Combat sequences form the core of our sparring methodology. There are three sets of combat sequences in Taijiquan, namely

• 12 Basic Combat Sequences
• 8 Distilled Combat Sequences
• 4 Abridged Combat Sequences

The 12 Basic Combat Sequences are the most comprehensive, and are taught in Intensive Taijiquan Courses and regular classes. They are distilled into 8 Distilled Combat Sequences, which are taught in regional Taijiquan courses. The 8 Distilled Combat Sequences are abridged into 4 Abridged Combat Sequences, which are taught in short introductory courses.

The 4 abridged Taijiquan combat sequences were first taught at the Introductory Taijiquan Course in Japan from 12th to 14th December 2007, and Portugal from 12th to 14th March 2008.

As Grandmaster Wong is always improving his teaching methodology, the 4 abridged sequences formalized in Portugal are revised to make them more systematic for learning. A major change is made in Combat Sequence 2, where the theme of the sequence, i.e. kicking attack, is made by the initiator instead of by the responder as in the Portugal version. Therefore, now the initiator makes all the four attacks in the four sequences.

Some changes are also made in Sequence 4. In the Portugal version, the responder makies the first chin-na attack using a single-hand grip, and the initiator makes the second chin-na attack using a double-hand grip. This is reversed in the revised version where the initiator initiates the first chin-na attack using a single-hand grip, and the responder responds with the second chin-na attack using a double-hand grip.

In Sequence 2, the responder can move his front right leg backward just in front of his left leg into a T-Step instead of moving it behind his left leg as shown in the video.here. This movement from right mode to right mode is shown in the responder's mode of Sequence 2 here.

The leg modes of the 4 sequences, which enable both the initiator and the responder to experience all the variations, are

1. left-right, left-right
2. left-left, right-right
3. right-right, right-left
4. right left, left-left

Some students may think that all these changes make the 4 Abridged Combat Sequences confusing. This is a negative view. The Shaolin Wahnam view is that this gives our students, especially those who attended any of the Taijiquan courses where the 4 abridged sequences were taught, more opportunities to understand and practice some fascinating variations in kungfu, further helping them to apply these combat sequences for free sparring or real fighting.

The Japan Version and the Portugal Version of the 4 Abridged Combat Sequences are also posted below. You can see how the standard version developed from them.

NOTE: You can download the video clips onto your own computer and view them at your leisure. Enter the webpage (not this one) where the selected video clip can be downloaded. 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”.