Yiquan is a Chinese form of martial arts characterized by having no fixed sets of fighting movements or techniques. Instead, focus is put on developing natural movement and fighting abilities through a system of training methods and concepts, which work to improve the perception of one's body, its movement and of force.

Yiquan, meaning "mind fighting art", was created in the mid 1920s out of a desire to shift the focus of training from learning proper forms to the mental activity and creating synergy between body and mind.

All skills and abilities developed through rigorous training are related to excelling during free fighting with the goal of defeating your opponent.

Yiquan was created in the mid 1920s by Chinese xingyiquan master Wang Xiangzhai, who travelled throughout China meeting with masters of various styles of kung fu to compare styles. At the end of his travels he came to the realization that xingyiquan focused too heavily on outer form instead of a true essence of martial arts. He began practicing and teaching this new style of martial arts under the name yiquan, dropping the xing meaning form.

Protective Equipment

In some cases, protective equipment is worn during free fighting.

As the name of the style indicates, training emphasizes mental activity instead of precisely mimicking patterns of movement. Basic training focuses on improving perception of body, movement, strength, and energy, while also focusing the mind through each exercise in hopes of creating better coordination between body and mind. Eventually basic movements like zhan zhuang, shi li, and moca bu are linked together to create improvised forms. Once these techniques are developed, students move on to practice with a partner, tui shou. During the "pushing hands" portion of training, constant contact is kept with the partners arms to make it easier to learn the principles of adapting to changing movements. The next step in training is san shou, or free fighting practice. This portion is divided into stages: first, only attacking with the hands; second, add techniques learned during tui shou; third, low kicks are added; finally, hitting with knees and elbows is allowed.

Duan Shou - fighting techniques, including strikes and kicks.

Fa Li - exercises to develop the use of explosive force

Moca Bu - similar to shi li, but for the legs

San Shou - free fighting practice

Shi Li - slow moving exercises that try to bring the sensations developed through zhan zhuang into movements

Shi Sheng - breathing exercises

Tui Shou - "pushing hands," shi li performed with a partner

Zhan Zhuang - motionless postures that can also be divided into two different types of postures; health postures and combat postures

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiquan
http://www.yiquan-academy.eu/news.php