At first students retreat their back leg when applying “Immortal Emerges from Cave” to counter an opponent's “Hang a Golden Star in a Corner”. When they are proficient in this, they can progress to using a more advanced form of footwork where they move half a step backward and half a step forward. This gives some advantages in countering, but is more risky. In this version it is important to have your guard hand ready.

If you make a mistake in your response, instantly change to the correct response. For example, if your opponent executes a left horn-punch but you respond wrongly because you mistakenly judge it to be a right horn-punch, don't freeze. Just change instantly to the correct response. Initially you may hesitate for a second or two, but gradually through systematic training you can make the change instantly.

First, Grandmaster Wong makes a side attack and Sifu Jamie responds correctly. Then Grandmaster Wong tries to trick Sifu Jamie by making a feint move, followed with a real attack. But Sifu Jamie responds correctly too.

There is a Chinese saying that even a young tiger, despite his power and courage, may be unable to match an old fox due to his cunningness. First, Grandmaster Wong pretends to trick Sifu Jamie, and Sifu Jamie responds correctly. Then Grandmaster Wong really tricks Sifu Jamie, and he falls prey to the trick, causing much laughter. Be careful of the old fox.

If your footwork is good, even when you make a mistake or when you have been tricked, you may not be hurt. But you still neutralize the attack even when you may be slower. This is to prevent your opponent from following up with another attack. If he moves his head forward to try to narrow the gap you have created by your moving back, you can strike him.

Moving your hand out at a correct angle is important in executing “Immortal Emerges from Cave”. Students commonly make the mistake of moving the hand out at 20 degrees or 80 degrees instead of at 45 degrees. The hand should be extended out; it is also not necessary to “salute” the opponent.

Adopting a poise pattern in your defence while an opponent attacks, gives you various advantages. When the opponent moves in, you can strike him before he initiates his attack. The Four-Six Stance would be useful in such a situation.

A common mistake many martial artists make while attacking is not covering themselves from possible counter-attacks from their opponent's guard hand. This applies not only at the start of an encounter, but also in the midst of an encounter.

There are some common mistakes in defence. Although the defender has successfully blocked the attack, he often exposes himself in his defence. He also tenses his body, causing internal energy blockage. In his counter attack, he does not close or open the opponent to ensure his own safety first.

Initiating an attacking using high kicks gives away many disadvantages of the attacker to the opponent. The responder may just squart down and pluck the attack's groin, chop his standing leg, or push him over with a shoulder.

Boxers and Wrestlers give away many disadvantages of themselves to their opponents. As a Boxer attacks, you can kick at his groin which is normally unprotected. As a Grappler or Wrestler attacks, you can strike his head or body. These counter-attacks, however, are not permitted by safety rules in these martial sports.

Combat is often a matter of seeking or creating advantages. The attacker and the responder adopt poise patterns for various advantages. The poise pattern provides the initiator the three internal harmonies of jing, qi and shen, or essence, energy and mind, before he starts combat. As he is going to initiate, it is his onus to adjust himself to a suitable spacing for attack.

There are some innate weaknesses if you initiate an attack. To neutralize these weaknesses, you can “open” or “close” your opponent while attacking. But in the example shown here, Grandmaster Wong has purposely left one common weakness not taken care of. Do you know what it is? As usual, laughter is a frequent occurrence in Shaolin Wahnam training.

Many martial artists expose their groin when they move in to attack. They themselves are unaware of this weakness. Their opponents too are often unaware of this free-offer. When your groin is well protected, your opponent may still attack your groin, but he would have to make some footwork adjustment which gives you time to respond accordingly.

You may place your front foot outside his front foot, known as the out-gate approach, but it is difficult for him to kick you because your knee is guarding his leg. You may place your front foot in between his two feet, known as the in-gate approach. You may place it in front of his front foot (not shown here), or kick his front shin when moving in, known as the middle approach.

You must ensure your spacing is correct when attacking. If you are too close, you risk yourself to counter-attacks even before you start your attack. If you are too far, a common mistake made by many students, you cannot reach your target. You should be near enough to strike but far enough to be safe.