SHAOLIN PAKUA SET

shaolin kung fu

Like a Dragon, the movements of the Pakua Set are fluid and powerful


The Shaolin Pakua Set, which he learned from Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam, has special significance for Grandmaster Wong. It opened for him the wonders of Shaolin combat application.

It is a Shaolin Kungfu set, and is different from sets in Pakua Kungfu or Baguazhang. There are, nevertheless, similarities, like the use of the palms and flowing, powerful movements like a Dragon's.

This Shaolin Pakua Set is relatively unknown. This is logical, as it is an exclusive set. It was the set Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam chose when he taught a Sultan or King.

Just practicing the outward form alone does not contribute to combat efficiency or good health, vitality and longevity. The outward form is just a vehicle, a mean, with which the practitioner uses to generate energy flow and internal force, and to apply for combat.


Please click the pictures below to view the videos


The Importance of Thread-Hand for Combat

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The “chuin sau” or “thread-hand” that Grandmaster Wong shows to Sifu Anthony is very important and useful for combat. You would probably realize that it occurs frequently in our combat sequences. Can you recall some examples?

Yin and Yang in Pakua

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The pattern is called “Z-shape Butterfly Palms”, and it implements a Pakua Palm teachnique. The two palms represent the yin-line and the yang-line in “kua” or “diagram” in the Pakua symbol.

Deadly Techniques of Lion Patterns

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The pattern “Lion Snatches Ball” and the subsequent pattern “Lion Plays with Ball” are deadly techniques. Do you know how they can be applied in combat? Notice the bring back of the ball is not merely with the hands but with the waist movement.

Different Stances for the Same Pattern

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This is another pattern of “Lion Plays with Ball”. Here the False-Leg Stance is used, whereas in the earlier version the Bow-Arrow Stance is used. Kungfu is alive. We need to make adjustments to suit the combat situation. Do you know of combat situations where the Bow-Arrow Stance is preferred, and where the False-Leg Stance is preferred?

Heavenly Priest and Save Emperor

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In the “Heavenly Priest” pattern the fist is hung down from top to bottom. It can be used, among many other uses, to strike an opponent's head if he attempts to bend down to grab your legs. In the “Save Emperor” pattern the strike is from top to side. An important leg technique is embedded in one of these patterns. Do you know what it is?

Revealing the Secret of Embracing-Dragon Kick

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The secret is out. Grandmaster Wong shows the deadly leg technique which past masters kept as top secret. It is called the “phoon loong thuit” or “Embracing-Dragon Kick”. Grandmaster Wong explains that as deadly combat is no longer a reason for kungfu training today, the reason for keeping the secret is also no longer valid.

Sentimental Sequence for Grandmaster Wong

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This sequence of patterns holds sentimental memory for Grandmaster Wong. When he was learning from Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam, during a free sparring session his siheng or senior classmate, Por Kai, used these Double Dragon punches to tempt him to hold. Then his siheng released the grips and strike him with a Fierce Tiger. It was just a gentle tap, but Grandmaster Wong took more than six months to recover.

Various Patterns using the Palms

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You may notice that all the patterns here use the palms, and not the fist or other hand forms. Some martial artists think that the palm is not powerful enough, and they insist on using the fist. This indicates shallow understanding. With internal force, the palm is much more powerful as well as more versatile than the fist.

Some Subtle and Deadly Techniques

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A few subtle techniques are found in these patterns, one of which is demonstrated by Grandmaster Wong. He moves in to grab an opponent's groin. Almost irrespective of how the opponent responds, Grandmaster Wong can still follow through with this technique to grab the groin. A deadly kick is also embedded here.

Organ-Seeking Kick and Nail Kick

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“Yellow Bird Plays with Water” is normally an organ-seeking kick. But here Sifu Anthony Korahais performs the pattern not as an organ-seeking kick but as a nail-kick. In an organ-seeking kick the in-step is used to kick, whereas in a nail-kick the toes are used. When would a nail-kick preferred to an organ-seeking kick?

Kicking Techniques in Shaolin

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There are many kicking techniques in this Shaolin Pakua Set. In this short sequence alone there are three kicking techniques. Do you know them? They are the organ-seeking kick, the tiger-tail kick and the thrust kick. Kicks are very important in kungfu, though some people mistakenly think there are few or no kungfu kicks.

