THE POWERFUL SWINGING MOVEMENTS OF CHOY-LI-FATT
The two powerful arms of a Choy-Li-Fatt master are like two iron rods
Question
Choy Li Fatt has many wide, swinging movements with straightened arms. Can these characteristic movements become technical disadvantages in combat since swinging movements take longer to arrive, telegraph the strike and may leave the exponent vulnerable to certain qinna attack?
-- Sifu Zhang Wuji
Answer
Yes, if all other things were equal, these characteristic Choy-Li-Fatt movements leave the exponent in various disadvantageous positions, like what you have said. If both combatants are of equal skills, the one using these characteristic Choy-Li-Fatt movements would expose himself to the other person, irrespective of the latter's style.
These disadvantages would be aggravated if the other combatant is of a higher level. On the other hand, if the Choy-Li-Fatt exponent is more skilful, and especially if he has powerful arms, he would rain his swinging attacks on his opponent.
I vividly remember teaching "Three Rings Round the Moon" in a Shaolin Tantui class. These "Three Rings" movements are similar to long-range movements of Choy-Li-Fatt. An exponent swings his two strong arms, like iron rods, systematically in high speed at an opponent.
It would be difficult for the opponent to defend himself. If he tries to block a powerful, fast swinging arm, his arm may be broken. Even if he succeeds in blocking or warding it off, the next powerful, fast swinging arm would hit his head or body, followed continuously by non-stop powerful swinging arms.
If the opponent tries to counter with a punch or a kick, the exponent's swinging arms would rain on the opponent's arm or leg as well as head or body. Trying to use felling techniques or qinna would be worse. Continuously swinging arms would rain on the opponent before he could even position himself for the felling or qinna counter.
If the opponent retreats, the exponent would swing his powerful arms, like the blades of a fast-moving electric fan, on him. It is difficult for the opponent, if he is not well trained, to respond to such fast, powerful Choy-Li-Fatt attacks.
Yet, when everyone was overwhelmed by such fast, powerful swinging attacks at the Tantui course, I demonstrated some sophisticated counters, and the attacker had no chance at all to respond. The same techniques and skills can be applied to Choy-Li-Fatt attacks.
On the other hand, a Choy-Li-Fatt master would be able to counter effectively if an opponent tries to exploit such Choy-Li-Fatt swinging attacks. In other words, the Choy-Li-Fatt master would turn the tables around. The secret is body-movement.
In the coming Choy-Li-Fatt course at the Winter Camp, I shall first show how to use these formidable Choy-Li-Fatt movements. Next, I shall show how to counter these formidable movements. Then I shall show how to turn the tables around against the sophisticated counters. It is going to be very interesting.
-- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
Grandmaster Wong shows how to counter the two powerful iron-rods of Choy-Li-Fatt
The above is reproduced from the thread 20 Questions for Grandmaster: Choy-Li-Fatt and Kungfu against Other Styles in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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