Video Clip Series: Systematic Training is Essential for Combat Efficiency

SYSTEMATIC TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR COMBAT EFFICIENCY

Systematic training enables you to respond correctly and spontaneously to attacks

Why is it that many kungfu practitioners find it hard to use kungfu in combat? It is because kungfu fighting is not natural, it is an art.

It is easier to fight naturally, i.e. instinctively. In other words, if someone attacks you it is easier for you, if you had not been systematically trained in kungfu combat application, to response instinctively than using kungfu forms. Fighting instinctively is fighting without any art. Fighting in kungfu forms is fighting with an art.

As in any art, to be proficient in kungfu combat requires not only time and effort but more significantly systematic training. If you merely free spar hoping to use kungfu techniques, it is not systematic. It will inevitably result in you fighting instinctively, i.e. without any art.

Our basic combat sequences provide us with basic systematic training to use kungfu techniques for combat. This Special Shaolin Kungfu Course provides advanced systematic training to enhance our combat efficiency. The video clips below record some of these lessons.

Please click the pictures below to view the videos

White Crane against Fierce Tiger

As Dr Damian presses down with “Fierce Tiger Descends Mountain”, Sifu Anthony turns around with a Tiger-Tail Kick. While this is a good counter, Grandmaster Wong says that he can have a better counter without having to turn around. Sifu Anthony thinks for a short while, then comes out with “White Crane Flaps Wings”.

Preparing for Spontaneous Response

Dr Damian thinks for a short while for a counter against Sifu Anthony's organ-seeking kick. Then he pushes away the kick and counters with “Bail Moon from Sea Bottom”. Grandmaster Wong says that a better counter is just to sit back onto a Horse-Riding Stance and strike the kicking leg with “Heavenly Priest Stamps Insignia”. Having gone through this practice, when an opponent executes an organ-seeking kick, Dr Damian can respond immediately using “Heavenly Priest” without thinking.

Preventing a Kick to the Groin

When your opponent is at a False Leg Stance, if you move in with a Bow-Arrow Stance, he may kick at your groin. Not many persons know this or are skillful enough to execute the kick effectively, but a basic kungfu principle is to assume that the opponent is capable. Hence, following the tenet of “safety first”, it would be better to retreat the front leg to a safe position before moving in.

One Movement Instead of Two

Earlier Dr Damian pushed away an opponent's kicking leg and attacked his groin using “Bail Moon from Sea Bottom”. Grandmaster Wong shows that he can still apply “Bail Moon from Sea Bottom”, but instead of using two movements he can use just one movement to deflect the kicking leg and counter-strike his groin at the same time.

Footwork should be Alive

Earlier Grandmaster Wong advised Dr Damian to move the front leg back a step before moving the back leg forward so as to avoid a possible organ-seeking kick. But if the opponent is not near enough to kick, as in this case when Sifu Anthony has retreated his front leg, it may not be necessary to move a step back before moving forward. Hence, our footwork should be alive, not stereotyped.

Embracing Dragon Kick

Sifu Anthony attacks with an organ-seeking kick. Dr Damian counters with “Bail Moon from Sea Bottom”. Sifu Anthony deflects the hand attack with his leg, followed with a toe-kick to vital points at the armpit or ribs, using the pattern “Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily”. It is a good technique, and is called “Embracing Dragon Kick”.

You can view all the videos above by clicking the picture or the caption below

Systematic Training is Essential for Combat Efficiency from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

Grandmaster Wong’s Home Page

Special Shaolin Kungfu Course -- Part 35

16-22 April 2007