Dragon Characteristic of Pakua Set

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Of the Shaolin “Five Animals” the Dragon is most characteristic of the Pakua Set, The important Dragon pattern, “Swimming Dragon Plays with Water”, which looks simple but is very useful for combat is found here. There are also a sweeping-leg and a reverse sweeping-leg. How would you counter if an opponent with powerful legs sweeps at you. A counter is found amongst the patterns here.

Circular Hand Movement and Unicorn Steps

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Pakua patterns, like a Dragon, is flowing yet very powerful. Notice the powerful, flowing movements of the pattern “Z-Shape Butterfly Palm”. How do you think the circular hand movement and the unicorn steps of the pattern are used in combat?

Famous but Little Understood Leg Techniques

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The famous but little understood tiger-tail kick, executed in the pattern “Lazy Tiger Stretches Body”, is performed twice in this short concluding sequence of the Pakua Set. The other leg-technique, “sou thong theui” or “floor-sweep leg” which is also famous but little understood, requires much skill before it can be applied well. After the pattern “Cannon Punch Towards Sky”, are the patterns “One-Finger Stabilizes Middle Plain”, “Dragon and Tiger Appear” and “Two Tigers at Ready” which are not shown here, to conclude the set.


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

Shaolin Pakua Set from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

LINKS

A picture series of the Shaolin Pakua Set with names of its patterns can be found here


