SKILLS DERIVED FROM SPARRING CAN BE REWARDINGLY USED IN DAILY LIFE

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

How to make an instantaneous change should a mistake is made in responding to an attack


Happily in today's societies, fighting is uncommon. Therefore, the need to defend oneself is not as urgent as it was in the past. Then why do we spend so much time practicing combat efficiency? There are a few good reasons.

Firstly, when we say we practice a martial art, we would not be true to ourselves if we do not know how to apply what we practice to defend ourselves. Hence, being combat efficient in our art makes our practice meaningful and gratifying.

Secondly, even though fighting seldom happens, it may still happen. Being able to defend ourselves should it ever arises is a very useful ability. It gives us tremendous confidence.

But the most important reason why we practice combat application is that the skills we derive from our training, like quick decision, being relaxed in demanding situations, and being able to make instantaneous changes should a mistake occurs, can be rewardingly used in our daily life. Moreover, sparring in Shaolin Wahnam is not only free from injury but actually full of fun as well as helps to develop our character.


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


Making Instantaneous Change

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

If you make a wrong decision in sparring, or in life, do not fret but instantaneously correct the mistake. For example, you thread your hand up because you have wrongly judged an opponent's middle attack for a top attack. Don't worry, just lower your hands to cover the attack. As always, lessons in Shaolin Wahnam are full of fun. You can see here that Sifu Jamie can hardly hide his joy.

Skills for Daily Living

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Sometimes it may not matter even if you fail to make an instantaneous change because the typical defend patterns “Golden Dragon Plays with Water” and “Single Tiger Emerges from Cave” can be used for both top and middle attacks. Nevertheless, this training in judging and making an instantaneous change if a wrong judgment is made, is very useful for our daily living.

Sparring can be Full of Fun

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Actually you would not be hit even if you do not make any defensive movements with your hands because you have moved away from the target-range. Nevertheless, there are certain advantages besides better protection if you cover the attack even when it would not hit you. It would be easier, for example, if you wish to counter-strike. Note again that Sifu Jamie, the attacker here, is very happy — an indication that sparring needs not be painful but can be full of fun.

Developing Skills not just Learning Techniques

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Many students do not realize that the onus of combat training is to develop skills, and not just learning techniques. Techniques can be learnt in a few minutes, even from books or videos. But it takes much time and effort to practice these techniques so that you can perform them skillfully. This video clip shows participants help one another in developing skills, and not trying to outdo one another in wild hitting. Comradeship is developed in sparring.

The Skills of Instantaneous Change

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

One of the important combat skills to be developed is the ability to make appropriate changes instantaneously. For example, if an opponent executes a middle strike but you mistake it for a top strike, don't freeze after the mistaken response but change immediately to an appropriate one. At first there may be a time gap between the mistake and the change, but gradually with systematic practice the change can be instantaneous.

Defence Already in Footwork

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Actually you need not worry even if you do not make a right defence move with your hands, because your defence is already effective in your footwork. By retreating from a Bow-Arrow Stance to a False-Leg Stance, you already have moved yourself away from the attack, which means that even if you do not ward off the attack the opponent would not be able to hit you.

Helping One Another in Sparring

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

A heart-warming aspect of sparring practice in Shaolin Wahnam is that participants help one another, and not trying to hit each other as is common in many other schools. Here Sifu Jamie of Scotland reminds Mark of England the importance of opening the way before attacking.

Choosing the Best Prepared Moves

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

While one should not he slow or hesitant, he needs not be hasty in making his defensive moves. With proper training he would have time to choose the best move for the occasion. He must, of course, be ready with the move. It is not a case where he starts to think of a move when an opponent attacks. It is a case where he chooses the best of his prepared moves.

Changing from Immortal to Kitten

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Sifu Jamie initiates a left horn-punch at Grandmaster Wong, who responds with “Immortal Emerges from Cave”. If Grandmaster Wong is too slow in his response, he would let the attacking punch pass, and push it away with “Kitten Wipes Face” (similar to “Cloud Hands” in Taijiquan). The horn-punch is unable to hit him because he has moved away from the attack by retreating from a Bow-Arrow Stance to a False-Leg Stance.


You can view all the above videos 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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