THE LEGACY OF UNCLE RIGHTEOUSNESS
By the courtesy of Ogingo Videography, Sabah, Malaysia.
Grandmaster Wong applies Continuous Cannons on Greg from Shaolin Wahnam Australia
Thirteen Shaolin monks helped the first Tang Emperor to establish his empire. During the imperial celebration, the Emperor invited the leader of the monks, Yuan Zhoong, to give a demonstration of Shaolin Kungfu. Yuan Zhoong performed a Shaolin set called “Cannon Fist”. The hallmark of this set was “lian zhu bao” or “continuous cannons”.
“Continuous cannons” is an important tactic in our sparring methodology. It was first introduced in Combat Sequence 5, and is found in many of our combat sequences. Uncle Righteousness used it often in his fighting during his young days, but he did not teach it openly. It was taught secretly to his inner-chamber disciples.
To prevent this great Shaolin tactic from being lost to posterity, and in an unprecedented manner, Grandmaster Wong shares this great secret here, in honour of his teacher, Uncle Righteousness, with the public! Not only that, Grandmaster Wong also shares its counters.
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Applying Continuous Cannons after an Opponent has Kicked
There are many ways to apply the tactic of “Continuous Cannons”. Here, Grandmaster Wong shows how you can use “continuous cannons” after an opponent has executed a kick. Avoid the kick, and as soon as he lowers his kicking leg onto the ground, press in with “continuous cannons”.. If he attempts to defend or counter, brush aside it aside and press in to continuous punches. You must, of course, cover him well to prevent him from sudden counter-strikes.
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Black Tiger and Single Tiger in Continuous Cannons
In applying the tactic of “Continuous Cannons” here, Grandmaster Wong uses only two patterns repeatedly, “Black Tiger Steals Heart” and “Single Tiger Emerges from Cave”. This combination was the forte of Grandmaster Wong's own sifu, Grandmaster Lai Chin Wah. It also helped Grandmaster Lai Chin Wah earned his honorable nickname of “Uncle Righteousness” amongst the kungfu circles of his times. Nevertheless, Uncle Righteousness used a vertical fist instead of a level fist in his “Black Tiger”. Grandmaster Wong changed it into a level fist after learning from Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam.
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Pressing an Opponent with Continuous Strikes
Grandmaster Wong shows that if you are untrained, you can be easily pressed in by a skillful opponent using continuous attacks, as demonstrated here by Sifu Jamie. However in your pressing attacks, you must be careful of an opponent counter-striking. But if you are pressed, how would you counter against it?
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Countering Pressing Attacks
There are a few effective ways to counter a pressing attack. One way is found at the end of Combat Sequence 10 where you apply “Beauty Looks at Mirror” to intercept an opponent's “Poisonous Snake”. Grandmaster Wong says you may use this interception earlier if you wish. He asks participants to come closer to examine the intricate movement of interception.
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Interception and Counter-Strike
Not only you can stop your opponent's pressing attacks with your interception, you may counter-strike him as well. This may be applied at the end of a sequence, at the beginning or at any suitable point of time. An interception is not a block. You should use minimum force against maximum strength. Good body-movement is needed a an effective interception.
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Interception as Tactic or Technique
Depending on its function and our purpose, we may call interception a tactic or a technique. (These terms are meant to facilitate, not enslave, us.) And there are different patterns to implement the tactic or technique of interception. Grandmaster Wong shows a few examples in this video. The first example is often used in Taijiquan, using the tactic or technique called “Like Taming Like Closing”, followed by a vertical punch.
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Revealing the Secrets of the Mirror Hand
Grandmaster Wong reveals a few secrets of counter-strikes while intercepting. First he shows that the “Mirror Hand” which may people regard only as a defensive move, can be a deadly counter-strike. Then he shows the application of the “Mirror Hand” as a feint or distraction, striking an opponent below with a vertical fist, often with him no realizing where the attack comes from. Next he shows how to change a “Mirror Hnad” into a Tiger Claw, which can be followed with a number of counter-strikes.
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A Secret of the Tiger Claw
Next, Grandmaster Wong reveals a secret of the Tiger Claw where it is used to intercept an opponent's pressing attacks. Instead of using the Tiger Claw to “lean” on the opponent's initial attacking move, you may also use a “Dragon Form” to “thread”, then change it into a Tiger Claw or Willow Leaf Palm to “tame” the opponent while conter-striking.
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Continuous Palms in Taijiquan
The tactic of “Continuous Cannons” used in Shaolin Kungfu can also be applied in Taijiquan. The Taijiquan practitioner, however, may use the palm instead of the fist. Grandmaster Wong demonstrates using “Continuous Palms” in pressing attacks against Lee Wei Joo.
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We wish to thank Mr Godfery Kissey of Ogingo Videography, Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia for kindly provideing us with the videos. (Godfery is also a member of our Shaolin Wahnam Family.) His telephone number is 60-88-731788, and e-mail address is godfery@pc.jaring.my.
LINKS
Review of the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Sabah in March 2007
- Overview 1 : The Fundamentals
- Overview 2 : The 16 Combat Sequences
- Overview 3 : Are They Performing Kungfu Dance?
- The Basics of Shaolin Kungfu Training
- Fundamental Combat Skills
- Defeat you Hand to your Opponent, Victory you Create Yourself
- Avoiding Disadvantages and Seeking Advantages
- Basic Principles and Tactics of Combat
- Skills derived from Sparring can be Rewardingly used in Daily Life
- Some Secrets in Practicing Genuine Kungfu
- Various Ways to Move into an Opponent
- Applying Combat Sequences in Sparring
- Linking Sequences to be More Combat Efficient
- The Secrets of Continuous Cannons
- The Mechanics of Continuation
- Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
- Perfecting Forms and Developing Force
- Applying Tactics in Combat
- Objectives of Form Training in Solo
- Being Fluent in Kicking Techniques before Applying them in Combat
- Using Tactics in Kicking Attacks and Defences
- Different Levels of Sophistication in Sparring and Fighting
- The Legacy of Uncle Righteousness: Secret of Continuous Cannons and their Counters
- Benefiting from the Experiences and Teachings of Past Masters
- Poetic Patterns Can be Very Deadly
- Moving Back One Step when in Diffiuclt Situations
- Linking Sequences to Form a Kungfu Set
- Felling Techniques in Kungfu are Different from Judo and Wrestling
- Butterfly Palms and Hiding Flowers are Excellent in Countering Felling and Gripping Attacks
- Let Mercy Flow from the Hands
- Benefits of Solo Set Practice — Combat Sequences 13 to 16
- From Pre-Choice Sequences to Free Sparring
- Allying Shaolin Patterns Correctly and Spontaneously in Free Sparring
- Shaolin Kungfu against Boxing and Kick-Boxing
- Shaolin Counters against Wrestling Shoots
- The Secret of Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam
- Why Shaolin Kungfu is Technically Faster than Boxing
- Shaolin Techniques, Tactics and Strategies against Boxing
- Revealing Secrets of Past Taijiquan Masters
- Overwhelming Opponents with Just One Pattern
- Poetry and Elegance in Effective Combat