Adam Hsu – Xingyi Five Elements Boxing

Adam Hsu – Xingyi Five Elements Boxing

Admittedly, the prospect of sitting down to three DVDs about Hebei XingYi Quan is intimidating at best. Yet, almost immediately, you are taken into a story of practice, of history and, most importantly, Shifu Hsu’s absolute command of his topic. His enthusiasm and dedication become contagious even through the subtitles. And always there is his coy draw that says: you can do this too. It’s easy, just try, everyday.

I was first taught XingYi Quan, one of the three “internal” styles sitting with Tai Chi Quan and Ba Gau Zhang, at a seminar given by my two Shifus. It was early on in the school’s history (maybe 20 years ago) and this might have been their first seminar given for the school. The only other student attending would, much later, become my wife. The two of us spent four hours learning the San-Ti stance, the Caterpillar Step and the Five Elements. For me it was love at first sight. I have kept XingYi Quan with me over the years and my Shifu has returned to it again and again, even though it is not my primary style. I find there is something at once simplistic and complex in its movements and its stillness.

These series of DVDs really aren’t for the very beginner or for someone looking to actually learn XingYi Quan from a video. Rather, this is a sophisticated series meant for the serious practitioner of XingYi Quan or any traditional Chinese Martial Art. While the movements of XingYi Quan are covered, the real gems here are in the principals given, principals that span not only XingYi Quan but also apply to just about any traditional Chinese Martial Art.