Hi Tim,
I read in one of the articles in the pakua journal that you studied some yiquan.

I'm wondering what is your take on the training purpose of the yiquan zhan zhuang and shili (Testing strength)?

Zhan Zhuang initially is the most efficient method of correcting poor alignment, developing correct breathing, strengthening the postural muscles evenly, creating the correct balance between tension and relaxation, developing the kinesthetic sense, developing basic endurance and raising the threshhold for pain tolerance.

The method is so efficient because all possible variables are reduced to a minimum (since you are standing still). The only concern is your relationship to gravity, since the complications of momentum and other external forces are not a concern. It is, therefore, easier to consciously inhibit any bad habits of body use you have acquired.

Shili is used to test the attributes cultivated through Zhan Zhuang in motion, with the added complications of momentum and the ever changing forces acting on the balance.

Zhan Zhuang and Shili are easier for the beginner to adapt unlike any Taiji or Hsingi/Bagua forms with the added complications of postures and the transmission movemements from one posture to another. Shili cuts straight to the root and can help the beginer get a basis of internal movement stuff without the added distraction of remembering complication forms and routines. Zhan Zhuang, Shili and Fali Tui Shou and San Shou are all helping in training your reaction to the action of your opponent.

Hi Tim,
Thanks for your informative post.
The shili on the outside looks like some strange little shaky movements, and it seems to be found in yiquan only.
But then there is a somewhat more mysterious trainig shisheng(testing sound/voice). Can you explain what the purpose is for shisheng?

Since yiquan doesn't have forms, where do they get their fighting techniques from?

Thanks in advance.

Shisheng is (as I understand it) primarily a breathing exercise. The reason a sound is made during the breath is to provide feedback on the force and quality of the breathing (for example, if the sound is "choppy" it shows you are cutting your breath...).

The techniques are created from the combinations of the movements of the shili, fali and footwork.

Shi Sheng is for augmenting strength using breath control and is looked for by practising Shi Sheng (Testing Voice) exercises. Before Shi Shen the breathing was performed in a soft and natural manner. To further aid the body integration and power production, muscles used in breathing (thoracic intercostal muscles, the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles) and muscles of the lower back are used in Fa Li (Releasing Strength) exercises. Voice is used as an external feedback to indicate how breath is used. Later on the techniques are performed in a voiceless manner. If you shout/speak YiYao (yi said soft and slowly then suddenly say Yao fast and hard but all as one word) and breath out breath at same time you can feel the effect on the core, after some training you can feel the effect on your fali/fajing (hopefully it get's better) after some more training you don't no longer need to say or think of saying anything as you've trained thoracic intercostal muscles, the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles to act in harmony with body and mind.