Xingyiquan Animal Seminar Series
I am being sponsored by the White Birch Kungfu school
in Sterling, VA to teach the rest of the 12 animals series of forms
that we began learning from my teacher, Luo Dexiu, last summer. There
will be a series of 9 remaining animal forms taught over the next couple
months. The first seminar will be on February 24, 2006 followed by 3
remaining seminars every two weeks after.
The cost is $60 per session if you pay for each seminar
individually, or $200 for the entire series of 4 seminars in advance.
To reserve a space for the seminar, you will have to register and pay
in advance. Space for participants will be limited.
Each seminar will start at 7:30pm on Friday evening
and will be scheduled for two hours. I’ll provide directions to
the school in Sterling for those wishing to attend.
The seminars will be as follows:
Feb 24 – Tai Xing
Also called the Tai Bird or Phoenix form in English. This is a critical
form for developing core fighting skills in our line of Li Cunyi’s
Xingyiquan. It employs direct and indirect cutting attacks, with a “twist.”
Mar 10 – Hawk, Eagle/Bear and Water Lizard
forms
This seminar will feature a series of some of the shorter animal forms
in Xingyi. Hawk (Yao Xing) is said to resemble the spirit of the Sparrow
Hawk twisting, turning and diving in flight. The combined forms of Eagle
and Bear feature the expansive frame of the bear with the direct grabbing
nature of the Eagle. The Water Lizard (aka Alligator) outwardly resembles
a crueler version of Taijiquan’s cloud hands in its appearance.
Mar 24 – Ji Xing
The Chicken Form of Xingyi is also a slightly longer form in our line
of Xingyi. It’s a sneaky form full of quick attacks and powerful
strikes. If time allows, we will also try to get to either some of the
sections of the short tiger forms, or the dragon.
Apr 7 – Yan Xing
This is known as the Swallow form in English. This form emphasizes expansion,
contraction, rising and falling with applications as equally far ranging.
We will also finish learning the tiger and dragon forms if they have
not yet been covered up to that point.
Each seminar will consist of the teaching of the form,
its general principles and applications. This is a great introduction
to one of the core sections of Xingyiquan training and it is also a
wonderful way to round out some areas of your Baguazhang practice as
well.
Again, you will need to register and pay in advance
to reserve your spot for the seminar. If you have any questions, please
don’t hesitate to contact me directly. Hope to see you there!
George Wood - george@yizongbagua.com
Pa Kua Chang Journal Articles featuring Luo Dexiu and
Gao style Baguazhang
The Pa Kua Chang Journal was and still is the premier
resource for information about the martial art of Baguazhang. Its entire
7 year run was edited, written and produced by Dan Miller. It featured
information on the history, theory, practice, and personalities of Baguazhang.
To download a pdf file of the Pa Kua Chang Journal
issue featuring a look at the history and people behind YiZong and Gao
style in Taiwan - click
here. Permission to provide this article was provided by Dan Miller.
To purchase the complete series of the Pa Kua Chang
Journal on CD (the entire collection of back issues), please click here:
http://www.plumflower.com/frames.htm
Luo Dexiu has had a website for some
time. I have translated the main portions of it below for my YiZong
brothers and sisters who might not be able to read it on their own.
I realize there may be errors in the translations, if you happen to
have better Chinese/English ability than me, please don't hesitate to
comment on it to me directly so that I may fix any problems. Click
here to email me.
Each section of his website has been
translated individually below, enjoy!
Luo Dexiu's website: http://www.geocities.com/luobagua/index.html
Translations in English of Luo Laoshi's
website by section:
The
Origin of Baguazhang
Gao
Style Baguazhang
How to Practice
Baguazhang
The
Sixty-four Post Heaven Entwining and Changing Palms
Pre
Heaven Baguazhang
Potential password-encrypted section of the site for
Zong Wu Men members, and/or select few others. Click
here to enter.