What is Shaolin Qi Xing Quan?

Shaolin Qi Xing Quan （Seven Star Fist）, a treasure of Chinese martial arts, originated from Shaolin Temple in Songshan, Central China. It is a fusion of the essence of Chinese martial arts and is known for its combination of attack and defense, rigidity and flexibility. Seven Star Boxing is not only a set of boxing, but also a training and sublimation of the martial artist’s body and mind. It not only carries rich historical and cultural connotations, but is also highly respected by martial arts enthusiasts and researchers for its fierce, powerful and flexible boxing characteristics.

History of Shaolin Qi Xing Quan （Seven Star Fist）

The “Seven Stars” in its name refers to the seven stars of the Big Dipper in the sky and also symbolizes the seven major points of the human body. In the process of practicing, boxing and footwork are closely coordinated, and the movements are robust and powerful, as swift as a shooting star, and as stable as the Big Dipper. Each move and style contains deep philosophical thoughts, emphasizing both internal and external training, and the combination of form and spirit.

The origin of Shaolin Seven Star Fist can be traced back to ancient times and has been passed down by the monks of Shaolin Temple. It combines the wisdom and experience of countless predecessors, and is both an offensive and defensive skill, as well as an expression of the cultivation of the body and mind. This boxing method emphasizes the use of quietness and softness to overcome hardness, and focuses on the cultivation and use of internal strength. In a fierce confrontation, it can wait for movement with stillness and subdue the opponent with the least amount of force, embodying an introverted yet powerful force.

Characteristics of Qi Xing Quan（Seven Star Fist）

• Flexibility and rigidity, internal and external cultivation: Shaolin Seven Star Fist emphasizes “softness in rigidity and rigidity in flexibility” in its power generation, and through internal and external cultivation, it achieves the effect of the whole power from the root, from the waist, and from the tip. The use of this kind of strength makes the Seven Star Fist not only show a strong attack power in actual combat, but also not lose flexibility and change.
• Flexible stance, steady footwork: The stance of Seven Star Fist emphasizes “body like a swimming dragon, steps like flowing water”, through flexible turning, twisting the waist, crotch turning and other movements, together with steady footwork movement, making the fist unpredictable and elusive. This close combination of bodywork and footwork is an important factor that enables Seven Star Boxing to be invincible in actual combat.
• Diversified techniques, rapid strikes: The techniques of Seven Star Boxing are rich and diversified, including punches, palms, hooks, elbows, knees and other techniques, and the strikes are rapid and forceful. In actual combat, the boxer can be based on the dynamics of the opponent, quickly adjust the attack strategy, the implementation of continuous and powerful blows, so that the opponent is difficult to fight.
• Breathing coordination, Qi sinking into the dantian: The practice of Seven Star Boxing emphasizes the coordination of breathing and movement, and through deep and long breathing, the breath sinks into the dantian to strengthen the internal energy. This type of breathing not only helps to enhance the power of the fist, but also maintains physical and mental stability during long sparring sessions.

Cultivation Essentials

• Solid Foundation: Before practicing Seven Star Fist, you need to build a good foundation in martial arts, including waist and leg work, staking, flexibility training, etc., in order to enhance the body’s coordination, strength and endurance.
• Comprehension of the theory of boxing, the heart to understand: in the process of training, we must focus on the learning and understanding of the theory of boxing, to understand the meaning and purpose behind each action, to achieve the heart to understand, in order to truly grasp the essence of boxing.
• Gradual progress, perseverance: the practice of Seven Star Boxing should be gradual, from easy to difficult, from simple to complex, and should not be rushed. At the same time, to maintain the spirit of perseverance, through long-term practice and accumulation, and constantly improve their martial arts level.
• Practical simulation, learning to use: After mastering certain boxing skills, you should actively participate in practical simulation training, apply what you have learned in actual confrontation, test the effectiveness of boxing, and constantly improve your own technical and tactical system.

Applications in combat

Shaolin Seven Star Fist has a wide range of applications in actual combat, both in self-defense and in competitive matches, where it can show its unique advantages. In self-defense, Seven Star Fist’s continuous attacks and flexible stance can make it difficult for opponents to get close to the opponent; in competitive matches, its fierce and powerful punching characteristics and varied tactical combinations often catch opponents unawares, thus achieving victory. Shaolin Seven Star Boxing emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of the transition between attack and defense. In addition, it also focuses on the cultivation of martial virtues, emphasizing that the martial artist should have high moral character and moral cultivation, and convince people with virtue rather than oppressing them with strength.

Summary

As an outstanding representative of Shaolin Wushu, Shaolin Seven Star Boxing not only carries a deep historical and cultural heritage, but also becomes a bright pearl in the treasury of Chinese Wushu with its unique characteristics and combat value. For every martial arts enthusiast, in-depth study of Seven Star Boxing is not only the inheritance and development of traditional martial arts culture, but also the training and enhancement of one’s own physical and mental qualities and quality of will.