Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: Day 13 Training Agenda
Montreal, Canada
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Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense Training Agenda for Day 13 (26 July 2008)
The following is a tentative outline for the topic to be covered for this day:
Body Conditioning
Standing Postures One, Two, Three
Stances: All stances
New Stance: Twisted Stance
Chair Training
Punching
Basic Punches: straight, side straight, back fist & long fist combo
New Punch: Water Punch
Focused practice: Water Fist
Blocking: All blocks learned
Partner training
Kicks
Front Kick
Inward Crescent Kick
Practice:
Self-Defense from front kick
This agenda is subject to change without notice.
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Self-Defense - Autodefense Training Location: 26 July 2008
Title: Training Location
Location: McGill Shatner Bldg, Montreal
Description: Self-defense training will be held on the 4th floor. Please do not be late. Consult the [Day 13 Self-Defense Training Agenda] for what material we will cover during class.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2008-07-26
End Time: 10:30
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 20 July 2008
Montreal, Canada
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Day 12
Summary
In today’s class we continued to work on basic punching by focusing on refining our punches through repetition. Also, we continued our conditioning through stance training, and I introduced Standing Posture Three.
Punching
Your punches are developing well and most of you are not locking your elbow, which is a great accomplishment. Although it might not seem so, the fact that you are able to punch with force and good technique while not locking your elbow is a sign that your muscle memory is starting to adapt to your technique, on a sub-conscious level. Just be sure to keep a target in mind and to hit with your first two knuckles.
Standing Postures
In addition to standing postures one and two, I introduced Standing Posture Three which is, essentially, a Crane Leg backfist (same leg, same fist) facing backwards. It is important to note with this stance that you must bend your base leg a bit and you must make sure that your are not leaning in such a way as to be putting pressure on your lower back. Given the twisted nature of the stance, if you “contort” improperly then you will feel it in your lower back. The key is to hunch your shoulders just enough to take the pressure off your lower back. Try to focus on proper form as you transition from Two to Three.
As with the other standing postures, Standing Posture Three can be done independent of the other postures.
Free Blocking Practice - Blocking Practicum
Today’s free blocking practice looked at the Outward Block against the Circle Punch. It should have been evident to the attacker, the one doing the Circle Punch, that each Outward Block opened up your center-line and make it a bit more difficult to retract your punch. It is important to be aware of what happens to your attacks during various blocking counters; this way, you will be prepared to alter your attack strategy if and when necessary.
At the defender, you should have noticed that it is not easy to catch a Circle Punch with at Outward Block. In fact, it is far easier to block a Circle Punch with a Cross Body Block. However, sometimes instinctual reactions do not always choose the best block for a given attack and then we are left to compensate, or adjust. Hence, it is necessary and very good practice to work with the “less than ideal” situation to see how things develop and what your options are.
Practice Variation
In order to broaden our experience with the “odd,” we practiced our free blocking practice using both an alternate and a same side fighting stance (i.e. right side facing each other and right side to left side facing each other). As you should have noticed, the same block and/or attack changes somewhat depending on which of these two fighting stances you adopt vis-a-vie your opponent. Usually people like to fight “opposite” sides facing but if you practice both positions (opposite and same) you might gain an added advantage by presenting a target profile that your opponent is not used to, and not comfortable with.
Keep up the good work.
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 19 July 2008
Montreal, Canada
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Day 11
Summary
Today’s class, as with the rest of the classes until the end of the kung fu self-defense intensive, dealt primarily with reinforcing what was learned thus far. A few new additions to your repertoire will be introduced in order to round out a few series/concepts introduced thus far, but there will not be any major additions (or at least I do not plan any). Revision and practice are what is needed at this point.
Having said that, I have summarized today’s training in order of appearance. The new items introduced were: Two Half Circle Horse Stance, Crane Stance, part of Basic Series Two, and the Chair Shoulder Exercise.
Two Half Circle Horse Stance
The Two-Half Circle Horse Stance is an alternative method of going into the horse stance (rather than doing Lady Stance first). It is important that the Two Half Circle be done smoothly, without dropping the second foot on the floor like a brick. The movement should be light, and your feet should be the same width apart as they were when you did a Horse Stance through the Lady Stance.
Punches
Today we worked through the Straight Punch, the Backfist, and the Circle Punch. With the Circle Punch, more attention needs to be paid to your hand position and the circular rotation of the punching.
Stance Training
Today we reviewed the basic stances (Lady, Horse, Bow, Cat) and from the Cat Stance, you raise your leg up to form the Crane Stance. Pay attention that when you move from Bow to Cat stance you try to achieve a 45 degree angle with the supporting foot for the Cat Stance. If not, your Crane Stance will be strained as you try to maintain your knee pointed in the right direction. It is not wrong to have your base foot form an angle greater than 45 degrees with the lead leg of your Cat Stance, but it does require more effort. Just be aware, that is all I am saying.
Blocking
Today we looked first at Outward block, practicing them repeatedly; then we did Outwards and Downwards blocks; then we did Outward Blocks with a Bow Stance and Downward Blocks in a Horse Stance (same arm does both movements). Finally, after the Downward block we threw a Long Fist.
Points To Remember
The Outward Block using the Bow Stance must be crisp and your stance must be low and well grounded; if not, you run the risk of falling over due to the rapid circular movement of your upper body. Also, the Downward block should be done while dropping your Horse Stance a bit lower then your Bow Stance was. This adds weight to your block and “cocks the hammer” for your Long Fist. There is no real adverse effect if you do not drop your Horse Stance lower when you do the Downward Block (except to your aesthetics and, perhaps, the intensity of your intention to launch the Long Fist). Nevertheless, practice with a higher and lower Horse Stance and see how it feels.
Chair Shoulder Exercises
This is an old movement from my martial arts’ childhood. My inspiration for this move came from the classic Kung Fu movie:
(the water bucket carrying training).Although somewhat painful, the rewards for doing this training are substantial, both in terms of physical strength and power, and in overall body and muscle control.
How?
Basically, with your palms facing outward, you take a hold of two chairs at your side and raise them up with your arms straight (ELBOW NOT LOCKED OUT) and you just stay there… and stay there… and stay there until you can no longer do so and you must put your arms down. Be careful to rotate your shoulders back in order to allow your palms to hold the chairs without straining your wrists. Also, you may hold the chairs with your palms down (knuckles up), and this will help strengthen your grip while working different muscle combinations.
If you are feeling really industrious, move the chars from your sides to the front and back out to your sides again. This might help you to keep the chairs up longer given that you are changing positions.
I highly recommend this exercise and look forward to your positive comments.
Side long fist - Outward Crescent
This is our well known training movement and was a fitting end to a class where everyone worked hard. Your effort is appreciated and you should be noticing the different in your body, power and techniques yourselves.
Keep up the hard work.
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Training Location: 2008-07-20
Title: Training Location
Location: Angrignon Park, Montreal
Description: Training will be at our usual location at the park.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2008-07-20
End Time: 10:30