Kung Fu Training

Your kung fu training should be consistent and practical.

A saying goes that it is not the system that makes the art it is the fighter.

That means it requires vigilant practice.

Depending on which kung fu style you practice the fighting fundamentals are the same. Note your range, have a strategy for attack and play to your strengths while exploiting your opponent’s weakness.

Your style should have specific techniques for this.  The animal styles can have their origins traced back to the Shaolin temple and where formed by the monks observations of how animals moved and behaved. From the monkey..feisty dynamic and quick sharp moves, to the snake slithering and smooth sideways moves.  There is also the drunken style which you may have seen in many a kung fu movie..not sure what was being observed there.

Many of these styles have become more symbolic in today’s terms. Where fighting needs to be more direct and explosive.  A lot of the forms that the traditional styles teach are quite elegant and the practitioners very talented in their execution.  However in practice may not be very effective.  As they overemphasise some movements and are too focussed on elegance rather than a direct conflict.

Also they can be quite complicated to learn .. My preference is wing chun training as it emphasises a direct line of attack to your opponents and is strictly a fighting style in its philosophy.  The forms are rather dull to look at, however when put into practice:  meaning quite brutal..—Eye strikes, throat chops and broken limbs.. are the usual wing chun targets.

The biggest advantage is that it is relatively easy to learn, the concepts are basic and very practical.. Once you understand the form and theory of the system you can put it into practice and feel comfortable with it in a relatively short time. 

However don’t expect to be Bruce Lee overnight.  It takes time and diligence as mentioned earlier.  Also remember it is not the art that makes the fighter, it is the fighters use of the art that makes the real martial artist.  So next time someone says this kung fu is better than that think twice about listening to what they have to say.  Sure some styles are more effective. But a half assed martial artist with the best system will always loose to a determined focused opponent who has never studied martial arts.

Some food for thought.

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Tai Chi is an ancient martial art, one that was practiced for centuries in China as an exercise, a martial art, and a way to improve the internal flow of energy in the body.  It emphasis correct form and feeling with each and every movement, which is why it is always taught to be practiced in a slow and gentle fashion. It is known as a soft kung fu training style.

By involving the entire body with little to no impact, Tai Chi promotes strength, flexibility, and stamina.  With the entire body being taught to move as a whole, Tai Chi cultivates the link among the mind and the body, helping to enhance ones coordination and balance.  It can also help with the joints as well, especially if an individual is very stiff in the joints.

Although it was developed to be a martial art, it involves very little striking, offensive, or even defence techniques.  Tai Chi is a movement and breathing art that works all of the major muscles and joints in the body, helping to circulate internal energy, or chi.  The Chinese believe that internal energy, or chi is what prevents or stops diseases.

When practicing the art, the body will remain very soft and relaxed, just like it was suspended from the top of the head with the joints being similar to that of a puppet.  The mind of the student is focused on each movement, focusing on the flow of energy.  By being relaxed and focused, you allow the energy to flow through your entire body.

Even though you are soft and relaxed, you are still constantly moving.  The energy that flows through your body never stops, it keeps you moving.  When you move in reality, it takes little to no energy to make a movement.  By using your chi, everything you do seems as if it is weightless.

In combat, the Tai Chi student uses his opponents energy against him.  The stylist is very relaxed, believing that the energy of the opponent can be used against him.  There is little to no strength involved.  When the opponent becomes weak and tires himself out – the stylist attacks.  This way, there is very little energy left for defence or even attacking.

Tai Chi is one of the oldest styles of martial arts, and one of the hardest to find these days.  Just like other martial arts, such as Tiger Claw and Ninjutsu, it can be very hard to find a dojo that teaches the art.  If you can find a dojo that teaches the art of Tai Chi, you really shouldn’t pass it up.  It can teach you a lot about internal energy and your spiritual well being – learning more about yourself than you ever thought possible in the process.

In Kung fu training one of the most popular styles surround the 5 animal forms of Kung Fy.  They are also known as the Kung Fu fist forms, the 5 animals of Kung Fu are known all across the world, and are some of the deadliest martial arts you can study.  There are other specific fist styles in Kung Fu, although none of them are as powerful or as well known as the 5 animal styles.  As the name implies, these forms were derived from the animals in which they got their names from.

