Splashing Hands

[mwolf]

Has anyone heard of this Shaolinquan skill called Splashing Hands?

http://www.insidekung-fu.com/content/view/199/37/

[AlexKreitner]

Wow. The guy demonstrating certainly doesn't appear to be relaxing into his movement. I was surprised not to see blood at the corners of his eyes.

[mwolf]

Yeah... seriously. I thought I was about to see pea soup spurting out of his mouth!

[Benedikt]

Wow his head is as red as a fire truck.

[Kung Fu fan]

Is this still traditional Chinese martial art, when there's already jabs, crosses, uppercuts, etc (boxing combos) in the system?

[AlexKreitner]

Reading it, it's funny how easy it is to say "the Shaolin Temple" as if it was one place that stayed around forever, hiding its martial arts away. Strangely, it also says that it was developed in the 1700s. If the monks of this Shaolin Temple knew Kung Fu, why would they suddenly add physical exertion and boxing-like techniques to the art to "improve" it for "close-combat fighting"?

Little sketchy. My thought is that it was created in the 1940s by the guy who went to Taiwan and probably learned something from someone and added other aspects to it.

[mwolf]

Well, the same could be said from any other martial artist that observes our practice of "Five Animal Play". We don't adhere to any traditional standard when compared to 99.99% of all the other martial arts out there, yet they don't openly dismiss our Wahnam practices? Our practice of it has just evolved into something different.

The way I look at it, from their description of Splashing Hands, it may just have been a close combat technique. Protecting someone using traditional Shaolinquan may have either gone out of style, may not have been effective enough (possibly because of the individual's skill level), or may just have taken way too long to practice/learn properly.

I would say it was probably the latter two. To become proficient in Shaolinquan and use it in a real fight takes a long time to practice.

To learn how to be quick on your feet, throw a punch and learn how to block probably takes a lot less time to used effectively.

I guess a good example would be Jet Li's movie Fist Of Legend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkOdVe8cVOg try watching at 7:35 and keep watching.

I think it's all a process of evolution or some may call it de-evolution.

As far as the image, it may look a bit weird and comical, but for all we know it is just a filler image to present SOMETHING and may have nothing to do with the content of the article.

[chris lomas]

Splashing Hands

Hi Wahnam students and instructors,

My name is Chris Lomas and I am a student of Sifu McNeil. Just wanted you to know I am here if you have any questions about this style.

If you would be kind enough to indulge me, a few points to make regarding the discussion so far:

1. If you appear in many Kung Fu magazines unfortunately they favour a good grimace over a zen-like relaxed look I know this to be the case from first hand experience. It is what the photographers ask for - Sifu McNeil is a very relaxed guy, and as you know relaxation is a good basis for any Kung Fu.

2. Those techniques mentioned in the article are given a western name for ease of explanation/teaching. For example 'uppercut' is used rather then Cup Sao or Zuan Chuan etc (sorry my Chinese is rusty!). The actual techniques are significantly different to western boxing but 'uppercut' best describes the technique for a western reader.

Similarly a standard reverse punch could be called a 'cross' to help people get the idea, it doesn't mean they are the same, just that they cover similar vectors. Whilst the style does employ some CMA technology in a unique manner, all the major movements are mirrored in other CMA styles within there own frame/aims/tactics. You cannot see this in the article but the power generation/internal force is 100% Kung Fu.

The heel up stance (springy step stance/twisted cat) the style employs is also common in CMA, though not used as extensively in most styles as it is in Splashing Hands, it appears in BaguaZhang, HsiaoJiaoTien, XingYiQuan, Zimenquan, Yiliquan, Lions Roar etc etc etc. So it does look boxerish when pictured (no bad thing of course) but in motion less so. I study under a few teachers and find nothing contrary (different yes) to other CMA methods.

3. Having spent most of the last 15+ years pretty much exclusively traveling, studying and teaching various forms of Kung Fu, I find splashing hands to be a good style. It does what it says on the tin, teaching good 'fighting' orientated CMA in a (relatively) fast way. It does this by focussing on a relatively narrow band of techniques and opening them out in a wide range of situations.

Like any style, its techniques, power generation and training methodologies have innate strengths as well as weaknesses. The initial training is very strenous and I only really recommend the style for under 40 year olds in good health with an interest in self defence, I direct others to other styles I teach (QuanZhen-Wushu, BaguaZhang, Xingyiquan) according to what may suit them.

However once one has learnt and ingrained the method it can be fruitfully practiced into old age - Sifu McNeil is 70ish but extremely robust, healthy and strong. And whilst Splashing Hands doesn't focus as much on the internal as some other styles, the training is there when one progresses.

4. The 'legends' regarding the styles origins in the Shaolin temple are according to our lineages oral history and some information we picked up from a seperate Kung Fu Master (Chaio Chang Hung) who recognised the style. They may or may not be true. Or they may contain a grain of truth but be embellished - I don't know.

I think you have to take these old stories as useful to say something about how the style defines itself as opposed to literally 'true' or 'false'. For example many doubt the origin story of Wing Chun but whether true or not it is useful as it implies the old adepts believed the weaker could overcome the stronger in a relatively short space of time using the style. It defines the methods aims and objectives. Most CMA history is muddy at best. I do know I am blessed to have a number of good students who dedicate a lot of time, effort and sweat to a practice they find useful.

Anyway I apologize for any spelling errors or lack of clarity in this post, it's pretty late and I'm about ready for my bed so I have just written as I would talk to friends, hope this clears a few things up,

Warmest regards,
Chris

[Darryl]

Dear Sifu Lomas,

Welcome to the Shaolin Wahnam Virtual Kwoon. It is always a pleasure to greet Sifu's and Instructors of other martial arts, especially the other styles of Kungfu.

Thank you for posting your comments and providing a link to your website. I enjoyed the video clips of your combat applications, in particular where you demonstrated the application then the pattern from the set.

The article's photo of your Sifu made me laugh - the face his partner pulls is fantastic. My own instructor, Sifu Wong Kiew Kit, has also been asked to make faces for magazine articles. I wasn't there to see it, but I heard his polite yet insistent refusal really wasn't what they wanted.

With the warmest regards,

[Molly]

Hi Sifu Lomas,

Welcome to our forum and thanks for taking the time to tell us a bit about Splashing Hands. I have to admit, I've had longstanding questions about your sifu, and it's nice to hear one of his students explain things with clarity and poise. It speaks volumes to the quality of your training. Thanks for explaining the faces Sifu McNeil makes in those photos- I've had my fair share of chuckles over them. One involving him striking a watermelon comes to mind...

Anyways, thanks again for the clarifications and best of luck to you with your training.

Molly

[George]

Hi Sifu Lomas,

Wеlcome to our kwoon.

The clarity and the 'energy' of your writing are a credit to your teachers and your training.

Sifu McNeil is 70ish but extremely robust, healthy and strong.

Excellent!

Sifu Wong Kiew Kit, has also been asked to make faces for magazine articles. I wasn't there to see it, but I heard his polite yet insistent refusal really wasn't what they wanted.

I remember hearing about that. It would have been awesome to witness the scene - maybe Mark Blohm Sisook can do a re-enactment of that some day!

As it is, they ended up with probably one of the most relaxed and non-aggressive cover images in their history.


Best wishes,

[Antonius]

Dear Sifu Lomas,

Thanks for posting. Good stuff.

All the best,