BASIC PRINCIPLES AND TACTICS OF COMBAT

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong closes Sifu Jamie's front hand and prevents him from kicking before attacking with a horn-punch


Firstly we ensure we do not give away disadvantages of ourselves to our opponents. Next we exploit the opponent's disadvantages if any. If no advantages are present, we create them. There are various principles and tactics to help us realize these three fundamental steps in combat.

Before we attack we must have four modes of preparation. We prepare ourselves guided by six harmonies, access our opponents, seek or create an opening, and move in swiftly with adequate safety. We ask the way, closing or opening the opponent's defence. And our attack is made with three arrivals.

In our defence we ensure right timing and right spacing. We use minimum force against maximum strength, employing techniques like leaning and threading. We lead an opponent's attack to futility, and counter-strike before he can recover, or we directly counter without first defending.

The video clips below illustrate some of these combat principles and tactics learnt and practiced at the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Sabah in March 2007.


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

Changing Spacing Without Moving Feet

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong floats Sifu Jamie's guard-hand and attacks the latter with “Precious Duck Swims Through Lotus”. In this situation, Grandmaster Wong has spaced himself so that Sifu Jamie could not strike him with his other hand. But without moving his feet, Sifu Jamie can change the spacing by just turning his waist.

No Defence Direct Counter

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong moves in to attack Sifu Jamie using “Precious Duck Swims Through Lotus”. Sifu Jamie counter-attacks with the pattern “False-Leg Hand Sweep”. This is the tactic of “no defence direct counter”.

Importance of Guard-Hand

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong attacks Sifu Jamie with the pattern “Hang a Golden Star”. Notice that Grandmaster Wong guards against a possible kick by Sifu Jamie, and his guard-hand guards against Sifu Jamie's front hand, otherwise Sifu Jamie can easily counter with a reverse Tiger-Claw.

Intercepting a Side Attack

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

A good counter against a side attack is to intercept it. Here Grandmaster Wong employs the pattern “Immortal Emerges from Cave” to intercept Sifu Jamie's “Hand a Golden Star”. Notice that it is not a block. Blocking a powerful horn-punch may result in the defender's arm being broken, but intercepting it may break the attacker's arm,

Moving too Fast or too Far Away

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

A common mistake among many students is to move too fast and too far away as soon as an opponent attacks. This will give away disadvantages to a skillful opponent who may exploit them to defeat you. Reversely, if your opponent offers you such disadvantages of himself, use them to defeat him.

Breaking an Opponent's Arm

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong illustrates how you may break an opponent's arm using the interception technique. Timing and correct angling are important. If his attack has passed you, then brush it away.

Threading and Guarding an Opponent's Front Hand

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

How would you attack your opponent with a left horn-punch when you start from the “Lohan Asks the Way”? Thread with your right hand, guard his hand, then strike him with your left hand.

Defending against an Opponent's Left Horn-Punch

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Your opponent has tamed your front right hand and attacks you with a left horn-punch. How could you defend against it when your front hand has been tamed? Simple. Just move back a step, and your front hand would be released. If the horn-punch has passed you, brush it away instead of intercepting it.

The Element of Threat

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Instructors help students to refine their performance. Paul's attack, for example, has no threat, which is an important element in an attack. By improving on spacing, Sifu Wong Chun Nga shows how Paul could threaten Alejandro in his attack.


You can view all all the videos above here

LINKS

Review of the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Sabah in March 2007

Click here for an Overview of the entire course

  1. The Basics of Shaolin Kungfu Training
  2. Fundamental Combat Skills
  3. Defeat you Hand to your Opponent, Victory you Create Yourself
  4. Avoiding Disadvantages and Seeking Advantages
  5. Basic Principles and Tactics of Combat
  6. Skills derived from Sparring can be Rewardingly used in Daily Life
  7. Some Secrets in Practicing Genuine Kungfu
  8. Various Ways to Move into an Opponent

  9. Applying Combat Sequences in Sparring
  10. Linking Sequences to be More Combat Efficient
  11. The Secrets of Continuous Cannons
  12. The Mechanics of Continuation
  13. Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
  14. Perfecting Forms and Developing Force
  15. Applying Tactics in Combat
  16. Objectives of Form Training in Solo

  17. Being Fluent in Kicking Techniques before Applying them in Combat
  18. Using Tactics in Kicking Attacks and Defences
  19. Different Levels of Sophistication in Sparring and Fighting
  20. The Legacy of Uncle Righteousness: Secret of Continuous Cannons and their Counters
  21. Benefiting from the Experiences and Teachings of Past Masters

  22. Poetic Patterns Can be Very Deadly
  23. Moving Back One Step when in Diffiuclt Situations
  24. Linking Sequences to Form a Kungfu Set
  25. Felling Techniques in Kungfu are Different from Judo and Wrestling
  26. Butterfly Palms and Hiding Flowers are Excellent in Countering Felling and Gripping Attacks
  27. Let Mercy Flow from the Hands

  28. Benefits of Solo Set Practice — Combat Sequences 13 to 16
  29. From Pre-Choice Sequences to Free Sparring
  30. Applying Shaolin Patterns Correctly and Spontaneously in Free Sparring
  31. Shaolin Kungfu against Boxing and Kick-Boxing
  32. Shaolin Counters against Wrestling Shoots
  33. The Secret of Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam
  34. Why Shaolin Kungfu is Technically Faster than Boxing
  35. Shaolin Techniques, Tactics and Strategies against Boxing
  36. Revealing Secrets of Past Taijiquan Masters
  37. Overwhelming Opponents with Just One Pattern
  38. Poetry and Elegance in Effective Combat

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