Singapore Shang Style Xingyi Quan 新加坡尚派形意拳

“One Horse, Three Treads” (Yi Ma San Jian – 一马三践) is the special footwork within the Advance and Retreat Continuous Fist (进退连环拳) method of Shang Style Xingyiquan. It involves three consecutive pad steps (垫步) where the left foot remains in front while the practitioner “treads” forward three times in rapid succession. Each step should be larger and reach further than the last, mimicking the momentum and speed of a galloping horse. Together with the three distinct continuous actions of snake shaped palm, drilling fist and civet cat climbs the tree, they form the three “Arrows” or the three rapid strikes within the technique of “One Horse, Three Arrows” (Yi Ma San Jian – 一马三箭) is a signature combination technique defined by its relentless, explosive speed.

- Singapore Shang Style Xingyi Quan
15 May 2026

Wishing you a powerful and energetic Year of the Fire Horse in 2026! May the swift spirit of the Horse gallop into your life with strength, freedom, bravery, and blazing success

Li Cunyi was born in Shen County of Hebei Province in 1847. Li studied Xingyiquan under Liu Qilan (1819-1889), who was one of the key disciples of Li Luoneng (Founder of Xingyiquan).

Li Cunyi has been teaching martial arts to the army of Liu Kunyi (1830-1902) in 1890. Li later opened the Wantong Biaoju (Security Logistics Bureau) business in Baoding, also teaching Xingyiquan (both staff and students) during those years.

Li Cunyi joined Yihetuan (Righteous Harmony Society) at the age of 50 in 1900. Li used a saber against the army of the Eight-Nation Alliance during the Boxer Rebellion, and the became famously known as of Single Saber Li.

Li Cunyi has co-founded Wushi Hui (Chinese Warrior Association) in Tianjin City in 1911 which spread the skill of Xingyiquan, this caused Tianjin to become one of the headquarters of Hebei Xingyiquan. Li Cunyi later tough his arts briefly at the Shanghai Jingwu Tiyuhui (Chin Woo Athletic Association) under the invitation of the association.

Li Cunyi resided to his hometown and taught the skills of Xingyiquan in his later years. Li passed away at the age of 74 in 1921.

Li Cunyi’s key students include the ancestors/GM of our Xingyiquan including Shang Yunxiang (1846-1937, Shang Style Xingyiquan), Li Xingjie (1879-1948), Fu Jianqiu (1885-1956) and Chu Guiting (1892-1977).

The essence of Xingyiquan is found through the correct mechanics. It is not just about the shapes of the hands but rather how power can be supported and position can be optimized. This requires the alignment and harmony if the legs, body as well as the intention and spirit. Therefore by practising the santi standing position correctly, it includes feeling that optimal alignment and connection through the body with the earth.

为何有些人练习三体式会出现怪现象

这段时间，有些习练形意拳的朋友来电说：
三体式桩功没少练，没少站，但还是感觉功力不长，内气不旺。

有的说站三体式桩功时，会感到胸闷、气短，眼花，头晕。有的说站桩时会出现抽腹，弯腰，使臂、腿难以控制变形。

这一切的现象都与练功的目的相违，因为练功是要达到以“意”支配周身内外，无一不达，无一不顺，无一不能随心。如有这样那样的现象，都是不懂“桩功三体式”的正确练法所致（拳经云：武艺虽精窍不真，费尽心机枉劳神，不得方法，苦练没用）；必须马上改正，否则继续下去，不但不能养生和提高功夫，反而白白浪费时间，到头来还可能会出现不能自控的程度，必须马上改变。

第一种现象：
1、不明白自己站桩的目的（追求：养生还是技术）。
2、不懂得桩功的正确练法。
3、更不懂“内意”、“内气”的培养和运用了。
第二种现象：
1、改变呼吸方法（由胸式呼吸，改为腹式呼吸）。
2、去掉后天僵拙之力、之意。
3、从轻松、自然、不努气、丝毫不用后天拙力的基础上按正确要求练习，并且要做到“气沉丹田”。
第三种现象：
改变呼吸方法和对“死守丹田”的认知，由死守而改为气沉丹田。

