All techniques start with stances. Hung Fut is based on very solid stances that are practised wide and low, mainly for balance and power. Feet are firm. Various patterns are used for mobility moving not only linear--straight lines--but also circular. Beginner level students learn to move in all directions from the start of training. Traditionally once a good standard was reached, stances were practised on pillars known as plum blossoms. This increased the skill needed and helped to ensure correct feet positioning.
Strikes
Kung fu can be broken down into four fighting categories: striking; kicking; over balancing and throws; and grappling, ground fighting and locks. The majority of the time, especially with beginners, the first two are the main skills used, but with experience the later really define the art from others.
In Hung Fut, striking techniques consist of long and short-range movements. Tiger claw is especially prevalent as it can be easily changed to a palm block, grapple or strike. The left hand is used first.
Generally, fighting ranges can be divided into three circles: long, medium, and short.
Long-range: at this range your opponent is beyond the reach of kicks and you cannot reach each other without stepping forward. Normally this is a safe range were blocking work well, due to the time necessary to reach.
Most often used at this range, long-arm movements put emphasis on angular motion. They use a full extension of the upper-arm and chest. Strength comes from the chest first, followed by the shoulders, arms, hands, and then finally the fingers. This is combined with an axis of rotation from the hips to provide maximal power and generally circular movements. They can strike multiple targets at the front or around all sides of the body. They include swinging and straight-arm strikes
The degree of difficulty in blocking Hung Fut's super-powerful long-range strikes and kicks makes them often successful in scoring against a target. Attacks like this mean that the only good defence is to get out of the way. To block such forceful blows can lead to broken limbs. When done well, striking is unlimited and can come from all directions.
Medium-range: at this range, either opponent can reach each other with a kick. A more dangerous circle, where whoever attacks first, will usually land first. There is a priority rule at this range: if the attack comes first it must be blocked, then followed by a counter attack. It is no good attacking if the opponent was first of the mark; the best outcome will be a draw where you both hit or miss each other. This rule can be used well in sparring as once your opponent has dedicated to an attack, you can set a trap with a block/attack combination. This sometimes causes a stalemate: where both opponents fight on the back-foot and waits for the other to dedicate first.
Faking attacks work well at this range, causing your opponent to react to sometime that is not coming.
Short-range: finally, the most dangerous circle, you and your opponent are at arm reach or touching. Combinations and reactions must be instinctive, as there is no time to plan.
Short-arm movements are done with linear motion. They can be defined as the extension of the forearm where power is generated from the elbow to the fingers. This type of striking allows the fighter to have rapid, similar combinations in a straight line. Generally, strikes are limited and confined to the top and middle part of the frontal anatomy. They include elbow and forearm strikes as well as the head-butt and kneeing.
Sticky-hand technique where you maintain contact with your opponent, using feel as your main sense, aiming to destroy their balance, works well at this range.
The ideal combination is to use long-range until you have an advantage, then move into the medium and short circles. In the Hung Fut forms, angular and linear motion together with long and short-range movements, are interrelated: providing flexible, effective movements.
Circular Movements: one of the keystones of kung fu is circular-attacks mixed with the more conventional straight techniques. The shortest distance between two points may be the most direct line but a circle has many other advantages. To demonstrate this try to pick up a glass of water using straight line, then drink it. You might just get the glass to your lips but you could never drink the liquid inside because you would have to pivot your wrist making a circle. So what does this mean when it comes to kung fu?
The human body does not always move in straight lines. By using flowing techniques based upon circles, movements are more 'natural'. Natural movement tends to be second nature, and avoid wearing out the body's joints, as the moves don't lock the bones suddenly into straight positions--a placement that should always be avoided due to the ease of locking on grappling techniques.
Round movements can allow you to rotationally generate tremendous amounts of power and allow you to change direction without losing that force. If you make corners when you change direction, the energy will be wasted. If your movements are curved and flow together, you can conserve your power until the point of contact.
