Video Clip Series: Who Says there is no Ground-Fighting in Shaolin Kungfu?

WHO SAYS THERE IS NO GROUND-FIGHTING IN SHAOLIN KUNGFU

How woudl you escape from this lock, "Reverse Riding of Donkey"?

Who says there is no ground-fighting in Shaolin Kungfu? Wrestling techniques to pin opponents onto the ground are also found in Shaolin Kungfu, like “Lohan Worships the Buddha”, “Green Frog Crouches on Ground” and “Lazy Man Smokes Pipe”.

Some incredible secrets to counter such holds are hidden in the open in the video clips. Many people may find it hard to believe, but if you know these secrets and have the necessary skills, you can counter any attacks to pin you down.

Please click the pictures below to view the videos

Martial Art and Martial Sport

After felling an opponent, Sifu Roland is working out how to pin him on the ground safely using the Shaolin pattern “Lohan Worships the Buddha”, without giving the opponent a chance to counter-strike. This is a crucial difference between a martial art and a martial sport. In a martial art meant for real fighting, there is no protection from safety rules..

Escaping from being Pinned Down?

Sifu Roland pins Peter onto the ground using “Lohan Worships the Buddha”. It appears that Peter has no way to escape. But in Shaolin Kungfu, there is at least one counter against every attack. Do you know how to counter when you are pinned down like this?

Reserve Riding of a Donkey

This is another formidable way to pin down your opponent. This pattern is known in Shaolin Kungfu as “Reverse Riding of a Donkey”. If you twist your opponent's foot, you may break his ankle. If you were pinned down like this, how would you escape?

Riding a Dragon to Pull his Tendon

Here is another formidable way to pin down your opponent, and is known in Shaolin Kungfu as “Riding a Dragon to Pull his Tendon”. Who says there are no ground fighting in kungfu? This hold seems unbreakable but as mentioned earlier, there is no such a thing as an invulnerable attack.

Lazy Man Smokes Pipe

Here is another Shaolin technique to hold down an opponent on the ground, and is known as “Lazy Man Smokes Pipe”. This is a relatively easy hold to break — if you know how. Do you know how?

And Now the Fun Begins

Unless your opponent is very skillful, in which case the chin-na application would become a certainty, it is unlikely you would be locked in such a seemingly hopeless position. It takes a few steps for an attacker to establish his lock, and if you can frustrate him in any one of these steps, he would not succeed in his attack. But for the sake of systematic training, we allow our sparring partners to complete their locks before we begin to counter. And now the fun begins.

A Relatively Easy Counter

Peter holds Sifu Roland onto the ground with the pattern “Lazy Man Smokes Pipe”. As mentioned earlier, the counter is relatively easy, as Sifu Roland demonstrates here. It is more than just techniques. Do you know what it is?

You can view all the videos above by clicking the picture or the caption below

Who Says there's No Ground Fighting in Shaolin Kungfu from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.

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Special Shaolin Kungfu Course -- Part 116

16-22 April 2007