REVEALING SECRETS OF PAST TAIJIQUAN MASTERS
By the courtesy of Ogingo Videography, Sabah, Malaysia.
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates a Taijiquan technique against the Shoot
Among the participants of the Sabah Intensive Chi Kung Course and the Sabah Instensive Shaolin Kungfu Course are some who practice Taijiquan. They make use of question-time to ask Grandmaster Wong intriguing questions that have puzzled them.
Grandmaster Wong's answers amaze them, revealing secrets of past masters. Before this the practitioners could only perform Taijiquan as external forms, but within fifteen minutes Grandmaster Wong teaches them how to transfer their newly learnt chi kung skllls into their Taijiquan forms to generate energy flow and develop internal force!
Thousands of Taijiquan practitioners have practiced “Single Whip” with an open palm in one hand and a hook in the other. But what is the hook for? Not many people know. When performing the “li” or “press forward” technique, known as “Push Boat According to Flow” in Wahnam Taijiquan, the left palm is placed at the right wrist. Why is this so? And what is meant by striking with the back leg? You will find answers in this video series.
The wrestling shoot is often used today to fell an opponent. Do you know that there are many Taijiquan techniques to counter the shoot? And do you know that there are many Taijiquan techniques to fell pponents onto the ground? You can also find the answers in the videos.
PLEASE NOTE: You can download the video clip onto your own computer and view them at your leisure. Place your computer pointer at the picture or one of the links, and right click. Choose “Save Target As”. Select the directory or sub-directory where you wish to keep the video clip. Click “Save”.
Performing Taijiquan External Forms
Grandmaster Wong asks participants who have learnt Taijiquan elsewhere to perform their Taijiquan movements the way they used to practice. Some Shaolin Kungfu practitioners also join in the fun, performing Shaolin movements slowly like Taijiquan.
The size of the video clip is 0.83 MB.
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Adding Inner Dimensions to External Movements
Then Grandmaster Wong asks the participants to perform the same movements but this time in a chi kung state of mind. They just enjoy the movements, without thinking of anything, without worrying about their breathing, and without worrying whether their forms are correct or not. They just flow with the movements. It is noticeable that they have added an inner dimension to their performance, and have successfully generated a chi flow. At the end of the performance they can feel some internal force.
The size of the video clip is 1.34 MB.
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The Secret of the Hook in Single Whip
Thousands of Taijiquan practitioners have performed “Single Whip”, but not many know why one hand is held in a hook. Here Grandmaster Wong explains the secret. It is to consolidate the internal force so that it will be exploded out in the other hand. If both hands are in open palms, the internal force will be spread out in both hands instead of being channeled to the palm in one hand with the other hand in a hook as a “brake”. But why is the other hand not held in a fist. It would then tense up the muscles hindering smooth chi flow.
The size of the video clip is 1.44 MB.
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Hook Hand Applied as a Grip
The hook hand in “Single Whip” can also be used to grip an opponent's wrist while striking him with the other palm. It is necessary to lift up the opponent's hand so as to prevent him from striking back.
The size of the video clip is 0.76 MB.
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Holding an Opponent while Attacking Another
The hook hand is used to hold on to an opponent and keep him at bay while attacking another opponent so that the first opponent could not attack you from behind. It is amazing the hook hand in “Single Whip” is so useful but very few people know about it.
The size of the video clip is 1.32 MB.
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Double Dragons Play with Pearl
What is the movement called “Double Dragons Play with Pearl” use for? Grandmaster Wong demonstrates two applications. When an opponent is about to grasp you as in a shoot, you can dislocate his neck. This is a deadly attack; it is quite sufficient just to control the opponent's neck. Another application is to release his holds on your both arms, and hold him or strike him instead.
The size of the video clip is 1.14 MB.
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Why is the Left Palm at the Right Wrist?
When performing “Push Boat According to Flow”, one places his left palm at his right wrist. Thousands of Taijiquan practitioners are doing this, but very few know why. There are some good reasons, and here Grandmaster Wong illustrates one of them. The left hand is used to “tame” an opponent's hands while striking him.
The size of the video clip is 0.86 MB.
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Taijiquan Qin-Na or Gripping Technique
Grandmaster Wong illustrates another combat function of the left palm position on the right wrist in the pattern “Push Boat According to Flow”. It is a qin-na or gripping technique, which can be used to dislocate an opponent's wrist. If he escapes, you can use your left hand to “tame” his front hand and simultaneously strike him with your right forearm.
The size of the video clip is 0.56 MB.
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Black Bear Sinks Hips
What is the function of the “sinking” technique as in the pattern “Black Bear Sinks Hips”? One useful function is to counter a shoot. As an opponent moves in to grab your legs for a shoot, push his head down to your knees with the “sinking” technique.
The size of the video clip is 0.63 MB.
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Felling an Opponent with the Sinking Technique
The “sinking” technique can also be used when an opponent has successfully grasped your legs, or holds you with your arms trapped in between his arms. This video clip shows the counters. Good stance is necessary for an effective application of the technique. In the video clip when an opponent has fallen, it is important to position your legs so that he may not kick at your groin.
The size of the video clip is 1.61 MB.
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Shoulder Strike from the Back Foot
When and how is a shoulder strike used? When an opponent grips your arm and pulls you, instead of resisting, follow his momentum and counter-attack with a shoulder strike as well as a strike at his groin with your reverse palm. Grandmaster Wong explains that the shoulder strike is not executed from the shoulder, but from the back foot.
The size of the video clip is 1.26 MB.
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Tricking an Opponent to Attack
Take note that when you apply a shoulder strike, your upper body is exposed. You may use this as a trap. If an opponent attacks you, grip his arms and pull him down with the pattern “Black Bear Sinks Hips”. As he falls, Sifu Jamie closes his groin with his leg to prevent a deadly attack at it. Seeing this, Grandmaster Wong comments that Sifu Jamie is well trained.
The size of the video clip is 0.77 MB.
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We wish to thank Mr Godfery Kissey of Ogingo Videography, Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia for kindly provideing us with the videos. (Godfery is also a member of our Shaolin Wahnam Family.) His telephone number is 60-88-731788, and e-mail address is godfery@pc.jaring.my.
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
- Allying 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