The Dragon Claw

The Dragon Claw is very well known, with the Chinese believing that this style comes directly from the ancient dragon.  This style uses an open hand technique that is used for controlling the opponent through grabbing and throwing.  Using an open hand technique, stylists may also use the fingers to poke as well.  Dragon Claw is very fast, very hard to defend against – and nearly impossible to predict.

The Leopard Claw

The Leopard Claw style utilises a half opened fist.  The ideal striking method with Leopard is the ridge of the hand, which is formed by folding the fingers towards the palm of the hand, with the palm being the backup or secondary striking method.  Leopard Claw is very fast as well, and very lethal if the stylist has enough technique and power behind his strikes.

The Tiger Claw

Tiger Claw uses an open hand movement that is used for tearing and grabbing.  Tiger Claw is the most well known of the 5 animal system, and also one of the most well known forms of Kung Fu as well.  It isn’t affected by simply grabbing and gripping with the hand, but from the digging of the fingernails deep into the skin.  Once the fingernails have been embedded in the opponents skin, the Tiger Claw stylist can shred the skin right off the bone, tearing the opponent apart.  Tiger Claw is very powerful – and one of the deadliest forms in the world of martial arts.

The Snake Head

Snake Head resembles the attack of a snake in combat, using an open hand technique which requires the fingers to be held together tight, fully extended.  The tips of the finger form a very hard surface, used to attack the softest and most vital areas of the opponent.  In order to be effective, both hands need to be used together at the same time.

The Crane Beak

Crane involves the fingers being pressed together tightly, forming a striking surface at the base of the stylists fingertips.  Although the fingers can be conditioned to a high level of strength, most attacks using the Crane technique are focused towards the most vital areas of an opponent.

The 5 animal styles of Kung Fu are very popular, and very deadly.  Martial artists that know any of these forms are very deadly – and more than capable of defending themselves against anything that comes their way.

By far the biggest secret weapon in your Kung Fu Training is Chi Kung.  It is not widely known or explained what impact this has on kung fu.  Here I write a brief explanation on how it is at the heart of ANY kung fu or martial art.

Chi Kung is closely connected with Chinese martial arts. Before 1950, when Chi Kung  was taught exclusively  the disciples only, it was common for the general public to think of it as some sort of advanced internal kung fu training, whereby the expert would injure his opponent without leaving any external mark, or take punches and even attacks with weapons without sustaining any injury. Since the 1980s, however when the health aspect of Chi Kung began to be taught many people have begun to think that it has nothing to do with martial arts!

Which of these two views is correct?  They are in fact both right and wrong.  Some types of  chi kung allow the practitioner to  break bricks with their hands and head,  are specifically for fighting and maybe detrimental to their health if the training is not done properly. On the other hand, most medical Chi Kung exercises are specifically meant for curing illness and promoting health and appeared to have no connection with martial arts. Hence the view that martial arts and chi kung are mutually exclusive.

But if we understand them more deeply, we understand  it they can be complementary, helping each other to achieve a special purpose. A training program of martial arts and chi kung usually includes exercises to promote health. For example for going 10 days or jabbing their hands into sand to strengthen their hands and punches, trainees must first practice Chi Kung exercises that make them healthy and fit and protect their hands (and rest of their body) by covering themselves with  Chi as well as clearing away any  injury that is  sustained during training.

So you see se Chi Kung and  Kung Fu are intertwined and have elements that both complement and enhance the other. 

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In previous posts I mentioned the role tournament training & fighting has in your kung fu training development.

Now so we are clear this is quite different from sparring.  Sparring is mainly for training- learning and being experimental with new techniques.

Where in a Tournament the sole purpose is Competition, Competition competition.!!  Its on like donkey kong.

Your first tournament is going to be your hardest so here a re a few tips to get over that first hurdle.

There’s a saying.. “How do you get to Carnegie Hall??.. The answer Practice!!”

To be successful in your first tournament the number one piece of advice I can give is to practice.  This is the role sparring plays.  Your foundation is your fitness. You will learn that just holding your arms up after a period of time and nothing else is tiring in of itself.  So you must have your conditioning and stamina u to speed.  I was stupid enough to think I wouldn’t get past my fist round fight, so I didn’t need to be too fit.. I was wrong .. I Won!  and was out of breath for my next fight and go beaten.

