Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 31 August 2008
Montreal, Canada
Final Summary Class
The final summary class was held at Parc Angrignon. Those who attended did not have any questions relevant to the training received but rather they preferred to take a peek into up and coming techniques. Hence, I introduced the side kick and we discussed its application and worked through it in pairs. As with the front kick, the theory and opponentless execution differ from the practical application; only insofar as proxemics (distance factors) and targeting are concerned. The technique for executing the side kick remains the same.
After working with the side kick and discussing various scenarios like: single and multiple attacker, jamming, follow-up and missing the target, we concluded the class and thereby the Summer Kung Fu Intensive for 2008.
September will be a rest month and depending on a few factors, I might begin another session in October. In the meantime, I will take this opportunity to post on other topics so if you want to discuss anything special, please let me know.
Thank you for your participation.
Best Regards
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 23 and 24 August 2008
Montreal, Canada
Days 21 and 22
For these training days I have asked students to summarize the techniques and comment about what they learned.
On Day 22, we continued to look at self-defense techniques using the Circle Punch in much the same manner as we have done in the past. However, on this day I taught how to angle the attack by shifting the angle of the shoulders and what that means in terms of target selection and acquisition.
Day 23’s summary was written by Chimera II, and is as follows:
Training Summary:
Today we focused our training efforts on practicing the front kick and incorporating it into a series of defense movements. We started the class with a series of repeating leg raises, followed by front kicks, carried out while advancing forward. We then worked on leaning sideways with our knees raised, a positioning movement necessary for aiming and launching effective side kicks.
Having practiced the above, we spent a good deal of time training with a partner on aiming and proper execution of the front kick along with dodging and avoiding its impact. The feasibility of blocking a sidekick with the arms was contemplated but, upon demonstration, deemed futile. The key to this exercise was rapidly adjusting to where your opponent repositioned themselves and being prepared to launch another kick right after. This helps to acknowledge the realities of an actual confrontation and helps prepare for them.
It is only when the techniques we learn are applied in practice that we are able to explore their capacities and adjust them to our own.
Chimera II
The status of the Summary Class is in question so I will assume that Days 21 and 22 were our last classes. Overall, I feel that the students have come a long way from the first days of this session. Even those students who trained with me for the 2007/2008 Self-Defense Survey Course have improved their foundation and are, for the most part, ready to focus on Flying Fist - dissection and application, and other forms/skill sets. I am pleased with your dedication and progress; also, I am confident that you have taken physical and intellectual possession of the moves you learned and should you so desire, you can grow with what you already know. I am honoured that you shared this summer with me and it was a pleasure to teach you. I had a good time and I hope you all did as well.
I am looking into when/where and if we will have continuing classes for 2008/2009 and what structure those classes will take. Please let anyone who is interested in training that a new session is in the works so they should indicate their interest as soon as possible.
Finally, I am looking at having a one hour session for Pre-Beginner/Introductory Classes
This class is held once a week, on Sundays, and lasts for 1 hours. Thus far I have only one person who is interested. I do not plan for the class to be physical and any of my previous students who would like to focus on a particular training point are welcome to attend.
Here is the link: Pre-Beginner/Introductory Classes.
Thank you for a successful session and I look forward to training with you all in the future.
Congratulations and Best Regards,
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 16 and 17 August 2008
Montreal, Canada
Days 19 and 20
Summary
On these two days, we looked at variations of double fist attacks and consequentially, potential defenses. Once the initial double attack has been initiated a follow up attack was then adducted.
On Day 19, in addition to stance/punch combination conditioning, we looked at the double straight punch, a draw back into a quasi-Cat Stance followed up by a double Rolling Fist attack. On Day 20, we continued to look at the double Straight Punch attack - from a normal, non-confrontational position - a draw back into a quasi-Cat Stance with a single fist cocked and hidden behind the head followed up by a single, angled Dropping Fist effected on the angle at the base of the neck and the collar bone.
The double Straight Punch to a Rolling Fist combination has some weaknesses in it that were discovered during the Free Focused Sparring practice and students examined ways to minimize the inherent weakness in this attack and how to exploit the weakness in the attack. This kind of attack is vulnerable to a strong counter when one draws back, essentially leaving the ribs exposed before the Rolling Fist has time to drop. Even so, proper execution of the technique will prevent your opponent from striking your ribs. Bearing in mind that the training form of this combination is not a mandatory combination, i.e. there is no requirement to do both the double Straight Punch and the Rolling Fist. If the Straight Punch works and is sufficient then fine. If the Straight Punch works and the Rolling Fist is not the best alternative follow up - use something else. Also, a double Straight Punch to one opponent can be turned over to effect a double Rolling Fist for an opponent approaching from an other angle. The variation are many and hence, it is important to work out these dynamics in the practical section of the class.
