How We Train
We practice regularly outdoors and under picnic shelters or even trees during rain or snow. Practice starts with a loosely structured warm up which may change depending on what we happen to be working on that day. This is followed by some fundamental neigong exercises and footwork drills. What we practice rotates throughout the year to cover the various aspects of our practice. Be assured that every practice will include a fair amount of fundamental drills (jibengong), partner drills for both developing body method and fighting application and often some pad work to check proper alignment and power generation. Applications cover basic attack and defense for both striking and clinch/grappling ranges. There are a few forms that we train but our emphasis is on developing proper body technique and less on forms. The forms we do train more regularly are two-person forms which help train distance and connection to the opponent.
Our Main Style: Xinyi-Dao
The primary internal martial art we practice is Xinyi-Dao, a system developed by Grandmaster Li Tai Liang. Drawing on his extensive experience in Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Shaolin, and Sanshou, Xinyi-Dao combines elements of these to create a powerful and effective fighting style. However, Xinyi-Dao goes beyond this by distilling internal principles and focusing on the development of the dantian, harnessing its spiraling energy to power every movement.
Grandmaster Li Tai Liang
Grandmaster Li Tai Liang currently stays in the New York area. He spent the formative years of his life in Shanxi province where he learned Xingyiquan and Baguazhang from his father, Li Shiquan. He also learned Dai style Xinyiquan from Wang Yinghai , as well as Baguazhang from Zhang Fungjing (who taught a style of bagua that pre-dates Dong Haichuan). Li Tailiang also later became a closed door disciple of Wang Rongtang (whose bagua descends from Dong Haichuan through Cheng Tinghua. Li Tailiang was selected to join the Beijing Sports University of Physical Education in the Wushu Department to study San Shou and various forms of martial arts, including bagua, taiji, pao quan, western boxing and modern wushu. His instructors included Professor Zhang Wenguang. Li Tailiang developed special expertise in San Shou, winning the National Chinese Martial Arts Competition in San Shou and the National Police Combat Competition. After retiring from competition, he went on to become the first coach of the Beijing San Shou team. He also instructed Chinese Special Police forces and was the head coach for the Shaolin Temple’s San Shou program, as well as having served as the National San Shou Competition’s chief referee. He has published numerous books and articles on martial arts in his native China.
Incorporation of Tang Shou Dao
In 2021, we had the pleasure of meeting Christopher Bates, who joined one of our regular Saturday practices. Afterward, he shared that he was a longtime practitioner of Yizong Tang Shou Dao and a disciple of Hong Yixiang. During the part of the year when he’s in the Seattle area, Chris has been graciously sharing Yizong Tang Shou Dao, as well as other practices he has learned over the years—particularly Bando—with us. Chris continues his training in Taiwan with Hong Ze-han, the son of Hong Yixiang. We’ve incorporated these methods into our regular practice and have found them to be a valuable addition and complement to our Xinyi-Dao training.