Video Clip Series: The Secret of Peforming Butterfly Knives with Force and Speed but Without being Tired

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Shaolin Wahnam Video Series

Review of the UK Summer Camp Weapon Course July 2007 Part 6

THE SECRET OF PERFORMING BUTTERFLY KNIVES WITH FORCE AND SPEED BUT WITHOUT BEING TIRED

Grandmaster Wong shows the class how to perform Butterfly Knives flowingly

Grandmaster Wong reveals the secrets that enable masters in the past to be fast and powerful yet not tired when using weapons for an extended period of time.

There are three steps to accomplish this:

Be able to perform the required patterns in picture-perfect forms.
Performing the patterns smoothly without using muscular strength as if performing Taiji dance.
Back up the movements with flowing internal force.

Obviously, the pre-requisite is being able to generate chi flow and internal force. If one has no chi flow or internal force, he would be unable to accomplish the task even if he knows the techniques.

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”.

A picture-series of the set can be found here

Happy Birds Construct Bridge
This is the start of Sequence 3 of the set. The patterns are “Rhinoceros Looks at Moon”, “Beauty Moves Boat with Pole” and “Happy Birds Construct Bridge” performed twice. Amongst other combat functions, this “Happy Birds Construct Bridge” pattern is effective against an opponent trying to disarm you. Do you know how it works?
The size of the video clip is 1.00 mb.
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Rhinoceros Looks at Moon
Grandmaster Wong helps Fleur with the finer points of the pattern “Rhinoceros Looks at Moon”. This is a very useful pattern. Do you remember how to use this pattern in combat
The size of the video clip is 1.34 mb.
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Releasing Grips on your Both Hands
If an opponent tries to grip your one hand, you can attack him with the knife held by the other hand. This is one advantage of using a piar of weapons instead of just one weapon. But if you opponent grips both your hands, what would you do? A good counter is “Happy Birds Construct Bridge” as showin in this video.
The size of the video clip is 1.60 mb.
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Slicing Movement of Butterfly Knives
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates that the attack of “Happy Birds Construct Bridge” is not merely lifting up the knives, but slicing them across the opponent. This slicing movement is an important technique of bladed weapons.
The size of the video clip is 0.77 mb.
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Happy Bird and Moon-Gazing Rhinoceros
Grandmaster Wong leads the class to perform Sequence 3 of the set. Notice the difference between “Happy Birds Construct Bridge” and “Rhinoceros Looks at the Moon”. Both are very useful patterns and they employ the slicing technique. Would you know in what combat situations is one preferred to the other?
The size of the video clip is 1.44 mb.
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Slicing, Piercing, Blocking and More
After “Happy Birds Construct Bridge”, the two patterns “Tiger Tail Knife Technique” and “Comet Chases Moon” are performed three times, to the right, the left and the centre. While “Happy Bird” executes a slicing technique, “Comet” executes a piercing technique. “Tiger Tail Knife” is not just a block. Can you think of how it can be applied in combat?
The size of the video clip is 1.79 mb.
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The Importance of Waist Rotation
Grandmaster Wong repeats the patterns, emphasizing the importance of waist rotation. Also take care that when you hold the other knife at your waist, you do not accidentally cut yourself.
The size of the video clip is 1.72 mb.
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How to Rotate your Waist Correctly
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates how to rotate the waist correctly in various patterns. Amongst other benefits, correct rotation of the waist facilitates explosion of internal force from your dan tian so that your strikes are powerful, and enables your movements to be fluid so that you would not be tired easily.
The size of the video clip is 1.47 mb.
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Do you Know their Combat Applications?
After “Tiger Tail Knife Technique” and “Comet Chases Moon” performed twice, are “Catch Tiger in Mountain” and “Fierce Tiger Crouches on Ground”. Many people think these two patterns are only decorative. They are very useful in combat. Can you think of their applications?
The size of the video clip is 0.90 mb.
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Waist Rotation and Chi Flow
After completing Sequence 3 of the set, Grandmaster Wong again reminds the class the importance of waist rotation in performing various Butterfly Knives movements. Correct waist rotation enables smooth chi flow, which results in the practitioner being forceful and not tired.
The size of the video clip is 2.07 mb.
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Performing Butterfly Knives like Taiji Dance
Grandmaster Wong shares a secret with the class. He performs the various repetitions of “Fierce Tiger Descends Mountain” slowly and gracefully without using muscular strength as if performing Taijji dance. This is an excellent way to ensure that you do not tense any muscles in your movements.
The size of the video clip is 1.33 mb.
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Performing Butterfly Knives like Taiji Dance
When the movements are smooth and without muscular tension, Grandmaster Wong performs them again this time with vigorous chi flow which gives internal force to the movements. The force-training patterns at the start of the set, “Thousand Tons to Ground”, “Hiding Flowers in Sleeves” and “Big Boss Offers Wine”, generates internal force and gives momentum to the chi flow.
The size of the video clip is 1.85 mb.
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