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Steve executes the famous Tiger-Tail Kick and Andy responds with Dark Dragon Wags Tail

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Kicks are very important in kungfu. There is a kungfu saying that the hands open the way, it is the legs that defeat opponents. And although some people, without first checking the facts, may vehemently oppose this statement, there are more kicks in Shaolin Kungfu than in all other well known martial arts put together.

“Kicks” may not be a perfect translation of the Chinese term “thuei fatt” (“tui fa” in Mandarin pronunciation), which means “leg techniques”, as there are some leg techniques, like “leg-drag” and “knee flick”, which are not normally conceptualized as kicks.

Traditionally, there are “Thirty Six Leg Techniques” in Shaolin Kungfu. All the well known kicks in Taekwondo, Kick-Boxing and Muay Thai are found in these thirty six leg techniques, but some of these leg techniques, like step-kick and spade-kick, are not found in other well known arts. This and subsequent series capture the lessons course participants formulate combat sequences where kicks are incorporated.

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Three Kicks in a Short Encounter

Steve and Andy are working out some kicking techniques from the Dragon-Tiger Set. In this short encounter, Steve uses three different kicks, as well as how to counter if an opponent has successfully grabbed your leg as you kick.
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Grandmaster Wong Shares a Secret

Here Grandmaster Wong shares a secret. He demonstrates a technique which he used against kicks when he frequently sparred with other martial artists, especially Taekwondo blackbelts, more than 30 years ago. He says this technique, implemented in the pattern “Double Tigers Subdue a Dragon”, never failed him, and his opponents usually did not know what to do. But now Steve has an excellent counter, even with the addition of the deadly organ-seeking kick.
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The Famous Tiger-Tail Kick

Steve and Andy go over the sequence slowly to take note of the fine points involved. Steve overcomes an opponent’s gripping his leg with the famous Tiger-Tail kick. Andy responds with “Dark Dragon Wags Tail”.
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Incorporating Kicks in a Combat Sequence

Sifu Innes and Alex go over the combat sequence they have worked out from their Five-Animal Set. A requirement for this combat sequence is that there must be some kicks. The movements are slow and hesitant because they have just formulated the sequence. When they are familiar with the sequence, they would be fast. Nevertheless, there are a few weaknesses in the responses. Can you detect them?
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Improving Footwork

Grandmaster Wong helps Alex to improve his footwork. If you use a False-Leg Stance and an opponent moves in to attack, you can retreat by moving your back leg, not your front leg, backward. Alex did this too. So what was his fault? He did not move forward again when he applied the Double Tiger Claws. This can be accomplished by using a “drag-step”, i.e. dragging the front leg forward.
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More Elegant and Combat Effective

Here Grandmaster Wong helps Sifu Innes to improve his footwork. The movements are similar, but can you notice a difference in the effect? Grandmaster Wong’s movement is not only more elegant, it is also more combat effective. He also guards against Alex’s possible counter-attacks while applying the organ-seeking kick.
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What are the Faults in this Response?

Alex’ response to Sifu Innes’s kick is awkward. Grandmaster Wong reminds them that while a sparring partner would control his attack, a real opponent wouldn’t. We must always train realistically, though with control. What are Alex’s faults in his response?
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Improving Efficiency with Appropriate Stance

Alex rectifies his previous mistake of poor balance and open exposure by changing from a Bow-Arrow Stance to a Unicorn Stance. Grandmaster Wong helps him to improve further by proceeding from the Unicorn Step to a sideway Horse-Riding Stance.
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1. Returning to the Basics
2. Form, Force, Flow and Element of Threat
3. Reviewing the Basic Combat Sequences
4. Devising Strategies Using Combat Sequences
5. Applying Strategies for Effective Combat
6. Free Sparring with Prescribed Conditions
7. Combat Sequences to Train Spontaneous Attacks and Responses
8. Using Strategies and Tactics in Attack and Defence
9. It is Heartening to see so Many People Using Kungfu in Free Sparring
10. Felling and Gripping Techniques in Shaolin Kungfu

11. How Sequence Training and Chi Flow Enhance Combat Efficiency
12. The Tiger-Crane Set - Manifesting the Hard and the Soft in Shaolin Kungfu
13. The Dragon-Tiger Set - Crystallization of Two Wahnam Traditions
14. The Dragon-Form Set - Demonstrating that Softness Can be Very Powerful
15. Shaolin Monkey Set – Symbolizing Spiritual Path from Cheekiness to Enlightenment
16. Shaolin Five-Animal Set – Gist of Shaolin Forms and Essence
17. Shaolin Pakua Set Set – An Exclusive Set Fit for Kings and Generals
18. Combat Application pf Pakua – Sharing Secrets for Combat Efficiency
19. Beginning to Learn some Monkey Tricks
20. Refining Techniques in Combat

21. Some Examples of High level Combat
22. Collective Effort for Greater Benefits
23. Can Sophisticated Kungfu Techniques be Used in Combat?
24. Skills are usually More Important than Techniques
25. One-Finger Shooting Zen – the Treasure of Shaolin Wahnam
26. Raising Levels of Techniques and Tactics in Combat
27. Bringing Combat Skills to More Sophisticated Levels
28. Monkey Techniques are Flowing and Agile but can be Very Devastating
29. Flowing with the Opponent's Momentum
30. Beware of the Monkey Tricks

31. Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
32. How to Raise your Level of Combat
33. How you can Defeat your Opponents
34. Employing Sophisticated Kungfu Techniques to Enhance Combat Efficiency
35. Systematic Training is Essential for Combat Efficiency
36. Raising Combat Efficiency from Basic to Advanced Levels
37. Kungfu Philosophy and Swaying Willows
38. Hands Pave the Way, Kicks to Clinch Victory
39. Six Harmonies of the Double Tiger Claws
40. The Amazement and Effectiveness of Monkey Kicks

41. A Bag Full of Monkey Tricks
42. Gentle and Flowing, yet Very Powerful
43. Can your Responses still be Correct and Spontaneous in Real Fights?
44. Incorporating Kicks into Combat Sequences





To be continued

• Intensive Chi Kung Course
• Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course
• Intensive Taijiquan Course

• List of Certified Shaolin Wahnam Instructors

This page has been visited times since 15th January 2008