The Coiling Leverage of Silk-Reeling Energy -- Four Ounces Deflecting A Thousand Pounds
Tai Chi for Basic Self-Defense -- A 4-Step System for Learning to Defend Yourself with Taijiquan

San Ti - How to Practice Xingyiquan's Most Important Stance - Download the Video

By Ken Gullette

Ken Hsing-I 2-25-06 Web
Performing San Ti as part of a Xingyi form at a tournament in 2005.

The most important stance in Xingyiquan (Hsing-I Chuan) is called San Ti (pronounced "Sahn Tee"). It means "trinity" and focuses on three main points:

1. The hip is over the rear heel

2. The front knee is over the forward heel

3. The front fingers are over the forward toes.

Also, more of the weight is on the rear leg (about 70%). Relax your weight and sink. Relax the shoulders. The front hand has the palm forward, aimed at your opponent. Some schools have the palm actually facing forward and some slant it to varying degrees. The rear hand is palm down. The thumb on the lower hand is pointed at the Dan T'ien.

This is an excellent posture for building leg strength. You will find when you start practicing San Ti that your legs are burning after a short time, particularly the rear leg. Switch to the other side and hold it until the other leg burns.

In some traditional Chinese schools, beginning students were required to come to practice and hold this stance -- and learn nothing else -- for months, sometimes years. I'm sure they were SOLID in their San Ti after that.

If you practice this stance a little longer each time, your legs will grow stronger and will give you a good foundation for quality Hsing-I.

My DVD on the Five Fist Postures shows you how to do San Ti.

I also have a short video that teaches San Ti that you can download for only 90 cents. Click the button below to get video instruction of this important basic stance that forms the foundation of "Mind Shape Boxing."

Download and Own the San Ti Instructional Video - Running Time 3:45 

 

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)