Wong Kiew Kit’s Home Page
Shaolin Wahnam Video Series
TANTUI AT THE UK SUMMER CAMP OF JULY 2007
Martin and Jas enjoying some Tantui sparring
Please note that you can download the video clips onto your own computer and view them at your leisure. Enter the webpage (not this one) where the selected video clip can be downloaded. 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”.
1. The Secret of Internal Force Training
What is the secret of the internal force masters? It is zhan zhuang, or stance training. Stance training is the one most important category of exercises to develop internal force. It also develops mental clarity and spiritual joys. The main Shaolin stances are shown here, namely Horse-Riding, Bow-Arrow, False-Leg, Unicorn, Triangle, Single-Leg and Goat Stance. There are only two steps in stance training. Firstly, make sure that the posture is correct. Then follow the three golden rules, namely relax, relax and relax.
Click here to enter
2. Experiencing the Effects of Deviated Practice
The way we perform some of our stances is quite different from that in other schools. For example, our Horse-Riding Stance maintain s triangle or pyramid shape. This enables cosmic chi to flow to our legs and root us to the ground, as well as to be accumulated at the dan tian. Our Bow-Arrow Stance is formed with our feet in line, and our toes turned inward at about 45 degrees. In the Goat Stance we turn both feet inward at angle between 5 to 10 degrees. Course participants try out the different postures of the various stances, and find from direct experience that the deviated positions bring harm.
Click here to enter
3. Basic Footwork Training
One often hear people saying that “ma-bu” is very important, but not many realize that “ma-bu” refers not just to the Horse-Riding Stance or stances in general. There are actually two concepts in the term, namely “ma” and “bu”.
“Ma” refers to stances, and “bu” to footwork. Hence, it is not sufficient that we train our stances, but also our footwork, thus manifesting the yin-yang harmony of the term. In other words, we should not only be solid, which our stance training will bring, but also be agile, which comes from good footwork.
Click here to enter
4. From Correct Movement to Speed and Elegance
We often hear kungfu practitioners saying that the basics are very important, but they often do not realize what the basics mean, thinking mistakenly that the basics refer to kungfu patterns. In our school, the basics go beyond the kungfu patterns. They refer to stances and footwork, body-movements, hand forms, elegance and fluidity, breath control and energy flow and mental calmness and clarity. In other words, they refer to the six harmonies of all kungfu movements. Here we focus on footwork. We learn how to move with speed and elegance, as well as to minimize setbacks and maximize advantages.
Click here to enter
5. Different Ways of Turning
You may be surprised that to enhance combat efficiency, many considerations are involved when you turn from one direction to another. The most obvious factor is direction. There are eight major directions which correspond to the compass points, namely north, south, east, west, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west. Another consideration is leg-mode, which can be left-to-left, left-to-right, right-to-left or right-to-right. The point of reference can be front-point reference, mid-point reference and end-point reference. The body-movement may be clockwise and anti-clockwise, and the leg-approach may be yin, yang and straight.
Click here to enter
6. Adding Hand Forms to Stances to Form Patterns
In our school leg stretching is performed not as physical exercise but as contributes chi kung. Hence it contributes not only to our flexibility but also to our force and speed. When we can perform stances and footwork with flexibility, force and speed, learning new patterns is a matter of adding appropriate hand forms. The class has a gala time moving about with various patterns in different stances
Click here to enter
7. The Mechanics of "Fa-Jin" or Exploding Force
“Fa-jin” or exploding force is often spoken of but little understood. Besides internal force, the mechanics to explode the force is also important. “Black Tiger Steals Heart” is an excellent pattern to practice “fa-jin”. Once you have attained the skill of exploding force, you can apply the skill in any patterns. The movement starts from the back leg, is controlled by the rotation of the waist which spirals out the internal force from the dan tian, and the force is exploded in the fist. This co-ordination of the legs, body and hands constitutes the three external harmonies. The movement should be elegant, the chi flow should be smooth and the mind focused. This constitutes the three internal harmonies.
Click here to enter
"Bo-Fa" and "Shen-Fa" or Footwork and Body-Movement
A common mistake many martial artists make is focusing only on their hand forms but neglecting their footwork and body-movement. Footwork is not just how to move in correct stances. It includes, among other aspects, the appropriate positioning of the feet and the rotation of the knees. A crucial aspect of body-movement is the rotation of the waist. This is especially emphasized in Taijiquan, but is also important in Shaolin Kungfu. Amongst other benefits, rotating the waist minimize an opponent’s force and maximize your own.
