Xing Yi Quan is classified as one of the internal styles of Chinese martial arts. Xing Yi is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power that's most often applied from a short range. A practitioner of Xing Yi uses coordinated movements to generate bursts of power intended to overwhelm the opponent, simultaneously attacking and defending.
The most basic notions of movement and body mechanics in the art were heavily influenced by the practice of staves and spears. Inside it says, ' Meticulous and unfathomable, this technique far outstripped ancient ones. After Yue Fei's death, the art was 'lost' for half a millennium. It is more likely though that Ji Jike had created the art based on prior martial arts experience, or passed on an art that had already existed.
Yang Jwing-Ming who is not a practitioner of the art argues that aspects of Xing Yi Quan particularly the animal styles are identifiable as far back as the Liang Dynasty at the Shaolin Temple. Nonetheless, according to Jwing-Ming, Yue Fei is usually identified as the creator because of his considerable understanding of the art as shown in the work The Ten Theses of Xingyiquan , credited to Yue and his cultural status as a Chinese war hero. It ought be noted that in Chinese culture, it is common to attribute the creation of great traditions to legendary individuals.
In such a way, the art of Tai Ji Quan is attributed to the legendary Zhang Sanfeng, and Daoism to Laozi , even though as in the case with Yue Fei, there exists no proof for such claim. Other martial artists and Chinese martial art historians, such as Dan Miller, Cartmell , and Brian Kennedy, hold that this story is largely legendary; while Xing Yi Quan may well have evolved from military spear techniques, there is no evidence to support that Yue Fei was involved or that the art dates to the Song dynasty.
These authors point out that the works attributed to Yue Fei's role long postdate his life, some being as recent as the Republican era, and that it was common practice in China to attribute new works to a famous or legendary person, rather than take credit for oneself. Most practitioners just assume it was written by Dai Long Bang.
