Island Physical Culture

The “Warlord Surveys the Battlefield” workshop is extremely comprehensive and detailed. Derek gives freely the key of the whole XinYiLiuHe system, which is the connected body method. The workshop starts off with the Warlord posture, explores the Bear and Eagle shapes and how to connect it all together. There’s enough exercises and material in this workshop to keep you busy for months, if not longer. The material also helped clear up for me concepts I had been struggling with for years. Highly recommended!!!!

Due to the complex nature of Xinyi Liuhe Quan, the workshop could only give glimpses of the style and method. But limiting the workshop to one posture and the surrounding exercises gave it a healthy focus, enabling participants to understand the purpose and meaning of the exercises, and to get a rough idea of the training approach behind the system. I took away a couple of interesting training concepts to use separately or as a point of reference regarding my own Taijiquan practice.

I've been interested for quite some time in Chinese Martial Arts and their body-methods, so I decided to take part in this workshop. The workshop is a good introduction to the principles of XLHQ and its body-method. I really enjoyed the workshop because Derek has a very detailed and structured way of explaning this art. I recommend this workshop for everyone interested in XLHQ who has no teacher nearby or for people that just want get an impression of what XLHQ is about.

This workshop is a nice way to get introduced to the Xinyi Liuhe method that Derek teaches. Focusing only on a few postures and transitions between them allows to grasp how the method focuses on training the tendons and connective tissues through postural alignments and improved joint stability.

Derek has an understanding and the ability to communicate about XYLHQ I have not been able to find any place else. He's explains abstract intertwining ideas like Yin and Yang, Five Bows, the Bear, the Eagle and the Warlord... And rationally relates them to specific body method drills. He's able to communicate specific purposes for his drills, which build methodically onto each other to create specific effects you feel in your body... Training and applying the ideas in this workshop has not only demystified basic Xin Yi Liu He Quan for me, but has helped me with speed, flow, and power in my Five Element Xing Yi Quan too... If you think you have enough fortitude, Derek can teach you how to focus your intent... It isn't easy, but it is simple... Defiantly worth my time, I recommend this workshop 100%

Derek gave an excellent workshop on this basic element of Xinyiliuhequan. The content was well-organized and clearly demonstrated. Derek is well-suited to teach in this on-line format, generously sharing his knowledge and competently addressing a wide range of questions. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.—Tom

I have admired Derek Notman’s videos on FB, Youtube and lately Instagram in recent months….mostly snippets of mobility and movement drills taken from the various internal martial arts he has studied, or, some Indian Club or Mace drills. They all look very smooth, interesting and challenging- but do able- and one can immediately see how these drills can, and should, become part of one’s movement practices. The benefits in exploring and developing integrated body movement needed for higher level practice of Hsing I, Ba Gua and Tai Chi is immediately obvious to anyone with an eye. His own preferred art these days appears to be XYLHQ which he studies with a lineage holder. Having heard him interviewed, it’s clear he’s an articulate and informed mind on these arts and the philosophies that underpin them. He’s an articulate man. I was curious then to see what the first of his online offerings would be and signed up for an introductory workshop ‘Warlord Survey’s the Battlefield’. This seminar of about two hours long is basically exploring a foundation movement in the XYLQ system and he takes us through simply standing with feet together on the spot to establish a vertical line of connection from the sole of the foot to the top of the head…Using the principle of Eagle ( upward ) combined with Bear ( downward/sinking ) movement, he demonstrates and explains a series of movements from point zero standing to the beginnings of moving in the XLYQ system – in a sequence that is essentially progressing from Wuji to the Warrior Survey’s posture and variants of the same. His teachings style is measured and careful- he’s obviously an experienced, confident and measured teacher-doesn’t rush or try to jump around or rush through his lesson...he also can take questions and develop or illustrate his points with extra examples or detail. I’m not particularly interested in learning a new system having plenty of other material to maintain and develop, but, there is much in this workshop to think about and work on- I now begin my sessions with the basic Eagle and Bear concepts and movements in a standing position to groove in the vertical lift of the head and the tilt of the pelvis- something we hear about and think about in the internal arts but can gloss over after a short while. These can be used by any of the internal arts, or indeed for the maintenance of good posture and health. These couple of simple yet profound movements here worth the price of the workshop in my opinion. It is introductory and confined to its particular topic and it’s detailed and good on this. Worth it, yes. I can only extrapolate and speculate that each other module will be as well taught and as detail filled. He is good in front of the camera and has it well placed and seems to know how to use it as a -teaching tool, which can’t be said of all online teachers. There is also a PDF with headings to remind you of the content of the module. While I am not particularly interested in learning more about XYLQ it would not prevent me from sampling other courses of his- in fact, I look forward to seeing what he will put up in terms of his Chi Kung material and his Indian Club work.

This workshop is an enlightening introduction to "internal" physical training. Derek clearly explains how a practitioner can create and experience various internal tension and relaxation sensations that are all but invisible to an outside observer. As Derek demonstrates, it's steady exposure to the opposing tensions contained within the body "shapes" taught that gradually restructure the body so that it can eventually express near-effortless movement and power.

Loved this short course. Detailed, well explained, principles laid out very clearly. If you are unsure at all about the potential of online training then dip your toes in this , you'll be pleasantly surprised

Throughly enjoyed Derek's "Warlord" course. Great level of quality and detail to fuel your solo practice/training. Highly recommend it!