We offer classes in Traditional Kung Fu, Sanshou - Chinese Free Fighting, Fitness Conditioning, Qigong Meditation, Thai Kickboxing, Boxing, Grappling, and Yoga.

Gone Fishing

By Ayron Howey

Here in Vancouver once the absence of rain is clearly established locals tend to rush headlong into squeezing in as much outdoor time as they can, I’m guilty of this as well. This shouldn’t mean that your Kung Fu training should suffer. Practice outside, do pushups in the park or sit and meditate in the forest. Kung Fu progress shouldn’t be affected negatively by nice weather. Practice when you can, attend classes as much as you can and you’ll see positive results. See you at the gym!

Xingyi – Five Elements

By Ayron Howey

Pi – Metal- Chopping – Lungs

Beng – Wood – Smashing – Liver

Tzuan – Water – Drilling – Kidneys

Pao – Fire – Exploding/Speed – Heart

Heng – Earth – Crossing – Spleen

The way we train the elements conform to Taoist philosophy which affords us a broader interpretation of the energy inherent in the initial training movements. When you first learn xingyiquan you start with san ti shi and then move on to the elements. The important thing in your xingyi training is to consistently go back to the fundamental movements and experience the elements at their core, which is a manifestation of the energy.

For example, beng’s crushing fist is an example of beng energy…but could you also exhibit crushing energy with another attack? An elbow perhaps? A kick? Xingyi’s philosophy attempts to discern the elemental nature of the universe, are we really, truly confined to beng being simply a vertical punch to the heart? It is this type of small mindedness and limitations that keep traditional kung fu in the dark ages. It isn’t because these styles are antiquated, it’s from poor teaching. The responsibility is on the practitioner to study and learn and embrace the ancient teaching but then to use it in modern times, against modern fighters.

This is what will keep Kung Fu and Xingyi relevant and is the best way to respect the art and carry it forward. The is what we do at our kwoon, we train traditional styles with modern fighting in mind. Xingyi means Form and Mind boxing, but many practitioners’ minds live in the past, which is disrespectful to the art. To train is to study, is to learn is to acquire mastery. True mastery takes time but begins with freeing your mind from the past.

Xingyi (xingyiquan, Hsing I) Form and Mind Boxing”

By Ayron Howey

Xingyi is a systems of martial arts that is generally included in the Internal classification. Tai Chi, Bagua and Liu He Bafa or Water Style are the other styles in this classification. This designation is attributed to Sun Lutang a famous martial arts teacher who died in 1933. Xingyi is based primarily on the Wu Xing or Five Element theory but all includes 12 animal techniques. Legend tells of the famous Song Dynasty General Yue Fei as being the creator but this has largely been discredited. Today we believe the the art originated with Ji Jike in the late Ming era.  Xingyi is a martial art that we at Wuji Systems teach in its entirety, specifically the Hebei branch. We use it for health, fitness and combat. The entire xingyiquan systems is found within our Wuji curriculum. This is a style we believe in. It has been called the oldest of the Internal Arts and seems to be the most fighting focused of the 4. Sun Lutang has a quote that I like very much:

“Before training, there is no thought or intention, no figure or image, no self or others, only Qi exists in the chaos of the body. This state is called Wuji in Xing Yi. Without knowing the principle of inverse motion, people always rigidly adhered to the principle of direct motion nature.”