It is harder for your opponent to track circular motion. By using spherical parries, that nullify your opponent's attack, there is less of a need to use excessive muscular strength. That means you do not have to be the strongest person to be effective.
If your opponent explodes at you in a straight line and you circle to his side, he has to interrupt his forward motion to turn to face you again otherwise most of his defences will be facing in the wrong direction. This gives you added time to respond. Plus you are moving out of the way, avoiding a force-against-force confrontation. But notice in this particular example, a side step, which is a sideways straight-line was not used. When you circle around your centreline rotates towards your opponent aiming most of your arms at them. You are taking away their attack because they are now facing the wrong direction. You may have also moved towards their blind side and back. You have created an advantage; your opponent may not be able to see you or your counter attack.
If all goes well, you not only move to your opponent's side or back, but you should place them horizontally in the air, or in a position of imbalance, with a circular attack. When you circle around an attack, your opponent is usually end up in a weak stance in relation to the new direction, and it is much easier to upset their balance.
Circular strikes are also difficult to grab and pull, compared to straight-line punches that can be grappled using the strikes own energy to pull the person off balance. This is much harder to do against a circular attack as the energy returns towards the attacker.
Dim Mak--Vulnerable Strike Points: the human body has many vulnerable areas called vital or pressure points. Striking or touching these points--dim mak technique--in the correct manner can immobilise a limb, or even mane. Some points correspond to blood or lymphatic vessels and striking them can cause a clot to form, blocking circulation to other areas of the body. Some points correspond to nerves, striking them numbing muscles or render them useless. Many dim mak points correspond to meridian points--the same places where a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine places acupuncture needles.
If you get involved in a fight, then hitting these will hurt and weaken your opponent faster than anywhere else. These should be used with great respect as they can inflict permanent damage.
Sometimes the pressure point is just gripped or squeezed, such as applying pressure to the nerve of the arm. These pressure points are used as a means to an end--like getting your attacker to loosen his grip, or to distract him. But in serious self-defence, then these vital points can be used as the end itself. A strong fast blow to these vulnerable points is quite capable of crippling, blinding or disabling an attacker, even permanently.
Be extremely careful not to hurt your training partner when learning these pressure points. (This is another reason you need an experienced teacher to learn in safety.)
The best block is no block. It is better to get out of the way. That being said, in order to have a good defence an effective guard that does not leave the body open to attack is necessary. The hand position should be such that the movements are flexible and can be easily varied. Both hands are generally placed in front of the body towards the opponent, covering the head or mid-section. Many hand movements can quickly be executed from this position. Beginners learn by starting with one fist resting on their cheek and the other at eye level out in front of the body.
Blocks generally don't travel much further than the edge of the body--just enough to clear the attack out of harms-way, allowing a little extras to compensate for a flexed foot or a piercing hand strike, both designed to penetrate around a block. This leaves you free to block multiple attacks as quickly as possible.
Kicks
Of all the techniques used, kicks can be the most dangerous. Hung Fut uses kicking techniques that concentrate mainly to the low or mid level. Kung fu�s circular kicks, which do not dominate in many other styles, are included. A variety of high and low kicks, as well as numerous sweeps and trips are also included in the armoury. There is an equal mix between hand and foot techniques. Left foot is used first.
The key elements in developing good kicking techniques are based on�
� Balance
� Footwork
� Flexibility
� Recovery.
Only perseverance and patience will reward you with good kicking ability. The use of equipment during training must never be omitted.
Balance: good balance determines the difference between the kicks of a good and bad martial artist. In kung fu, balance is the basis of all external techniques. It provides stability, strength and accuracy to kicks. Basic balance training can be done by performing a kick very slowly and relaxed, and then hold the leg in the air for a period of time. This exercise can be done with all types of kicks. This will perfect balance, speed and strength leading to power and accuracy.
Footwork: balance starts with a good stance but a fight is won or lost with footwork. Movement and timing of the legs should vary to keep your opponent off-guard. Each type of movement depends mainly on your opponent's strategy. Footwork works the distance between you and your opponent. Footwork training can be done during partner work and sparring. Try practising moving forward and backwards with a partner. Try experimenting with the distances required for defending and striking. Swift leg movements are required in order to achieve desired results, but changes in tempo can also be used to confuse an opponent.
