Yiquan
/jiːˈtʃwɑːn/noun
A Chinese martial art emphasizing standing practice, relaxation, whole-body coordination, and intention-directed movement.
Did you know?Yiquan was developed in the 1920s by Wang Xiangzhai after he reworked elements of Xingyiquan, placing unusual emphasis on standing meditation and mental intention.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
意
“Intention, will, or conscious mental direction”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
拳
“Fist; by extension, boxing or martial technique”
Early 20th Century
Chinese
意拳
““Intention Fist,” the name applied to Wang Xiangzhai’s developing martial system”
1920s
Chinese
Yiquan
“A reformed Chinese martial art centered on intention, standing practice, and integrated power”
20th Century–Present
English
Yiquan
“The modern English name for the Chinese internal martial art”
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