Video Clip Series: Devising Strategies Using Combat Sequences

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Review of the Special Shaolin Kungfu Course of 16th to 22nd April 2007 – Part 4

DEVISING STRATEGIES USING COMBAT SEQUENCES

Chris and George apply simple combat strategies in their sparring

If you plan your attack beforehand and use it spontaneously in combat, you have a far better chance of defeating your opponent than just fighting him on the spot in an impromptu manner. This is the use of strategies.

Some simple strategies can be devised by combining combat sequences in various modes in both attacks and responses. This type of training is found in our basic training programme as taught in the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course and regular classes at various regional centres. This video series records a quick review of these strategies by participants at the Special Shaolin Kungfu Course of April 2007.

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Introducing the Strategy of Pressing Attacks
After having fun with Combat Sequences 1 to 4, we progress to Combat Sequences 5 to 8. Here George and Innes go over Combat Sequence 5, which introduces the important strategy of “Pressing Attacks”.
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Flowing Continuously in a Sequence
Here the roles of initiator and responder are reverse. Innes initiates with Sequence 5, and George responds. Notice that the sequence is performed flowingly as if all the patterns were one long continuous pattern.
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Merely Executing a Sequence Flowingly on your Opponent
George and Innes go over Combat Sequence 6. In many cases, if you merely execute your sequence flowingly against an opponent, he is quite helpless as how to respond to your attack. If he attempts any counters, neutralize his counters accordingly and carry on with your sequence.
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Continuous Cannons in Pressing Attacks
Molly from Shaolin Wahnam USA and Nick from Shaolin Wahnam England go over Combat Sequence 5. The sequence is called “Fierce Tiger Speeds through Valley”, and introduces the application of “Continuous Cannons” in pressing attacks.
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Appropriate Leg Mode Change
Grandmaster Wong shows the appropriate change of leg mode, if needed, when linking sequences. For example, after Sequence 5 if Molly wishes to continue any one of the Sequences 1 to 4, she has to change from a right leg mode to a left leg mode. If she wishes to continue with any of the Sequences 5 to 8, she needs not change her leg mode, she continues from left leg mode to left leg mode.
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Using Strategies in Combat
Having a preplanned way to attack an opponent is using strategies in combat. A useful strategy is to initiate an attack using a ploanned sequence, then continue the attack with another planned sequence. Here is an example of a simple combat strategy by Molly. She initiates with Sequence 5, then continues with Sequence 6. Nick could defend against Molly’s planned attacks because he is also trained in this strategy. Another opponent who is untrained may have difficulty meeting Molly’s attacks.
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You may also Respond with a Combat Strategy
The responder, if he is properly trained, can of course employ combat strategies too. A simple strategy is to respond with a planned sequence after the initiator has completed is attacking sequence. Here Grandmaster Wong shows how to continue from the initiator’s Sequence 5 to any of the Sequences 5 to 8.
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Varying the Modes of Attack in Combat
George attacks with a simple strategy, i.e. using a planned combat sequence, Sequence 5. Chris responds with a planned strategy too. He also uses Sequence 5. For convenience, we code this combat mode as AB5-5. If George manages to continue his attack by repeating his planned Sequence 5, the combat mode would be coded as AA5-5. By varying the modes in continuing from one combat sequence to another, we can have a variety of strategies to attack opponents.
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A Big Advantage of Planned Attacks and Responses
The strategy Chris uses in this video clip is to respond to an attacker using Sequence 6. In the earlier video clip he responds with Sequence 5. In both cases George initiates with Sequence 5. His attacks are pre-planned. For convenience we code the combat mode in the previous video and in this video as AB5-5 and AB5-6 respectively. Take note that Chris’ responses are also pre-planned. This, of course, has a big advantage over random responses. The advantage is enhanced when Chris varies the mode of pre-planned responses.
The size of the video clip is 0.73 mb.
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