Shaolin forms are combat libraries not dances, Shaolin Kung Fu is founded on a dual system of combat libraries that involve Form also known as Taolu and Chinese Kickboxing also known simply as Sanda, these two pillars are used for effective fighting.
Lets have a look at four main criteria that require regular practice, use of understanding the theory applied with form, force and how this makes a person into an effective fighter.
- The Core Combat Library – Key forms and techniques
When beginning the practice of Shaolin Kung Fu there are two components as mentioned Taolu and Sanda that are key pillars to the martial art. Taolu is the forms the textbook of all the patterns, sets and techniques that are practiced which are pre-arranged and the sequences the forms teach you body mechanics, balance, coordination and vast library of techniques. Yet form alone does not make a good fighter. Sanda this is the place where you test your skills and includes practical application of strikes, holds, grappling and takedowns.
Sanda works with the forms to integrate the 2 parts of making the practioner a complete warrior that has sound theory and solid structure and depth that are both essential to learn in how to fight and use combat skills for a system based on self-defense and preservation of belief, culture and the application of the martial arts.
The Shaolin forms are sequences and sets of pre determined or pre arranged sequnces that are designed for specific use of building different types of energy, maintaining correct posture and movements and applying proper technique that are used in various combat applications.
Within the foundation there are close range striking techniques that are based on speed and long range striking techniques based on powerful movements. There are five main styles of using fists for striking that are direct, robust powerful techniques focusing on body mechanics. Then there are those that are used in evasive and rapid counter-attacking and finally the continuous strikes, blocks, grapples that are done seamlessly.
There are also five main animal based system of form that train the practioner with different fighting energies that are based on strength, precision, agility, fluidity or flow. Each of the five animal systems which are Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake and Dragon hone and develop specific aspects of the above qualities along with other beneficial attributes that a person can master.
- The Four Pillars of Shaolin Combat
Shaolin fighting for it to be effective consists of four pillars that are used in combat and make the foundation of the art of fighting structurally sound. They are:
Kicking (Ti)
Striking (Da)
Wrestling and Takedowns (Shuai)
Grappling and joint Locks (Na)
The use of fast powerful kicks that are varied in different styles to make the opponent lose balance or disable and break their form. The kicks are numerous in number from stretch kicks, side kicks, front kicks, roundhouse kicks, spinning kicks, push kicks and drop kicks, these variations can be combined with one another to make upto over 100 different types of kicks that are used in sparring.
Then there is striking using fists, elbows, palms and punches that target weak points and vital areas designed for achieving the upper hand in combat. The striking is used with breath control and explosive power of force with proper body weight behind each strike that makes the strike effective.
Then there are wrestling and takedown moves that use body weights and leverage to throw or sweep the opponent sometimes using their own force and momentum against them that enables the fighter to knock down their opponent and these moves form a core component of Sanda Chinese kickboxing.
Finally there are grapples and lock joints that is known as Qin Na techniques designed for close combat and used to control disarm or break the joints of the opponent. These four pillars make the practitioner use the techniques in each style that enables them to achieve victory in their fighting and makes the combat effective in their daily lives.
- Application in effective fighting (Sanda and self defense)
Although forms make up the combat library it is Sanda Chinese kickboxing that makes the functional application that bridges traditional training with modern combat. The use of punches, kicks, wrestling takedowns are all integrated and form the backbone of Sanda which makes fighting highly effective particularly in free sparring and also within pre arranged techniques used to condition the person to adapt to real life scenarios.
Then there are the sticky arts of hands and legs meaning the use of disrupting the centre of gravity and balance often with manipulating the opponents own force and using it against them. This is the intelligent form of conserving energy and using techniques to make and tire the opponent with the use of their own force to disrupt their balance and coordination resulting in defeating the opponent.
Then there are defense against kicks using techniques for trapping, catching and weeping an attackers legs in close or mid range combat. The techniques are designed for self defense purposes so that the ability to prevent the attacker from using various kicks that are designed to cause harm or even injure the opponent as the aim is to use these defensive mechanisms to prevent being struck by the attacker.
Finally there is close range control which is the ability to cause the attacker using twin locks a technique that can even break the arms of the opponent. The main aim is to disarm the opponent yet these techniques can cause bodily harm if extreme measures are taken. In close range control there is the ability to use grapples and joint locks to disarm or break the opponent.
- Training Methods for Combat
Using various stiking conditioning techniques for iron palm or iron body style of training, these high impact and powerful methods usually involve training the hands and body to withstand impact by repetitively going through actions like striking a sand bag daily with force over a minimum of 100 times or using bricks or sticks to strike and condition the body to toughen and also be able to use after a certain level of practice that can also cause bone breaking strikes.
Then there is stance training which involves specific postures, isometric positions such as the fundamental stance known as the horse stance which is used to build power, balance, endurance, stability and defensive control. Being able to hold these stances for many minutes requires regular and consistent practice, initially a person will not be able to hold a stance for less than a minute but after daily practice will eventually given time be able to hold the horse stance easily upto 5 to ten minutes, without breaking a sweat.
Then there are many other stances like bow stance and unicorn stance, crane stance and other stances that generate flexibility and build trength and power that enables defensive balance. There is fluidity training using footwork and practicing movement to improve agility and speed and accuracy which makes the person dynamic and fluid in their movements becoming graceful and agile.
Finally there is the use of internal energy Qi that involves gentle breathing exercises with meditation and slow body movements to generate internal force, vitality, power and improve focus and mental freshness that brings lightness to the body all these are mastered with controlled gentle deep breathing forms. This is the life force of building internal energy Qi for health, strength, vitality that put your heart into daily living making the entire journey enjoyable and with its difficulties worthwhile.