FROM SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES TO FREE SPARRING
How did the early students of Grandmaster Wong in the 1980s spar? Of course they sparred using kungfu stances and kungfu techniques like what the present Shaolin Wahnam students do. It was also like what Shaolin practitioners in the past did.
But the Shaolin Wahnam students of the 1980s spent more time than present students in attaining efficiency using Shaolin patterns in free sparring. This is because Grandmaster Wong has improved his methodology in teaching sparring.
Past students learned specific techniques, then they linked the specific techniques on their own in their free sparring. But they also had pre-arranged sequences of attacks and defences in the Four-Gate Sparring Set, but these sequences are much longer than our present combat sequences.
Today the specific techniques are already linked into combat sequences. Present students just use the combat sequences for free sparring. As the combat sequences are shorter than the pre-arranged sequences in the Four-Gate Sparring Set, present day students have more flexibility in applying these combat sequences in free sparring.
However, the combat sequences are not a totally modern innovation. Grandmaster Wong started formulating them in the later part of his teaching period in Shaolin Wahnam Association, Sungai Petani. These early combat sequences, the fore-runner of our present day 16 fundamental combat sequences, are shown in the next series.
Responding to Random Individual Attacks
A student applies specific techniques to respond to attacks from an assailant. The attacks are random but executed one at a time. It is one-step free sparring.
The size of the video clip is 1.29 mb
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One-Step Free Sparring
Kok San and Lek Poh perform one-step free sparring. Lek Poh uses different hand strikes whereas Kok San uses different kicks.
The size of the video clip is 1.62 mb
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Free Sparring using Shaolin Patterns (1)
Lek Poh and Kok San engage in free sparring. They use Shaolin techniques and proper stances.
The size of the video clip is 3.37 mb
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Free Sparring using Shaolin Patterns (2)
Two students engage in free sparring using Shaolin patterns. They are not tired or panting for breath after sparring vigorously for some time.
The size of the video clip is 4.67 mb
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Free Sparring using Shaolin Patterns (3)
You may see many familiar sequences in the free sparring here. This is because the two students make use of their combat sequences in free sparring.
The size of the video clip is 4.28 mb
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Free Sparring using Shaolin Patterns (4)
Some of you may recognize the two students as Chee Kong and Ah Keat, whom you met at Sifu Wong Chun Nga’s wedding. Although the free sparring is forceful and vigorous, none is hurt because they exercise good control. Both Chee Kong and Ah Keat are now successful business.
The size of the video clip is 3.26 mb
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Free Sparring using Shaolin Patterns (5)
This is a continuation of the video clip above. Ah Keat is a former Muay Thai instructor but he uses Shaolin Kungfu in his free sparring here because he finds it more effective.
The size of the video clip is 1.57 mb
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Free Sparring using Shaolin Patterns (6)
A number of kicks are used in the free sparring here. They are fast and powerful but no one is hurt because the combatant exercise control. In a real fight they can cause quite serious damage.
The size of the video clip is 2.68 mb
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Using Sequence Sparring in Combat
Let Poh and Kok San are using sequence sparring in their free sparring. This is an level above and therefore more advantageous than technique sparring.
The size of the video clip is 0.98 mb
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