How do you generate power from Xingyi footwork?

[atomicpoet]

I've been wanting to ask this question for awhile. After I get proficient enough at Western boxing, I want to take up Xingyi. But there's a riddle about it I cannot seem to solve.

I've spent hours pouring through Xingyi forms, and while It is Fake says the footwork is "pretty basic", I just can't wrap my head around it. Here's a few clips for reference:

YouTube - Xing Yi Quan ( Hsing-I, 河北形�拳 ) 5 Elements and Linking form
YouTube - Xinyidao 4
YouTube - 崔�利 形�拳VS散打 xingyiquan combat

Typically, when I throw a strike, I push off the ball of my back foot for power generation. Yet, with Xingyi, I often see people lift their back foot while striking, then shift stances.

The actual strikes themselves look powerful enough. The question is, how does Xingyi footwork generate this power?

Any insight is appreciated.

[Rivington]

Internally.

[Permalost]

The power generation doesn't look so esoteric- they're hitting straight while moving the body forward.

[W. Rabbit]

I think it's all in the waist... I might be wrong.:iamwithst

[Conde Koma]

The actual strikes themselves look powerful enough.

This is the key. Find someone who can generate more power with xingyi first, then just ask them.

But yeah, it's probably from a combination of twisting the body and lots of specific conditioning.

[MMAMickey]

Typically, when I throw a strike, I push off the ball of my back foot for power generation. Yet, with Xingyi, I often see people lift their back foot while striking, then shift stances.

The actual strikes themselves look powerful enough. The question is, how does Xingyi footwork generate this power?

Any insight is appreciated.

Keeping your back foot on the floor isn't to push through the strike, it's to be able to reset/retreat afterwards. As such, in boxing, taking your back foot off the floor is considered bad technique.

Your power should come from the weight transer as you take a short step forward, as well as the rotation of your core. Your back foot should not be pushing, but able to pivot on the toe.

Quite a few people move their back feet when they strike. Hell, anyone who steps forward to follow up a straight right is doing the same thing.

From what I've seen of xingyi, their power generation is of little difference to boxing (I may be wrong here). But I would recommend you get more experience in boxing before you question power generation any further, as your boxing improves, you'll understand most aspects of striking better.

[Diesel_tke]

Dude, stop sweating Xingyi so much. After you have drilled stiking into your muscle memory through boxing, you won't be able to un-learn how to generate power. You learn a lot quicker in boxing then you would in Xingyi. Watch the body movement and twist at the waste in Xingyi and boxing. There are a lot of similarities.

Don't sweat the foot movement in Xingyi so much. Because in my opinion, foot work in boxing is far superior. What Xingyi does well is generate power while moving forward and closing distance. So you get there quickly and effectively. They also have some cool techniques for striking while moving backward, which I think is one of the few striking arts that does.

But watching 5 element forms on youtube is not going to tell you anything about the art. If you are obsessing about it, just go to a class. Then you can get it out of your system and go back to boxing!

[It is Fake]

But watching 5 element forms on youtube is not going to tell you anything about the art.

Classes.

From what I've seen of xingyi, their power generation is of little difference to boxing (I may be wrong here). But I would recommend you get more experience in boxing before you question power generation any further, as your boxing improves, you'll understand most aspects of striking better.

It Is Fake on Hsing-I, Xingyi, Hsingyi - No BS MMA and Martial Arts


Define footwork because, it must mean something different to me than you guys.

Xingyi has very little footwork when compared to boxing IMO. Then again, the way you two are using footwork, I have no clue what you are referring to.

[MMAMickey]

So, why quote me? I didn't mention footwork.

[It is Fake]

So, why quote me? I didn't mention footwork.

Neither does the thread I posted

I am agreeing with the two posts and giving a thread. Two people mentioned footwork if you didn't, it obviously wouldn't concern you.