Video Clip Series: Basic Wahnam Taijiquan Combat Sequences

BASIC WAHNAM TAIJIQUAN COMBAT SEQUENCES

Sifu Wong and Sifu Robin demonstrating Taijiquan combat application form the Basic Combat Sequences

Taijiquan is an internal martial art. By definition, it means that not only is Taijiquan effective for fighting but also that its practitioners use internal force in combat. Hence, Taijiquan practitioners by using internal force can be relaxed yet very powerful while fighting, and they can be fighting for some time without feeling tired or panting for breath.

When many Taiji practitioners today do not even know the combat application of the forms they perform in solo practice, it is understandable that many may find it hard to believe this is possible. But to deride that internal force is fake or that Taijiquan cannot be used for combat is insulting to generations of Taijiquan masters before us, whose manifestations of internal force such as being graceful yet very powerful even at old age and whose combat efficiency using typical Taijiquan patterns are recorded in Taijiquan literature still extant today.

Participants at the Taijiquan Review Course of December 2006 reviewed the practice of Wahnam Taijiquan as an internal martial art. The internal force aspect was reviewed through exercises like stance training and energy flow. The martial aspect was reviewed through the Twelve Basic Combat Sequences of our Wahnam Taijiquan as shown in this video series.

As these combat sequences are pre-arranged, it is often asked whether by practicing them one can be efficient in free sparring or real fighting. No, practicing combat sequences by itself is insufficient to be combat efficient. This is a main reason why those who just practice combination sets (commonly called two-men sets), which are sets of pre-arranged combat sequences linked together, cannot apply their kungfu forms for free sparring or real fighting.

Practicing pre-arranged combat sequences is only one of the numerous steps between solo form training and free sparring, but it is a very important step. When one is familiar with the pre-arranged sequences, he proceeds to progressive steps where the fully controlled pre-arranged movements are systematically released until eventually he can free spar spontaneously. In our school, such progressive steps include what we call “continuation”, “modification”, “surprise counters”, “external changes”, and “internal changes”. Or collectively they can be summed up as “subtraction and addition”.

More important than the techniques in the combat sequences are relevant combat skills. The three fundamental skills, which should be mastered even at the solo form level, are form, force and speed. The forms should be picture-perfect, and there should be reasonable force and appropriate speed. Fundamental combat skills at the combat application level are right spacing, right timing, footwork adjustment, instant change and fluidity of movement.

A special feature in our school is fun, even during combat training, which is something many martial artists of other schools find hard to comprehend. Thus, you will hear much laughter in the video clips.

The 12 Basic Wahnam Taijiquan Combat Sequences

Immortal Waves Sleeves
Low Stance Vertical Punch
White Snake Shoots Venom
Green Dragon Shoots Pearl
White Crane Flaps Wings
Striking Tiger Poise
Thrust Kick
Low Stance Single Whip
Black Bear Sinks Hips
Shoulder Strike
Cloud Hands
Carry Tiger Back to Mountain

Please click the pictures or the captions to view the videos

Sequence 1: Immortal Waves Sleeves

Surprising it may be, many Taijiquan practitioners do not realize that body-work, or “shen-fa”, is very important in Taijiquan. It is emphasized right at this first combat sequence. Notice that the both the initiator and the responder make use of body-work, without moving their feet, in attack and defence.