I got tired of the last topic hogging this section, with that same old topic that has been beaten to death. Surely, a section as monumental as "Taijiquan" should be filled with real and relevant threads. So now, shamelessly patting myself on the back, I begin a new thread on Taijiquan combat sequences and applications.
For the purposes of this discussion, as my basis of comparison and reference, I will use the standard 12 combat sequences taught in the intensive Taijiquan course. This is simply because these were what I was taught and what i practice. At any time, if anyone who has learnt the distilled and abridged sequences wish to use those examples, please feel free to do so.
The 12 sequences contain a myriad of typical techniques, both for attack and defence (or both at the same time). As an exercise in broadening our knowledge and enhancing our personal practice, I thought we can discuss how other techniques not found in these sequences can be introduced, either as "additions" to existing sequences, or to create new sequences for these techniques.
I have been toying with this idea for a while now. It first began after my first intensive course, and accelerated after my special Shaolinquan course, where Sifu taught us to use techniques from our specialised sets to replace those in the standard 16 sequences. in my own training, I have been doing this on an ad hoc basis, usually as a counter to my imaginary opponent's surprised counter. But I have been thinking of making these additions part of my staple training. And I figured, why not let everyone join in?
Just a couple of preliminary points. Practice the 12 counters and know them by heart before trying this exercise, otherwise, you will be adding new techniques without the necessary foundation. Second, Taijiquan techniques are limitless in their applications, so don't get fixated on any one application.
For a start, I suggest we use techniques from the 24 Simplified Set not found in our standard 12, just to keep things simple. These are the techniques:
1) Wild Horse Spreads Mane
2) Repulse Monkey
3) "Ji" or "Press" in Grasping Sparrow's Tail
4) Needle at Sea Bottom
5) "Pie Shen Chui" (what's the English translation for this one - Turn BodyFist?)
6) Elbow strike
7) Ru Feng SI Bi (As if Sealing / Close)
8) Cross Hands
Starting Pattern (or Lifting Water as we call it in our school) also has useful combat applications.
Plus, how about additional applications for these:
a) Cloud Hands (there are like zillions of possible applications for this one)
b) Single Whip (as an attack pattern or counter against hand strikes)
c) Striking Tiger (as above)
Before we go into combat sequences, we should think of at least one application for each pattern. These are my rather simplistic (save for 2 exceptions, as you will see) suggestions:
1) Wild Horse Spreads Mane
Felling:
Assuming you have grasped your opponent's right hand with his right leg in front, move in with a left Wid Horse, place your left leg behind his front right, and sweep him backwards with your left hand
2) Repulse Monkey
Qin-na strike:
Assuming your opponent is forward in a right punch, thread with your left hand and then grip his right hand (see Seq 9) and strike with your right palm while moving back, pulling him with you.
3) "Ji"
Qin-na:
He has gripped your right hand with either his left or right hand. Circle your hand around his, and press on his fingers with your left hand. Please see Sifu's demonstration here (for Aikido practitioners, this is the nikkyo lock). Yes, I know I am cheating by using Sifu's video clip, but hey, this is such a cool application that I could not resist.
4) Needle at Sea Bottom
Strike / defence:
This one is simple, and taken from Sifu's book - a defence pattern against a kick (a la Trim Bamboo in Shaolin Seq 11). Yes, I cheat again.
5) "Pie Shen Chui"
Strike:
This can be against an opponent at your back, or used when you have side-stepped. Enter by closing your opponent with your left hand and striking him with your right fist.
6) Elbow strike
Qin-na strike:
Assuming your right arm has been gripped, close in and circle your arm around (as in Seq 11), rest your elbow on his gripping arm and press down (while gripping his wrist with your left hand). Follow up with a elbow strike.
7) Ru Feng SI Bi (As if Sealing / Close)
Qin-na:
If both your hands have been gripped, turn to your right, cross your hands and thereby locking your opponent's, and follow-up with a Shang Bu Qi Xing (7 Star Step) kick.
8) Cross Hands
Qin-na:
Thread his punch or face strike upwards with your cross-hands, and turn the arm downwards in a "Lohan tames Tiger" armbar ("ikkyo" lock in Aikido)
9) Cloud Hands
Defence and strike:
Brush away consecutive strikes from an opponent charging in (side-stepping if required) and then follow up with palm slaps
10) Single Whip
Defence / Strike:
Against a frontal punch, hook away his incoming hand, take it to the side, and strike with the palm.
11) Striking Tiger (as above)
Strike:
Side-step against a low punch, guard against that hand with your lower hand, and strike his face with the upper hand (this calls for footwork and close quarters striking).
