Using Low Single Whip to Counter a High Kick

Taijiquan as a Martial Art

Taijiquan or Taiji Dance

Becoming Healthier and Fitter as You Grow

More remarkable is that at 50 and beyond, while your peers longed for the health and fitness gone by, you actually feel healthier and fitter than when you were 25. The most remarkable is that while many people yearn for something missing but they do not exactly know what they are seeking, you have inner peace and spiritual purpose in life.

Taijiquan as Personal Cultivation

Taoism, it may be significant to clarify, is not a religion as most westerners conceptualize what a religion is. "Tao" means the way, and in this context, the way to good health, longevity and spiritual joy. Explanation on how and why Taijiquan training is a process of such a cultivation is (and will be) found in other webpages; the purpose of this webpage is to illustrate some basic defence techniques of Taijiquan.

Great Arts are Rare

But at least now you know that Taijiquan is not a dance or gymnastics, but a comprehensive programme for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual cultivation, you would know what to aim for should you decide to continue in its pursue. It is very important to realize that attainment in any art is through dedicated practical training, and not merely through reading or wishful thinking.

The Four Attacks

• strikes
• kicks
• falls
• holds

The Four Strikes

• top
• middle
• bottom
• sides

The pictures below illustrate some basic Taijiquan patterns against these four strikes.

In the fpicture above, Tai Chee Yong attacks me with a top strike, using the Shaolin pattern "Poisonous Snake Shoots Venum". I counter with the "peng" technique of "Grasping Sparrow's Tail" in Yang Style Taijiquan.

Yang Style is chosen here as it is currently the most widely practiced style. All styles of Taijiquan are effective for combat, and are similar in their basic principles and fundamental movements. Shaolin Kungfu is chosen here for the attack because being the most comprehensive and extensive, it includes all the major attacking techniques of all other martial arts.

Tai's middle strike in the form of a thrust punch is known as "Black Tiger Steals Heart" in Shaolin Kungfu. It is probably the most common form of attack in most martial arts. I respond with "Green Dragon Presents Pearl", brushing away the thrust punch in a circular movement with one hand, and counter-attacking with the other.

In the third attack, I use "White Crane Flaps Wings" against Tai's bottom strike using "Precious Duck Swims through Lotus"

Tai employes a pattern called "Hanging a Golden Star" to implement a side strike to my left temple. Without moving my feet, I retreat my body to avoid the strike, and continue smoothly forward to "float" Tai's elbow and simultaneously strike his ribs, using "Jade Girl Threads Shuttle".

The Four Kicks

• high
• middle
• low
• sideway

As Tai executes a high kick, known as "Kicking the Sky", I shift my body backward to avoid its kicking momentum, using the pattern "Low Single Whip".

In the above picture, I use the "roll-back" technique of "Grasping Sparrow's Tail" to trap Tai's leg in his middle kick called "Happy Bird Hops up Branch".

Tai executes a low kick using a pattern called "Yellow Bird Drinks Water". I retreat half a step and strike his shin using "Needle at Sea Bottom".

In the next attack, Tai uses a whirlwind kick (which looks like but is actually different from the round-house kick) in a pattern called "Naughty Monkey Kicks Tree". I step gently to the side away from his kicking momentum, and counter with "Cross-Hand Thrust Kick" intercepting Tai's whrlwind kick at his thigh.

Importance of Skill and Force

Merely knowing, and even being able to apply, the techniques are grossly inadequate; one must be able to apply the techniques skilfully and forcefully. The pathetic lack of skill and force is probably the most important reason why most kungfu students (which include Taijiquan students, of course) cannot spar effectively. Skill and force need to be developed with a master's supervision, not just read from a webpage or a book.

Seeing the graceful movements of Taijiquan, many people are surprised that it can be used for combat. They will probably be more surprised that these graceful movements are very effective both for countering as well as for implementing felling and gripping attacks. Space limitation and downloading time, however, permit an explanation of only one example each in this webpage.

In the first picture below, Tai Chee Yong is about to execute a hip throw. Swiftly I move my back leg backwards and lower my stance, thus thwarting his attempt, as shown in the second picture.

Following Tai's momentum, I float his left elbow and simultaneously pull down his right forearm to unbalance him. Continuing the movement I fell Tai onto the ground. .

Notice that initially Tai placed his right leg behind my right leg with the intention of using it as an anchor to fell me. But by an appropriate shift of my back leg and a gentle rotation of my waist I turn the table against him, using the same anchor to fell him instead.

In the picture above Tai grips my right wrist with a tiger-claw. I relax my arm and using my shoulder as pivot, turn my arm in a clockwise direction, simultaneously rotating my waist. This turning will cause Tai to release his grip; otherwise it will dislocate his wrist.

This and the previous example illustrate the Taijiquan tactic of using the oponent's moves against himself. In the previous example, the opponent locked my leg to fell me. By means of a skilful manuovre, I used the same leg lock to fell him instead! In this example, the opponet grips my wrist. With a skilful turn I use his grip to dislocate his wrist!

However I could not dislocate Tai's wrist, because he released his grip. Continuing my turning momentum, I place my left leg behind his right leg, guard his right hand with my right hand, and press my left arm against his left arm pushing it agaist his upper body. By spreading my left arm I fell Tai to the ground.