Sun Style Hsing Yi

Hsing Yi Ch'uan is one of three major Chinese Internal Martial Arts, with Tai Chi Ch'uan and BaGua Chang being the other two. All three are based on complete Chinese Philosophical systems, with Hsing Yi based on Five Element Theory.

Hsing Yi, though less well known than both Tai Chi and Kung Fu by the general public, has consistently produced the most revered martial artists in China, artists known for dominating opponents in full contact challenges.

Five Element Theory, also less known than the Yin/Yang dualistic understanding of Tai Chi, holds a creative and destructive relationship between the Five Elements and seeks to utilize these relationships for the creation of energy within the practitioner and the destruction of an opponent.

The art takes it's root in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, honing basic five energies through the Five Fists and then expresses these techniques throughout the Twelve Animals forms. These forms have identified the most powerful movements, stances, and strikes from Northern Shaolin and streamlined them into as a condensed a practice as possible.

The Twelve Animals are both animistic representations of the particular animal and high level fighting techniques. When executing the animals, there is a certain sort of animal power the Hsing Yi adept will infuse into the movements: one must feel the animal's power while moving like the animal.

The long, heavy two-handed sword is then practiced to develop upper body power. There is nothing quite like the Hsing Yi sword in all of the Chinese Martial Arts with respect to building power.

At the studio, we offer the complete system of Sun Style Hsing Yi. Hsing Yi is usually taught after a student has a firm grasp of either Tai Chi or Northern Shaolin, as a certain level of hip and ankle flexibility is needed to perform the difficult stances correctly. However, this is not a necessity.