FELLING TECHNIQUES IN KUNGFU ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE IN JUDO AND WRESTLING

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Using internal force and good stances, Grandmaster Wong can fell an opponent who is bigger in size and heavier in weight.


Some people have the mis-conception that there are no throws in kungfu. Throws are only one of many ategories of techniques to fell opponents to the ground. There are other felling techniques like tripping, pushing and sweeping.

But throws and other felling techniques in kungfu are unlike those in Judo and Wrestling. Because Judo and Wrestling are sports, they are protected by safety rules. Hence, a judoka or a wrestling exponent could grab an opponent for a throw without worrying about deadly counter-strikes like jabbing eyes and gripping testicles. But a kungfu exponent is trained to be always careful of such possible counters whenever he attempts a throw or any felling technique.

Moreover, size and weight count in Judo and Wrestling. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for a small and light judoka or wrestling exponent to throw an heavy-weight. But in genuine, traditional kungfu, size and weight are not important. Indeed, it may sometimes be a disadvantage to be big in size and heavy in weight! This is because genuine, traditional kungfu makes use of internal force and good stances, which can overcome the advantages due to size and weight.


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

Felling Technique in Kungfu is not in Wrestling

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Before you throw an opponent, you must make sure you are safe from his strikes, an important precaution many martial artists do not pay attention to. As shown in the video clip George could strike with his left hand if Grandmaster Wong does not control it. Secondly, felling an opponent in kungfu is not in wrestling. If you unbalance your opponent, felling him is quite easy.

Felling Technique in a Smooth Movement

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

This video shows the felling technique in a smooth movement. This is a backward fall, and the pattern used is called “Felling Tree with Roots”. Grandmaster Wong purposely choose a big-sized person like Geroge to fell him, showing than size and weight are not important factors when using kungfu techniques to fell an opponent.

Learning How to Fall Safely

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

It is important to know how to fall safely before one practices felling techniques. Participants learn how to break fall. Beginning students tend to stop their fall with their hand first, which may result in a fractured arm or dislocated wrist. The hand should be the last part of the body, not the first, to touch the ground. Avoid hitting the head on the ground.

Practicing Break Fall

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Participants at the Sabah Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course of March 2007 practice how to fall safely. They just learnt the technique a few minutes ago, and are now enjoying themselves in the practice. Notice that they practice on hard ground.

Felling Tree with Roots

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong demonstrates again how to fell an opponent using “Feeling Tree with Roots”. Again, a tall person is chosen to be the “victim”, to illustrate that size and weight are not important. Having learnt how to break fall, Ben falls safely.

The Surprising Stability of the Unicorn Stance

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Sifu Jamie attempts to fell Grandmaster Wong backward, but Grandmaster Wong neutralizes the attempted throw by turning into a Unicorn Stance. The Unicorn is a very versatile stance, but employed skillfully it can also be very stable. Here, by using the Unicorn Stance Grandmaster Wong reverses the leverage advantage Sifu Jamie initially had. Now it is Sifu Jamie who is in an awkward position.

The Surprising Stability of the Unicorn Stance

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

With a skillful application of the Unicorn Stance, Grandmaster Wong has Sifu Jamie under control. He could now strike Sifu Jamie whose hands and legs are immobilized. But Grandmaster Wong “lets mercy flow from his hands” and pushes away Sifu Jamie instead. As usual, classes in Shaolin Wahnam are full of fun and laughter. Here even Sifu Jamie could not hide his laughter.

Double Butterflies Flying Together

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

The attacks and counters are now demonstrated in one smooth flow. Grandmaster Wong uses the pattern “Double Butterflies Flying Together” to push Sifu Jamie away. Two types of force can be applied here, namely “strike force” and “release force”. If “strike force” is used, an opponent would be injured internally. If “release force” is used, an opponent is sent falling away.

The Famous Organ-Seeking Kick

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

The roles are now reverse. Sifu Jamie attempts to push Grandmaster Wong away using “Double Butterflies Flying Together”. Following the pushing momentum Grandmaster Wong retreats to a Unicorn Step, separates Sifu Jamie's hands and simultaneously executes an organ-seeking kick which strikes an opponent often without his knowing. The organ-seeking kick is famous in Shaolin Kungfu.


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

Courses and Classes