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The legendary Wang Xiangzhai believed that over time, the “Big Three” internal styles became cluttered with performative sets, losing the Integrated Force that once made them efficient and deadly.

Here is his take on where these arts started and where they went wrong:

Xingyi Quan

Wang argued that Xingyi originally consisted of only three core forces combined into one movement. The “Five Elements” are not five separate fists, but five types of force. Similarly, the “Twelve Animals” were meant to capture the spirit and intentions of the 12 creatures, rather than being practiced as long, repetitive choreographies.

The essence of Xingyi lies in the unity of Spirit, Intent, Breath, and Force (Shen, Yi, Qi, Li). This mastery allowed Grandmaster Guo Yunshen to dominate his opponents using only his famous “Half-Step Crushing Fist.”

Bagua Zhang

Bagua was originally simple, consisting only of single and double palm-change movements. Wang noted that he saw masters like Cheng Tinghua and Liu Fengchun in person, did not have the complex “64 Palms” or “72 Kicks.” Those were later additions by practitioners who missed the true meaning of the art. The heart of Bagua lies in rooted and stable, yet incredibly agile and unpredictable.

Taiji Quan

Wang observed that Taiji suffered from the most “shallow” modern interpretations, though he admitted its benefits for health. It began as a simple set of three movements (the “Legacy Three Chops”), was organized into “13 Postures” by Wang Zongyue, and eventually ballooned into up to hundred of movements, losing its core mechanics along the way.

Modern practitioners often forget the fundamental rule: “Rooted in the feet, gravity shifting through the legs, governed by the waist, and overreaching through the fingers.” Many today move their arms slowly while their feet move too quickly, failing the essential requirement of “upper and lower body moving consistently.”

Source: Wang Xiangzhai’s Dacheng Quan (王芗斋的大成拳), by He Jingping, 2011.

In reality, not everyone practices Yi Quan with the goal of becoming a martial arts master. Depending on one’s needs, the training path changes:

The Traditional Path 
For those following the traditional lineage through martial arts schools and teachers, Yi Quan is a full-time discipline. Professional training can reach up to 8 hours a day. Even on their busiest days, they must maintain a Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation) session of at least 40 minutes.

The Path of Healing 
For seniors or those battling serious illness, Yi Quan serves as a powerful tool for physical restoration and medical support. By practicing Zhan Zhuang for 30 minutes to over an hour per session, many have seen remarkable results:

• Dr. Zeng Guanghua (MA/US): In 1972, while suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, he began three months of Zhan Zhuang. Within a year, his chronic conditions had vanished.
• Professor Zhang Guanghua (Beijing): In 2010, he successfully used Zhan Zhuang to help recover from a severe heart condition.

The Path for Modern Life 
For the average person, especially the youth, the requirement of a 40-minute minimum for Zhan Zhuang can seem boring or stationary. Activities like a 30-minute run, cycling, or a gym session often feel more “productive” because of the sweat and movement. However, Yi Quan is most essential for those with weaker constitutions who may find high-intensity exercise too draining.

Instead of seeing it as a chore, consider this:

Everyone agrees that 8 hours of sleep is vital for health, so why not find just 30 minutes to empower your spirit and allow your body to heal? Spending 30 minutes in Zhan Zhuang allows your body and brain to enter a state of deep, conscious rest. It is a far better investment in your long-term vitality than 30 minutes spent scrolling through a smartphone.

Yi Quan (意拳), also known as Dacheng Quan, is a popular martial art founded by Master Wang Xiangzhai. It represents a profound evolution of traditional Chinese combat, moving away from fixed forms toward a training process of: stillness → slow smooth movements → rapid yet fluid movements, as well as no force -> single-direction forces -> multi-directional forces in one.

Yi Quan’s roots lie in the lineage of the legendary Guo Yunshen’s Xingyi Quan. Living in a neighboring village, Wang Xiangzhai began training under Master Guo at the age of 8. He was famously required to practice Zhan Zhuang(standing meditation) for up to 4 hours each time.

In 1926, while in Shanghai, Wang officially renamed the art “Yi Quan,” signaling a shift in philosophy: Yi (intent/mind) became the master, while Xing (form/shape) became only the servant.

Yi Quan is a sophisticated synthesis of internal and external arts. With Xingyi as its core, it integrates several high-level influences:

• It preserves the “three forces in one” concept from Xingyi, incorporating the Five Elements (five types of force) and the specialized characters of the Twelve Animals.
• The “Tiger Taming” stance (Fu Hu Zhuang) originates from Xingyi, while the “Dragon Subduing” stance (Xiang Long Zhuang) is drawn from Bagua Zhang.
• Evidence shows this art also integrated elements from:
  • Fujian White Crane (Zonghe Quan)
  • Praying Mantis (Tanglang Quan)
  • Xinyi LiuHeBafa (from Master Wu Yihui)
  • Jian Wu (“Health Dance” from Huang Muqiao)