USING TACTICS IN KICKING ATTACKS AND DEFENCES -- OVERVIEW

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

The tactic of "Tempting an Opponent to Attack in Futility and Surprising him with a Surprised Counter"

If all other factors were equal, using hand strikes in attack are more advantageous than using kicks. But in real life other factors are not equal. Therefore, there are combat situations where kicks are preferred.

Moreover, past masters also developed some useful tactics for kicking attacks. In other words, instead of moving into an opponent straight-away to kick, if you plan some preliminary moves to prepare for favorable situations, your kicks will be more effective. One such tactic is called pressing attacks.

You press into your opponent with hand strikes. When he is pre-occupied with your hand strikes, you suddenly kick him. On the other hand, you may tempt him to attack you. As he moves in to attack, you surprise him with a kick. You may allow him to attack you a few times before suddenly counter-attacking.

This video series introduce some tactics useful for kicking attacks and defences.

Please click the pictures or the captions below to view the videos

Pressing an Opponent with Continuous Cannons

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can press your opponent with “continuous cannons”. It is important that you must protect yourself against sudden counter-attacks when you press into an opponent.

Mechanics of Pressing Attacks

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Here are the mechanics of a pressing attack with two continuous cannon punches. This attacking sequence consists of “Black Tiger Steals Heart”, “Single Tiger Emerges from Cave” and “Fierce Tiger Speeds Through Valley”. You repeat this sequence over and over as you press into your opponent.

Surprise your Opponent with a Side Kick

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can press in with continuous attacks, but purposely pause to tempt the opponent to counter. As he counters, surprise him with a side-kick, using the pattern "Happy Bird Hops up Branch". This tactic is called "Tempting an opponent to attack in futility, and suprising him with a counter". It is not necessary to hold the opponent's arm as you kick. If he moves back he may pull you to fall over.

Lohan Strikes Drum

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can counter a side kick with the pattern "Lohan Strikes Drum". This is the tactic of "no-defence-direct-counter" and is excellent against many types of kicks. In some other types of kicks, you may have to use other patterns though the tactic is the same. Use your knucles and not your wrist in his strike, and close your opponent before moving with follow-up attackes.

Using Tactics to Prepare for Kicking Attacks

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Here is Combat Sequence 9, which is called "Happy Bird Hops up Branch", after the kicking pattern. Sequences 9 to 12 introduce various kicking attacks and their defences. They also show some examples of useful tactics to prepare for your kicks, as well as tactics against kicks. Do you know what these tactics are?

Solo Practice of Sequence 9

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Combat Sequence 9 is performed in solo. Solo form practice is an important aspect of kungfu training. Besides other benefits it enables you to be smooth and spontaneous in your combat application.

Practicing the Combat Sequence with Partners

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

After you are smooth and spontaneous in performing the combat sequence, you practice it with a sparring partner. Those not familiar with combat training may say that in a real fight an opponent does not attack in a planned manner. Do you know why this argument is faulty, and that combat sequence practice is a very effective way to prepare you for real fighting?

You can view all the above videos here

LINKS

Review of the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Sabah in March 2007

Click here for an Overview of the entire course

  1. The Basics of Shaolin Kungfu Training
  2. Fundamental Combat Skills
  3. Defeat you Hand to your Opponent, Victory you Create Yourself
  4. Avoiding Disadvantages and Seeking Advantages
  5. Basic Principles and Tactics of Combat
  6. Skills derived from Sparring can be Rewardingly used in Daily Life
  7. Some Secrets in Practicing Genuine Kungfu
  8. Various Ways to Move into an Opponent

  9. Applying Combat Sequences in Sparring
  10. Linking Sequences to be More Combat Efficient
  11. The Secrets of Continuous Cannons
  12. The Mechanics of Continuation
  13. Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
  14. Perfecting Forms and Developing Force
  15. Applying Tactics in Combat
  16. Objectives of Form Training in Solo

  17. Being Fluent in Kicking Techniques before Applying them in Combat
  18. Using Tactics in Kicking Attacks and Defences
  19. Different Levels of Sophistication in Sparring and Fighting
  20. The Legacy of Uncle Righteousness: Secret of Continuous Cannons and their Counters
  21. Benefiting from the Experiences and Teachings of Past Masters

  22. Poetic Patterns Can be Very Deadly
  23. Moving Back One Step when in Diffiuclt Situations
  24. Linking Sequences to Form a Kungfu Set
  25. Felling Techniques in Kungfu are Different from Judo and Wrestling
  26. Butterfly Palms and Hiding Flowers are Excellent in Countering Felling and Gripping Attacks
  27. Let Mercy Flow from the Hands

  28. Benefits of Solo Set Practice — Combat Sequences 13 to 16
  29. From Pre-Choice Sequences to Free Sparring
  30. Applying Shaolin Patterns Correctly and Spontaneously in Free Sparring
  31. Shaolin Kungfu against Boxing and Kick-Boxing
  32. Shaolin Counters against Wrestling Shoots
  33. The Secret of Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam
  34. Why Shaolin Kungfu is Technically Faster than Boxing
  35. Shaolin Techniques, Tactics and Strategies against Boxing
  36. Revealing Secrets of Past Taijiquan Masters
  37. Overwhelming Opponents with Just One Pattern
  38. Poetry and Elegance in Effective Combat

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