There are five methods of delivering a kick�
� Stationary
� Moving
� Sliding
� Jamming or blocking
� Jumping.
Flexibility: helps to prevent and treat injury. Martial artists should therefore endeavour to increase their overall body flexibility. Stretching of the bottom and leg muscles is of utmost importance for good kicks. The stretch should be done slowly and gradually, holding it for as long as tolerated. Incorrect, jerky stretching can be harmful causing damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Through prolonged stretching, you should aim to increase flexibility of the legs as well as strength. Solo, 'static stretching' is the main method used in training. This is a method that has been used for centuries. 'Assisted stretching' were a partner holds you at your range of flexibility, then you alternate between resisting against them and relaxing, aiming to trick the muscles into stretching further, is a more modern method.
Flexibility will naturally increase after starting training, but once this improvement starts to stagnate, longer at home sessions are required. Each stretch needs to be held for several minutes, aiming for at least a half hour session every second day. Initially this will be painful, but as the muscles begin to familiarize with the routine they will begin to adapt, eventually craving the stretch.
Principles of Kicking: all kicks must be executed with the following�
� Do not telegraph kicks (don't let your opponent know they are coming)
� Raise and aim with your knee first, to the same height that you wish to kick
� Body weight must be transferred onto the supporting leg
� A guard should be maintained, but for high kicks a hand may need to be lowered to protect the genitals
� Kicks should be fast and piercing
� Deliver power using the hips and feet at full extension
� Kick must be quickly retracted after delivery.
Beware! Kicks are dangerous, not only to your opponent but also to you. While kicking you are on one leg and therefore, have a narrow centre of gravity. Remember 'stances are the basis of every move', and a one legged base is therefore unstable. Against an opponent with good footwork and hand techniques, kicking can be no match. Utmost care must be taken during delivery.
Recovery: post kick cannot be understated; once the manoeuvre has done its work the foot should be grounded and the body returned back into a steady fighting stance as soon as possible. The best way to practice this is to perform multiple kick patterns as the second kick usually perfects the preceding one. The more kicks that can be mastered in a row the better the required balance and recovery. This is a training exercise and not necessarily a fighting technique.
Over Balancing and Throws
Often combined with leg sweeps and tripping, over balancing and throws aims at destroying an opponent's root or balance, consequently throwing them to the ground. Before these techniques can be practised, break falls need to be mastered.
Break Falls: are necessary to prevent injury after falling. They are practised so that a fighter can survive a fall or opponent's throw, and over a period of time may fall onto any surface without fear of hurting themselves. Falls are practised in three directions: forwards, backwards and sideways, and include rolling and diving variations. As the martial artist progresses and body becomes conditioned to falling and hitting the mat--sometimes with considerable force--the skill progresses to higher heights, increased force and onto harder surfaces.
Grapples, Ground Fighting and Locks
Sometimes known as 'chin na' or joint locking techniques, the aim of grappling and ground fighting is to subdue an opponent. It is usually easier to strike an opponent than to control them therefore grappling is a means of showing mercy.
For grappling to work the techniques must be skilful, fast and practised. It must take the opponent be surprise. If the opponent is aware of your intent, they will react so as to make it extremely difficult to spring the trap. To successfully succeed with a grappling attack you usually have to set it up with a fake or strike first.
Most grapples use one of the following principles�
� Twist the opponent's joint then bend it.
� Grab the muscle or tendon.
� Seal the breath to prevent breathing.
� Seal the artery to prevent blood flow to the brain.
� Press on a pressure point or a nerve to cause pain.
As many of the pressure point and sealing techniques require exact, small target areas to be struck, practised controlled aiming for these should be a continuing drill through all levels of training. Such targets often require speed, executed at a correct angle. This is often disguised behind a gentle, flowing and circular motion. Some techniques require years to master, while others can be learned in a day.
