Training Location 22 June 2008
We will be training at Parc Angrignon. Be at the metro between around 8:50 a.m. and we will go to the training location together. If you are late, follow the main path into the park until you see us. Sifu Troy Marquis
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 21 June 2008
Day 3
Summary
In today’s training session, I introduced and explained a new exercise/balance leg routine. Those who have trained with me before are familiar with this routine and know it as the “standing leg exercises,” namely leg raises, inward/outward circles, and front leg raises. Also, I discussed the geometry, physics and application dynamics of the straight punch and the back fist. Finally, we practiced concentrated back fist in pairs, focusing on the differences in depth of target.
Standing Leg Exercises
The basic Standing Leg Exercises introduced today are designed to strengthen the ligaments of the upper leg as well as getting your legs used to working independently of other body parts insofar as balance is concerned. The practical application of the movements are not as important as the experimentation with different balances all rooted on one foot. The redistribution of your weight on one leg while moving the other leg in different directions and at different distances from your core naturally necessitate a re-adjustment to your upper body in order to compensate for gravity’s effect on the extended limb Furthermore, the stronger your base leg is, the less upper body compensation is required. For example, if I circle my leg outward, when it reaches its furthest distance from my body, I must either tilt my upper body backwards (or sideways), or I hold it out with my leg strength. This “compensation” is more apparent when we practiced holding a chambered side kick extension, but nevertheless, it does exist in all Standing Leg Exercise movements.
The moves are pretty straight forward; however if there are any questions please ask.
We will be doing this almost every class (so remind me if I forget).
Stances
No new stances were introduced.
Straight Punch
I spent a lot of time going over the finer details of punch and impact, especially where the proper “launch” technique is concerned. Remember that if the punch is thrown properly, you will be able to effectively strike an opponent at all points along the punches trajectory. The closing opponent gets struck with a close body uppercut, the medium range opponent gets struck with a medium range uppercut, or a sun fist, or a nascent straight punch at its initial point of “turning” (i.e. when the fist turns from knuckles down to knuckles up).
You cannot rely on your opponent to stop your punch so you MUST stop your punch before your elbow locks out. Recall the scenarios I demonstrated when the elbow locks out and your opponent either breaks your elbow, or you punch has very little power. Do not rely on your opponent to be a physical stop for your techniques - control yourself, control your technique, and always be ready to vary/change your attack/defense. STUDENT COMMENTS IN THE PUNCH POST CREATED FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
Back Fist
Today we practiced in pairs, striking our partners hands as a target and studying the effects of different weights and depths of strikes. Try to resist the temptation to bend the wrist on order to strike with the ridges of your fist. Although the pain to your opponent is sharper, it lacks the surface area and dispersal of energy throughout the target.
Choice of Target
Depending on what foot is forward, your choice of targets for the back fist will differ. For example, if you and your opponent have the same foot forward towards each other (the usual fight posture people naturally assume), then you will be able to strike the back of the head, the edge of the mandible (outwards), the outer cheek bone, etc…). You must be aware of your potential targets as well as the degree of difficulty required to reach them. Finally, you must also consider whether you want to let your fist rest, or to return immediately. Normally the strike zone for a rapid back fist is the back side of the first two knuckles; however, depending on the breadth of the target (i.e. the back of your opponents head) you might be able to use more of your back-fist surface area. Finally, I touched on the back fist’s relative, the whipping punch (forearm smash), and I demonstrated a few potential variations.
Remember: The hermetic conditions created during a demonstration - where the opponent does not resist the attach - may give a false sense of security in the back fist’s potential to deter an attacker. The back fist is not a knock-out strike unless certain areas are hit; nevertheless, it is one of the most effective weapons in your arsenal; it is usually the prelude to a series of stronger bombardments, the culmination of which should leave your opponent hurt.
Pairs Practice
Remember to practice only the technique I am teaching, and also remember to observe your partner. Discussing movements during practice is a very effective way to get real-time feedback and it is the shortest way to correct movements.
Comments welcome.
Sifu Troy Marquis
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 15 June 2008
Course Day 2
This class built upon the two basic stances introduced in the first class, lady and horse stance. The benefit of these stances, as far as physical conditioning is concerned, cannot be understated. If you cannot “stand” you will not achieve your optimum fighting state. To that end, we held the stances a bit longer than in day one, but nowhere near as long as we will be holding them by the end of the summer. We also did many repetitions of “training” back-fist, and I introduced straight punch. Finally, I introduced, and we practiced the blocking training routine.
