Some serious mistakes some martial artists make when attempting an over-the-shoulder throw, or any throw. The opponent's free hand can gore the eyes, tear the throat or grip the groin. These are deadly strikes and gripping attacks.

The danger of not covering an opponent when attempting a throw is now shown from another angle. The opponent could dislocate your neck, choke you or apply other deadly locks. How would you prevent these deadly counter-attacks when you wish to throw your opponent over the shoulder?

You could lock the opponent's arms before throwing him over the shoulder. This could also dislocate his elbow. An over-the-shoulder throw, executed with the pattern “Farmer Hoes Rice Field”, may break the opponent's backbone resulting in paralysis — something that we do not want to happen even to our opponent. But why are the participants in the video laughing? Obviously it is not for breaking an opponent's backbone.

Grandmaster Wong has locked Sifu Jamie's arms, and is about to throw him over the shoulder. Is Sifu Jamie's backbone going to be broken? No, Grandmaster Wong lets mercy flow from his hands. He changes his over-the-shoulder throw to a round-the-hip throw, letting Sifu Jamie just rolls over. And as a follow-up, instead of striking the opponent's head, Grandmaster Wong merely touches his cheek.

Now Sifu Jamie has his turn. He locks Grandmaster Wong arms and is about to throw him over the shoulder. Will he dislocate the opponent's elbow and break the opponent's spine? No. Grandmaster Wong turns his arm to neutralize the pressure on his elbow. Then following the momentum of the throw, he rolls over, thus neutralizing the throw, lifts Sifu Jamie's arms and executes a side kick at Sifu Jamie.

The roles are now reverse. Grandmaster Wong attempts to throw Sifu Jamie over the shoulder. Sifu Jamie rolls over and executes a side kick. Grandmaster Wong retreats to a Riding-Dragon Step, which is a variation of the Bow-Arrow Stance, to avoid the kick and simultaneously strikes the kicking leg using “Save Emperor with Single Whip”. Sifu Jamie moves away. Grandmaster Wong moves in with a palm strike, and Sifu Jamie threads away using “Golden Dragon Plays with Water”.

In Shaolin Wahnam, the Bow-Arrow Stance is performed with both feet in line. But in this variation of the Bow-Arrow Stance, called Riding-Dragon Step, two feet are far apart. Why is this so. It is because this gives the best advantage for the combat situation in question. If the feet are in line as in a normal Bow-Arrow Stance, the practitioner would be unable to strike the kicking leg. It is called a “step” instead of a “stance” because the poise is transitional; a “stance” indicate a more permanent poise.

Another felling technique is pushing. The push is from the back leg, not from the shoulders. This pattern is called “Fierce Tiger Pushes Mountain”. It is important to cover the opponent's hands when pushing to prevent possible counter-strikes.

The roles is now reversed. Sifu Jamie gives Grandmaster Wong a push, employing “Fierce Tiger Pushes Mountain”. Following the momentum of the push, Grandmaster Wong retreats a small step and executes a thrust kick at the attacker using the pattern “White Horse Presents Hoof”.

Grandmaster Wong attempts to push Sifu Jamie to fall over. Sifu Jamie retreats a small step to neutralize the push, and counters with a thrust kick. Grandmaster Wong brings his front leg to a T-Step to avoid the kick and simultaneously strikes the kicking leg with Single Whip.