WHICH STYLE IS MOST SUITED TO FIGHTING WITH BOXERS?
What kungfu techniques would be most effective against the fast strikes of a skillful boxer?
Question
Are some styles of Kung Fu more suited than others to fighting with Boxers? If so, which ones and why.
-- Kevin, Shaolin Wahnam Ireland
Answer
Yes, if all other things were equal, Choy-Li-Fatt is most suited than other styles to fighting with Boxers. It is because Choy-Li-Fatt techniques and footwork are excellent in overcoming Boxing techniques and bouncing about.
As most martial artists today fight like Boxers regardless of what styles they practice, Choy-Li-Fatt is an excellent choice if one wishes to be combat efficient. He must, of course, learn from a competent teacher. Unfortunately, most kungfu teachers today either only teach solo practice for demonstration or fighting like Boxers.
We shall have a better idea why Choy-Li-Fatt is more suited to fighting Boxers than other kungfu styles if we examine some examples of how different kungfu styles typically respond to Boxers' attack and defence.
When a Boxer jabs, a typical response from a Shaolin practitioner is to ward off with a Single Tiger. Even before the Shaolin practitioner can make contact, the Boxer would have pulled back his first jab, and thrusts another jab. If the Shaolin practitioner attempts to ward off the second jab with a second Single Tiger, the Boxer would have thrown a right cross, followed by a rain of punches on the helpless Shaolin practitioners. The shifting from one False-Leg Stance to another, or from a False-Leg Stance to a Bow-arrow Stance by the Shaolin practitioner is also too slow for the bouncing of the Boxer.
On the other hand, the Shaolin practitioner using typical Shaolin strikes would have difficulty attacking a Boxer. If he attempts to strike a Boxer using "Black Tiger Steals Heart", the Boxer would just parry away his punch with one hand, and hit his exposed head with the other hand. When the Shaolin practitioner tries to withdraw into a False-Leg Stance to avoid the Boxer's strike, the Boxer would bounce in with a rain of hits on the Shaolin practitioner.
The scenario with a Taijiquan practitioner is similar. As a Boxer throws a jab, a Taijiquan practitioner would typically respond with warding off, using "Immortal Waves Sleeves". The Boxer would withdraw his first jab, and throws a second jab, against which the Taijiquan practitioner would try to ward off with another "Immortal Waves Sleeves". The Bower would follow up with a rain of hits on the helpless Taijiquan practitioner.
Similarly, using typical Taijiquan patterns, a Taijiquan practitioner would have difficulty attacking a Boxer. If the Taijiquan practitioner attacks with typical Taijiquan palm strikes and finger-thrusts, the Boxer would just parry them away, followed by crosses, hooks or undercuts, which a Taijiquan practitioner may not be accustomed to.
Indeed, these are the main reasons why many kungfu practitioners could not match Boxers, and also why they discard their kungfu techniques and fight like Boxers.
Does this mean that kungfu is no match for Boxing? Unfortunately, the answer is yes -- for most kungfu practitioners today. Otherwise they would not perform kungfu only in solo demonstration, but discard it when sparring and adopt Boxing techniques.
But for those who have a wide understanding of kungfu philosophy, skills and techniques, the answer is no. They will choose those skills and techniques that are most suited to overcome Boxers. This is what we are going to do at the Kungfu against Other Styles course during the 2012 Winter Camp.
The big problem for most kungfu practitioners is that there are so many skills and techniques to choose from, and they do not know what to choose. In fact many of them do not even know the difference between skills and techniques. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that typical kungfu patterns which they normally practice are not suited to fighting Boxers.
The situation with Choy-Li-Fatt is different. Typical Choy-Li-Fatt patterns are suited to fighting Boxers and other martial artists! This means that Choy-Li-Fatt practitioners do not need to choose from hundreds of techniques those techniques that are most suitable; they just use their typical techniques!
But they still need combat skills and need how to use the techniques for combat. If they don't, if they only perform the techniques for solo demonstration, they will still be bashed by Boxers and other martial artists. Acquiring the skills and learning how to apply the techniques for combat are what we shall do at the Choy-Li-Fatt course during the 2012 Winter Camp in Norway.
Meanwhile, let us examine how a Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner would typically respond to a Boxer's attack. Please bear in mind that while knowing the philosophy (as explained below) is the first important step, one must practice and practice to be able to apply the response effectively.
Instead of warding off a Boxer's jabs as in Shaolin Kungfu and Taijiquan, a Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner would strike his arm against the Boxer's jabbing arms. Would the Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner be hit by the Boxer's jabs if he does not defend against the jabs? No, he won't; his body-movement and footwork would have avoided the Boxer's jabs while he simultaneously strike the Boxer's arms.
If the Boxer attempts to move forward to rain blows on the Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner, the Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner would retreat a step and simultaneously rain blows on the Boxer's arms or body. If the Boxer tries to bounce away, the Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner would move in swiftly to rain blows on him.
The interesting point is that the same technique can be used for attack or defence. Indeed, the attack and defence run together harmoniously.
The two arms of the Choy-Li-Fatt practitioner are like two iron rods. If an opponent attacks, he uses his rods to strike the attacking arms. If the opponent retreats, he uses his rods to strike the opponent's arms or body.
-- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit
The above discussion is reproduced from the thread 20 Questions for Grandmaster: Choy-Li-Fatt and Kungfu against Other Styles in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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