Kung Fu, The Ying and the Yi:
Shape and Intent in your techniques

In kung fu, Ying-shape, refers to the outer shape. It is the way a certain movement or technique looks. This can include the shapes formed by the hand and palms such as the crane’s beak; by the stance such as Dragon or Tiger stance; and by the shape of the entire body in particular the chest, back and pelvis.

Ying-shape also allows a student some freedom to express himself, whether artistically or using his experience to express certain meanings from the movement.

Yi-intent is the idea that inspires the movement. It is also the total-body engagement that delivers the power. It becomes a special focus that is the key in Chinese martial arts. Mental concentration and breathing techniques help to deliver Yi-intent.

It is the combination of both the physical and the spiritual energy that makes KF a martial art unique from all other types of martial arts. When the practitioner is in motion, he must concentrate on his techniques, ensure the path of his movements are correct, the force-application is accurate, so that the techniques display the required clarity, strength, rhythm and spirit.

Below are important considerations in the presentation of your techniques:

Power: Power refers to the application of force in technical movements. When performing techniques, the force must be smooth, appropriately soft or firm, with stored energy contained in the fixed postures.

Harmony: Harmony refers to the coordination between hand-work, eye-work, body-work, and foot-work. It is also necessary between the body and the weapon in a form or performance.

Harmony also include the coordination between the upper and lower limbs, the coordination of the eyes and the hands, the coordination of the trunk and the limbs, and the coordination of the body and the weapon.

When performing KF techniques it should be possible to see the correlation between the inner spiritual state and the body movements.

Spirit: Spirit is the expression of the activities of the mind. It is expressed through the face and the eyes. Students are required to apply concentration, and demonstrate clear defensive and offensive objectives. They must demonstrate intent, and display an understanding of the meaning of the martial arts movements. Each movement must display the presence of both ‘ying’- shape and ‘yi’- intent.

Rhythm: Rhythm refers to the control of pace. A rhythmic performance is one with graceful and harmonious rhythm. A performance which is dull and disorderly in rhythm is not good martial arts. Generally speaking, the rhythm of kung fu should be smooth with dynamic and static postures.

Style-ExpressionThe expression should conform with the characteristics of the particular technique of kung fu being performed. The technical characteristics and performing skills should be individually expressed.

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