The 7 stars. References the seven forms, when occupy one trigram there are seven remaining. There are different types of forms, some are focusing mainly on the stepping, other forms highlight the body method. Some forms have strategy as the main component. While occupying one trigram you take from that system and, in a way, stack the forms elements on top of of your base or the currently occupied trigram. This in turn creates a hexagram in our combined use of the trigrams. Let’s go into some detail on these forms.

“Interlocking” this is the first form (unless the occupied trigram) and from the Qian/heaven trigram. This is about tightly linking the moves together but also has a strong element of striking down (from heaven) onto the opponent. Interlocking without a break in either the technique or use of force so as to leave no openings for the opponent to utilize. This is accomplished through the use of overwhelming and continuous force. Like a blitz. So interlocking forms are borrowing mainly a strategy but also personality from the Chen trigram Lion system.

“Moving with the force” is taken from the Kan/water trigram. With this strategy you do not directly resist against the opponent but use his strength to your advantage. Smoothly following and even sticking to the opponent. You can move with your opponent’s force, but you can also move with your own force. For example, your hand can move with your foot (as in hand/foot harmony) to add force to your strikes. Soft and following are both good examples of moving with techniques. Following is directly following the opponent, leading them out long into emptiness and then attacking when they are over extended and uncomfortable. Soft attacks are more proactive than following, they initiate by applying a force to the opponent and then following the reaction with some element of transforming or guiding it ever so slightly to a more favorable outcome. These forms are more strategy focused.

“Turning the back” is from the Gen/mountain trigram. It essentially is utilizing the skill of “snatching victory from defeat” by turning a loosing position into a winning one. These forms usually either make use of the literal turning of the body so the back or shoulder strike the opponent, or when the opponent is moving towards one’s back (angling off far to one’s side) instead of chasing the direction of the opponent you instead turn to meet them from the other direction. Essentially turning into their advancing movement. Usually this turning the back is to meet the opponent who is advancing to your back side, and it is accompanied with level a level change. A lowering and sliding under the presumed attack to the back of your head (your most vulnerable point) you then attack low, often targeting the bladder or groin. Another element often emphasized with this form is the withdrawing footwork. Withdrawing the feet is used to draw the opponent in, it is an entering method essentially, but often with an angle change. You can use a withdraw step to draw the opponent directly in or you can withdraw to angle off to the side. Withdrawing can also place the feet in advantageous positions to utilize leg technique such as trips and kicks. These forms can be said to work in body method, footwork, and strategy.

“Holding & Lifting” comes from the Zhen/thunder trigram. This form is focused on controlling the opponent through holding or pinning, and rising or lifting the opponent’s center of gravity so as to make it easier to bully your opponent with throws and strikes. When their balance is not optimal, simple strikes can have more devastating results. Pressing down on, pinning, or capturing the opponent with the arms “holds” them in place. When you press down onto the opponent they will instinctively resist in an upward direction, move with and lift the opponent up off their root, thus stealing their balance and then you can easily attack their footing. Shaking/shocking is a quality of thunder and quick changes in direction and force can help to steal their balance and trick the opponent into reacting in a detrimental way. ‘Lifting and holding’ forms fall under more of a strategy like the “moving with” and “interlocking” forms.

“Windmill” is from the Xun/wind trigram. More of a strategic use of the hands in a combined way not completely unlike interlocking, but with different emphasis. The wind is penetrating and continuous, in this way the combined hands of the windmill forms are relentlessly in their speed and cooperation. The whirling of the waist and body is also used to get full use of nimble stepping and dominant positioning on the opponent. The strategy here is on combined use of the hands (like the blades of a fan) with an emphasis on speed and as well as utilizing position with the feet.

“Lying step” is from the Li/fire trigram. Like the flickering of a flame the hands should be fast and destructive, the footwork is long and deep, body is dodging and elusive. The stepping is evasive and the body is moving out of harms way. Like withdrawing stepping a lying step can be used to change angles and advance in on the opponent but primarily the stepping is used as an evasive measure to avoid the opponents strength. Where kan/water is full, hard, and strong internally while displaying and smooth/soft exterior; li/fire is the reverse. Li is hollow on the inside while strong outwardly. These mismatched trigrams are quite complex. The Li trigram or “lying step” forms are more concerned with stepping and a dodging body method.

“Reversing the body” is of the Kun/earth trigram. The earth represents extreme yin and docility, moving with the opponents strength. Like “turning the back” except reversing can also be done to the front, reversing from left to right, or from high to low. When using reversing to turn the back often the strike favored is not a low blow but a higher attack. Such as a spinning back fist or elbow. To say that reversing the body is like turning the back or moving with the force would be wrong, because kun is the mother trigram it is gen and kan that are borrowing qualities from kun. But the similarities are there. These forms are using body methods as well as a strategy.

“Squatting/Enfolding” belongs to the Dui trigram Monkey system. Stepping the feet together and squatting are often utilized in these forms. Dropping in height and enfolding the arms, and striking down or inward are reoccurring themes in these forms. Once squatting an explosive rising back upward is often employed, after enfolding inward striking outward is the natural follow up, in this way there is a bit of a reversing going on, as well as a ducking, and moving with. Multiple elements are combined from some of the previous forms. Mainly enfolding is a body method, you enfolding the body, you squat down with the body. But it could also be said that it is emphasizing a stepping method as the rear foot is brought up along with as you squat down.