Originally Posted by
Xin Yi Liu He
Regarding Dai Xin Yi Chuan in the US, the only people to my knowledge are those affiliated with Xin Yi Dao (Li Tailiang in NY, his son and also in Taigu/Shanxi, Yang Fan Sheng, etc).
I am not affiliated with this school, but are online friends with some of it's members.
Wu Xing Chuan (5 phases, elements), 1st came from Dai style, I heard there is a good possibility that they were formed after San Chuan (3 fists, zuan, guo, jian), but I don't really know for sure?
They are practiced as forms firstly containing various different powers (Jin), but in later represent more principle over form. I have talked to my teacher, Yan Long Chang regarding certain things and he said the movements happen spontaneously, meaning "it" just reacts. Basically there are unlimited variations of the movements if you understand the core principles. To get to this stage is considered pretty high level, for beginners you just learn the movements and in time, things make sense. There is not a lot of emphasis on learning the applications when you start out, there is no 2 man sets, the understanding arrives after much kung fu (hard work).
I would ask my teacher the same question regarding applications maybe 4 or 5 times and each time get a different explanation. I think he just reacts and whatever happens to come out at the time, happens.
JB.