FROM PRE-CHOICE SEQUENCES TO FREE SPARRING

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Participants practice free sparring using typical kungfu forms


You have learnt the combat sequences well and can perform them smoothly. How are you going to use them in free sparring so that you use typical kungfu patterns in attack and defence correctly and spontaneously?

These are two main problems in free sparring most kungfu practitioners today face:

We in Shaolin Wahnam are very lucky to have a sparring methodology that can overcome these two problems. We have two main methods, namely the “Eight-Stage Approach” and “Subtraction and Addition”.

The "Eight-Stage Approach" consists of the following:

  1. Pre-Choice
  2. Self-Choice
  3. Surprised Counters
  4. Continuation
  5. Modifications and Variations
  6. External Change
  7. Internal Change
  8. Free Sparring

(Please note that our sparring methodology is constantly being improved upon. Hence, the number of stages and terms used may be slightly different at different periods.)

"Subtraction and Addition" naturally consists of

  1. Subtraction
  2. Addition

(Please note that "Subtraction and Addition" is a recent innovation. Early students may not have heard of this term though they used this method.)

Either "Eight-Stage Approach" or "Subtraction and Addition" can lead us to free sparring using kungfu forms correctly and spontaneously. But we use both methods.

This video series records some of these lessons.


Please click the pictures or the captions below to view the videos

Linking Sequences for Continuous Attacks

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can link all the four sequences of Combat Sequences 1 to 4 into a continuous attack. Amongst other benefits, this helps to review all the four sequences learnt.

Linking Combat Sequences 5 to 8

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can link Combat Sequences 5 to 8 into a continuous attack. Your opponent will be overwhelmed by the variety of techniques.

Continuous Attacks with Kicks

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can link Combat Sequences 9 to 12 together in a continuous attack. Please note that the video clips shows up to Sequence 11 only. These attacks focus on kicks. But unlike in Taekwondo, in kungfu the practitioner opens the ways for kicks with hand attacks.

Without Neglecting Form and Force in Slowing Down

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Participants often slow down for some specific purposes. Slowing down does not mean that the participants would neglect their form and force.

Changing from Right to Left Leg Mode

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Ben links Combat Sequences 13 and 14 into a continuous flow. After Sequence 13 which ends with the right leg mode, how would Ben continue with Sequence 14 which starts with the left leg mode?

An Example of Subtraction and Addition

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

You can change from the right leg mode at the end of Sequence 14 to the left leg mode at the start of Sequence 15. The initiator presses in with the next attack after “Precious Duck”, without waiting for the responder to execute a “Black Tiger” according to the prescribed sequence. In other words, after “Precious Duck” the initiator continues with Sequence 15. This is an example of “Subtraction and Addition”. The initiator subtracts a pattern from Sequence 14, and adds Sequence 15 to it.

The Grandmaster is Almost Caught Off-Guard

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

Grandmaster Wong pauses to explain some points but Sifu Jamie continues to attack. He almost catches Grandmaster Wong off-guard but due to his good training the grandmaster recovers himself and turns the table back on Sifu Jamie instead, winning impromptu loud applaud from the participants.

Subtraction and Addition

Shaolin Kungfu Show in Sabah

The initiator starts with two sequences with the option to subtract or add, after which the responder continues with one sequence also with the option to subtract and add.


You can view all the above videos here

LINKS

Review of the Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in Sabah in March 2007

Click here for an Overview of the entire course

  1. The Basics of Shaolin Kungfu Training
  2. Fundamental Combat Skills
  3. Defeat you Hand to your Opponent, Victory you Create Yourself
  4. Avoiding Disadvantages and Seeking Advantages
  5. Basic Principles and Tactics of Combat
  6. Skills derived from Sparring can be Rewardingly used in Daily Life
  7. Some Secrets in Practicing Genuine Kungfu
  8. Various Ways to Move into an Opponent

  9. Applying Combat Sequences in Sparring
  10. Linking Sequences to be More Combat Efficient
  11. The Secrets of Continuous Cannons
  12. The Mechanics of Continuation
  13. Marvelous Techniques Beget Marvelous Techniques
  14. Perfecting Forms and Developing Force
  15. Applying Tactics in Combat
  16. Objectives of Form Training in Solo

  17. Being Fluent in Kicking Techniques before Applying them in Combat
  18. Using Tactics in Kicking Attacks and Defences
  19. Different Levels of Sophistication in Sparring and Fighting
  20. The Legacy of Uncle Righteousness: Secret of Continuous Cannons and their Counters
  21. Benefiting from the Experiences and Teachings of Past Masters

  22. Poetic Patterns Can be Very Deadly
  23. Moving Back One Step when in Diffiuclt Situations
  24. Linking Sequences to Form a Kungfu Set
  25. Felling Techniques in Kungfu are Different from Judo and Wrestling
  26. Butterfly Palms and Hiding Flowers are Excellent in Countering Felling and Gripping Attacks
  27. Let Mercy Flow from the Hands

  28. Benefits of Solo Set Practice — Combat Sequences 13 to 16
  29. From Pre-Choice Sequences to Free Sparring
  30. Applying Shaolin Patterns Correctly and Spontaneously in Free Sparring
  31. Shaolin Kungfu against Boxing and Kick-Boxing
  32. Shaolin Counters against Wrestling Shoots
  33. The Secret of Grandmaster Ho Fatt Nam
  34. Why Shaolin Kungfu is Technically Faster than Boxing
  35. Shaolin Techniques, Tactics and Strategies against Boxing
  36. Revealing Secrets of Past Taijiquan Masters
  37. Overwhelming Opponents with Just One Pattern
  38. Poetry and Elegance in Effective Combat

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