Below are our posts on the ancient art of Jade Dragon Kung Fu (Yu Lung Chuan). This will soon include a range of techniques, basic training, weapons skills, animal styles and so on. More are being added all the time. Keep checking back.
To learn our first combat form see Leaping Tiger Form.
The Dragon Punch
The dragon punch is the most powerful punch that is taught in the Jade Dragon kung fu system. It is a powerful forward strike, generally aimed at the chest area and the non-striking arm moves out at the same time to block or cover the striking arm. When you learn…
The Tiger Punch
The tiger punch is a powerful punch considering that most of your weight stays on your back leg. It is ideal for delivering a fast and powerful strike to the chest or abdomen area with a closed fist or striking the chin with an open palm from a short to…
The Back Kick
The back kick and the front kick are the 2 main kicks taught to new students in the Jade Dragon School. The back kick is an important one to learn and practice as it can protect you against attacks from behind, it is very versatile in its use and is…
The Front Kick
The martial arts are perhaps best known for the fancy high kicks that are so often seen in the films and in the ring. However, although these look great many of them are of limited use in real life. New students to the Jade Dragon school learn just two kicks…
Be On Your Legs – A guide to stance training
Please read this post. Because almost nothing else I can teach you (apart from good breathing) is more important. The strength of your legs directly relates to almost every element of your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Your legs are the foundation of your structure. They are your connection…
The Scissor Stance
The scissor stance (also known as the crossover stance) is one of the most useful stances in kung fu. It is often not the fastest or strongest fighter that wins the day but the one with the best footwork. Good footwork gets you quickly out of danger and puts you…
The Tiger Stance
The tiger stance is another great stance to develop leg strength. Most of the weight is on the back leg so it enables you to move forward with power. It is also great practice to move from a tiger stance forward into a dragon stance and back to tiger. The…
The Dragon Stance
The dragon stance (sometimes called the forward stance or bow and arrow stance) is one of the most fundamental stances in the Chinese arts. It is the main stance used when receiving power from the front or delivering power to the front. If someone tries to push you backwards you…
The Flying Crane
Back strength is a crucial component of tai chi and kung fu as it is of life. Most people have weak backs as we don’t use them for most of the day as we are resting them on the back of chairs. Even while standing the back muscles are only…
The Horse Stance
Whoever you are don’t neglect horse stance training. The horse stance is the most important skill new beginners should focus on. In some traditional schools in China new beginners would do nothing else but the horse stance for months on end until they could stand in a deep stance for…
The Crane Stance – be confident on one leg
The crane stance is common in tai chi and kung fu so is important to master. It the easiest stance to understand but, perhaps the most demanding to perform. It simply requires you to stand on one leg with your raised foot pointing to the ground. Note: when we talk…
Cloud Hands
Cloud hands is a beautiful movement that mimics the soft movement of clouds floating through the sky. It is a lovely movement to practice over and over again. Partly because it feels good to do and partly because there is so much it can teach you when it comes to…
Side to Sides
This is a my favourite exercise for dropping tension out of your shoulders and neck. It’s simple to do. Just remember to do it slowly and smoothly and let gravity do the work. Side to Sides Find out more about traditional Chinese conditioning exercises through the tai chi and kung…
Unbendable Arm
Relax and extend The unbendable arm is a concept that is talked about a lot in tai chi and aikido. However, it is a part of most traditional Chinese martial arts. It is a way of holding your arm so that it cannot be bent at the elbow no matter…
The Dragon’s Back
Develop a more flexible spine. Back problems are one of the major ‘diseases’ of the modern world. They account for a large percentage of visits to the Doctor and almost everybody, as they age, suffers with their back The sheer amount of time we spend sitting down with our backs…