Video Clip Series: Breaking an Opponent's Elbow and Wrist

BREAKING AN OPPONENT'S ELBOW AND WRIST

Applying a chin-na technique of the spiral hand

Two chin-na techniques are demonstrated in this video series, one to break an opponent's elbow, and the other to break his wrist. The patterns used are “Black Tiger Break Flank” and “Technique of Spiral Hand”.

These chin-na techniques are sophisticated and require some skills to apply them well. But once you are skillful in them and apply them on your opponents, they will find them difficult to escape from.

There are, of course, effective counters. Interestingly, in this sequence the second chin-na technique can be used as a counter against the first. It is important that you cover your own safety as you apply your chin-na or any techniques. A number of fine points are explained.

Please click the pictures below to view the videos

Difference between Sparring and Work-Out

Peter and Adam work out some attacks and counters from their Dragon Form Set. They pause often when they do not have a good counter. Remember that this is not free sparring where attacks and responses would be continuous, but a training session where they try to find effective responses to various attacks.

Upward Elbow Strike to Break Arm

As Adam attacks with a punch, Peter counters with an upward elbow strike to break Adam's arm, using the pattern “Fierce Tiger Crouching at Cliff”. Grandmaster Wong explains the fine points in countering such an attack.

Black Tiger Breaks Flank

Grandmaster Wong suggests that Peter could use “Black Tiger Breaks Flank” instead of “Fierce Tiger Crouching at Cliff”. Although it is difficult, Adam is successful in escaping from this formidable attack. Grandmaster Wong reminds him to guard the opponent's elbow while escaping.

Achieving Two Purposes with just One Movement

In the “Black Tiger Breaks Flank” attack, the opponent grips your wrist while striking your elbow. Therefore, it is necessary not only to neutralize the elbow strike but also to release the wrist grip. Grandmaster Wong explains how to achieve these two purposes with just one movement.

Chein See Sau or Spiral Hand

This one movement, known as “chein see sau”, often badly translated as “cocoon hand” but is actually “spiral hand”, not only neutralizes the elbow strike and releases the wrist grip but also fells the opponent onto the ground, otherwise his wrist would be dislocated.

Guarding Opponent's Free Hand

Grandmaster Wong reminds Adam to guard the opponent's free hand while applying the “chein see sau” or “spiral hand” counter, otherwise Peter can strike his ribs or groin. The “spiral hand” is a formidable attack. How would you counter it?

Applying Finer Points in Combat

Even in a simple movement of guarding an opponent's hand, there are finer points. Today, most people may not know about these finer points, but this does not mean we can be careless. On the other hand, precisely because they do not know of these finer points, if we apply these points on them we could defend them easily.

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

Breaking an Opponent's Elbow and Wrist from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit's Home Page

Special Shaolin Kungfu Course – Part 72

16-22 April 2007