MAKING FLOWERS WITH THE SPEAR
"Making Flowers" is an important spear technique
Chinese is an interesting language. If you do not know the language, by merely looking at the dictionary meaning of the words in question, often you do not know their actual meaning. “Khuen Fa” (“kun fa” in Mandarin) is an example. Literally, “khuen” means to tie around, and “fa” means flowers.
But “khuen fa” is a kungfu term referring to a technique whereby you continuously and swiftly swing your weapon around yourself. The speed of your swinging weapon is symbolized as flowers blossoming all around you. For lack of a better term, I would translate “khuen fa” as “making flowers” or “surrounding yourself with flowers”, generated by the fast swinging of your weapon.
“Making flowers” is a general term. There are different ways of “making flowers”, but all of them have the common factor of your weapon spinning fast around yourself. It is not an easy technique to learn, but the video clips and explanations below will simplify the learning process.
A picture-series and a video series of the set can be found here and here respectively.
Please click the pictures or the captions below to view the videos
Open Flowers and Close Flowers
“Making Flowers” may be divided into two broad categories, “Open Flowers” where the spearhead or blade of the weapon moves outward or upward, as in the standard mode of “making flowers” in this spear set, or “Close Flowers” where the spearhead or blade moves inward or downward as in this video clip. The “Cross-Road Metal Spear Set” Grandmaster Wong learned in Uncle Righteousness lineage used this “close” mode of “making flowers”
From Open Flowers to Close Flowers
“Making Flowers” is initially in the “open” mode. Here is how to change it. It is quite simple. Follow the flowing movement as you turn around.
Cross-Over of Hands
The two hands holding the spear should not be too close. The exponent shows the “close” mode in “making flowers”. First he holds the spear with his right hand in front. The “cross-over” of the two hands is on the right side. Then he holds the spear with the left hand in front. Now the “cross-over” is on the left side.
Left-Hand Spear in Open Mode of Making Flowers
The spearman uses the left-hand mode known as “left-hand spear”, i.e. holding the spear with the left hand in front. The “making flowers” is in the “open” mode. The spearhead moves outward or upward. The “cross-over” of the hands is on the right side. This is the standard mode used in this spear set.
Making Flowers with the Spear
The class practices “making flowers” with the spear. It is to the participants' credit that they learn fast and can perform the technique very well. They learn this difficult technique in less than half an hour.
Making Flowers in Bow-Arrow Stance
The class practices “making flowers”. The spear is held with the left hand in front, and the mode in “making flowers” is “open”. The “cross-over” of hands is on the right side. “Making flowers” can be performed in any stances.
First be Familiar with the Movement
The “cross-over” of hands is on the right side as before. Take care that the spearhead does not scratch the ground while “making flowers”. At first you have to be familiar with the movement. Then you can gradually increase the speed.
Systematic Progression in Learning
Next, move in the False-Leg Stance. The other modes are the same, i.e. left hand in front, “open flowers” and “cross-over” of hands on the right side. Such systematic progression is a secret of effective learning, as is evident from the video clip.
From Open to Close
In the next systematic progression, the spearman shows how to turn around and change the “open” mode of “making flowers” to a “close” mode. Such systematic and progressive training not only enable the class to learn fast but also to be comprehensive in their training. All important aspects of “making flowers” are dealt with.
Open to Close, and Open to Open
Having learnt how to change from an “open” mode to a “close” mode, now the class learns how to continue with the “open” mode after turning around. The mechanics involved are shown clearly slowly. What advantages can be obtained from the different modes?
Smooth Transition in Continuing or Changing Mode
The mechanics involved in continuing the “open” mode of “making flowers” after turning around is demonstrated again. Regardless of whether you continue with the same mode or change into the other mode, the transition must be smooth.
The size of the video clip is 0.85 mb.
You can view all the videos above by clicking the pictures or the captions below
Making Flowers with the Spear from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.
Review of UK Summer Camp 2007 Weapon Course
Traveling Dragon Spear and its Combat Applications
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Introducing the Traveling Dragon Thirteen-Technique Spear
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The Circling and the Thrusting Techniques of the Spear
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Using the Spear against the Butterfly Knives and the Big Knife
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Spear Counters against the Downward Chop and the Reversed Sweep of a Big Knife
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The Spear against the Versatile Three-Sectional Staff
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Circling and Shooting against Various Sweeps
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Once you have the Skills, learning Techniques become Fast and Easy
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Sharing Secrets of the Spear
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The Shoot -- the Most Representative and Most Deadly of Spear Techniques
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Learning Various Spear Techniques like Circling, Flicking and Lifting
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How would you Counter the Downward Chop of a Big Knife?
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Using the Spear like a Dagger or a Staff
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The Spear Thrust and the Spear Shoot
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Reviewing the first Five Sequences of the Set
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Outside-Door and Inside-Door Applications
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Covering the Four Corners against All Attacks
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Remarkable Achievement at the Weapon Course
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Making Flowers with the Spear
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Various Ways of Making Flowers
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Confusing your Opponents with Variations and Changes in Making Flowers
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Learning the Spear Set in just Two Days
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The Difference between Patterns and Techniques
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The Thirteen Techniques of the Traveling Dragon Spear
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