The succession relationship of Xin Yi (minding and intending) Quan of Li Zijun style is as follow. Li Zijun learned the Quan from Master Shang Xueli and passed it down to his prentices, Li Shuling and Li Xinmin. The two then passed it down to Lai Qingxin, Zhang Duxin. and some others. Zhang Duxin taught his son Zhang Yunxiao, Wang Peng, Wang Kun and other fews the Quan as well.
Si Ba Chui (four seizing routine) is an important set of movements in Xin Yi Quan. It is derived from its mother Quan named Si Quan Ba Shi (four styles of fists and eight postures) requiting you to practice the Quan set in stretching out or drawing back, turning back or on the side, crouching and pouncing, jumping up or down like a spring. The Quan movements and postures are simple but quite powerful in real attacking. Si Ba Chui is regarded highly as a requisite training in achieving and issuing the unique sudden bursts with your inner strength in practicing it, generally called as the king of Short-range Xin Yi Quan. There are no any dazzling posture in Si Ba Chui, with its transitional movement being the beginning or the end of another one. Doing any movement would be potentially effective in wounding your rival. Take the technique of Guo Bu Jian Cuan (across stepping like an arrow flying in a flash) for example, it would a big mistake to practice it as Er Qi Jiao (twice-raising step) or Kuas Bu (striding step), or simply regarding it as a transitional movement. In Quan scripture there is a stepping formula for ten methods which goes like that" doing Jian Bu (bouncing step) means that you should swiftly rush forward like a horse prancing or a tiger scuttling on but not jumping up. You should rush up fiercely with both your legs and feet stepping fast forward with one foot followed by another. This is called stamping with your foot by foot to bounce." Many writers of Xin Yi didn't mention this point ever before. The real reason is that to keep this unique Kung-fu secret within a certain style of Xin Yi Quan had been a rule in our school before.
I remember Mr. Liang Weiming once said that "when you are watching some one playing Quan, you should not focus on movements but observe if their transferring between movements conforming to the normal standards. As details reveal the truth, the real thing is always apparent in subtleties." The movement of "Guo Bu Jian Cuan" is an important technique. It can especially show itself extremely powerful when it is applied to a numerically imbalanced fighting as you are the single one. It requires you to raise your leg as if to kick your rival forcefully, advance your foot as if to stride, put down your foot as if to trample. Raise your foot followed by the other, move forward with the one followed by the other. Practicing the Quan techniques, you should keep your entire body in one but not separated with a 10t of breaks. Your forces should be concentrated, your strength would be sufficient with your hardness and softness complemented together while your Yin and Yang attracted each other. Only when you concentrate you mind can you achieve the higher level. You have to control the transition between your hardness and softness alternated with fast and slow paces. Breathe naturally following your intent, and perform physical movements in accordance with your Qi (inner breathing and strength). There should be no disconnection in transiting your movements, intents, breathes and shapes. Take easy in your breathing and relax your shoulders and Release your chest, extend your back, close your crotch, protect your buttocks, uplift your head by mind, raise your private parts, loose your shoulders, droop your elbows, and perform your Yin and Yang, emptiness and firmness clearly. Meeting the above requirement, you could practice the Quan well.
Emptiness might be explained as Yang while firmness, referred to Yin. Yin and Yang are both contradictory and united since they complement each other, infiltrate and cooperate mutually. In short, it's Yang when you are mainly confronting your rival, Yin, protecting yourself. You can strike in a situation of Yang, and hide, of Yin. The Quan technique in essence is to adjust your Yin and Yang in unlimited changing to harmonize you all movements systematically. It's better to alternate between your stillness and motions according to the actual situation. However, there are no fixed rules for doing so.
I would like to share with you some practicing techniques, and show you some photos accordingly.
1. Xiong Chu Dong (a bear leaves the cave) Put your left foot forward, move your body leftward and squat down with your knees bent. Cross your hands by your chest. Sink your shoulders and droop your elbows, relax your chest and pull your back up straight like beating a pan on your back. Raise your anus and have your tongue touched your palate. Look forward
2. Hu Pu(tiger’s pouncing on)
Stride forward with your left foot forming a left bow-shape stance, spread all your fingers apart and press down with your right palm downward and left palm rightward. Move your right palm in front of your crotch and put your left palm down to the inside flank of your left leg. Keep your nose tip, knee top and tiptoes in line.
Key Point: regardless your rival hitting or kicking you, you could just focus on the middle of his body, step forward and slash on his head and face with both hands. Then grab him downward to rip, drag, beat and press. Use multi-forms in striking suddenly and swiftly at the same time, ripping with your hands, striking with your shoulders and hitting with your head, to comer him unable to defense.
3. Guo Bu Jian Cuan (crossing steps like a flying arrow)
Strike forward with your right foot, and kick your rival with your elbows protecting your ribs, your hands protecting your chest.
Key Point: when your rival is dodging backward, you could kick his abdomen and chest with your back foot by forcing the ground with your front one, change your palms into fists to strike him at the same time. It is a very fierce movement with all your strength concentrated in you leg, which could hurt your opponent heavily.
4. Hou Shu Tun (a monkey is holding up its buttocks)
Land your right foot next to your left foot, with your left tiptoe a little bit upward and your left heel slightly touch the ground. Droop your right fist by your right leg, change your left fist into palm and place it beside the inner part of your left calf. Squat down at your best with your right leg, keeping your foot arch, buttocks and heel at a right angle.
5. Da Heng Quan (hit your rival sidelong)
Stride forward with your left foot, with the fingers of your left palm apart, have your right fist struck your rival upward from the down. Join your left palm with your right fist, place them to the height of your chest. Look forward .
Key Point: the technique lies in hitting the private parts of your rival or his abdomen, chest and the chin.
