李洛能 Li Luoneng | |
Other Names: | "Divine Fist Li" |
Birth Place: | Hebei province, China |
Death Place: | China |
Martial Art: | Neijia |
Style: | Xinyiquan Tongbeiquan Gongliquan |
Rank: | Founder of modern Xingyiquan |
Teacher: | Dai Wenxiong |
Students: | Guo Yunshen |
Li Luoneng (1807–1888) was a Chinese martial artist from Hebei. He was also known as Li Feiyu, Li Nengran, Li Laonong, and Li Neng Jang, and was nicknamed "Divine Fist Li". He learned the internal martial art of Xinyiquan (Heart and Intention Boxing) from Dai Wenxiong, son of Dai Long Bang, and later modified the style into Xingyiquan (Form and Intention Boxing).
By 1836, he excelled in the martial arts of Tongbei and Gongliquan.[1] To study Xinyi, he traveled to Shanxi to learn from Dai Wenxiong. Initially, Dai Wenxiong refused to teach the newcomer. Li found a plot of land and started a farm so he could stay in town. He grew vegetables, and every day he would deliver his product to market, but to the Dai family he would deliver produce free of charge. This convinced Dai Wenxiong to accept him as a student. Li Luoneng practiced with Master Dai for ten years, and went on to become one of the best-known Xingyi Masters of his time, as well a popularizer of the art.[2] [3]
Li Luoneng introduced a number of variations to the style he learned from his teacher. He replaced the piguaquan technique, which involves a splitting fist, with a palm strike. He also changed the name xinyi (Heart and intention boxing) to xingyi (Form and intention boxing).[4] Later he had a number of students, the most famous of them being Guo Yunshen. Guo Yunshen was the teacher of Wang Xiangzhai, who later popularized the qigong exercise known as zhan zhuang (post standing).