TanDao Fight Lab: Where Art & Science Converge

Bruce Lee revolutionized martial arts by westernizing the eastern tradition. How? By creating a science of combat. Traditional kung fu and karate until the seventies were secret arts. The deliberate obfuscation of knowledge has today’s traditionalists sometimes teaching overly stylized techniques that are not practical. Or, excess emphasis on forms and ritual training impedes learning.

Modern fight science accelerates progress. Through analysis and experimentation guided by strategic, technical and tactical principles, we have tools to intelligently discern between the unexamined dogma behind styles and secret techniques best left for film fantasy – not reality.

In keeping with that spirit, our TanDao Fight Lab series aspires to revitalize the arcane aspects of classical martial arts. With a scientific attitude we can discover the biomechanics, kinesiology, anatomy, physics and psychology behind the shadowless kick, invisible power or vibrating palms.  Fight science keeps our martial arts honest.

At the same time, our TanDao System rooted in Shaolin and Wu Dang tradition, avoids “throwing out the baby with the bathwater.” Fight science penetrates to the heart of reality combat by stripping away irrelevant dogma and ritual. Unfortunately, at the same time, the health, philosophical and artistic dimensions of tradition are often diminished or eliminated.  Let’s be honest, self defense and fighting are the starting point for the martial  journey.  But these initial goals, after being achieved, should not over shadow the higher dimensions of tradition.

At TanDao, we teach the necessity of reality combat, yet we seek to preserve the lofty ideals of the martial path. As martial warriors mature, they may discover the scholar and monk side of the arts and a deeper meaning to forms beyond flowery fighting techniques.

The Evolving Martial Artist realizes that the fight science is concealed in a spiritual art.

In Fight Lab #4 we discover how to increase the effectiveness of a double palm strike by discovering a hidden technique from TanDao’s Tiger Form.  Sign up for our newsletter and find some of the science and secrets behind all martial arts.

Lawrence Tan

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TanDao For Evolving Martial Artists is the first martial art vbook ever! Watch a book.

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Now with the launch of our new vbook, TanDao for Evolving Martial Artists, we can begin discussing Jeet Kune Do (JKD), Shaolin Five Animals and Tan’s Dazzling Hands more freely. Prior to this, our videos and posts have focused on general ideas of martial arts, with an emphasis on kung fu.

As a new system – one that integrates fight science and traditional art – it is challenging to explain TanDao in a brief post or newsletter. TanDao for Evolving Martial Artists gives a short overview of hard, soft and internal systems as exemplified by JKD, Shaolin and Dazzling Hands, respectively. Our vbook is technology at its best — text with video clips, and it is a basic reference for examining hard, soft and internal techniques and strategies from a comprehensive perspective. So, techniques as diverse as a classical crane beak, a wrestling take down or internal palm strike, can be understood as different stages of expressing martial power.

In our TanDao videos we will be using JKD terminology (five angles of attack, economy of motion, etc.) as well as traditional Shaolin and Daoist ideas yin and yang, dantien, qi) to enrich the spectrum of Evolving Martial Artists. A goal for TanDao Evolving Martial Artists is to compare different fighting arts and to explore traditional secrets with a scientific eye.

Don’t forget to check out our TanDao Fight Labs and our ebooks and videos
Lawrence Tan
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It’s here! TanDao For Evolving Martial Artists — the first martial art vbook download ever!

Toni and I are proud to launch this work — our  new martial art system that combines the power of JKD, the grace of Shaolin Five Animals and the speed of Dazzling Hands. It is born from my almost 5o year journey in  martial arts. From my visit as a young master to the Shaolin Temple before it was open to the public, studying different systems in the US and Asia, working in the film industry, and to making the first martial art videos in the ’80s.

Our vbook is a brief introduction, and the  foundation, for all of our videos, ebooks and vbooks. This is not only launching a new martial art system, it is also the realization of Toni’s vision to use cutting edge technology to communicate dynamic movement using embedded video clips in an ebook. For the first time in the the history of martial arts you can watch a book! Cool.

Join our enthusiasm! This is for martial artists of all systems. Please tell your martial art friends! Check out a sample page. Order the download.

Warrior. Scholar. Monk — are you an Evolving Martial Artist?

Special thanks to John Duval for his time, martial art energy, and laughter.

Thank you to Tony Wurman for appearing in the video, and to Matt Josephson for all of his work.

Lawrence Tan

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Our new Fight Lab series is generating enthusiasm.  Many of you are probing deeper, beyond the obvious techniques, especially the idea of hardness and softness in Fight Lab #2. In this week’s Fight Lab we examine the double tiger claw thrust and focus on precision targeting.  As a defense against a two-hand grab to the throat or shoulders, we increase effectiveness by hitting the attacker’s collarbone instead of chest.  Simple and obvious.  But there is another variation.

Did you know that you would increase the effectiveness of a kick with this same technique? Our video depicts a fighting combination that ends with a double tiger claw thrust to the opponent’s chest followed by a kick. Can you find another lesson underlying this push – kick combination? There is an advanced kung fu tactic reflected in this technique that can be applied to other situations. Look beyond the obvious.

Our intention is for the TanDao Fight Lab videos to be repeatedly watched and studied.  Aware of the tradition of hidden knowledge, Evolving Martial Artists learn critical thinking to see techniques with new eyes.

