BUTTEFLY PALMS AND HIDING FLOWERS ARE EXCELLENT IN COUNTERING FELLING AND GRIPPING ATTACKS
All attacks can be generalized into four categories:
- Striking
- Kicking
- Felling
- Gripping
When you can counter these archetypical attacks, you can counter all attacks. Striking is emphasized in Combat Sequences 1 to 8, kicking in Combat Sequences 9 to 12, and felling and gripping in Combat Sequences 13 to 16.
When you throw an opponent backward using “Fell Tree with Roots”, for example, you also grip his one arm under your elbow as well as his other shoulder with your other hand to prevent him striking you. When you trip your opponent using “Lead Horse Back to Stable” shown below, you grip his leading arm at his elbow and wrist with your both hands.
As you neutralize an opponent's felling techniques, you also neutralize his grips. “Double Butterflies Flying Together” and “Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves” are two excellent patterns to counter grips as well as felling attacks.
The Beauty of the Butterfly Palms
Grandmaster Wong attempts to throw Sifu Jamie to fall backward, but Sifu Jamie neutralizes the attack using Butterfly Palms. This pattern, “Double Butterflies Fly Together”, neutralizes both Grandmaster Wong's grips on Sifu Jamie's arm and shoulder as well as the felling attack.
Perform Each Movement as a Masterpiece
Here is the initiator's mode of Combat Sequence 13 which incorporates the backward felling technique pattern by pattern. Notice that each movement is performed as a masterpiece, not to please spectators but to enhance good health, vitality, longevity and combat efficiency.
From Random Fighting Movements to Kungfu Patterns
Here is the responder's mode of Combat Sequence 13, “Telling Tree with Roots”. The patterns came about as a result of actual combat movements, and kungfu sets came about when patterns and sequences are linked together. In other words, first we had random fighting movements, then we had patterns and sequences, and finally we had kungfu sets.
Smooth Step and Cross Step
When an opponent attacks you with a “smooth step”, which means his leading hand and his front leg are on the same side, you may fell him using “Fell Tree with Roots”. But if he uses a “cross step”, which means that his leading hand and his front leg are on different sides, fell him with “Lead Horse Back to Stable”.
Tripping an Opponent to Fell Him
“Lead Horse Back to Stable” is demonstrated. “Qin-na” or gripping techniques are applied before felling your opponent. The felling technique here is tripping, i.e. placing your leg behind your opponent's leg to trip him to fall over.
Precious Duck Swims through Lotus
Here is a counter against a tripping technique using “Lead Horse Back to Stable”. As an opponent places his leg behind yours, step over his leg, release his grip on your arm and strike him with “Precious Duck Swims through Lotus”.
Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves
Two factors are involved in countering “Lead Horse Back to Stable” -- overcoming the felling technique and overcoming the grip on the arm. Following the momentum of the attack, you circulate your arm to release the grip, using the pattern called “Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves”. You cover the opponent's hands and strike the opponent's dan tian with a level fist or a cup fist.
Combat Sequence in One Smooth Flow
The various attacks and counters are now performed in one smooth flow, forming Combat Sequence 14. Indeed, when you are familiar with the individual patterns, the combat sequence should be performed smoothly and continuously as if the various patterns were one long pattern.
LINKS
Review of the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Sabah in March 2007
- Overview 1 : The Fundamentals
- Overview 2 : The 16 Combat Sequences
- Overview 3 : Are They Performing Kungfu Dance?
- The Basics of Shaolin Kungfu Training
- Fundamental Combat Skills
- Defeat you Hand to your Opponent, Victory you Create Yourself
- Avoiding Disadvantages and Seeking Advantages
- Basic Principles and Tactics of Combat
- Skills derived from Sparring can be Rewardingly used in Daily Life
- Some Secrets in Practicing Genuine Kungfu
-
Various Ways to Move into an Opponent
- Applying Combat Sequences in Sparring
- Linking Sequences to be More Combat Efficient
- The Secrets of Continuous Cannons
- The Mechanics of Continuation
- Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
- Perfecting Forms and Developing Force
- Applying Tactics in Combat
-
Objectives of Form Training in Solo
- Being Fluent in Kicking Techniques before Applying them in Combat
- Using Tactics in Kicking Attacks and Defences
- Different Levels of Sophistication in Sparring and Fighting
- The Legacy of Uncle Righteousness: Secret of Continuous Cannons and their Counters
-
Benefiting from the Experiences and Teachings of Past Masters
- Poetic Patterns Can be Very Deadly
- Moving Back One Step when in Diffiuclt Situations
- Linking Sequences to Form a Kungfu Set
- Felling Techniques in Kungfu are Different from Judo and Wrestling
- Butterfly Palms and Hiding Flowers are Excellent in Countering Felling and Gripping Attacks
-
Let Mercy Flow from the Hands
- Benefits of Solo Set Practice — Combat Sequences 13 to 16
- From Pre-Choice Sequences to Free Sparring
- Applying Shaolin Patterns Correctly and Spontaneously in Free Sparring
- Shaolin Kungfu against Boxing and Kick-Boxing
- Shaolin Counters against Wrestling Shoots
- The Secret of Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam
- Why Shaolin Kungfu is Technically Faster than Boxing
- Shaolin Techniques, Tactics and Strategies against Boxing
- Revealing Secrets of Past Taijiquan Masters
- Overwhelming Opponents with Just One Pattern
- Poetry and Elegance in Effective Combat