Xingyiquan ( Hsing I Ch'uan)
The Falcon is the seventh of the 12 Animals. The Falcon is a bird of prey, as it folds its wings, enters the woods, pierces the sky, and flips over. The fists are very focused on a straight line, and involve bursting (Wood), pounding (Fire on a straight line), and drilling (Water). The hands sharply change from left to right, and from up to down just like the manner in which the calligraphy for Falcon is written. Additionally, the entire form practiced in one direction emulates the act of writing the character for Falcon.
This Hebei style of Hsing-I Ch'uan (Xing Yi Quan) is organized using 12 Animals that group and teach the martial characteristics of particular actions. Sample Applications from the 12 Animals:
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