Click here for an Overview of the entire course

  1. Returning to the Basics
  2. Form, Force, Flow and Element of Threat
  3. Reviewing the Basic Combat Sequences
  4. Devising Strategies Using Combat Sequences
  5. Applying Strategies for Effective Combat
  6. Free Sparring with Prescribed Conditions
  7. Combat Sequences to Train Spontaneous Attacks and Responses
  8. Using Strategies and Tactics in Attack and Defence
  9. It is Heartening to see so Many People Using Kungfu in Free Sparring
  10. Felling and Gripping Techniques in Shaolin Kungfu
  1. How Sequence Training and Chi Flow Enhance Combat Efficiency
  2. The Tiger-Crane Set — Manifesting the Hard and the Soft in Shaolin Kungfu
  3. The Dragon-Tiger Set — Crystallization of Two Wahnam Traditions
  4. The Dragon-Form Set — Demonstrating that Softness Can be Very Powerful
  5. Shaolin Monkey Set — Symbolizing Spiritual Path from Cheekiness to Enlightenment
  6. Shaolin Five-Animal Set — Gist of Shaolin Forms and Essence
  7. Shaolin Pakua Set Set — An Exclusive Set Fit for Kings and Generals
  8. Combat Application pf Pakua — Sharing Secrets for Combat Efficiency
  9. Beginning to Learn some Monkey Tricks
  10. Refining Techniques in Combat
  1. Some Examples of High level Combat
  2. Collective Effort for Greater Benefits
  3. Can Sophisticated Kungfu Techniques be Used in Combat?
  4. Skills are usually More Important than Techniques
  5. One-Finger Shooting Zen — the Treasure of Shaolin Wahnam
  6. Raising Levels of Techniques and Tactics in Combat
  7. Bringing Combat Skills to More Sophisticated Levels
  8. Monkey Techniques are Flowing and Agile but can be Very Devastating
  9. Flowing with the Opponent's Momentum
  10. Beware of the Monkey Tricks
  1. Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
  2. How to Raise your Level of Combat
  3. How you can Defeat your Opponents
  4. Employing Sophisticated Kungfu Techniques to Enhance Combat Efficiency
  5. Systematic Training is Essential for Combat Efficiency
  6. Raising Combat Efficiency from Basic to Advanced Levels
  7. Kungfu Philosophy and Swaying Willows
  8. Hands Pave the Way, Kicks to Clinch Victory
  9. Six Harmonies of the Double Tiger Claws
  10. The Amazement and Effectiveness of Monkey Kicks
  1. A Bag Full of Monkey Tricks
  2. Gentle and Flowing, yet Very Powerful
  3. Can your Responses still be Correct and Spontaneous in Real Fights?
  4. Incorporating Kicks into Combat Sequences
  5. Elaborate Patterns to Meet Complex Combat Situations
  6. The Benefits of Understanding and Applying Kungfu Philosophy
  7. Our Kungfu is a Training of Energy and Mind
  8. Ensuring Own Safety when Felling Opponents
  9. The Beauty and Profundity of Shaolin Felling Techniques
  10. Felling Techniques of the Dragon and the Monkey
  1. Felling an Opponent Without him Realizing What has Happened
  2. Pattern Analysis of the Tiger-Crane Set
  3. Tiger Patterns for Chin-Na, Against Kicks and Countering the Shoot
  4. Pattern Analysis of the Dragon-Tiger Set
  5. Revealing the Secret Tactic of Leak Hand
  6. From the Level of Techniques to the Levels of Tactics and Strategies
  7. Pattern Analysis of the Dragon-Form Set
  8. Effective Techniques for Fighting on the Ground
  9. Pattern Analysis of the Monkey Set
  10. Soft Techniques and Internal Force in Monkey Kungfu
  1. Interesting Monkey Patterns that are Deadly for Combat
  2. Pattern Analysis of the Pakua Set
  3. Pattern Analysis of the Five-Animal Set
  4. Variety of Techniques in Shaolin Five Animals
  5. Investigating the Combat Applications of Some Patterns
  6. Similar Patterns but Different Applications
  7. Effective Counters against Kicks, Grips and Knee Jabs
  8. Secrets of Skyward Cannon Punch in Continuous Attack
  9. Cannon Punch Towards Sky and Fierce Tiger Crouching on Ground
  10. Flowing Monkey Techniques against Powerful Tiger Claws
  1. Sophisticated Grips and Sophisticated Counters
  2. Breaking an Opponent's Elbow and Wrist
  3. Neutralizing Wrist Lock and the Three Harmonies
  4. Advanced Chin-Na Techniques and Counters
  5. Two Stories about Kicks
  6. How to Respond to Attacks Spontaneously and Correctly
  7. Can Beautiful Patterns and Flowing Movements be Effective in Combat?
  8. Linking Combat Sequences into a Set
  9. From Pre-Arranged Sparring to Combat Efficiency
  10. Crystalization of Combat Techniques from Past Masters
  1. Hei Sai or the Spirit of Energy
  2. Manifesting the Energy and Spirit of your Form
  3. Manifesting the Spirit of the Form
  4. Kungfu Practice is not just Physical Training but also Spiritual Cultivation
  5. Fluidity of Form, Energy and Spirit
  6. Shaolin Kungfu is Chi Kung and Meditation
  7. Revealing the Secrets of Shaolin Masters
  8. The Profundity of Shaolin Combat Application
  9. It is Easy to Fight against Boxers
  10. Avoiding a Boxer's Strong Points and Attacking his Weaknesses
  1. Some Effective Tactics against Boxers
  2. The Strategy of Not Allowing an Opponent to Escape
  3. The Strategy of Letting Trick Manifesting Trick
  4. The Strategies of Interception and of Striking Form
  5. Standardized Routines of Kick-Boxing Attacks
  6. Some Effective Counters to Kick-Boxing Attacks
  7. Felling a Kick-Boxer when he Kicks
  8. The Secrets of Two Tigers Subdue Dragon
  9. Shaolin Counters against Kick-Boxing and Karate
  10. Some Important Combat Philosophy and Principles
  1. It is Relatively Easy to Handle Karate Attacks
  2. Good Spacing When Executing Kicks
  3. A Variety of Taekwondo Kicks
  4. Effective Shaolin Counters against Taekwondo Kicks
  5. Trapping Legs and Subduing Opponents
  6. Making Expedient Changes to Surprised Attacks
  7. The Legacy of Sigung Ho Fatt Nam — Planting Willow in Front of Camp
  8. Having Fun in Throws and their Counters
  9. Sharing the Secret of Move Stance Change Step
  10. Some Unorthodox Felling Techniques Not Commonly Seen
  1. Felling Opponents with your Stances!
  2. Beware of Monkeys; they are Expert at Plucking Peaches
  3. Sophisticated Footwork and Leg Techniques of Monkeys and Gorillas
  4. Wrestling Throws are Found in Shaolin Kungfu Too
  5. Real Fighting is Different from Martial Sports
  6. Who Says there is no Ground-Fighting in Shaolin Kungfu
  7. An Incredible Secret of One-Finger Zen
  8. Understanding Muay Thai Fighting Strategies and Techniques
  9. Various Strategies to Counter Muay Thai Fighters
  10. Responding to Muay Thai Attacks Spontaneously and Correctly
  1. Avoiding Opponent's Strength and Attacking his Weakness
  2. Effective Ways to Counter Sweeping Kicks
  3. Effective Counters against Knee and Elbow Strikes
  4. Crouching Tiger against Grab Neck Elbow Strike
  5. Shaolin Kungfu for Combat Efficiency, Good Health and Spiritual Development

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