后两种现象一般站桩很少出现，因形意拳养生桩和技击桩有所不同，养生桩架势高些，如按照技术要求去站的话，一般人三分钟就难以做到，不要说“意守丹田”了。这些现象（在一些气功的坐功或站功中会经常出现）这也说明这些人也下了些功夫，值得称赞。不过也可以确定存在这些问题：一、形上架子高，步距小。二、站的意不完全正确。

步子小，由于比较省劲，站的时间长，再不懂的正确的站桩要求，把“意识”死守在丹田才出现这样那样的怪现象，如果欲求形意拳桩功之精髓，必须从轻松、自然、和谐，不努气、不用后天拙力的基础上，把步子再大些（两脚间距，后脚至前脚跟为两脚），后腿再能“落胯”稍蹲些，做到龙折身、三七劲；前臂引伸既要做到沉肩坠肘、小臂里裹，又要引伸到最长限度，还要做到“气沉丹田”，把“意”引申到前手，要注意皮里皮外有什么感觉，这就是气惯稍节，意惯四梢的真谛。

只有这样，气沉丹田，，练练“海底基”，长长“丹田宝”。气惯稍节，力达指尖，又有无穷威力，克敌制胜和发人。才能随练功的时间加长也会增功、增艺，才不会出现“抽腹、弯腰”以及臂腿难以控制的变形。

只有明白正确的站桩练习，才不会由于精神过于集中，“意守（死守）丹田”，以及僵拙和气血不畅而产生这样那样的怪现象。这就是说“气沉丹田”和“意守丹田”是两码事。拳经云“养灵根而静心者是修道，固灵根而动心者是武艺”，这就是说“武艺是固灵根”，灵根就是“丹田”，“气沉丹田”就做到了“固灵根”（丹田养就长命宝，万两黄金不予人），但还要心动，心动就不能死守在丹田，何况“养灵根”还要随着呼吸而变动，（如：大小周天等，总的来说，都是以意引气，随着呼气意的着力点也在变动）。

所谓的气沉丹田就是就是站桩时和发劲时要呼气（逆式腹式呼吸），呼气时就要气沉丹田，这就叫“丹田省气”（“省”念“醒”音），丹田一省气劲就发出来了，这就叫“气沉丹田”。

而站桩时，明白练功方法和目的，再把“意”引到前手，注意前手皮里皮外有何感觉，有的发热，有的发麻，有的发胀，有的有气串，有的关节卡卡作响，这才做到了气惯四肢和梢节，这样练不仅增功增意而且不出毛病，还达到“意、气、力”惯于四稍的威力。灵根也固了，内劲、内气也有了，这就是形意桩功的秘诀。欲求形意拳精髓，前提是必须明白训练方法，否则就是空谈。

M Shang Yunxiang (1864-1937) was born in Laoling, Shandong. He first learnt Gongli Quan with Ma Dayi and then dedicated himself to Xingyi Quan under Li Cunyi. He helped M Li with the Peicheng Security Bureau in Beijing, he was also asked to teach soldiers of the 29th batallion. After the issues with the eight alliances, as rebels Li had to flee and Shang Yuxiang accompanied him. They went to Shanxi where they had talks and exchanges with Che Style Xingyi Quan and Dai Family Xinyi Quan. Martial Uncle Xingyi expert Guo Yunshen also taught Shang Yunxiang directly, as did Li's close friend Cheng Tinghua taught Baguazhang to Shang. As a result, Shang created a very comprehensive system of Xingyiquan which after retiring in his hometown, he passed on the system to the next generation.

Shang was a very practical teacher and demanding high standards from his students which resulted in many injuries during hands on combat exchanges. It is important with Shang's method to emphasize the actual combat within training, whilst relatively short he was a powerful, outspoken, quick tempered man