FAQ
- Is Xingyi for men or women?
Xingyiquan is suitable for both men and women. As it is an internal art, muscular strength is neither emphasized nor a major advantage in training. Suppleness is in fact of greater import.
- Is Xingyi just a performance art?
Xingyiquan and its precursor Xinyi styles have been famous as highly effective fighting arts for literally hundreds of years. The subtle energies of these arts actually do not lend themselves well to performance.The Xingyi that we practise at our school is of the traditional variety. That is to say that we focus primarily on qi cultivation, correctness of form and combat efficacy. We do also practise forms for demonstration and competition, but that is not a major component of our training.
- Will Xingyi help my health?
Traditional Xingyiquan is a meditative art rooted in qi cultivation theory. Proper practice develops a heightened awareness of internal states and helps clear blocked qi channels. Regular training strengthens the constitution observably.From the scientific biopsychosocial perspective, relaxation and self-awareness contribute significantly to both physical and emotional health.
- Am I too old or too young to take this up?
Xingyiquan is suitable for people all ages, although it is rare nowadays to find a young child capable of the discipline required. Being an internal art, as with Taiji and Bagua, Xingyiquan is both feasible and beneficial for old people as well as young.
- I don’t have much martial arts experience. Is that ok?
That’s perfectly fine. Because Xingyiquan is so different from the much more ubiquitous external arts, previous training in these other arts often constitutes a difficult barrier to breach.If you are trained in other forms of fighting, be prepared to unlearn some of what you have learnt.