Video Clip Series: Employing Sophisticated Kungfu Techniques to Enhance Combat Efficiency

EMPLOYING SOPHISTICATED KUNGFU TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE COMBAT EFFICIENCY

Dr Damian and Sifu Anthony employ advanced techniques and tactics in their sparring

Kungfu has been debased to such a shocking state today that many kungfu practitioners, including some world known masters, think that kungfu techniques cannot be used for fighting! Hence, they use Kick-Boxing or other martial art techniques in their combat.

Of course, kungfu techniques can be used for fighting. We still have extant evidence in text as well as in pictures showing kungfu practitioners in the past used kungfu techniques, and not techniques of other martial arts, in combat. Many of our Shaolin Wahnam members have used kungfu techniques, including proper stances, successfully in real fights. If many kungfu practitioners cannot use kungfu for combat, it is simply because they have not been trained to use kungfu for combat, and not because kungfu itself cannot be used for combat.

In our school, our 16 basic combat sequences in Shaolin Kungfu and 12 basic combat sequences in Wahnam Taijiquan provide the main material for our basic combat training that enables us to use typical Shaolin or Taijiquan techniques for combat. In this course we use techniques from selected kungfu sets, which are more sophisticated than those of the basic combat sequences, to enhance our combat efficiency level.

Please click the pictures below to view the videos

How do you Handle a Powerful Strike?

Sifu Anthony Korahais is working out a special combat sequence using patterns form the Shaolin Pakua Set with the help of Dr Damian Kissey. (Dr Damian's special set is not the Pakua Set but the Shaolin Five-Animal Set.) Sifu Anthony initiates with “Two Steps Pull Boat”, which is a powerful attack. Blocking or intercepting such a powerful attack is not recommended. So, how would you defend against it. Dr Damian provides a good answer. He brushes the powerful attack away following its momentum, and simultaneously counters with a palm strike, using the pattern “Green Dragon Shoots Pearl”.

Advanced Techniques and Tactics

This is a continuation of the previous video clip. Dr Damian hesitates in his responses because he is acting as Sifu Anthony's imaginary opponent using the responses Sifu Anthony has planned, and not using his own responses. Have you noticed that both the techniques and the tactics used in this combat sequence are advanced?

Smoother and Faster Defence

Now Sifu Anthony and Dr Damian go over the patterns one at a time for deeper analysis. Grandmaster Wong recommends to Sifu Anthony that striking the opponent's ribs in this situation is better than striking his upper arm or head. He also recommends to Dr Damian a smoother and faster way to deflect Sifu Anthony's counter-attack.

Amazing Effectiveness of Rotating Waist

What would you do if an opponent presses against your two arms and strikes you at the same time? You cannot release your arm in time and his attack is coming fast. An effective response is to use your waist. Just rotating your waist, without even moving your arms, will neutralize the opponent's press as well as attack.

How were Sophisticated Patterns Invented?

How were sophisticated kungfu patterns invented? They were not invented, but evolved by masters over many centuries as a result of their combat experience. This video clip shows an example of this process. Having worked out some effective counters against various attacks, Sifu Anthony and Dr Damian, like masters in the past, will be more proficient in handling similar situations in actual combat.

Systematic Training Leading to Actual Fighting

Grandmaster Wong demonstrates the footwork involved in subduing an opponent with the pattern “Fierce Tiger Descends Mountain”. Notice that a proper application of this Fierce Tiger pattern can throw an opponent off balance. Having learnt this technique and practiced it well, you will be able to apply it effectively in sparring or real fighting.

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

Employing Sophisticated Shaolin Kungfu Techniques to Enhance Combat Efficiency from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

Grandmaster Wong’s Home Page

Special Shaolin Kungfu Course -- Part 34

16-22 April 2007