Kung Fu Self-Defense Training Summary: December 15th, 2007
Montreal, Canada
Part One:
We began class with a blocking drill: in lady stance with the right hand, outward block, cross-body block, downward block and then the same drill with the left hand.
Making a transition with two half-circles to horse stance, we mixed fists and blocks. From horse stance with the right hand, we threw a straight punch, pulled back with an outward block (with some torque), then let fly a sun-fist, followed by a downward block, and then we made a small circling motion with our hand turning our wrist and the flat of our palm outward and making a gathering motion (as though we were digging into some sand and gathering it up in our hand) and as our fist closed, we lifted it swiftly in an uppercut which stopped around our ears. After doing this with the right hand, we did this with the left hand. Then we alternated a few times.
In the next sequence, we remained in horse stance and used both hands. First, we did double straight punch, then double outward block, then double sun-fist, then double downward block, then uppercut. With our uppercut stopping around our ears, we turned our fists so that our elbows circled out until we were in position to let fly a double straight punch again. We repeated this several times.
In the next sequence, we switched to bow stance and practiced advancing on an opponent while executing these punches and blocks. From bow stance we took a small step forward with our lead foot and then launched the double straight punch. Then we leaned back slightly and let our lead toes rise from the ground a bit as we executed a double outward block with our elbows close to our core and the flat palms with fingers together held a bit out and torqued in preparation for stepping forward slight with the lead foot again and at the same time launching the double sun fist. We then stepped slightly again as we executed a double downward block with attention paid to simply dropping our body into a lower stance rather than leaning forward. Our stance was at that point modified from bow stance to a modified twisted stance with the back heel off the ground the back leg’s knee dropped lower to the ground. From the downward block position, we took another slight step and then launched the double uppercut. This sequence was repeated several times.
Part Two:
After a five minute water break, we resumed training by practicing rolling backfist. From a modified high cat or bow stance, with flat open palm hands held at should length height, we practiced dropping the lead hand and forming a fist while at the same time advancing the other hand in a “brushing the eyes” motion to camouflage the backfist that followed it almost instantaneously in one fluid motion. Initially we practiced this in segments and then we sped it up to execute it in one motion. We followed that by practicing advancing on an opponent with it. First, in lines and then with partners, we practiced stepped forward as let our reverse hand brush the eyes of the opponent. As we stepped forward, we made light contact with the other person’s raised arms held at fighting/blocking readiness and allowed our forward motion with the arm to not only obscure the vision of the opponent but slightly lean/drop our body weight on the other person’s extended arms in preparation for releasing the backfist, e.g. to the side of the opponent’s head. This was repeated for awhile.
To end the class we practiced “monkey walking.” In lines, we crouched low to the ground with a lead leg perpendicular to the ground and the other collapsed beneath our body, so low that we could rest our weight on the one leg below us. Without rising significantly, we practiced advancing forward in this crouched position alternating which leg most of our weight was on staying low with our arms loosely held at our sides imagining how a monkey moves. We first advanced one step at a time on Sifu’s count. Then we reversed backward one step at a time on Sifu’s count. Then we advanced forward two quick steps at a time on Sifu’s count. Then we reversed backward two quick steps at a time on Sifu’s count. Then we advanced forward from one end of the room to the other as fast as we could. Immediately reaching the end, without warning, Sifu called everybody to reverse backward to the other end of the room as fast as we could. At that point, most of us were struggling enough to continue moving in the monkey walk that Sifu gave us permission to stop.
We ended the class with questions and clarifications.
Summary prepared by RM