This practice lets you test different techniques you can use during your competition.

When sparring its important ht you focus on your opponent and block out everything.  Condition your yourself to focus on your opponents’ movements.  This should be your mindset going in and during the fight.  

This way when you are ,actually fighting you  have blocked out all other distractions: ..the crowd, the judges, referee other competitors  and just focusing on your opponent  You have blocked everything out.

This may sound a little out there  but the habits you develop in training will transfer to into the ring.  

Finally the biggest obstacle to overcome is your mindset.  It is common to be nervous before a competition- however it’s not OK for it to control your ability to perform,. Here is what I did to overcome those pre fighting nerves.

Visualisation: yes ..may sound hokey but I visualised what it would be like.  But just imagination is not good enough. You need to put emotion into it.  Visualise you are with your opponent let that fear enter your body ..Just gently.. feel those nerves ..feel what it would feel like, see what you would see hear what you would hear…try and make it as real as possible.

Then imagine that fear reducing, like an imaginary dial imagine it just reduces and feel more confident and confident.. remember this is an exercise in imagination and visualisation.  Continue to feel more confident.  If you are stuck on this,  imagine a  time where you felt really confident,  a time where you overcame a difficulty and use that feeling to regain confidence.

Do this often and you will associate your fighting with a confident positive demeanour.

Well those are the basics to it.  But nothing can replace a bit if work and plenty of fun. You will see your confidence in your kung fu training soar and your learning grow and develop to a whole new level.

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Best way to stop any attacker!!!

 When confronted with an attacker the first thing to be aware of is not to panic. Easier said than done. Right.  The best thing you can do is as you become aware of a dangerous situation is to keep your distance from the danger.  If it’s a person, weapons whatever it may be.

However if that person is hell bent on causing you trouble. You are going to have to defend yourself. 

 In this situation the best thing you can do is use the   your opponents strength against them.  Don’t try and match their force and get into a wrestling match with them, you will want to back away and strike at your opponent.

You can see from this example that the fundamental principle s not o use force against force. You are using the momentum of your opponent to put them off balance, weakening their position and exploiting this.

You should always assume that your attacker is bigger, stronger uglier and even better than you in a fight, that way you don’t take anything for granted and never under estimate your opponent.  In this video you see the use of weapons being defended against.  I leave with this last tid bit and advanced super secret technique to defend against knives, sticks and most weapons.  If you your attacker has them ….run!  

You don not get bonus points for disarming an attacker—there is little ups and all down. If you have the opportunity do a Usain Bolt. However if you are boxed in a situation where it is unavoidable – then you will need to focus and put your training to use.  That is why practice is so important. You can stuff up many time in a class..indeed its encouraged for learning…however you only get it wrong once on the streets.

Technorati Tags: horse stance, Kung fu, kung fu fight, Kung Fu Style, Kung Fu Trainin

Kung fu is one of the most well known examples of traditional Chinese culture. It is probably one of the earliest and longest lasting sports which utilize both brawn and brain. The theory of Kung Fu is based upon classical Chinese philosophy. Over its long history it has developed as a unique combination of exercise, practical self-defense, self-discipline and art.

The beginning of Chinese Kung fu probably started long before history was recorded. Kung fu techniques were discovered or created during the long epoch of continuous conflict between human beings and animals, or between different tribes of humans themselves. From these battles, experiences were accumulated and techniques discovered which were passed down generation to generation.

Chinese Kung Fu can trace its origins back some 4000 years to 2674 BC, when Emperor Huang Ti of China used a rudimentary form of martial arts called Chiou Ti as a form of individual combat and military tactic. At that time people use cudgels to fight against wild beasts. Gradually they accumulated experience of self defense. When Shang Dynasty began, hunting was considered as an important measure of Kung Fu training.

During Shang and Zhou Dynasties, kung fu developed to be a kind of dancing. Usually the dancing of Kung fu is utilized to train soldiers and inspire their morale. During Zhou Dynasty, Kung fu dancing was designated as a component of education. The application of wrestling techniques at the battlefield received much attention from various states during the period of Spring and Autumn. At the same time, the skill and technology of sword forging as well as sword ceremony achieved rapid development. In Qin and Han Dynasties, wrestling, swordplay, and kung fu dancing were very popular. The application of spear play in Han Dynasty reached its summit along with the appearance of many other techniques of spear usage.

