WuxingquanĄȘThe Famous Hand Fighting Skills of Dachengquan

Writer: Yang Haiqing

Wuxingquan is the core of Xingyiquan. The great master Wang Xiangzhai created the Dachengquan according to the essence of Xingyiquan. (As we all know, Master Wang Xiangzhai is the excellent student of Master Guo Yunshen, the great master of Xingyiquan in the late of Qing dynasty.) The Wuxingquan is the important part of single hand fighting skills in Dachengquan.
Our master Wang Jianmin told us that we must be proficient in Wuxingquan if we want to be excellent in Dachengquan, or we couldnĄŻt get the essence of Dachengquan. Master Wang Jianmin had ever followed his master Wang Xuanjie teaching Dachengquan all over the country. He defeated opponents many times by using Wuxingquan. Master Wang Jianmin said by Master Wang Jianmin that Master Guo Yunshen had the honor of an undefeatable man throughout the country for his Bengquan. Both Master Wang xiangzhai and Master Wang Xuanjie are excellent in using of Bengquan. From these, we can find how they favor the Wuxingquan.

A. Piquan (Cutting)

1. Training of Piquan
The way of using Piquan is like using a knife or an axe to cut, so it is called Piquan.
Piquan (Cutting) is mainly made up of Tuoyingzhuang, Tuoshanzhuang and Piquan single hand fighting.
Tuoyingzhuang: stand in the way of ATTENTION, relax the whole body. Then, the right foot moves forward a half step. The left foot stands on the ground firmly while the right heel doesnĄŻt touch the ground. Thirty percent of the body weight is laid on the right sole while the rest of the weight on the left foot. Raise two arms slowly up. Let the right hand as high as the shoulders while the left one is slightly lower than the right hand. Two palms face each other. Ten fingers open naturally and point at the front. Look at the front from the inside of the right palm (Figure 1). The above is the right posture of Tuoyingzhuang. Change the RIGHTS to the LEFTS; you can get the left posture of Tuoyingzhuang. Because these actions are like holding an infant in the palms, two hands pressing from the both sides and holding up, the posture is called Tuoyingzhuang (Holding an infant).
Tuoshanzhuang: The posture of legs is the same as that of Tuoyingzhuang. Two hands are raised as high as the brows or forehead. Two hands face each other and fingers are naturally opened pointing at the front (Figure 2). Because the posture is like holding a mountain on the palms, two hands tending to turn and throw the Ą°mountainĄ± down, so it is called as Tuoshanzhuang (Holding a mountain).
Piquan single hand fighting: Stand in the way of AT EASE. Two palms push out and let them face the ground. Fingers are naturally opened. The front hand is slightly higher than the back one. Two palms cut down at the same time. The force is on the roots of the palms. Then, two palms back to the original place. Repeat the actions (Figure 3, 4, 5).
2. Applying of Piquan
The opponent punches your chest with his left fist. You can raise two hands up quickly and use your right wrist or right forearm to block his left arm outside. Meanwhile, raise your left palm to cut his head (Figure 6, 7, 8).
The opponent punches your face or chest with his right fist. You can quickly raise your two hands up, use your left wrist or forearm to pound his right forearm down. Meanwhile, raise your right palm to cut him on the right side collarbone part (Figure 9, 10, 11).

B. Bengquan (Breaking)

1. Training of Bengquan
The way of using Bengquan is like a flying bullet breaking out an object, so it is called as Bengquan.
Bengquan is mainly made up of Fuyunzhuang and Bengquan single hand fighting.
Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds): Stand in the way of ATTENTION and relax the whole body. The right foot moves forward a half step. Two feet standing comfortably. The left foot stands on the ground firmly while the right heel doesnĄŻt touch the ground. Thirty percent of the body weight is laid on the right sole while the rest of the weight on the left foot. Raise two arms up slowly to the front of the chest and make a circle. Fingers are naturally opened. Two palms face the ground. The right hand is as high as the shoulders while the left one is slightly lower than the right hand. Look at the front along the right hand (Figure 12). This is the right posture of Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds). By substituing right into left; you can deduce the left posture of Fuyunzhuang. When practicing the posture, the whole body is like in the clouds, and two hands are like tearing, twisting and pulling the clouds, so it is called as Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds).
Bengquan single hand fighting: Stand in the posture of Fuyunzhuang. Turn waist and upper body. When turning, two palms change to fists. One fist punches out horizontally, at the same time, another fist is pulling back. Then, the back fist punches forward while the front one is pulled back. Repeat the actions. Note: when practicing, you must keep two hands moving at the same time (Figures 13, 14).



