DVDs: Xing Yi (Various)

Sun Lu Tang was a very influential practitioner and writer. His three forms of expertise: Tai Chi; Xing Yi and BaGua were - in his writings - subsumed under the general heading of "Internal Styles" a designation still used today. Below his daughter shows the essence of his method. Another very influetial figure in the early and middle of the 20th century was Jiang Rong Jiao. Here are a number of DVDs showing various aspects of Jiang's particular approach. Joanna Zorya performs good Xing Yi basics along with exercses and applications.

Click pictures to see larger versions.

DVD #29958 Xing Yi Stylistic Fist & Loose Shell

This title is just another proof that electronic translators don't always work. Try San Shou Canon Bxoing.
This form was arranged in 1971 through efforts of both Luo and his teacher, Sha Guo Zheng. It contains the five elements, the Ba Shi, the 12 actions and others transitional methods. This is a fast, complex series of Xing Yi fighting actions and follows Xing Yi’s general paired practice of very direct attack and defense. Luo starts the breakdown with a discussion of the importance of San Ti stance. The instruction ends with some valuable key points to refine.

About 1 Hour, Chinese with English subtitles         $19.50

DVD #12070 XingYiQuan 5 Element Fists

Instructors Liu Xiao Ling and his crew once again issue an outstanding DVD; this time on the Five Elements of Hebei XingYi. We like this series for a number of completely obvious reasons. First, the videography and editing are some of the best currently in the field of martial instructional information. In this case there are not only English subtitles but English language overdubbing if this is more to your taste. The opening credits are beutifully done with Liu Sifu doing XY to superimposed elemental themes. The instruction isn't only good it's detailed, intelligent and direct. We like to see Xing Yi shown in this highly flexible manner, where variations and applications are given spontaneously and casually while revealing the strong principles of core concepts. There are interesting testimonials by his students, all of who know what they are talking about. Liu Sifu answers questions charmingly and intelligently dealing with FAQs like the differences between the Xing Yi styles, characteristics, how to practice, etc. He is a true believer in Chinese Martial Arts and appears to be a concerned gentleman to boot. His lineage is also strong coming as he did from Pei Xi Rong from Fu Jian Qiu from Li Cun Yi from Liu Qi Lan.

$39.95
PLUMNOTE: Receive a ten per cent (10%) discount for ordering any two of his DVDs.
Liu Xiao Ling's LiuHeBaFa
Liu Xiao Ling's Wu Dang Qigong

 

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DVD #18125 Xing Yi Five Elements Staff & Spear

Instructors Tony Chen and Tai He aid Ling Sho Yu in showing the set which doubles as Xing Yi Spear and XY Staff. The Five Elements are demonstrated in both form and application for each weapon individually. Also, there is a good number of applications from the sets weilding the respective weapons against the Japanese sword. This DVD includes: Five Elements Moves and the Five Elements form (the same one) for both weapons .

Liang Sho Yu started martial training at the age of six. He is a multiple gold medal winner and the author of over 20 books. His efforts to promote the way of Wushu are long term and determined. He is one of the rare teachers from mainland China equally at home in the traditional and the modern.

around an hour, US $25.95

DVD #18126 Xing Yi 12 Animals Staff & Spear

TAs one might expect, the second form of Liang So Yu's series offers a set with wider and more complex movements. First the actions, applictions and practice lines are shown for each of the 12 animals for each weapon. Applications for each element are demonstrated. next we have the essentially same Xing Yi set applied to each of the weapons. Then more excerpted applications against other weapons.

around an hour, US $25.95

DVD #18127 Xing Yi Five Elements Sword

Both the individual elements and the mixed elements are performed for both the Xing Yi straight sword and saber. Helen Liang performance shows a good, strong straight sword with special characteristics of being very direct and mostly weilded with both hands. The Xing Yi saber shown by Tony Chen is also different in that it is a "ghost head" design performed without typical saber wrapping around the body. Good applications and partner exercises.

Helen Liang (Liang Hao) started training with her father at the age of four. She is a multiple gold medal winner in international competitions. She has appeared in many Wushu publications. Her LiuHeBaFa performance and DVD is available through Plum. .

around an hour, US $25.95

DVD #18128 Xing Yi 12 Animals Sword

LThis DVD exhibits 12 individual animal actions for Xing Yi saber and straight sword. It also goes into applications for the individual moves and for sections of the linked set. The set itself can be performed with either straight sword or saber and, given the distinguishing characteristics of these two weapons, is therefore a little unsual. Helen Liang is particularly strong in her straight sword section.

Tony Chen (Chen Zhao Hui learned from his father, Chen Jian. In China he won numerous gold medals. Coming to America he was the USA kicking boxing and Kung Fu champion in 1997. He is the ounder of )-Mei Kung Fu Academyof San Francisco.

around an hour, US $25.95

DVD #12033 Xing Yi: Pi and Zhuan applications
Joanna Zorya, instructor and head of the Reeling Silk Kung Fu School lives in Lancashire, England. She has years of experience researching the internal arts. She is a firm advocate of the practical and accessible self defense knowledge held within these practices.
$35.00 US, around an hour,
PLUM SPECIAL: Buy two or more volumes of any J. Zorya DVD (including Bagua and Taiji) and receive a 10% discount!

