Martial Arts Technique Review

Here's a list of the exercises we went through Sunday for personal review.

Terminology

"Trapping": 

      Any technique which temporarily immobilizes a person or allows you control of their movements 

"Non-Telegraphic":

      A way to move that is difficult for the opponent to see coming. In contrast, telegraphing a strike is when you do something that tells an opponent you are coming before you strike such as flinching the shoulders, tensing the neck, directing eyes to target, winding up, leaning backwards, chambering a punch or kick, etc...

Stances  

Open Bi-Jong:

     This stance is used to set up for motion. The fight has not yet started and you are still trying to defuse the situation. The stance is narrow, feet together (one in front, one in back), shoulders and hips square to the opponent, and hands to the side, this gives the open bi-jong a non-threatening look. The rear leg is loaded and ready to propel you either in attack or deffense. 

Closed Bi-Jong: 

     This stance is used to give you a stable, yet mobile base for when you are engaged with an opponent. The feet are at least shoulder width apart and deeply set forward and back. Your weight should be positioned 40/60 or 50/50 between your front and back foot respectively, with the point of contact being the ball of the foot. Each foot is pushing down and away with springy energy. Front foot is angled in slightly to allow for rapid front and back closing. Shoulders and hips are square and hands are in...

Wu-Sao (defensive hands):

     Hands are about shoulder width apart and arms are held in bridge position. Hands are open, loose, and relaxed; positioned between attackers corresponding fists and your face. If no opponent is in front of you, hands are about chin height.

Bridge Position: 

     Strongest angle of arm position with least amount of effort. Slight bend at elbow, not extended like frankenstein or far back like T-Rex arms. 

Closing: 

     Using the spring energy of the closed bi jong, lifting one foot forces the body in the opposite direction causing you to move around the floor. The steps are short, even, and fast as to keep your base wide and stable, weight on the balls of the feet to allow for mobility/agility. 

Central Axis Spin:
     When turning 180 degrees, weight shifts to the ball of the front foot while back leg sweeps around, turning the whole body to face the opposite direction, the back foot becomes the front foot, ending in a solid closed bi-jong.

Strikes

Chung Choi:

     Basic gung fu strike. Shoulders stay square and punch follows 5 guideline aspects which go as follows: 

1) Elbow Pockets- Starting position, arms create a 90 degree angle, elbow hang straight down to the sides.

2) Angle of the Arms- The straight path that the arm follows. It doesn't drift into the center, lift up, slide down, or drift out. It's one straight path forward and up to the...

3) Height and Center of the Nose- The ending point of the strike, which is the height and center of your own nose 

4) Recoil- Chung Choi's should not be stiff, kinetic strikes. A proper strike is loose, tensing up only as impact is being made and then immediately springing back with the same fluidity it had pre-strike. This is called recoil

5 )Rhythem-  Chaining punches left and right in a continuous movement. As one goes back, the other goes forward. Shoulders should stay loose and relaxed throughout the entire exercise.

Elbow (1):

     Hand stays loose and relaxed as it draws in towards the shoulder/pectoral. The elbow strike comes in across the center from the side, and makes contact with the side of the opponents head. The upper torso will torque with this strike, and the power comes from turning off the rear toe, much like a cross punch in boxing.   

Hook Kick:

     A power kick that can be done off either leg, the target being the side of the body, usually below the hip. The base foot pivots on the ball 90 degrees as the kicking leg comes up, rotating and opening up at the hip, pointing the knee at the target (much like you would get on a bike) and snapping the foot out to connect with the shin/top of the foot.  

Snapping Toe Kick:

     A Non-Telegraphic speed kick done off the front foot, the target being the groin. With a forward lean, the front leg drives off the toe and travels in a straight line up to the groin, where the toe snaps up to make contact. This is a disruptive entry kick to drop the opponents hands, therefore you should come forward as the food descends to the ground after the kick. 

Knee (1):

     Rest both hands lightly on the back of the pads (or head) and bring the rear knee straight up into the pads (or face) just before contact use hands to jolt the persons head into the strike.

Trapping 

Fook-Sao:

     Opponent's lead arm is up in a fighting stance. We are in closed Bi-Jong and our corresponding hand is in contact with their forearm, we draw our elbow in to the center and down to the ground with a jolt. This causes the opponent to (1) turn slightly, rendering their opposite hand unable to strike you, (2) jolt forward opening up their chin to a strike, and (3) come up on their toes, making them unable to move their base, other than catching their balance.

There you have it, I think that's just about everything we covered, if I forgot anything, let me know.