Xiaojia 小架

## Name

Xiaojia 小架 literally translates as "Small Frame", "Small Form" or "Small Structure".
It is also sometimes referred to as Xiao Baji 小八極, literally "Small Baji", and is also known as LaoJia 老架, "Old Frame" as it is the oldest form.

## History

Xiaojia is one of the earliest Bajiquan taolu 套路 (forms) recorded, seen as far back as Wu Zhong 吳鍾, and is thought to be the original form. Originally, Xiaojia consisted of 16 postures, but was later extended to 24 postures, towards the beginning of the 20th Century.

## The Form

This is the fundamental, and generally most taught form in most traditions of Bajiquan, and is used to build foundational structure and basic skills. There is generally a much greater degree of variety between different schools' Xiaojia 小架, than there is in their Danda 单打. Many also have several different Xiaojia 小架.

The form itself features smaller movements and tighter circles, closer in appearance to the applications than the Big Form. The form itself can be performed in various ways for different purposes, ranging from slower more deliberate movements (taking 3-6 breaths for each), to more aggressive and forceful movements, to looser, less strict movements designed to be more like their fighting applications. Though it is the first form that is generally taught, this is the form that you will find that you keep returning to, refining, and discovering new applications of.

## Examples

### Huo 霍

The Huo family has only one Xiaojia form; it is characterised by a higher horse than most, as well as shorter and smaller movements.

### Wu 吴

The Wu Family has 12 versions of XiaoJia in their system, including their LaoJia. Until the time of Wu HuiQing there was only one XiaoJia (called now LaoJia), however, Wu HuiQing made it into 3 separate taolu (called LaoJia1Lu, LaoJia 2Lu, etc.). Later, Wu XiuFeng gradually increased the number from 3 to 12.

Even into the late 2000s/early 2010s, LaoJia1Lu and 2Lu were still commonly taught in Mengcun, with Wu LianZhi was insisting that beginners should learn them. LaoJia 3Lu was, however, lost a long time ago. The modern LaoJia 1Lu is somewhere between the original LaoJia, and Wu XiuFeng's XiaoJia 1Lu. LaoJia 2Lu is a variation with 2 persons practicing face-to-face, much like a Duida, but without any contact.

### WuDang (Long Jin Ju)

The WuDany line, originating from Long Jin Ju, has two versions of the XiaoJia form.

### Wu Tan

WuTan Bajiquan has only one Xiaojia Form. Practitioners describe the characteristics of their XiaoJia as having "low structure, slow pace, emphasis in 'grinding' step development, between each movement hides many details..."

Xiao Jia will also be revisited and evolved multiple times during a Bajiquan students life. All 24 postures have multi- level layers of understanding and applications. It must be performed slowly, meticulously with many breathes per posture, Sometimes with a deeper, low stance. Sometimes it must be done quickly and viciously, Or with combinations and combat applications in mind. Sometimes you need to reflect and focus on the soft side, elements of resting, ying, harmony and flow.

At the highest level of development approximately twenty four postures are held on purpose, making the routine last about twenty four, forty eight, and seventy two minutes. The routine is also played without breaths while movements and postures are executed with fajing. Some of these postures are illustrated in Figures 8A through 8G.

This routine is practiced for three years on a daily basis, three times a day, with at least three sets per session and in conjunction with early spear & strength training.

The technical essentials of the improvement stage are mainly manifested in: following movements up and down, coherent and smooth, clear virtual and actual, and natural breathing. Pay attention to the practice during this period: the cohesion of movements should be coherent, the strength of the movements should be gentle, and the coordination of various parts of the body should be complete. The technical essentials of the training in the free phase are: use mind to conduct, distinguish between the virtual and the real, move the body with the air, unite the strength, fill the charm, and be calm and free. Pursue the perfect combination of mood, spirit and form, unity of internal and external, with both form and spirit. What should be noted in this period is: to be aware of the leadership movement, movement and breathing coordination should be smooth, the movement should be rigid and soft. Practitioners should correct the erroneous concept that pays attention to superficial forms, and try to pursue the highest level of freedom of "intention without effort".

The common problems and corrective methods in Taijiquan practice are described as follows:

1. Stiffness: rigidity or flexibility, mental tension, uncoordinated movements, so the muscles and bones are not loose, and the body is stiff. This is a common problem for beginners.

