with or without any weapon in hand.

In this way, the use of different weapons essentially amounts to fairly simple variations on a foundational theme, with variable techniques and form expression, while maintaining a consistently familiar feeling in the shen-fa employed with all.

Something I've found very useful for example is how working with a two-handed weapon can translate into working with two one-handed weapons in many ways, and then working with two one-handed rigid weapons can translate into working with two one-handed flexible weapons.

Like each one has nuance and can go off in slightly different directions with slightly different concerns, but the foundation of competence carries over and builds, and it's all built on the empty hand foundation. In xingyi and taijiquan, in my experience.