Video Clip Series: From Simple Techniques to Sophisticated Patterns

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Shaolin Wahnam Video Series

Basic Shaolin Kungfu against Boxing, Kick-Boxing, Muay Tahi and Wrestling -- Part 23
Review of the Regional Shaolin Kungfu Course in Barcelona 2007

FROM SIMPLE TECHNIQUES TO SOPHISTICATED PATTERNS

If an opponent grips your arm and simultaneously fells you onto the ground like what is shown in the picture above, you need more sophisticated patterns than mere punching and blocking to counter the simultaneous attacks

Some people think that kungfu patterns are too complicated to be combat effective. They believe, incorrectly, that techniques are effective for fighting only when they are simple, like straight-forward punches and kicks.

But even an elementary Shaolin Kungfu class like this one in Barcelona in October 2007 shows that when fighting progresses to higher levels, more sophisticated techniques are needed. If an opponent successfully grips your arm, for example, relying only on Boxing techniques would be inadequate. Past fighters experienced such sophisticated combat situations in real fighting, and evolved sophisticated counters against these attacks. These sophisticated fighting methods now come to us in crystallized forms as kungfu patterns.

Please note that you can download the video clips onto your own computer and view them at your leisure. Place your computer pointer at the picture or one of the links, and right click. Choose “Save Target As”. Select the directory or sub-directory where you wish to keep the video clip. Click “Save”.

Making it Difficult for Opponent to Defend
Now Grandmaster Wong reverses roll and shows the finer points of the knee attack in the pattern “Golden Cockerel Stands Solitarily”. Not only Grandmaster Wong prevents the opponent, posed here by Sifu Daniel, from counter-attacking, he also makes it difficult for the opponent to defend himself. If the opponent manages to wriggle free and attack Grandmaster Wong’s groin, Grandmaster Wong deflect the attack with his knee.
The size of the video clip is 1.22 mb.
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The Secret of Continuous Kicks
Here Grandmaster Wong reveals a Shaolin secret, that of “lin wan theui” or “continuous kicks”. As Grandmaster Wong avoids Alex’ left knee attack, and counter-strike Alex’ chest, Alex jumps up with another right kick. Grandmaster Wong avoid the second kick simultaneously striking the leg, and immediately follow with another strike at Alex’s chest.
The size of the video clip is 1.58 mb.
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Appropriate Changes to Suit Situations
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates the counter from another angle. But Alex uses his same left leg instead of his right for the continuous kick. Grandmaster Wong makes appropriate changes to suit the situation. He brushes away the second kick, and counter-kick Alex’s knee, followed by another attack on Alex’s head as Alex is felled onto the ground. These exchanges are possible with kungfu practitioners. Boxers and other martial artists are unlikely to be familiar with these techniques.
The size of the video clip is 1.10 mb.
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Felling Opponent When his Left Leg is in Front
Here Grandmaster Wong reviews applying the pattern “Lead Horse Back to Stable” to fell an opponent. It is useful when both you and your opponent have the left leg in front. Of course, when you are familiar with these techniques, it does not matter which leg you or your opponent have in front.
The size of the video clip is 0.59 mb.
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Hide Flowers in Sleeves
How would you counter if your opponent applies “Lead Horse Back to Stable” on you? A good counter is “Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves”. Make sure you cover your opponent’s hands as you strike him. You may recall that this attack and counter are found in Combat Sequence 14 of our basic Shaolin sparring methodology.
The size of the video clip is 1.17 mb.
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Following the Attacking Momentum
Here Grandmaster Wong is supposed to fight like a Boxer. It suddenly comes to his mind that if a kungfu practitioner grips his arm like what Alex did, a Boxer would have no techniques to counter. But never mind, he says. Let us presume that the Boxer could counter using a technique like “Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves”. Notice that the counter movement follows, not goes against, the attacking momentum.
The size of the video clip is 1.23 mb.
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