2. Applying of Bengquan
When the opponent wants to fight with you, you can raise hands higher than your head; then, suddenly cut down to hurt his forearms and breaks his balance. Pull your hands back. Then, punch the pit of his stomach (Figures 15, 16, 17).
When the opponent punches your chest with his right fist, you can move back to your left side to avoid his fist. Meanwhile, use your left palm to push his right elbow, let his body be shocked. Then, use your right fist to punch him on the right coastal region (Figures 18, 19, 20).

C. Zuanquan (Drilling)

The way of using Zuanquan is like huge waves drilling the sky, so it is called Zuanquan (Drilling).
Zuanquan (Drilling) is mainly made up of Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds) and Zuanquan single hand fighting.
Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds): (same as the above)
Zuanquan single hand fighting: Stand comfortably. Two hands become fists. When turning the waist and upper body, punch the left fist to the upper front, meanwhile, pull the right fist up and let the right forearm higher than the shoulders. Then, turn the waist and upper body; let the right punch to the upper front and pulling the left fist up. Let the left forearm higher than the shoulders. When practicing, try to keep arms moving coordinated (Figures 21, 22).
Applying of Zuanquan
When the opponent cut your head with his right hand, you can quickly raise your left hand up, use the left wrist or left forearm to block his right forearm. Try to let his body lose the balance or be heavily shocked. Then, punch him on the left coastal region in the way of Zuanquan (Figures 23, 24, 25).
When the opponent punches your chest with his right fist, you can quickly raise your left hand up, use the left wrist or left forearm to smash his right forearm. Let him lose the balance. Then, punch him with your right fist in the way of Zuanquan (Figures 26, 27, 28).

D. Paoquan (Shooting shells)

1. Training of Paoquan
The way of using Paoquan is like shooting shells, so it is called as Paoquan (Shooting shells).
Paoquan (Shooting shells) is mainly made up of Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds) and Paoquan single hand fighting.
Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds): (same as the above)
Paoquan single hand fighting: Stand in the way comfortably. Turn waist and upper body to the left side. When turning, right fist punches to the front, meanwhile, the left fist is pulled back. Then, turn the waist and upper body to the right side. When turning, left fist punches to the front and the left fist pulls back (Figures 29, 30).



2. Applying of Paoquan
When the opponent punches your chin from the below with his right fist, you can quickly raise your left hand up, use your left wrist or left forearm to press his right forearm. Then, punch his face with your right fist in the way of Paoquan (Figures 31, 32, 33).
When the opponent swings his left fist to punch your left ear, you can quickly raise your left hand up, use your left forearm to block his right forearm. Then, punch his chin with your right fist in the way of Paoquan (Figures 34, 35, 36).

E. Hengquan (Horizontal punching)

1. Training of Hengquan
The way of using Hengquan are mainly use arms horizontally punching, so it is called as Hengquan (Hozintal punching).
Hengquan is mainly made up of Fuyunzhuang and Hengquan single hand fighting.
Fuyunzhuang (Floating in clouds): (same as the above)
Hengquan single hand fighting: Move the left foot a step to the left side. The breadth between two feet is bigger than that of shoulders. Two hands make fists slightly. Raise left arm up and punch left fist out, as high as the shoulders.
The right fist makes a horizontal arc from the below of the left forearm to the front of the body. Pull the left fist back to the part near the belly. Then, the left fist makes a horizontal arc from the below of the right forearm to the front of the body. Repeat the actions (Figures 37, 38).
2. Applying of Hengquan
The opponent punches your chest with his right fist. You can quickly raise your left hand; presses down to catch his right wrist. Then, punch his right armpit part with your right fist from the below of your let forearm! In the way of Hengquan (Figures 39, 40, 41).