Hsing-I Chuan or Mind Form Boxing is said to be the oldest of the internal martial arts of China and also one of its most effective fighting methods.
Hsing-I fuses a relaxed, open body with a clear, focused mind that is free of any gaps or breaks in one’s intent. This creates the ability to react to a situation with the appropriate response without ever losing control of one’s stability of mind.
The goal of Hsing-I as a fighting art is to create an aggressive focused power without relying on an emotional rush to create that power.
Instead of anger or fear Hsing-I tries to use the 16 part neigong principles to generate different types of power evenly in all directions.
When I was first learning, Bruce Frantzis used to say “There is no question of aggression in Hsing-I, it is pure aggression. But it is aggression without emotional content.”
The core of Hsing-I and the “secret” of many of China’s great martial artists is the standing practice of San Ti.
All of Bruce’s teachers practiced San Ti continuously well into their seventies. Bruce reported that all the masters he met that still had power in their old age did some form of San Ti practice.
The San Ti posture is a powerful method of body and qi development (neigong) based on the Five Element theory of Taoism.
San Ti is a great compliment to any form of internal or external martial art or qigong practice as it integrates the inside and outside of the body and awakens the sense of feeling inside. As awareness of internal sensation grows, one begins to release the bound energy in the body and allow the subtle power of the internal nei gong skills to arise.
Another key aspect of Hsing-I which begins in the San Ti practice is that of recognizing the different elements within the body and how these effect the internal organs, emotions, thoughts and health of the body.
For Instance: Pi Chuan and the posture of San Ti teaches the practitioner about how to strengthen the metal element within the body, including the lungs and the spine.
San Ti is extremely valuable to anyone who practices or wishes to practice Ba Gua Zhang as it develops many of the same internal and external components as Ba Gua’s circle walking but without the added strain and difficulty of turning and twisting the waist and legs to such a great degree.
When I was struggling with Ba Gua’s walking the advice I was given was to do Hsing-I San Ti for at least a year before returning to circle walking. I followed this advice and when I did I noticed I was able to maintain power in the walking better than many of the students who did not follow this advice.
For practitioners of Tai Ji the San Ti practice can be a good way of developing leg strength, good breathing and the natural spring of the body; all integral to quality Tai Ji practice.
San Ti can also be a good antidote to the “wet noodle” tendencies of some Tai Ji pushing hands players, allowing the body to gain flexibility by opening, connecting and twisting, rather than disconnecting and bending and wiggling. Wiggling may get you away from a push but it won’t stop a solid kick or prevent you from being thrown.
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