This part of the form uses a signature move from xingyiquan which is one of the most highly respected of China’s martial arts. Taijiquan (tai chi), Baguazhang and Xingyiquan make up the three most important of the internal martial arts. To learn this part of the form the following skills are needed. Infinity circleTiger stanceFront kick Some of the moves in this part will be seen many times over in […]
The infinity circle is used in tai chi and many kung fu styles. The whole circle itself is rarely done but parts of it make up so many movements that it is worth practicing and becoming very familiar with. It’s like learning the scales when playing music. It makes you arm movements fluid and powerful, connected and coordinated. In this circle both arms are moving in the same direction but […]
The first part of this form is designed to strengthen the body in certain positions and to teach you basic skills in kicking and punching. This section onwards is far more fluid. From here you are using circular, whole body power just like in tai chi but with a wider range of movements. This section uses the following skills so make sure you are very familiar with them before you […]
In the Jade Dragon tradition we say that every person possesses 3 wild horses. These 3 horses are largely out of control and pull us this way and that. They drain us of energy with their wildness and age us prematurely. What are our 3 horses? As any horseman knows before you can train a horse you have to tame it first. You have to break it to your will. […]
In this section we have opponents approaching from left and right. We deal with them both using our most powerful kick – the back kick. Make sure you are familiar with the kick and have trained it. It strengthens all the muscles in the back, the buttocks and back of the legs. You can also use the flying crane to help you develop the strength and balance for the kick. […]
Of the 4 main circular arm patterns I teach this is the most fundamental. All the others are variations of this one. This is also the most powerful as both arms are working as a team connected to a strong structure and the power flows through the whole body. Before you learn this circle make sure you are very familiar with transferring weight and raising and lowering your arms. This […]
The ultimate aim of all Chinese martial arts and particularly tai chi chuan is to attain the maximum power with the minimum effort. To achieve this end we align our body with gravity so that every part is supported by the legs and then we move by pushing the legs into the ground. If you can’t transfer weight properly you’re either pushing yourself up away from the ground or, worse […]
Most combat sports and martial arts use punches but they don’t always fully understand how to get the best out of this useful weapon in their armoury. Read on to discover the biomechanics of the punch and find out how, with a few small changes you can dramatically and instantly increase the impact power of your punch. This is the lowdown on the basics of punching. There are many kinds of […]
There are many ways of training the body. Many ways to become ‘fit’ but what are you becoming fit for? A marathon runner, a weight-lifter and a gymnast are all fit but if they tried to swap disciplines they wouldn’t really be any better at each others sports than the average person. Specific kung fu conditioning exercises give you a body that is strong, flexible, able to cope with high […]
There are hundreds of martial arts in the world and each of them uses specific tactics to cope with the rigours of combat. All martial arts focus on different things, no single martial style can hope to be able to deal with every type of situation, every type of attack, every weapon, every set of circumstances and so on. In particular each of them has to come to terms with the stability-mobility […]
The loss of function in kung fu forms Forms training is a backbone of most traditional kung fu and tai chi schools but why is this so and what is actually being taught? This article puts forms under the microscope to look at the 3 main types of forms training and how forms training is gradually degenerating from being the most efficient way to learn and develop real, adaptable fighting skills […]
Within the vast realm of kung fu there are thousands of skills to learn and perfect. So much so that it would be impossible to learn them all even if you had several lifetimes to try. The task of learning any new skill is made even harder if you don’t have plan, a structure you can follow to enable you to learn the skill and be able to use it effectively. […]