Day 20’s attack was the double Straight Punch but this time there was an angled, single Dropping Fist to a different target. I felt that this was very beneficial and much discussion about angles, target selection and direction of a strike’s force was entertained. One very valuable variation to the Dropping Fist was a Dropping Open Palm strike which, as the students quickly felt, delivers a systemic shock that will very likely surprise an opponent into hesitation or stun him/her. As always, I encourage you to use your martial imagination when considering using these attack from different stances, on different targets, and on different/multiple opponents.
If you can conceive of an attack, you might be able to defend against it. If you cannot imagine it, you will not be able to conceive of ways to defend against it. In all cases, the time to test out your theories is NOT when you need them most.
As always, I invite your questions and comments.
Note: This weekend coming (the 4th weekend in August) marks the last two classes of the 2008 Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive. However, if there is sufficient demand, I will offer a final summary class on the 30th, at Parc Angrignon. Please let me know if you would like me to have this summary class - otherwise, we will end this weekend.
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Canada
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: 9 and 10 August 2008
Montreal, Canada
Days 17 and 18
Summary
We are closing in on the end of the 2008 Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive and only 4 more classes remain. Hence, much of what I had to say has been said and the remaining classes will run through much the same body conditioning routines as has been practiced of late.
We will be working through various combinations of basic punches in isolation, in combinations and in conjunction with the stances that alter and support the basic punches so I will refrain from detailing all the combinations reviewed for each class.
For the remaining class summaries, I will write about any new techniques we study as well as address any thing I notice that require a bit more elucidation. As usual, please feel free to raise any question about thing we looked and that I did not include in the summary.
Day 17
On Day 17, I introduced the Rolling Fist in conjunction with the Back Fist, and I explained the subtle variations in how they are thrown and what they are meant to strike. After getting a feel for the two punches, their similarities and differences, we worked in pairs to practice the fists on targets as well as how one would block them. As always, I would like to remind you that you must be prepared to alter your technique because opponents will not always provide the “ideal” attack profile.
Day 18
On Day 18, we took advantage of the outdoors to take a closer look at moving Horse Stance (advance and retreat). Although it appears easy, you should have noticed by now that not all is as it seems. Try to focus on fluidity and balance. Also, remember that if you drop your height just a bit when you move, the momentum generated from the downward movement can be added to your lateral movement - just a little “pepper” in your movement. Even so, if you do not “drop” a bit, your movement will still be correct.
Blocking
I introduced a semi-awkward blocking-stance moving routine in order to reinforce the importance of moving “automatically” and not having to think about your feet when your concentration needs to be elsewhere. Starting in a Horse Stance position, the series went as follows:
downward block while stepping into twisted stance:
opening up to Horse Stance and doing another downward block:
jumping back while doing another downward block.
Of course each of these blocks can, and most likely will, be done in isolation in order to address an impending attack. It is unlikely that an attacker will advance with three moves that require three downward blocks in a row. Having said that, if you are developing your martial imagination, you can see opportunities to use the downward motion to effect different strikes.
Focused Sparring - Free Blocking Exercise
At this point, much of what you have learned has knitted together into thin strands of related moves and gestures with the relationship between one to another not easily visible - yet they exist none the less. The Focused Sparring - Free Blocking Exercise put two students facing each other in a Horse Stance while one threw straight punches and the other blocked using any block that naturally occurred. If you missed your block, your partner was close enough to hit you (just slightly). The dynamics of this exercise are such that a continuous, controlled attack forced you to react with different blocks and as such, you were able to experience how blocking and body movement were related. I believe that you were really able to touch what lay in your subconscious as you worked your blocks.
The only controlled variable was the attack must be a straight punch, thrown at the chest. A critic might observe that there is not much “reality” in this exercise but I beg to differ. In order to learn, the attack must be a constant until such time as the formulae for blocking becomes imbedded in your system. Once you process how to deal with a straight punch and the various ways you might naturally react, you can start to look at follow up movements. If the attack variable was not consistent, you would be flailing around trying to avoid random attacks without being able to move away - and that is unrealistic. In any event, as we move on in later courses more attack variables will be introduced in combination culminating into an open, free, punching-blocking practice.
I would appreciate any feedback on this exercise; how did you feel? What did you learn?
We will be looking at this type of practice in each of the remaining classes (a kind of live (dry) fire exercise if you will).
You should do your utmost to attend these final classes as much “practical” review will be undertaken.
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Canada
Summer Kung Fu Self-Defense Intensive: Day 18 Training Agenda
Montreal, Canada
Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense Training Agenda for Day 18 (10 August 2008)
The following is a tentative outline for the topics to be covered for this day:
Body Conditioning
Stances: Moving Horse Stance; Stance combinations
Basic Series One
Focused Free Blocking Practice
Kicking
Front Kick Combinations using lead and rear leg.
Self-Defense Practice - Practicum
Circle Punch from the Cat Stance
This agenda is subject to change without notice.
Troy Marquis, BA, Sifu
Tai-Mar Kung Fu Self-Defense - Autodefense
Montreal, Quebec, Canada