COMBAT SEQUENCES 1 AND 2: TOP, MIDDLE, BOTTOM, SIDES
When we practice “Pushing Hands” and “Striking Hands” our arms are in contact with our sparring partners. One may ask, “But is this applicable in free sparring or actual combat where combatants normally do not stand close together with arms touching?”
Pushing Hands and Striking Hands are training methods to develop skills and practice techniques. When we have the necessary skills and techniques we apply them in combat sequence training which simulates real fighting.
We have twelve fundamental combat sequences in our Wahnam Taijiquan sparring methodology, which are taught in Intensive Taijiquan Courses and regular classes. In a regional course, there is insufficient time to teach these twelve combat sequences adequately. But instead of teaching only a part of these twelve combat sequences, which would make the training incomplete, these twelve fundamental combat sequences are compressed into eight simplified combat sequences without losing the completeness of combat training.
An extra technique, i.e. a side-attack using “Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens”, is added to off-set the absence of a side-attack in the 12 fundamental sequences. These eight simplified sequences parallel those of Shaolin Kungfu. Hence an added advantage is that Wahnam Taijiquan practitioners can now use these eight simplified Taijiquan combat sequences to practice with Shaolin Kungfu practitioners using the eight simplied Shaolin combat sequences.
Top, Middle, Bottom
The first combat sequence deals with the three levels of attack, namely top, middle and bottom levels. Note the effective use of body-movement in neutralizing, deflecting and countering an opponent's attack.
Yellow Bee Sucks Pollens
Punch Below Sleeves
A swinging side attack of a horn punch is powerful. Instead of blocking it head-on, shift the body backward to avoid its momentum, then brush it away followed by a low vertical punch using the pattern “Punch Below Sleeves”.
Immortal Waves Sleeves
What would you do when your opponent has “tamed” your two hands, and his punch is coming fast into you? An effective defence to come out of this difficult situation is just to move one step back.
Continuing to Another Sequence
This video clip shows how an initiator continues to another sequence after completing the first sequence. In other words, he initiates two sequences continuously, one after another.
Practicing the stage of Continuation
Participants practice a progressive stage of our sparring methodology called “Continuation”. The two sequences run together smoothly as if they were one long sequence.
Spontaneous, Fluid and Forceful Movements
In the foreground Sifu Jeffrey of Australia practices the stage of “Continuation” with Sifu Robin of England. Notice that their movements are spontaneous, fluid and forceful.
Solo Training of Combat Sequences
Here is the solo practice of the first two combat sequences used in continuation. When students have acquired the required combat skills and have experience of sparring with a live partner, such solo training of combat application is very useful in promoting combat efficiency.
Same Techniques but Different Skill Levels
Can you recognize what combat sequences they are using? In the foreground is Sifu Robin. Although the techniques are the same, you can easily notice the vast difference of skills between Sifu Robin and other participants.
Combat Sequences 1 and 2 -- Top, Middle, Bottom and Sides from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.
LINKS
Wahnam Taijiquan Training from Basics to Free Sparring
- Part 1 — The Secret of the Internal Force Masters
- Part 2 — Cloud Hands: From Chi Flow Movements to Patterns and Sets
- Part 3 — Developing Combat Skills in Pushing Hands
- Part 4 — Practicing Combat Techniques in Striking Hands
- Part 5 — Applying Kicks, Throws and Grips in Striking Hands
- Part 6 — Combat Sequences 1 and 2: Top, Middle, Bottom and Sides
- Part 7 — Combat Sequence 3: Pressing Attacks and How to Defend against Them
- Part 8 — Combat Sequences 4 and 5: Thrust Kick, Side Kick and Whirlwind Kick
- Part 9 — Combat Sequence 6: Felling Opponents with Carrying Tiger Back to Mountain
- Part 10 — Combat Seqeences 7 and 8: Chin-Na or Gripping Attacks and their Defences
- Part 11 — The Eight Simplified Combat Sequences of Wahnam Taijiquan
- Part 12 — From Guided Sparring to Free Sparring in Wahnam Taijiquan
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