Click here to enter
9. The Three Harmonies of Legs, Body and Hands
Many of our students are amazed that they could learn kungfu sets from us very quickly. A main reason is that we place great emphasis on the basics. Once we perform the basics well, we can learn any patterns quickly. The basics of the patterns are the three harmonies, a term sometimes mentioned but seldom understood. Kungfu classics often explain the three harmonies as the legs harmonize with the body, the body harmonizes with the hands, and the hands harmonize with the legs. As usually the case in the kungfu classics, the explanation was not meant for public consumption but as a reminder for practitioners who had gone through the the three harmonies themselves
Click here to enter
10. Tantui Sequence 1 -- Thrust Punch
The first sequence of Tantui, called “Thrust Punch”, is simple to perform but profound in application. Would you believe that you can use just this sequence to handle any forms of attacks? Indeed, if you specialize in just this one sequence, you can become quite a formidable fighter. The various patterns in the sequence should be performed as if they were one long, continuous pattern. The performance is guided by the three external harmonies of feet, body and hands, and the three internal harmonies of essence, energy and mind.
Click here to enter
11. The Three Fs -- Form, Force and Flow
A good strategy to learn and practice a set is the three Fs – Form, Force and Flow. First, get the form correct, paying attention to the three external harmonies of legs, body and hands. Next, explode force wherever is needed. The force is internal, not mechanical. Then link all the patterns together in one continuous flow where there is no beginning and no ending. The flow should be smooth, and this will lead to speed. If you follow the three Fs, your kungfu movements will be beautiful, fast and forceful, yet you will not be tired nor panting for breath.
Click here to enter
12. Every Kungfu Session is a Training of Energy and Mind
In Shaolin Wahnam, every kungfu movement is a training of mind and energy. Hence our students practice kungfu, chi kung and meditation at the same time. This was how great Shaolin Kungfu (as well as Taijiquan) was practiced in the past. When our students make a physical movement, it is done not by muscular tension but by chi. Hence, at the end of a kungfu performance, they can go into vigorous chi flow. They conclude the chi flow in Zen or meditation.
Click here to enter
13. Simple in Appearance but Profound in Application
Tantui is very popularly practiced today, but unfortunately the great majority of Tantui practitioners only perform the solo forms without understanding their combat application. They may be very surprised that all the Tantui patterns are very useful for fighting? Indeed, if one is fluent in just Tantui Sequence 1, which is called “Thrust Punch”, he can be quite a formidable fighter. Imagine how combat efficient a Tantui master will be when he is fluent in all the twelve Tantui sequences. The Tantui patterns may look simple, but they can be quite profound. For example, the pattern “Roll Elbow”, known in Southern Shaolin as “Crow Flaps Wings”, has many other combat functions besides being an effective elbow strike. It can be used to release an opponent’s grip or to fell an opponent.
Click here to enter
14. If you Use a lot of Kicks, you should also Know their Counters
Shaolin Tantui is famous for its kicks. Some martial artists may be surprised as they may not see many obvious kicking techniques in a Tantui demonstration as they would normally see in martial arts associated with kicks like Taekwondo and Muay Thai. The main reason is that the kicks are purposely made inconspicuous. Another difference between Tantui and other kicking arts is that there are also many effective counters against kicks, although many martial artists, including many Tantui practitioners themselves, may be aware of it. It is logical in kungfu philosophy. If you use a lot of kicks yourself, you should also know a lot of counters against kicks. Being able to neutralize your own attacks.will not only prevent you from being defeated by your own techniques, but also enhance the understanding and application of your attacks. This, however, does not seem to be the case in Taekwondo and Muay Thai.
Click here to enter
15. It is Necessary to have an Element of Threat in Combat
A major weakness in kungfu training is that kungfu practitioners often lack an element of threat in their combat. This lack of an element of threat is also a major reason why many kungfu practitioners are not combat efficient. They are unaccustomed to both attacking fiercely and defending against fierce attacks. Thus, if you wish to be combat efficient, you have to overcome this weakness.
Adding an element of threat does not necessarily mean that we need to be aggressive and injure our sparring partners. Our attacks and counters can be threatening, but we can still be in good control so as not to hurt our sparring partners or even real opponents unless we want to.
Click here to enter
16. Counters against Formidable Muay Thai Knee Jabs
Many martial artists are weary of meeting Muay Thai opponents. Muay Thai knee jabs, for example, are ferocious and formidable. But like any other attacks, they can be countered easily if you know how. As Muay Thai is a sport, a Muay Thai fighter would merely hold your neck, instead of gripping it, when simultaneously kicking you with knee jabs. But in a real fight, an opponent may also grip your neck, thus making the attack even more formidable. But Grandmaster Wong shows you how you can overcome it.
Click here to enter
17. Against Shoots, Against Throws, and Felling Opponents
Although the shoot is an unwise attacking technique in a real fight unprotected by safety rules, today many martial artists use it. Rolling Elbow and Throwing Fist, both found in Tantui Sequence 1, are effective counters against the shoot. They are also effective against an opponent attempting to fell you, or on the other hand for felling an opponent. Can you figure out how this is possible before viewing the video clips?
Click here to enter
Tantui Course at UK Summer Camp 2007
Another review of Tantui courses held in Toronto and Frankfurt can be found at
Tantui, the Essence of Northern Shaolin
Intensive Courses and Regular Classes
This page has been visited 
times since 28th June 2008