Correction: First of all, we must start with the looseness and remind the students to relax. Specifically, the shoulders should be loose and the hips should be loose. Special practice one or two movements will experience relaxation. Such as Tai Chi starting style.

2. Shrug performance: Shrug your shoulders upward.

Correction: The shoulders should sink naturally, specifically by shrugging your shoulders upwards, and then loosening them. This is the best way to loosen your shoulders. Do more to understand it, that is, shrug your shoulders.

3. Performance of elbow raising: When doing movements, the elbow is raised too high, without the intention of sinking the elbow.

Correction: The elbow must remain inseparable from the threat, but it must not be pressed. Specifically, you need to be able to release fists under your armpits, loose your shoulders and sink your elbows. Typical example: such as doing a white crane to lighten its wings.

Four, chest performance: open chest is too big.

Correction: The way to solve the problem of over-opening is to talk about the main points and requirements when practicing boxing, specifically by using the tree-holding method in the scale exercises.

V. Concave chest performance: Excessive chest, collapsed waist and shoulder roll forward

Correction: Explain the meaning and method of chest chest. The specific solution is to use the method of leaning against the wall in the scale exercise.

Sixth, bending performance: bending over to protruding hips.

Correction: First of all, we must understand the meaning of Taijiquan. Specifically, you can stand and stand to increase the strength of the lower limbs. When changing, you must buckle your waist. You must pull out the knees and stances.

7. Kneeling performance: When lunging, the front knee is over the toe and the upper body is low.

Correction: Practicing pile skills, pay attention to sinking the hip when lunges, specifically to make a wild horse split mane, the front bow legs must have the meaning of arching, and the back kicks must settle the hips.

8. Crotch tightness: the waist is not flexible, the hips cannot be loosened, and the thighs cannot be recessed.

Correction: Pay attention to loose hips, take the waist as the axis, first let the thigh roots recess and loosen at the waist, especially when changing the center of gravity.

9. Floating performance: the feet are off the ground and relaxed, the air is floating, and the movements are not steady.

Correction: First of all, you should pay attention to the dantian, the buckle angle of the foot should be correct when changing, and the knees should be bent, the waist should be loosened, the waist should be lifted, and the head should be hung when stepping. Specifically, it is a special exercise to draw hips.

10. Bowing and raising the head performance: When practicing Taijiquan, lowering your head, especially when changing, and raising your head when changing is the overall backward.

Correction: First, correctly understand the head hanging, the upper collar of Baihui acupoint, and the gaze under the chin. Specifically, you can punch in the mirror and watch while doing it.

11. Tension performance: stubborn eyes, mouth open, tongue out, mouth stretched, mouth stubborn, frowning, chest tightness, hand tremor.

Correction: First, relax your mind, breathe naturally, and relax your muscles. Practice the single poses specifically, understand the essentials of the movements, and seek from familiarity.

12. Shaking performance: Lean forward and backward, skewed left and right, buttocks crooked.

Correction: First, pull up with strength and use the waist as the axis. Under the guidance of the teacher, practice the jade girl's shuttle style to solve the problem of shaking body.

Thirteen, the performance of the movement is not in place: the movement is not in place, the inner strength is not in place, and the eyes are not in place.

Correction: practice more, specifically by using fixed, single, and combined exercises to experience.

14. Lost eyes performance: eyes do not know where to go, eyes closed or wide open.

Correction: First, keep your eyes away from the third line, specifically, keep your front eye away from the chest line, keep your left eye away from the left line, and go right away from the right line. Press your eyes forward to see farsightedly, and look inward when you retract.

15. Self-satisfaction performance: After practicing for a period of time, I feel that I can do everything. I don't practice seriously and talk boastfully.

Correction: Establish a correct thinking of practicing boxing, be strict and careful, have endless learning, endless art, establish the idea of ​​always being a primary school student, regard Bajiquan as a part of life, persist in learning, researching, and learning knowledge There is no end in front of you.

### Other

Agust Lay (Missing beginning)
Chang YuGang
Chen Xiang 陈项
Fu Wenlong 傅文龍
Li Chun Sam 李俊森
Zhang XuChu

## References

1. ↑ https://kknews.cc/zh-hk/other/ab84qb6.html