Five lessons with video and text explaining the essentials of Xing Yi basics.  Xing Yi Body mechanics, compression and expansion, Yin and Yang, and how to start to combine these together.  Bringing theory and examples together follow along and absorb the fundamental essence of Five Elements Xing Yi.  Good Xing Yi doesn't look pretty, it looks straightforward, but for it to look simple and effective you need to master the underlying complexity, this module sets you off on that path.

Qi Shi is the opening form or movement usually performed before beginning a longer form or before practice. It helps to put you into the classical San Ti Shi (Three Body Posture) but more than this Xing Yi Academy's form holds hidden secrets!  There are 10 movements each with a profound meaning, the first three movements ready the mind, body and spirit, there are then seven movements or examples embodying seven methods to change energy and movement into effective force (Jin), and finally hidden within each movement is the essence of Xing Yi's power generation.  With three straightforward lessons, video and text, Xing Yi Academy teaches the form and it's hidden meanings in full.

The Three Body Posture (San Ti Shi) is often referred to as the basis of Xing Yi. A classical standing post (Zhan Zhuang) posture it embodies structural and strategic principles essential for effectively applying Xing Yi Quan.  However, these practices, and the posture itself are often misunderstood. Seven lessons of video and text delve deeply into San Ti Shi, holding the posture, the principles it embodies, how to train San Ti Shi and what you will get from it, how to test your practice and further postures to add to your practice.

The longest module in the course. Footwork is maybe the most important aspect of martial arts, it connects into timing, positioning and distance but is also the most neglected aspect of martial arts training. This module includes 24 lessons teaching the fundamental stepping methods of Xing Yi:  Zong Bu, Jin Bu and Tui Bu.  With variations in stepping methods, turning methods, switching sides, common mistakes, simple stepping exercises, combining footwork and more complex stepping exercises, as well as examples of common mistakes to avoid, this module has got footwork covered completely! 

Qi Gong - energy work is another term which is often misunderstood or taught in many varied ways.  This short module with four lessons of video and training notes looks to develop an understanding of Qi Gong in relation to the three internal and three external harmonies but using some practical examples and exercises combined with theory. 

Nei Gong is translated as "Internal Work" it is closely related to Qi Gong and the exercises will all include the use of energy in some form, though the energy and movement is not the focus of the exercise nor the goal to be understood. In this module there are five lessons with video and training notes that look at how the soft tissues in the body are used within Xing Yi body mechanics and how movements can be optimised using our spirit (Xin), Intention (Yi) and Energy (Qi) to create the three main attacking forces in Five Elements Xing Yi:  Pi Jin (Splitting Force), Zuan Jin (Spiral Force), and Beng Jin (Crushing Force). 

Xing Yi's Beng Quan (Crushing Fist) is more complex than might first seem.  Xing Yi Academy provides six lessons in this module to cover all aspects of Beng Quan, from how to form the Xing Yi Spiral Shaped Fist (Luoxing Quan), how to perform the standard Beng Quan Form, how to maintain body structure, how to generate combative force, applications for Beng Quan and variations on the form and applications.

Xing Yi's Pao Quan (Cannon Fist) uses similar mechanics to Beng Quan but employs different structure and tactics.  This module has five lessons starting with the Xing Yi Academy Pao Quan Form and then covering the body structure, force generation, applications and variations of Pao Quan.

Pi Quan (Splitting Fist) is the characteristic technique of Xing Yi Quan. This module again has five lessons to cover the standard Xing Yi Academy Pi Quan Form, body structure, force generation, selected applications, and selected variations to the form and applications of Pi Quan.  

Heng Quan (Crossing Fist) usually employs the compress and expand force of Beng Jin but the structure and form allow this to be applied across the target from an angle. This module has five lessons to learn Heng Quan in depth, again looking at the standard Xing Yi Academy Form, the body mechanics and structure, force generation, applications and then the variations on the form and applications.

Zuan Quan (Drilling/Spiral Fist) is arguably the most complex of Xing Yi Academy's Five Element Forms. The five lessons in this module will teach the Xing Yi Academy Zuan Form with it's unusual Primary Palm Strike and the more common Secondary Drilling Fist. As with all of the Five Element modules this incudes the form, body mechanics and structure, force generation, applications and variations on the form and applications.

The Armoury is our bonus content area.  The first bonus is an extensive Xing Yi Glossary of Terms with detailed explanations including Chinese characters, romanisations in Pin Yin and the English interpretations.  There is an additional  "Ming Jin, An Jin and Hua Jin" Video Discussion talking about the terminology of Bright/Obvious Force, Dark/Hidden Force, and Transformed Force.  Our Mini-Course on Xing Yi Body Mechanics can also be found here (we have given this away free to email subscribers but it's also held in the armoury for easy reference). There is a copy of the Yi Tong Lun (Classic of Unification) as translated and interpreted by Xing Yi Academy's head instructor Paul Andrews. And there is a module within the module - XING YI MASTERCLASSES - where Paul recaps on each of the Five Elements in turn looking at the forms, variations, force generation, body mechanics and structure all combined.