Stances
Some points to consider with regards to horse stance:
1- You must keep your knees pointing outwards. This may require a concerted physical/mental effort on your part, but you must do it. If you hold an easily collapsable horse stance the rest of your self-defense framework will be equally “collapsable.”
2- You must keep your back straight and avoid leaning forward. It is better to hold your stance a bit higher than to bend your back forward. This is a bad habit that deserves all treatments to put it down (i.e. get rid of it).
3- You must lower your stances. It may hurt now, but you will feel the power later.
Do not forget to breath.
Next training session I will introduce another stance or two, depending on how I see everyone developing. Practice during the week.
Back-Fist
You must focus on striking with the back of the first two knuckles of the fist. It is not a mistake to strike with more of the back of the hand, or even the forearm, but as I demonstrated, each blow has a different purpose. Let us strive to focus on the first two knuckles as this will help increase (or in some cases, develop) your precision and focused target striking. Furthermore, focusing on the back of the first two knuckles as striking surfaces will prevent you from throwing out your fist in an haphazard, floundering way. I estimate we threw well over 150 consecutive punches each hand. A good beginning.
Remember: do not lock your elbow out on the extension; also remember that your elbow is your “sight” or “targeting system” so take good aim.
Straight-Punch
Not much to say at this point. Just focus on keeping your fist in line with your shoulder with a slight bend in the elbow. If you fail to maintain a slight bend in your elbow you will damage yourself, or perhaps get your elbow broken by an skilled fighter (If you ask how, I will answer but I encourage you to reflect on how this could come to pass). We will look at straight-punch in more detail next class.
Blocking Training Routine
We will be doing this almost every class. Your forearms must be strong enough to deflect blows and hurt the enemy at the same time. It will serve no purpose to block and hurt your arm in the process; this will encourage an attacker to persist. However, if you “blast” an attackers attack with your block, or you block with solid authority, your attacker should sense that you are capable and perhaps he/she will reassess their desire to attack you.
There is not much to say about the blocking training routine at this point. You may practice on trees but do not hit the tree hard or you risk hurting yourself. Also, I encourage you working through the routine with your hands in various positions (i.e. flexed, extended, flat) and observe the effect on the muscles in your forearm.
The routine is: across, up, down and the repeat with the other hand. Remember to let the contact “sit” static for a moment so as to transfer a good amount of energy to the object being “blocked” (read, struck).
If there are any requests, I will make a separate post for the weekly practice regimen that will coincide with the training conducted for the week. If you do not ask, I will assume that you know what to do and how many times to do it.
As always, I encourage discussion and comments. You intellectual returns in relation to what you put into the discussion forum will be exponential, I assure you.
Best Regards,
Sifu Troy Marquis
2007/2008 Kung Fu Self-Defense Class Winter Session - Conclusion
The 2007/2008 Winter session officially ended at the end of March 2008.
Overall, the students had come a very long way and their knowledge of theory and conceptual application of several core self-defense movements is impressive - considering the fact that they were all beginners when we started.
Looking the posts and the tone of the discussions entertained during the session gives one a good indication of the students progression. Unfortunately, some students could not stay to the very end and as such, did not get to complete the “Flying Fist” routine. However, in the 2008 Summer Intensive, I will be refining “Flying Fist” for those who have it and most likely introducing it to the new students.
I had purposely not posted very much, if at all, as we got closer to the end of the Winter Session because I felt that the students, themselves, should have participated in preserving the knowledge and the details I was giving them. I know what I know and it was up to them to make a record of class contents for their own personal reference.
Over the course of time, I plan to flesh out some of the concepts that I taught at the end of the Winter Session when they resurface during the 2008 Summer Intensive.
The Summer Intensive will be a lot more dense than the 2007/2008 Winter Session was. Also, I plan to focus quite a bit on physical training. To that end, by the end of the summer, the students should be in good “martial arts” shape which, as they learned today (14 June 2008), is not the same as being aerobically, or weight-training fit.
There is still time for students to register, but students MUST register by sending me an email. The venue changes so if one wants to know where the training will be held for a particular lesson then they must be told in advance (obviously, or how will one know where to go).
Finally, the chronicle of this Summer Intensive will be as detailed as the students want it to be. If they do not write, then very little may be revealed/contained on this site in relation to what is explained in class. Nevertheless, I will post on different martial arts topics for the general public. Non-students are welcome wish to participate in the discussions but they must register on the site.
Best Regards,
Troy Marquis, Sifu
Making a Proper Punch: Fist formation - Geometry and Attitude
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