FROM GROSS OUTLINE TO FINE DETAILS
There is a fine difference in controlling the hands of a Boxer; it may mean he can or cannot counter-attack
Why are most kungfu practitioners today unable to fight a Boxer? It is certainly not because kungfu techniques and skills are inferior. The straight-forward answer is that most kungfu practitioners today have never been trained to fight. Most of them are only trained for demonstration. Indeed, most kungfu practitioners today are unable to fight not only against Boxers but against almost any martial artists who have practiced some free sparring.
The situation has become so pathetic that even some kungfu masters have doubts whether kungfu can be used for fighting! Some of them have discarded kungfu techniques for Boxing. When they teach their students sparring, they do not use kungfu techniques; they frequently use Boxing or Kick-Boxing. And some of them are actually good fighters.
As it has been mentioned often, what other masters and schools teach is their right and privilege, but we in Shaolin Wahnam believe that we can, and should, use kungfu skills and techniques for fighting, and we are ready to disclose how we do so with other kungfu practitioners who share the same philosophy. This series is part of a few series depicting how we use Shaolin tactics and techniques against Boxers. Subsequent series will depict how we use Shaolin tactics and techniques against other martial systems.
For those who are not very skillful yet, we suggest a gross outline of attacking a Boxer using long stances and body-work where we can minimize the Boxer's speed, and using kicks where we have the advantage of longer reach against his shorter jabs. Those who are more skillful may progress to finer points like closing or opening a Boxer's gate, and intercepting or flowing with his momentum. Many examples can be found in this and other series of video clips.
Effective Tactics against a Boxer
As a Boxer attacks, Eugene leans back to execute a side kick, employing the tactic of “long against short”. Having kicked the Boxer, Eugene continues with a series of attack directed at the same spot, employing the tactic of “pressing attacks” to fell the Boxer.
Grandmaster Wong explains that although Eugene's tactics and techniques are good, their application is not good because it contains some obvious weaknesses which an opponent can exploit. He allows the Boxer to move in to counter-attack.
Covering an Opponent Before Attacking Him
It is necessary to cover an opponent before attacking him so as to minimize his chance of counter-attacking. If he moves in, you can respond accordingly according to his movement.
Ready for the Opponent's Next Move
When you have “tamed” or covered an opponent, if he is skillful he still can neutralize it and counter-attack but it would be more difficult. Moreover, due to your control of the combat situation, his alternative moves are limited, so you are ready for his next move.
Pressing an Opponent According to his Flow
James successfully applies pressing attacks on a Boxer. Even when the opponent attempts to counter-attack, his attempts are not successful because James can neutralize them while he continues his own pressing attacks. This is possible when James has understood tactics and techniques and has planned his attack accordingly.
Be Careful of a Skillful Boxer
While James' tactic of covering a Boxer is good, a skillful Boxer can still counter-attack. James, therefore, should press in close to the Boxer while covering.
Wider Range of Techniques in Kungfu
While a Boxer is limited in his techniques, a kungfu exponent is not. A skillful kungfu exponent may turn an apparently hopeless situation to his advantage. Two examples are shown here. These examples, incidentally, reveal how kungfu developed.
Ready with a Sequence of Pressing Attacks
James explains his tactics and techniques in fighting against a Boxer. He closes or tames the Boxer and strikes him with a long strike. Immediately he moves in with a whirlwind kick and follows with another long strike. His main principle is to press into a Boxer giving him little or no chance to counter.
Using Kungfu Strong Points against Weaknesses of Boxing
Grandmaster Wong elaborates on James' tactics and techniques. James prevents the Boxer from striking by taming his elbow, using the tactic of “one against two”. If the Boxer bounces away, James moves in swiftly with a long strike (or a kick). If the Boxer covers his body, James could chop at his head or neck. James uses the strong points of kungfu against the weaknesses of Boxing.
Roeland uses similar tactics against a Boxer. He closes the Boxer's gate and uses long attacks to press against the Boxer whose counters are relatively shorter in range. If the Boxer tries to bounce away, Roeland moves in swiftly to cover the Boxer's retreating space.
Grandmaster Wong first demonstrates how Roeland presses into a Boxer. Then he demonstrates how a skillful Boxer may break Roeland's pressing attack and counter-attack.
A Boxer's Parrying and Counter-Attacking
Instead of moving back when pressed in by an opponent, a skillful Boxer may rotate his waist and use his forearm to deflect the pressing attacks, then counter-attack. Or he may parry or ward of the attacks with his open palm, then counter-attack.
Be Prepared for a Boxer's Strong Points
When his hands are close, a Boxer may rotate his waist to deflect the opponent's taming hands and simultaneously counter-attack. This, in fact, is a strong point of a Boxer. A kungfu exponent must, therefore, be prepared for such counters from a Boxer.
From Gross Outline to Fine Details in Shaolin Kungfu from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.
1. Stances: the Foundation for Internal Force and Combat Efficiency
2. Footwork Secrets for Health, Efficiency and Elegance
3. Moving into a Same Direction using Different Ways to Gain Advantages
4. Picture-Perfect Forms and Flowing Movements
5. From Random Fighting to Patterns, and from Patterns to Sequences and Sets
6. One-Step Sparring to Develop Combat Skills
7. From Pre-Arranged Sparring to Guided Sparring
8. Using Techniques and Tactics in Sparring
9. The Five Basic Kicks
10. The Secrets of Side Kicks and Continuous Cannons
11. How You may Defeat Opponents Experienced in Random Free Sparring
12. How Would a Fragile Girl Counter a Powerful Sweeping Kick from a Muay Thai Fighter?
13. Shaolin Felling Techniques and their Defences
14. Safety First Before Executing Felling Techniques
15. From Combat Sequences to Free Sparring
16. Sixteen Combat Sequences and Five Kungfu Sets
17. Surprise your Attacker with a Counter-Attack
18. Working out Ways to Fight a Boxer
19. Effective Tactics and Techniques against Boxers
20. From Gross Outline to Fine Details
21. Exploiting Advantage to Clinch Victory
22. Variety of Kungfu Techniques against Boxers
23. Analysis of Techniques Used against Boxers
24. Using Shaolin Kunfu against Boxing in Free Sparring
25. Effective Shaolin Tactics and Techniques against Kick-Boxing
26. Shaolin Kungfu against Kick-Boxing in Free Sparring
27. How to Handle a Karate Exponent
28. How to Handle a Taekwondo Exponent
29. How to Handle a Wrestling Exponent
30. Understanding the Typical Attacks of Muay Thai Fighters
31. Grandmaster Ho's Secrets in Countering Muay Thai Fighters
32. First Avoid Defeat, Then Secure Victory
33. Counteroing the Elbow and Knee Attacks of Muay Thai Fighters