Hi Tim,

I'd like to hear your opinion with a problem I have considering Pi Quan. I hope my english is good enough to point out what's puzzling me since some time.
In Pi quan I think the power for splitting comes also as in Taiji from the feet. When starting from Sa ti shi, e.g. left foot in front, the left makes a step forward and the left fist drills up. Now right hand starts to drill up and the right foot steps forward. When the right foot plants on the earth (still unweighted),
the hands turn (weight is still on the left foot).
Now the left foot pushes and gives the weight shifting impuls and at the same time the right hand splits. When the split is done (i.e. the right has met the target) the weight is fully on the right leg. Then there's a follow half step with the left foot and the weight shifts back to the left foot (as I've been told to pretend from being pulled forward and for the chance to make a quick new step with the right foot forward and another split). That's how I always understood teaching.
But while watching different Xingyi-videos with different chinese masters in slowmotion, I think to see, that they start splitting for example with the right when only the right foot is on the earth and the left is definitely in the air (this happens particularly when they do it fast). So my questions are:
1. Have I understood something wrong always and is the power for a right hand split created in the right (instead of the left) foot and how is this done or have I viewed wrong to to cameraperspectives?
2. I also think to see that in fast piquan sequences they sometimes only step forward with full steps (as in walking) and the weight isn't shifted back after every split and there are no half steps all the time.
Have I viewed wrong here also? What is the main reason for the half follow through step and the shifting back of the weight? I've heared that a branch called Dai-family Xingyi don't do this and that they therefore use bowsteps for splitting.

Please excuse if this is a kind of "wild" prescription of my problem - a first try. I'd appreciate some words from you or from everyone who could help for some enlightning here very much.
My best
Hans-Peter

Hans-Peter,
Your description of the mechanics of Pi Quan sounds fairly standard to me. The way we do Pi Quan is to issue the force through the hand as the body (center of mass) moves forward, that is, as the weight transfers to the front foot. The forward momentum of the front hip 'stops' as the front knee comes above the ankle (no further) so the forward momentum rebounds out of the ground and up the front leg out the hand. The effect is like cracking a whip; you need to generate momentum then suddenly stop the movement of the handle so that the force will accelerate at the tip of the whip. I think it is possible to generate this type of force without the half follow-step, but the half step helps to store force for the next movement and makes for a more mobile base. I hope I helped answer your question.

Hi Tim,

thanks very much for your answer. Something instantly clicked in my memory as I've read the sequence with the whip. I remember a Taiji demonstration where the Yang style Single whip was demonstrated with only the left foot on the floor and the rear foot was drawn beside the left foot in a kind of empty stance. Since this seemed very unfamiliar to me I've never worked with it. But now I've done it several times the last hour
and think, if the hook hand sinks to hip level
the Yang style single whip in en empty stance looks very much like the endposition of what you've described for Piquan before the half follow-step. Do you think that my conclusion is too far away from reality or maybe stupid? Or could there be such a relationship between Yang Style Taiji Single whip and Xingyi-Pi chuan (since I've always learned that Taiji is built from more than 18 other martial arts)? Is there anything else in Xingyi comparable with "Single whip" - I mean - is there a Xingyi-Single Whip
in the Xingyi Forms (maybe in the animals-forms)?
Or could these not be compared in your opinion?
I'm afraid that my question maybe is too silly, but I'd really like to discover this subject more deeply.
Thanks
Hans-Peter

I think the concept of generating force like cracking a whip can me applied to a great number of movements in the martial arts (as well as athletics in general, throwing a baseball for example).

7 Jings in Pi Chuan in Hopei - Heng, Nian, Kou, Zuan, Shun, Fan, Pi. The bit of your question is Shun - Fan - Pi. Maybe if Shun attack, Fan restrain. Maybe if Shun restrain, Fan attack - it's choice from one root and 10000 endings - you can whip or you can arrow - this may be reason for what you observe in video. Not set, should be choose freely on appropriate. I hope you have Ji in your style similar to Hopei - from this animal you can maybe see other way. For form you must see position of opponent body - maybe somewhere other than you think first.