QUIZ ON COMBAT -- SERIES 1
Here is a series of quizzes to test and help you to revise your understanding of combat principles. Series 1 refers to the review webpage on Combat Sequence 1, Series 2 refers to the review webpage on Combat Sequence 2, and so on. Consult the respective webpages if needed.
Those attending the Special Shaolin Kungfu Course (by invitation only) should complete the quizzes successfully as part of their preparation.
Go to the answers (assessable from a link found at the bottom of the page) only when you are quite sure the ones given by you are correct. In other words, check the answers not for curiosity but for confirmation.
Combat Quiz Series 1
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What is the main function of free sparring in traditional kungfu training?
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Before you even move in to attack, you need to have “four modes of preparation”. What are these “four modes of preparation”?
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When you move in to attack, you need to “ask the way”. What are the two main purposes of asking the way?
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In your attack, you should achieve “three arrivals”. What are these “three arrivals”?
- In combat, skills are often more crucial than techniques. What are the three fundamental skills (meaning the most basic and the most important skills) for combat efficiency?
Here are the Chinese terms for some of the concepts mentioned above which you may like to know. The terms are given in Cantonese, the language of classical China in which most kungfu terms were recorded, and also the language I learned these terms in. They are followed by Mandarin, the language of court officials, which is now the official language of China and called by the present Chinese government as “putonghua”, which means, interestingly, the language of the common people.
Please note that Cantonese and Mandarin or putonghua here refer to the spoken language. In their written forms, the words or Chinese characters are the same.
Free sparring = san ta: san da
Four modes of preparation = seai pei; si bei.
Ask the way = men lou; wen lou.
Skills = kung; gong.
Techniques = fatt; fa.
Three arrivals = sam tou; san dao