Xingyi: 12 Animal Forms

This lesson covers the Chicken Form, which combines both soft and hard techniques.

A reference video of the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Tai Bird, Snake, Bear & Eagle forms.

Use this video to review and practice the Chicken Form. Follow the other forms to familiarize yourself with the upcoming material.

This lesson covers the Swallow Form. This form is one of the most dynamic of the Xingiy animals and requires hip flexibility and leg strength to perform the high to low swooping movement.

A reference video of the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Snake, Tai Bird, Bear & Eagle forms.

Use this video to review and practice the Chicken & Swallow Forms. Follow the other forms to familiarize yourself with the upcoming material.

This lesson covers the Sparrowhawk Form, which focuses on entering tight gaps in an opponent's defense.

A reference video of the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Snake, Tai Bird, Bear & Eagle forms.

Use this video to review and practice the Dragon, Swallow and Sparrowhak Forms. Follow the other forms to familiarize yourself with the upcoming material.

Make a recording of yourself performing the Chicken, Swallow and Sparrowhawk Forms.

Upload the video as an unlisted/private video on youtube.com, vimeo.com, Google Drive, or another free service. Please ensure the video can be streamed! File transfers requiring download will not be accepted.

Send me the streamable link via email: james@eastmountain.ca. I will respond with detailed feedback as soon as I’m able.

Tips for recording video:

• Cell phones are a convenient way to record video. Consider having someone film for you or use a stand. Here’s a video on how to make a phone tripod with just a paper towel roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCF-uPQ4zzo

• If you have an option for setting the video quality, avoid high quality (makes the file size too large). Medium or low quality settings are typically fine.

• Don’t have bright windows or other bright lights behind you. This will turn you into a silhouette. Try to position yourself so that the camera is between you and main light sources.
• Try to ensure you stay in the frame of the recording. Watch that the left and right edges of the frame don’t cut off hands or feet.

• Ideal is to position the camera so all of you, from head to feet, is recorded. But if you don’t have enough room, then please ensure that your feet, legs, torso and arms are in the picture.

• Review the video before you send it. It doesn’t need to be perfect in terms of recording or performance. Just an accurate reflection of your practice to date.

Recording your practice is an excellent way to see your progress objectively. Often students immediately see details they want to correct. It also serves as a reference point that you can return to, letting you see your improvements over time.

This lesson covers the Snake Form, which uses a soft coiling power. This class also includes the first part of a discussion on Xingyi theory and its relation to the Chinese Spear.

A reference video of the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Snake, Tai Bird, Bear & Eagle forms.

Use this video to review and practice the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk and Snake Forms . Follow the other forms to familiarize yourself with the upcoming material.

This lesson covers the Tai Bird Form and continues the discussion of Xingyi Theory and the Chinese Spear.

A reference video of the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Snake, Tai Bird, Bear & Eagle forms.

Use this video to review and practice the Forms up to the Tai Bird. Follow the Bear & Eagle Form to familiarize yourself with the upcoming material.

This lesson covers the Bear Form, the Eagle form and the combined Bear & Eagle Form. It also concludes the dicussion on Xingyi Theory and the Chinese Spear.

A reference video of the Chicken, Swallow, Sparrowhawk, Snake, Tai Bird, Bear & Eagle forms.

Congratulations of learning all twelve animals! Use this video to review and practice all of the Animal Forms.

 Make a recording of yourself perfoming the Snake, Tai Bird and Eagle & Bear Combined forms.

Upload the video as an unlisted/private video on youtube.com, vimeo.com, Google Drive, or another free service. Please ensure the video can be streamed! File transfers requiring download will not be accepted.

Send me the streamable link via email: james@eastmountain.ca. I will respond with detailed feedback as soon as I’m able.

Tips for recording video:

• Cell phones are a convenient way to record video. Consider having someone film for you or use a stand. Here’s a video on how to make a phone tripod with just a paper towel roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCF-uPQ4zzo

• If you have an option for setting the video quality, avoid high quality (makes the file size too large). Medium or low quality settings are typically fine.

• Don’t have bright windows or other bright lights behind you. This will turn you into a silhouette. Try to position yourself so that the camera is between you and main light sources.

• Try to ensure you stay in the frame of the recording. Watch that the left and right edges of the frame don’t cut off hands or feet.

• Ideal is to position the camera so all of you, from head to feet, is recorded. But if you don’t have enough room, then please ensure that your feet, legs, torso and arms are in the picture.

• Review the video before you send it. It doesn’t need to be perfect in terms of recording or performance. Just an accurate reflection of your practice to date.

Recording your practice is an excellent way to see your progress objectively. Often students immediately see details they want to correct. It also serves as a reference point that you can return to, letting you see your improvements over time.

Congratulations on completing this course! This last lesson discusses training to 'go further' and training to 'go deeper'. And how to use these approaches to further your practice of Xingyi.