APPLICATION OF THE PLUM FLOWER SABRE
Blocking a Spear Thrust
Blocking a Spear Thrust
The spear thrust is technically the most formidable attack from any weapon. Hence, one must be able to defend against or counter a spear thrust before he can be said to be competent in the use of his chosen weapon. How would you counter a spear thrust? Obviously not like what is shown in this video, though it is not uncommon in some movies.
If you block a spear thrust, or any thrusting attack, you have to allow the attack to pass your defence a short distance into you before you can block it. More significantly, the spearman can circle or flow round your saber to attack you.
Circulating Movements of the Spear
A better way to defend against a spear thrust is to deflect it away. Notice that this is different from blocking. But it also exposes the defender to some serious threats. Do you know what the threats are?
A spearman could easily circle his spear around the defender's weapon. Grandmaster Wong warns that these circling movements of a spear are nothing special. They are basic movements of a spear. In other words, anyone who knows how to use a spear properly, would know how to circle his spear and flow it into an opponent. If you use a saber, how would you overcome this circling movements of a spear?
Weaving Flowers with a Sabre
An effect counter against a spear thrust is to circulate the saber against the spear before moving in to strike the opponent. Such circulating movements are known as "wehtmlng flowers" in kungfu terminology. Grandmaster Wong emphasizes that you must weave in such a way that the spear-head does not point towards you.
Notice that in the video clip above, the wehtmlng is performed at the "in-gate". Here it is performed at the "out-gate".
The Ferocious Attacks of a Kuan Tou
Grandmaster Wong demonstrates the six fundamental attacks of a Kuan Tou, or Big Knife. A Kuan Tou is a heavy weapon and its attacks can cut through a defender's weapon.
Note: the weapon here is actually a Nine-Ring Knife, but it is similar to a Kuan Tou. The Kuan Tou (Guan Dao in Mandarin) is named after Kuan Yu (Guan Yu), a great warrior of the Three-Kingdom Period in Chinese history, and now worshipped as the God of Righteousness. A Nine-Ring Knife is a Big Knife with nine rings at the back of its blade.
Grandmaster Wong uses the saber to deflect the downward chop of a Kuan Tou, and counter-strike. He explains that it is not a block, in which case the saber can be broken into pieces by the Kuan Tou. When performed correctly, the harder the downward chop, the easier it is to deflect it.
Don't Block a Heavy Weapon
If you block a powerful sweep of a heavy weapon like a Kuan Tou, your lighter weapon may be broken into pieces and the heavy weapon continues to cut into you.
Grandmaster Wong explains that deflecting the downward chop of a heavy weapon (as shown in another video clip) is different from blocking the horizontal sweep of the same weapon. Then how would you counter such powerful sweeping attacks?
Avoid the Powerful Momentum of a Heavy Weapon
Grandmaster Wong explains that blocking a heavy weapon head-on may result in the lighter weapon being broken. However, in an emergency, if it is necessary to block it, you need to use both hands to support your blocking weapon, like "Opening Window to Look at Moon". Did you see the application of this principle in unarmed combat, like against a powerful sweeping kick?
Sifu Joshua deflects the powerful sweep of Paul's Kuan Tou and uses "Open Window to Look at Moon" to slice at Pauls hand.
Avoid the Opponent's Strength
Sifu Joshua deflects the "bowling" attack of the Kuan Tou following its momentum and counter-chop the opponent.
Grandmaster Wong comments that Sifu Robin is not blocking the horizontal sweep of the Kuan Tou as he has moved away from the attack, and simultaneously counter-attacks. Can you see the similarity of this response with kicking the attacker's groin as he executes a sweeping kick?
Applying the Same Tactics in Unarmed Combat
Another excellent tactic against a powerful attack is to avoid it, then as it has passed, you move in swiftly to strike your opponent, as demonstrated by Sifu Wong Chun Nga against the ferocious sweeping attack of Dr Damian's Kuan Tou. Grandmaster Wong used the same tactic very successfully against Taekwondo experts in his younger days.
Deflect the upward "bowling" attack of the Kuan Tou, then move in to attack the opponent's leg. Can you see the same combat principle applied to opponents using high kicks? You can pluck some peaches instead.
Application of Plum Flower Sabre from Wong Kiew Kit on Vimeo.
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