During Tang dynasty, Kung fu became part of the examination process for the imperial courts. All officials and soldiers were required to pass some sort of Kung fu test before being promoted. Excellent candidates would receive titles and awards through the examination, largely propelling the development of Kung fu. By then kung fu had evolved to be an artistic form and an independent genre. It was gradually introduced to many countries in Southeast Asia. Today Kung Fu was honored as the ancestor of kickboxing, karate, aikido, and judo.

Song and Yuan Dynasties witnessed the climax of Kung fu development. Kung fu permeated society, as agile performers displayed their skills in the street. Practice of Kung Fu by civil organizations became more and more popular. Some organizations centered on the use of spear play and cudgel, and they were called Yinglue Organization; while others majored in the practice of arching and therefore called Arching Origination. Besides, there appeared another genre called Luqi People. They made a living as performer of martial arts all over the country. Usually their performance was carried out by a single person or two persons as a pair.

Chinese Kung Fu achieved larger development in Ming and Qing Dynasties. In Ming Dynasty, a lot of genres came into being and numerous books on Kung fu were published. In Qing Dynasty, the ruling empire banned the practice of martial arts. In 1644, the Manchurians invaded mainland China and replaced the Ming Dynasty with the Qing dynasty. The Shao Lin Temples ,which had great influence in the growth of Kung Fu, became hives of revolutionaries. In order to counteract the threat from these insurrectionists, the Manchurians destroyed the Shao Lin Temples. The inhabitants of the Temples fled, and in this way Kung Fu knowledge was spread. And the folk also set up various clubs or societies to pass down feat secretly. Qing Dynasty is the times of integration among different Kung Fu genres. Wrestling techniques were introduced into Kung Fu, facilitating the improvement and mature of martial arts. This period is the shed between genres for appreciation and those for actual combat.

The end of the Qing Empire and the beginning of the Republic generated renewed interest in the Kung fu. Practicing kung fu was seen as being in the national interest because it helped strengthen both the body and the mind. In modern times, Chinese Kung-fu was first introduced abroad to the United States by Chinese-American Kung-fu master Bruce Lee, whose agile movements in a series of his great movies swept American audiences off their feet. Thanks to the giant influence of the American movie industry, it soon swept across the world. The entire globe was enchanted by the magic act, starting the upsurge of interest in Chinese Kung-fu. From then on, Chinese Kung-fu learners can be found everywhere. Now, Lee’s followers, Jacky Chan (Cheng Long) and Jet Lee (Li Lianjie) carry the baton pushing themselves to novel heights.

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Wing chun training is probably the best know of the kung fu styles. Mainly due to the exploits of Bruce Lee.

Legend has it that it took all the elements of the other kung fu systems and took all the best bits and left out the inefficient moves.  The idea that wing chun was to be an attacking fighting system.  With at its essence use of economy of movement.  Traditionally kung fu systems where devised from animal forms were the movements mimicked by animals where the Shaolin monks would study them while  they attacked their prey.  Given the  effectiveness of these attacks they picked out specific moves that where not applicable and left with a strictly attacking system.  

They added the wing chun training dummy to assist in the development and training of the practitioner.  Depending on which school you talk to there are 108 moves in the wing chun wooden dummy and it is integral to the training of its fighters.  The three main forms of Wing Chun are the Sil Lim tao form , chum kill and bill jee.  You can also break them uop depending  on the development of the fighter with Sil lim tao the introductory form which goes over the basics.   Then chum kill the intermediate  form and Bill Jee being the most advanced form in the system. The positives of the system is than it builds up from the ground up as you learn.  This is also true for the wooden dummy.  You learn the stages as you progress and as they relate to the forms and your development.  One of the keys to the success of wing chun is that it is easy to learn and you can go through the whole system in a relatively short time. That is also one of its weaknesses.  Once they complete their training many people think that’s it they have mastered it and are finished with the system.  Truth is it is only the beginning.  Once you have completed the system then you spend time refining and perfecting what you have learned.  

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