Video Clip Series: Making Flowers with the Spear

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Shaolin Wahnam Video Series

Review of the UK Summer Camp Weapon Course July 2007

Traveling Dragon Spear – Part 18

MAKING FLOWERS WITH THE SPEAR

"Making Flowers" is an important spear technique

Chinese is an interesting language. If you do not know the language, by merely looking at the dictionary meaning of the words in question, often you do not know their actual meaning. “Khuen Fa” (“kun fa” in Mandarin) is an example. Literally, “khuen” means to tie around, and “fa” means flowers.

But “khuen fa” is a kungfu term referring to a technique whereby you continuously and swiftly swing your weapon around yourself. The speed of your swing weapon is symbolized as flowers blossoming all around you. For lack of a better term, I would translate “khuen fa” as “making flowers” r “surrounding yourself with flowers”, generated by the fast swinging of your weapon.

“Making fl;owers” is a general term. There are different ways of “making flowers”, but all of them have the common factor of your weapon spinning fast around yourself. It is not an easy technique to learn, but the video clips and explanations below will simplify the learning process.

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 and a video series of the set can be found here and here respectively.

Open Flowers and Close Flowers
“Making Flowers” may be divided into two broad categories, “Open Flowers” where the spearhead or blade of the weapon moves outward or upward, as in the standard mode of “making flowers” in this spear set, or “Close Flowers” where the spearhead or blade moves inward or downward as in this video clip. The “Cross-Road Metal Spear Set” Grandmaster Wong learned in Uncle Righteousness lineage used this “close” mode of “making flowers”
The size of the video clip is 0.45 mb.
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From Open Flowers to Close Flowers
“Making Flowers” is initially in the “open” mode. Grandmaster Wong shows how he changes it to the “close” mode as he turns around. It is quite simple. Follow the flowing movement as you turn around.
The size of the video clip is mb.
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Cross-Over of Hands
The two hands holding the spear should not be too close. Here Grandmaster Wong shows the “close” mode in “making flowers”. First he holds the spear with his right hand in front. The “cross-over” of the two hands is on the right side. Then he holds the spear with the left hand in front. Now the “cross-over” is on the left side.
The size of the video clip is 1.75 mb.
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Left-Hand Spear in Open Mode of Making Flowers
Now Grandmaster Wong uses the left-hand mode known as “left-hand spear”, i.e. holding the spear with the left hand in front. The “making flowers” is in the “open” mode. The spearhead moves outward or upward. The “cross-over” of the hands is on the right side. This is the standard mode used in this spear set.
The size of the video clip is 1.32 mb.
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Making Flowers with the Spear
The class practices “making flowers” with the spear. In the foreground is Sifu Anthony Korahais. It is to the participants’ credit that they learn fast and can perform the technique very well. They learn this difficult technique in less than half an hour.
The size of the video clip is 1.17 mb.
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Making Flowers in Bow-Arrow Stance
Grandmaster Wong leads the class in the practice of “making flowers”. The spear is held with the left hand in front, and the mode in “making flowers” is “open”. The “cross-over” of hands is on the right side. Here Grandmaster Wong uses the left Bow-Arrow Stance. Of course, “making flowers” can be performed in any stances.
The size of the video clip is 0.67 mb.
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First Be Familiar with the Movement
Now Grandmaster Wong uses the right Bow-Arrow Stance. The “cross-over” of hands is on the right side as before. Take care that the spearhead does not scratch the ground while “making flowers”. At first you have to be familiar with the movement. Then you can gradually increase the speed.
The size of the video clip is 1.43 mb.
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Systematic Progression in Learning
Next, Grandmaster Wong moves in the False-Leg Stance. The other modes are the same, i.e. left hand in front, “open flowers” and “cross-over” of hands on the right side. Such systematic progression is a secret of effective learning, as is evident from the video clip.
The size of the video clip is 1.70 mb.
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Systematic and Progressive Training
In the next systematic progression, Grandmaster Wong shows the class how to turn around and change the “open” mode of “making flowers” to a “close” mode. Such systematic and progressive training not only enable the class to learn fast but also to be comprehensive in their training. All important aspects of “making flowers” are dealt with.
The size of the video clip is mb.
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Open to Close, and Open to Open
Having learnt how to change from an “open” mode to a “close” mode, now the class learns how to continue with the “open” mode after turning around. The mechanics involved are shown clearly slowly. What advantages can be obtained from the different modes?
The size of the video clip is 1.20 mb.
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Smooth Transition in Continuing or Changing Mode
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates again the mechanics involved in continuing the “open” mode of “making flowers” after turning around. Regardless of whether you continue with the same mode or change into the other mode, the transition must be smooth.
The size of the video clip is 0.85 mb.
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