Six lessons to introduce the art of Yan Yi with theory and immediately applicable drills and exercises.  Understand the Six Harmonies model (Spirit - Intention - Energy coordination of the body structure) and apply it to your body movement. Become more aware of your body with movement isolation exercises - break down your movement to build it back up and connect it together. Learn how you can move your body from your waist/core and then expand on this to control your limbs with core body movements.

Deep dive into the footwork methods of Xing Yi Quan but from a Yan Yi perspective of Spirit - Intention - Energy. Learn the basic footwork methods of Xing Yi and how to use your core to control the feet. Explore variations of the Xing Yi footwork and go further by looking at body and foot coordination exercises. Finally bring everything together building step by step on the foundations you have laid.

Yan Yi is about exploring body movement and mechanics using Spirit - Intention - Energy, so what better place to start with the movements we are already familiar with in Xing Yi. Even if you are a complete beginner in Xing Yi this module will introduce you to movements from the Xing Yi Five Elements and all of the 12 Animals from Xing Yi Academy's syllabus: Bear-Eagle; Snake; Tiger; Dragon; Chicken; Horse; Swallow; Alligator; Goshawk; Tai (Flycatcher); Monkey; and Turtle.  This comprehensive six lesson module will give you enough exercises and drills to work on for months as well as deepening your understanding of the Xing Yi Animals.

With Five lessons this module looks at how to take what you have already learnt and go further. Move smoother and keep your energy flowing, how to connect with your intention at a deeper level to instigate your movement and energy flow, how to combine techniques and link them together into free flowing sequences and taking everything and combining it all together again.

This module only has four lessons but they are profound. Here we dip our toes into the more esoteric aspects of Yan Yi practice, starting with Wu Xin (Limitless Spirit - sometimes translated as "Empty Mind") and how we can begin to cultivate this altered state of consciousness and use it to assist us in Yan Yi and Xing Yi practice. We also look at more ways we can use Yan Yi to examine and explore our practice of Xing Yi, and finally we look at how breathing and rhythm are important in our practice.

This is the Five Elements Fighting Partner Linking Sequence taught over 7 lessons.  Using the destructive sequence of the Five Elements theory found in Chinese Tradition this sequence provides a framework to begin your journey towards sparring and free fighting. This sequence is taught step by step showing the methods and techniques as well as explaining why each movement is used and positioned the way it is. The sequence becomes a major stepping stone in development of positioning, timing, moving with your opponent, and using the Five Element techniques effectively. This module teaches the sequence as a drill which can be repeated indefinitely and even reversed so that you and your partner can train for as long as needed.

This module has seven lessons introducing the traditional fighting principles of Five Elements Xing Yi.  We look at the three different kinds of timing that may be employed, the hierarchy of defence, reading and moving in harmony with your partner/opponent, how to "see the heng", common mistakes and how to integrate principles into your practice. Complete with video tuition, demonstrations, examples and drills this module will change with way you work with the Five Elements turning them from simple applications into tools for fighting and sparring.

With 11 lessons this module aims to provide you with a whole sack full of examples of how the Five Elements can be applied.  We look at each of the elements in turn, showing standard applications and variations but then look at how each element can overcome all of the other elements by applying the principles we have already worked on in Module 2.  Some people still believe the myth that the Five Elements are like 'Rock - Paper ' Scissors'  but this module will blow that myth apart, showing example after example of how the Elements can work in a variety of situations.

Six more lessons to boost your understanding and ability of Five Elements fighting. We look at how to really apply "simultaneous attack and defence", how to keep composure and pressure on your opponent even when forced to retreat,  how to apply the principle of change, and we work on Five Element striking combinations. As usual this module is full of practical examples, drills and exercises.

Five Lessons to take things further.  We revisit moving in harmony with our opponent, look at how to add to, switch and change the linking sequence, we look at how to develop your own partner sequences to ease into sparring and fighting and help to embody principles or try out new applications in a non-cooperative but relatively safe environment and finally we discuss the transition into complete free sparring where you can test out your skills in a more competitive format without braking down into chaos or losing your ability.

A bonus module we filmed on the fly with Joe behind the camera as usual and Paul and Andrew demonstrating.  Paul shows the five element kicking and leg methods.  It's not perfect, it's a bit rough and ready, but of course it's real and applicable.  Xing Yi's kicking techniques are not prominent but are often neglected and it is difficult to find a teacher that can demonstrate how they can be used effectively.  Here we introduce the Five Element kicking methods Pi tui, Beng tui, Zuan tui, Pao tui and Heng tui with examples of how they can be applied.