SPEAR COUNTERS AGAINST THE DOWNWARD CHOP AND THE REVERSED SWEEP OF THE BIG KNIFE

Traveling Dragon Thirteen-Technique Spear

Blocking a reversed sweep of a Big Knife, as many people do, is not a high-level response. What disadvantages can you find in this defence?

A Big Knife is both long and heavy. Hence it has the advantages of both length and weight. A downward chop of a Big Knife is therefore deadly. Blocking a chopping attack may result in the blocking weapon being broken, or exposing the defender to other subtle techniques of the Big Knife.

One subtle technique of the Big Knife is a reversed sweep. Many people are caught by surprise by this technique. What spear techniques would you use to counter these attacks from a Big Kni

A picture-series and a video series of the set can be found here and here respectively.

Click the pictures or the captions below to view the videos


“Traveling Blocking the Chop of a Big Knife

When an opponent chops with a Big Knife, many people would block the chopping attack with the spear shaft. This is not a good response. The opponent may use the end of the shaft to flick up at your groin. Moreover, a powerful chop may break the shaft of the spear. How would you counter?


“Traveling Stopping an Opponent from Advancing

Instead of blocking an opponent's chop, a better response is as follows. As he moves in to attack you after he has deflected your shoot, pull back your spear and aim it at him. This would stop him from advancing. If you want to injure him, you can shoot out your spear.


“Traveling Shooting the Spear with Single Hand

If your opponent still moves in to chop at you, despite your pointing the spear at him, you can retreat a step to avoid the chopping attack and simultaneously shoot out your spear with one hand to have longer reach. This is using your spear like a sword. This can be done if the spear is light.


“Traveling Reversed Sweep of a Big Knife

A subtle technique of the Big Knife is a reversed sweep. After deflecting your spear shoot, an opponent may attack you with a reversed sweep, which can catch many exponents by surprise. How do you defend against this attack? Would you block the reversed sweep?


“Traveling Blocking a Reversed Sweep

Blocking a reversed sweep from a Big Knife is a middle-level response. What do you think would be a high-level response? Why is the block only a middle-level response? What do you think your opponent could do if you block his reversed sweep?


“Traveling Circle and Shoot while Retreating

Instead of blocking, a high-level response is to retreat a step, and simultaneously circle the spear round the shaft of the Big Knife to avoid being controlled by it, followed immediately with a spear shoot. This is employing the principle of “advance by retreating”, and is possible because of the lightness and length advantage of the spear.

You can view all the above video clips by clicking the picture or the caption. Click the bottom right corner for enlarged viewing.

Spear against Downward Chop and Reverse Sweep of Big Knife from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

Review of UK Summer Camp 2007 Weapon Course

Traveling Dragon Spear and its Combat Applications

  1. Introducing the Traveling Dragon Thirteen-Technique Spear
  2. The Circling and the Thrusting Techniques of the Spear
  3. Using the Spear against the Butterfly Knives and the Big Knife
  4. Spear Counters against the Downward Chop and the Reversed Sweep of a Big Knife
  5. The Spear against the Versatile Three-Sectional Staff
  6. Circling and Shooting against Various Sweeps
  7. Once you have the Skills, learning Techniques become Fast and Easy
  8. Sharing Secrets of the Spear
  9. The Shoot -- the Most Representative and Most Deadly of Spear Techniques
  10. Learning Various Spear Techniques like Circling, Flicking and Lifting
  11. How would you Counter the Downward Chop of a Big Knife?
  12. Using the Spear like a Dagger or a Staff
  13. The Spear Thrust and the Spear Shoot
  14. Reviewing the first Five Sequences of the Set
  15. Outside-Door and Inside-Door Applications
  16. Covering the Four Corners against All Attacks
  17. Remarkable Achievement at the Weapon Course
  18. Making Flowers with the Spear
  19. Various Ways of Making Flowers
  20. Confusing your Opponents with Variations and Changes in Making Flowers
  21. Learning the Spear Set in just Two Days
  22. The Difference between Patterns and Techniques
  23. The Thirteen Techniques of the Traveling Dragon Spear

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