Video Clip Series: Skills are usually More Important than Techniques

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Review of the Special Shaolin Kungfu Course of 16th to 22nd April 2007 – Part 24

SKILLS ARE USUALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN TECHNIQUES
Lessons on Skills and Techniques in the Dragon-Tiger Combat Sequence

It is not just the technique but the skill in executing it that makes the technique effective

Here is a common theme in kungfu movies. A challenger defeats a master. The master is defeated because he does not know how to counter a special technique the challenger uses.

The best student of the defeated master travels all over the country to find the counter-technique. At last he finds it. He returns to defeat the challenger using this counter-technique, restoring the glory of his school on behalf of his master.

This scenario is for the movies. In reality, every master knows the counter of any attack. If he is defeated, it is not due to his ignorance of the counter but due to his insufficient skill to apply it successfully. In combat, skills are usually more important than techniques.

The video series below, which shows a combat application of th Dragon-Tiger Set, captures some of these lessons on skills and techniques. Have some fun. Can you tell the occasions in the video clips where skills make the difference between applying the same techniques ineffectively or effectively? And do you know what skills are involved?

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”.

Developing from the Basic
Eugene Butterworth and Andy go over their combat application with patterns from their specialized Dragon-Tiger Set. Can you tell what basic sequences lay the foundation for this specialized combat sequence?
The size of the video clip is 0.61 mb.
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Be Realistic in Responses
Here Eugene and Andy go over their combat sequence in details. As Eugene attacks with a Fierce Tiger, which is the start of the basic combat sequences 5 to 8, instead of responding with Single Tiger as in the basic sequences, Andy grips the attacking arm and counters with an arrow punch using the pattern “Pull Bow Shoot Arrow”. Eugene counters with a combination of “Hiding Flowers in Sleeves” and “Golden Axe Chops Rock”. But Grandmaster Wong says the counter is unrealistic if the opponent really grips the arm.
The size of the video clip is 2.07 mb.
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Avoid Opponent’s Strike Before Countering
When Andy really holds Eugene’s arm, it is not so easy for Eugene to apply his counter. Grandmaster Wong advises that he should first avoid Andy’s arrow punch by sinking back and deflecting the punch with his other hand. Then he can release the grip with a circular movement, and counter with an organ-seeking kick.
The size of the video clip is 1.11 mb.
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Effectiveness of Proper Stances
How could you move back to avoid his punch when your opponent is holding your arm and pulling you? Here Grandmaster Wong shows the mechanics of this technique. Although he cannot move back because his arm is being pulled, Grandmaster Wong can avoid the punch by sinking his stance. Then he releases the grip and counter with “Yellow Oriole Drinks Water”.
The size of the video clip is 1.17 mb.
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The Importance of Proper Balance
Eugene follows Grandmaster Wong’s advice and counters with a kick. Nevertheless, his is a sweeping kick, using the pattern “Naughty Monkey Kicks Tree”. Grandmaster Wong says that “Yellow Oriole Drinks Water” is a better choice as it gives better balance. In the video clip Eugene is hesitant, which means that could be struck by his opponent. But this is only a work-out session. When he is familiar with the sequence, he can be fast and spontaneous.
The size of the video clip is 1.60 mb.
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Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves
In his counter, Eugene could not release the grip completely. Grandmaster Wong explains that he did not turn his hand. Suspending the other aspects of the combat situation, Grandmaster Wong shows how by circulating the hand, he can easily release the opponent’s grip. This pattern is called “Hiding Flowers in the Sleeves”.
The size of the video clip is 1.15 mb.
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Golden Axe Chops Rock
Now Eugene reverts back to his original sequence where he uses the pattern “Golden Axe Chops Rock”. However, the counter is not effective. Then Grandmaster Wong takes over and execute the same technique effectively. Why Eugene cannot use the Golden Axe effectively whereas Grandmaster Wong can?
The size of the video clip is 1.22 mb.
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Transforming an Ineffective Technique to Become Effective
After seeing Grandmaster Wong’s demonstration, now Eugene can execute his Golden Axe effectively. The same technique is used. Can you see the crucial point that transforms Eugene’s originally ineffective technique to become effective? Do you also notice that Andy’s response is the famous Double Butterfly Palms, which are often performed by Shaolin students but their applications are seldom known?
The size of the video clip is 0.46 mb.
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