Once we have enough applications, we can think about formalising them into sequences.
For the purposes of this discussion, as my basis of comparison and reference, I will use the standard 12 combat sequences taught in the intensive Taijiquan course. This is simply because these were what I was taught and what i practice. At any time, if anyone who has learnt the distilled and abridged sequences wish to use those examples, please feel free to do so.
The 12 sequences contain a myriad of typical techniques, both for attack and defence (or both at the same time). As an exercise in broadening our knowledge and enhancing our personal practice, I thought we can discuss how other techniques not found in these sequences can be introduced, either as "additions" to existing sequences, or to create new sequences for these techniques.
I have been toying with this idea for a while now. It first began after my first intensive course, and accelerated after my special Shaolinquan course, where Sifu taught us to use techniques from our specialised sets to replace those in the standard 16 sequences. in my own training, I have been doing this on an ad hoc basis, usually as a counter to my imaginary opponent's surprised counter. But I have been thinking of making these additions part of my staple training. And I figured, why not let everyone join in?
Just a couple of preliminary points. Practice the 12 counters and know them by heart before trying this exercise, otherwise, you will be adding new techniques without the necessary foundation. Second, Taijiquan techniques are limitless in their applications, so don't get fixated on any one application.
For a start, I suggest we use techniques from the 24 Simplified Set not found in our standard 12, just to keep things simple. These are the techniques:
1) Wild Horse Spreads Mane
2) Repulse Monkey
3) "Ji" or "Press" in Grasping Sparrow's Tail
4) Needle at Sea Bottom
5) "Pie Shen Chui" (what's the English translation for this one - Turn BodyFist?)
6) Elbow strike
7) Ru Feng SI Bi (As if Sealing / Close)
8) Cross Hands
Starting Pattern (or Lifting Water as we call it in our school) also has useful combat applications.
Plus, how about additional applications for these:
a) Cloud Hands (there are like zillions of possible applications for this one)
b) Single Whip (as an attack pattern or counter against hand strikes)
c) Striking Tiger (as above)
Before we go into combat sequences, we should think of at least one application for each pattern. These are my rather simplistic (save for 2 exceptions, as you will see) suggestions:
1) Wild Horse Spreads Mane
Felling:
Assuming you have grasped your opponent's right hand with his right leg in front, move in with a left Wid Horse, place your left leg behind his front right, and sweep him backwards with your left hand
2) Repulse Monkey
Qin-na strike:
Assuming your opponent is forward in a right punch, thread with your left hand and then grip his right hand (see Seq 9) and strike with your right palm while moving back, pulling him with you.
3) "Ji"
Qin-na:
He has gripped your right hand with either his left or right hand. Circle your hand around his, and press on his fingers with your left hand. Please see Sifu's demonstration here (for Aikido practitioners, this is the nikkyo lock). Yes, I know I am cheating by using Sifu's video clip, but hey, this is such a cool application that I could not resist.
4) Needle at Sea Bottom
Strike / defence:
This one is simple, and taken from Sifu's book - a defence pattern against a kick (a la Trim Bamboo in Shaolin Seq 11). Yes, I cheat again.
5) "Pie Shen Chui"
Strike:
This can be against an opponent at your back, or used when you have side-stepped. Enter by closing your opponent with your left hand and striking him with your right fist.
6) Elbow strike
Qin-na strike:
Assuming your right arm has been gripped, close in and circle your arm around (as in Seq 11), rest your elbow on his gripping arm and press down (while gripping his wrist with your left hand). Follow up with a elbow strike.
7) Ru Feng SI Bi (As if Sealing / Close)
Qin-na:
If both your hands have been gripped, turn to your right, cross your hands and thereby locking your opponent's, and follow-up with a Shang Bu Qi Xing (7 Star Step) kick.
8) Cross Hands
Qin-na:
Thread his punch or face strike upwards with your cross-hands, and turn the arm downwards in a "Lohan tames Tiger" armbar ("ikkyo" lock in Aikido)
9) Cloud Hands
Defence and strike:
Brush away consecutive strikes from an opponent charging in (side-stepping if required) and then follow up with palm slaps
10) Single Whip
Defence / Strike:
Against a frontal punch, hook away his incoming hand, take it to the side, and strike with the palm.
11) Striking Tiger (as above)
Strike:
Side-step against a low punch, guard against that hand with your lower hand, and strike his face with the upper hand (this calls for footwork and close quarters striking).
Once we have enough applications, we can think about formalising them into sequences.
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