Video Clip Series: Yin-Yang Butterfly Knives and Close-Combat Applications

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Review of the UK Summer Camp Weapon Course July 2007 Part 7

YIN-YANG BUTTERFLY KNIVES AND CLOSE-COMBAT APPLICATIONS

Grandmaster Wong applies the yin Butterfly Knife to release Sifu Marcus' grip

The Butterfly Knives are unique in that they can be held in the normal manner, and also in a reverse manner. For convenience, we may refer to the normal way of holding the Butterfly Knives as the yang-way, and the reverse way as the yin-way.

This yin-yang way of holding the Butterfly Knives give us some useful techniques for combat. The yon-way is effective in close-body combat, and this video series shows some interesting applications.

You must, of course, be skillful in changing from the yang to the yin way of holding, and vice versa, quickly and spontaneously. Sequences 4 and 5 of the Butterfly Set provide some systematic practice

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

Holding the Butterfly Knives the Yin-Yang Way
This is the short Sequence 4 of the set where the Butterfly Knives are held in the normal way in one hand, and in the reverse way or the yin way in the other hand. The patterns where the Butterfly Knives are held in a yin-yang manner are “Jade Girl Throws Ball” and “Breeze Sways Floating Green”. The knives are held in the normal yang manner in “Colorful Swallows Flying Separately”, and in the yin manner in “Double Leopards Speed Through Jungle”. (The last pattern is not shown in the video clip.)
The size of the video clip is 1.42 mb.
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Colorful Swallows Flying Separately
In the pattern “Colorful Swallows Flying Separately” the two knives should be thrust forward, and not spread sideways. This is a deadly pattern that cuts into the opponent’s ribs.
The size of the video clip is 0.98 mb.
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Double Leopards Speed Through Jungle
After the pattern “Colorful Swallows Flying Separately” is the pattern “Double Leopards Speed Through Jungle”, but this pattern is not shown in the video clip. Then turn around to “Double Lifting of Sun and Moon”, followed by three repetitions of “Double Leopards Speed through Jungle”. Grandmaster Wong reminds the participants not to raise their shoulders when performing “Double Lifting of Sun and Moon”.
The size of the video clip is 1.38 mb.
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Double Lifting of Sun and Moon
“Double Lifting of Sun and Moon” is an effective way to counter an opponent gripping your two wrists. You do not just lift the knives against his arms, but slice them along.
The size of the video clip is 1.15 mb.
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Importance of Waist Movement and Footwork
If an opponent grips your body from behind, “Lifting the Sun and Moon” is an effective counter. Waist movement and footwork are important in this counter.
The size of the video clip is 1.12 mb.
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Momentum from the Waist and Channeled through the Index Fingers
When performing “Double Leopards Speed Through Jungfle”, the focus is at the ends of the hilts and not at the hooks of the knives. If you perform this thrusting movement incorrectly by using your thumbs at the hooks to push, you would hurt your hands. The pushing momentum comes from the waist and challenges through the index fingers.
The size of the video clip is 1.24 mb.
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Excellent for Close-Body Combat
After three repetitions of “Double Leopards Speed Through Jungle” follow “”Bar the Big Boss” and “Black Tiger Guards Door”. These are very useful patterns for close-body combat. Do you know how to apply them?
The size of the video clip is 1.47 mb.
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Be Deadly or Be Merciful with the Same Patterns
Grandmaster Wong leads the class to go over Sequence 5 of the set. The patterns are three repetitions of “Double Leopards Speed Through Jungle”, and two repetitions of “Bar the Big Boss” and “Black Tiger Guards Door”. These few patterns can be deadly or used mercifully. Do you know the different applications?
The size of the video clip is 1.31 mb.
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Releasing a Wrist Grip
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates a simple way to release a wrist grip by an opponent. Grandmaster Wong says that as Sifu Marcus, who acts as the opponent, is a nice person, he uses a merciful counter on him. What deadly counter you could use if the opponent is a nasty person?
The size of the video clip is 0.56 mb.
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Disarming an Opponent’s Knife
Grandmaster Wong shows how you could disarm an opponent’s knife. A set-back of this technique is that you need to use your two hands to disarm his weapon in one hand. The opponent’s other hand is free, and will pose a danger if he is holding another weapon with that free hand.
The size of the video clip is 0.76 mb.
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Maneuvering an Opponent into an Awkward Position
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates another more effective as well as safer technique to disarm an opponent’s weapon. There is still a risk of the opponent attacking with the other hand, especially if he is holding another weapon, but as you have placed yourself in an advantageous position and maneuvered him into an awkward stance, the risk is minimized.
The size of the video clip is 0.73 mb.
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Countering a Disarming Technique
The roles are now reverse. Sifu Marcus grips Grandmaster Wong’s wrist and attempts to disarm him. Grandmaster Wong counters using “Bar the Big Boss”. Notice that Grandmaster Wong automatically covers Sifu Marcus’ hands to prevent him from a surprised attack. This automatic covering is due to systematic training where “safety first” becomes a natural reaction.
The size of the video clip is 0.94 mb.
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