DIFFERENT WAYS OF TURNING

Shaolin Tantui

Grandmaster Wong demonstrates using the mid-point as reference for turning



You may be surprised that to enhance combat efficiency, many considerations are involved when you turn from one direction to another. In other words, if you wish to turn from the front to the left, it is not just turning from the front to the left.

The most obvious factor is direction. Suppose you are facing north. When you turn left, you will be facing west. There are eight major directions which correspond to the compass points, namely north, south, east, west, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west.

Another consideration is leg-mode. Suppose you start with your left leg in front and complete your turning still with your left leg in front. This is referred to as left-to-left. If you complete with your right leg in front, it is left-to-right. You may also turn with right-to-left or right-to-right.

The point of reference for your turning can be your front leg, a mid-point between your two legs, or your back leg. They are referred to as front-point reference, mid-point reference and end-point reference.

You may move to a new direction by turning your body clockwise or anti-clockwise. This turning movement should not be confused with your leg-approach, which may be yin or from inside, yang or from outside, straight.

By an interplay of these factors — direction, leg-mode, reference-point, turning movement and leg-approach — you can have a variety of turning from one direction to another. At high-level combat, choosing a right mode of turning can make a big difference between victory and defeat.


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

Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na
North to West
North to West
Left to Right

Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na
End-Point Reference
End-Point Reference
Mid-Point Reference

Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na
Mid-Point Reference
Mid-Point Reference
Mid-Point Reference

Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na Shaolin Chin-Na
Front-Point Clockwise
Different Approaches
Different Approaches


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

Various Ways of Turning in Shaolin Kungfu from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.



Tantui Course at UK Summer Camp 2007


Other reviews of Tantui courses held in Toronto and Frankfurt can be found at

Tantui, the Essence of Northern Shaolin

LINKS