The Simple, Versatile Xingyi Pi Chuan

I really like how this guy takes one seemingly simple posture, the "Pi Chuan" or splitting fist and works in so many variations. When you hold the posture still for meditation or strength training, it's called "San Ti", referring to three alignments.

When moving and changing from left to right and back, it's called Pi Chuan:


A very creative use of a seemingly simple posture...

Rise, Drill, Fall, Overturn- Part 2

Above we see Tim Cartmell demonstrating Xingyi's Pi Chuan, or splitting fist.
There's a lot of information in this clip, which includes the rising, drilling, falling and overturning of the palm.
This sequence however, has more to do with unified body movement than just an overturning palm.
Here's what famous author and martial historian Robert W. Smith had to say about Rise, Drill, Fall, Overturn:

"The fundamental tactic- and one the masters practice by the hour- is the same as in Pa Kua: rise, drill, fall, overturn. Twist as you rise and overturn as you fall. Twist as your head pushes up and overturn as your head contracts. Twist while your hands stretch out and overturn while they lower. Twist as your foot goes foward and overturn as it drops in place. Your waist rises as you twist and falls as you overturn. Rise equals go, fall equals strike. Together they mean to strike like a rolling wave. Each part must be clearly differentiated: all must be done like lightning. This is facilitated by keeping the body relaxed until the last instant. A cardinal principle of Hsing-i is that all movements must be done lightly and briskly without the heavy muscular contraction of Karate."

Mike Patterson in Pi Chuan, Splitting Fist