From the DVD slipcase: "GONGFU students are sometimes told to 'look beyond the obvious application.' Unfortunately, if you are a beginning student with no martial background at all, you may not know what the 'obvious applications' are. This was certainly true of me when I started out. The DVD aims to teach you how to fight, even if you have no previous martial knowledge.



alternate case

Another phrase sometimes used by Xing Yi teachers is that 'to know one application is to know ten.' This DVD will show you lots of simple and very literal applications with variations and tactical considerations. I also show you how to maximize your striking power and how to practice safely with a partner. Basic training methods and important postural factors are also covered."

Section One shows "Forms & Foundations" such as standing practice, stepping drills and hand methods.
Section Two shows "San Ti and Pi Quan" with fighting applications for Splitting (Pi) and the basic SanTi (Three Powers) fighting posture.
Section Three shows "Zhuan Quan" with combat applications for Drilling Fist (Zhuan).

See ShiFu Mancuso's comments on J. Zorya's work

#18070 Xing Yi Nei Gong
Compiled/Edited by Dan Miller and Tim Cartmell, about 30 minutes

Drawing on information from Zhang Bao Yang, Wang jin Yu and He Yu Qi all students of Wang Ji Wu; Miller and Cartmell have created a text based on Xing Yi but geared toward Nei Gong (Internal Training). Few people today realize that "Chi Kung" is a neologism referring to what has generally been termed Nei Gong for centuries.

In other words "Breath work" was always called "Internal Work". What's the diff ? Nei Gong implies a greater discipline, more power and most importantly a more rigorous application of the principles with more formal structure. Chi Kung implies a watered down version one might teach one's grandmother if she's had no previous training. There is a place for either but, with the sudden popularity of "Chi Kung" it is refreshing to see this admittedly technical but basically sound text on the subject from a Xing Yi Boxing standpoint.

Included are sections on: Wang JiWu and his lineage
LiuHe (6 Harmony) Xing Yi written transmission
Xing Yi Standing Practice
Health and Strengthening Exercises from Xing Yi.

Take a look at Tim Cartmell's DVD  of this series.

$29.95
PLUMNOTE: Receive a ten per cent (10%) discount for Tim Cartmell's book and DVD.
 

 

DVD #10025 Sun Tai Chi Sun Style Survey

SUN JIAN-YUN, the daughter of the very famous martial artist and writer, Sun Lu-Tang leads this demonstration tape of the Sun Style. Though the cover lists Sun T'ai Chi there is more here than that. This is not an instruction DVD but starts with a performance of Sun T'ai Chi by Sun Jian-Yun, herself an "old Shihfu". Other students and family members help demonstrate T'ai Chi, Sun Style Ba GuaPartner Sword practice, Sun Style Hsing Yi Fist Set, and a rather nice Sun style Xing Yi sword. Little talking but a lot about the Sun style for the interested student.

60+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

#10893  Xing Yi Mixed and Ba Shi Boxing

With Sha Guo Zheng's student, Luo Jin Hua, as peformer. Luo's Xing Yi is truly one of those branches where the marriage so often talked about between Xing Yi and Ba Gua is evident. His Xing Yi is much livelier than the stilted, posed series of movements often associated with this form of Boxing. In this DVD he demonstrates two short and pithy forms, both famous in Xng Yi annals. "Mixed" is a set combining five elements and the twelve animals. Ba Shi relies on posture and is good for internal and external practice.

About 1 Hour, Chinese with English subtitles         $19.50

#10894  Xing Yi 12 Shapes

With Sha Guo Zheng's student, Luo Jin Hua as peformer. Luo's Xing Yi is truly one of those branches where the marriage so often talked about between Xing Yi and Ba Gua is evident. His Xing Yi is much livelier than the stilted, posed series of movements often associated with this form of Boxing. In this DVD he demonstrates the twelve animals and actually gives a sense of their definitive aspects, diversified flavors.

About 1 Hour, Chinese with English subtitles         $19.50

#10903  Xing Yi Theory and Techniques

With Sha Guo Zheng's student, Luo Jin Hua as peformer. Luo's Xing Yi is truly one of those branches where the marriage so often talked about between Xing Yi and Ba Gua is evident. This is a "lecture" disk though he demonstrates constantly. What Luo does on this one is go through San Ti then the Five Elements in detail. At the end he shows the Five Elements Linking Form. The main point he stresses is the variability of the five elements. After introducing them in a stand manner he shows them doubled, angled and varied. A clear exposition on an essential part of Xing Yi.

About 1 Hour, Chinese with English subtitles         $19.50

 

Shihfu Mancuso's comments:
Joanna Zorya's DVD on Xing Yi Applications:

"Brevity is the soul of wit." So we've been told and so we might consider Xing Yi Boxing a very witty style. Where, in some methods, we find that short and sweet moves are merely "simple" Xing Yi goes beyond the simply unadorned. It is CONCENTRATED mayhem. Keeping this in mind, Joanna Zorya's demonstration of these significant Xing Yi actions exactly matches the essence of this style. She shows a movement. Then she shows its applications. Then, crucially, she shows it's application with the most important of the "IFs" added. What IF the punch is blocked? What IF the opponent changes angle? For those unfamiliar with Xing Yi it is hard to comprehend how fundamental this is to the flavor of the style. We should remember that Xing Yi is based on elemental changes: Fire to Earth, Metal to Water and such. As in Greek thought, the idea is that everything - every THING- can be seen deriving from the transformation of a few basic elements. The Xing Yi attitude toward combat has been exactly the same for over 1000 years. It takes relatively few primary movements and adapts them immediately and forcefully to each situation. This changeability of Xing Yi is directly linked to its initial precision. You have to be in the right place at the right time to exercise your option to change. Joanna Zorya's explanations show these major concepts at the core of her demonstration: precise, correct and mutable.

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