Pi Quan is first of the five elements. It's beginning stance is identical to San Ti. It corresponds to the lungs in the Wu Xing and therefore belongs to Metal. When Metal is concealed inside, the nose connects to the lungs, expanding and compressing them with each movement.

When you make the Pi movement, and, in fact, when you do any of the five movements, one hand pulls in to the abdomen. This balances the physical movement of the other arm, but it also helps you to draw Qi into your Dan Tian and accumulate it there.

Pi Quan may vary depending on the style, especially in the beginning movements of the form. Some families use large movements drawing the fists to the side of the body while twisting the torso, while others, like ours, are smaller and tigher, bringing the fists down to the Dan Tien while keeping the upper body facing forward.

Song of Pi Quan
The two fists are like embracing and move toward the mouth. The fist is drilling upward the same height as the eyebrows. The latter fist follows closely and connects tightly. The two arms are embracing the sides as high as the heart.

The Qi falls to the Dan Tian following the body movements. Two hands fall together as the rear foot follows. Four fingers are open and the tiger mouth is round. The high and low of the front hand is the same as the heart.

The rear hand is always hidden under the armpit. The tips of the hands, foot and nose are lined up. The little finger is turned upward as high as the eyebrows. The method of the Pi Quan strike is drilling upward. The feet and hands fall together and the tongue is pressing upward. Step and exchange the forms, the Yin palm is falling.

Variations of the Wu Xing

As you can see in the pictures to the left, the basic posture of Pi Quan, which is identical to San Ti Shi, differed slightly depending on the master. The postioning of the hands may have varied, but were always on lined up on the same vertical plane, keeping true to the "Three Points" rule. The width of the gate between the legs also varied, but once again, all three masters stay true to the basic Xingyi principles. All three of these masters were Hebei stylists, and all three performed the fists with in a way that was comfortable and right for them.

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