Take a good look at the video – what is the main principle behind this technique?

Lawrence Tan
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The Universal Form is not an obvious fighting form, but it is a powerful foundation for all martial art styles and general wellness. Some of you have been asking us to show a tiger form. Students of TanDao Tiger may use this variation of the Universal Form to aid in their development of a powerful tiger claw. Use dynamic tension and focus on fingers and hand tensing and feel the “burn.” Do you have specific questions on learning this form or on tiger? Ask us!

We’re pleased with your responses to our new TanDao Fight Lab Series.  The idea of hardness and softness has stimulated responses from several TanDao Web Warriors.  Thanks for your comments and questions, including Sifu Lloyd Fridenburg and our forum members Advance One, Arnuld, and the Karate Kid. An application of hardness and softness is for understanding different ways of generating power.  A goju karate punch, boxer’s right cross, wing chun punch or a tai ji punch use different biomechanics.

The Evolving Martial Artist seeks to develop the appropriate hardness and softness, or muscular tension and relaxation to maximize power for a particular technique rather than mixing up different methods of creating power.  There is a different fighting distance and tactics behind the hard palm and the soft palm strikes on Fight Lab 2. Do you know the difference against a real partner? Keep the comments coming — we love your intelligent responses and your questions!

Lawrence Tan
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Actually, this salutation uses body language to communicate primal actions. The open hand represents no weapon and peace, in contrast to the clenched fist that communicates potential aggression. Next to each other, it shows the capacity to express our energy either as the peaceful monk or as a prepared warrior.

Yet for traditionalists initiated into the secrets of form and postures, such a gesture has layers of meaning with practical significance for combat, provided one knows the keys to the hidden language of forms. We are introducing the notion of hard and soft, a major theoretical principle for understanding fighting techniques and tactics.

Do not dismiss it so readily. A different mindset is required to understand these hand symbols, but they can enhance our appreciation of the intellectual depths of the martial way. And, of course, increase our power. Evolving Martial Artists use the principle of hard and soft to understanding the true nature of power. We’ll explore further in the future.
Lawrence Tan

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After this week’s Deadliest Warrior, D’Artagnan and his three buddies Athos, Porthos and Aramis, are safe to continue their dueling, carousing and skirt chasing. The defeat of the Ming infantry by the French musketeers was not surprising, since, as time and again the program bears out, superior technology reigns supreme. Despite the variety of ingenious Chinese weaponry, they simply could not penetrate the French armor.

These computer duels provide perspective on imaginary encounter between history’s warriors from the point of view of battlefield heroics. From a historical perspective, however, it is interesting that the mightiest warrior empires – Sparta, Rome, Mongolia and Aztecs – have not survived. Think about it.

China, though conquered by the Mongolians and Manchus, were able to overcome their conquerors by absorbing them culturally. The Mongols were quickly overthrown, but the Manchurians – who ruled three centuries – adapted the Chinese culture. That is why the importance of culture, the arts, sciences and learning – not just technological weaponry –are vital for the preservation of a civilization.

For the Evolving Martial Artist the fist guided by higher principles is true power.

For more on the show, read our friend and Deadliest Warrior host Geoff Desmoulin’s post on Spike: http://www.spike.com/blog/blood-on-sand/97453

Thanks for your favorable responses to our first Fight Lab video. One of our online students studying the TanDao tiger, posed a question: why are these palm strikes considered advanced? His answer is insightful. Check it out in our TanDao Forum.

Lawrence Tan

Check out our premium downloads – TanDao TIGER COMBAT ebook and video.

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It’s here! We have been busy and are happy to announce our TanDao Fight Lab Video series. Many web warriors browse the sea of martial arts videos, ranging from laughable “what were they thinking,” to dazzling, or mediocre wannabe experts, to the occasional genuine expressions of mastery. Thumbs up or thumbs down. Next. Rarely do we stay to analyze the movements and study deeper meaning underlying the throw, punch or locking technique. Sometimes we are unaware of vital knowledge simply because we are not looking beyond the obvious. Or ask questions.

We will address those questions. You might ask: What is the difference between a boxer’s right cross, a wing chun straight or a karate reverse punch? Is the defense against a tae kwon do round kick or muay thai round kick the same? Why should we fight differently at different ages? Is this sparring technique practical for real combat? Our TanDao Fight Lab video series for Evolving Martial Artists explores three themes:

1. 1. Comparative Combat to discover universal principles behind different styles and systems.
2. 2. Secret Knowledge to refine your techniques with tips from masters I’ve encountered in Asia and the States.
3. 3. Traditional Form and Modern Fighting to enhance your power and efficiency by analyzing realistic function hidden in stylized techniques.

Join us! Explore techniques, tactics and strategies from a deeper perspective to enhance our power and skills. We’d love to hear from you. What would you like to see?

A special note of thanks to John Duval for appearing in the videos. John – thank you for your time, effort, patience and talent!

Happy Birthday Sophia!

Lawrence & Toni

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Many of us who watch Spike’s Deadliest Warrior suspected the outcome of this week’s epsiode: Vlad the Impaler vs. Sun Tzu. After regular viewing, we are familiar with the show’s computer program, designed to compare the weapon technology of famous and infamous warriors of all time, rather than the personalities and strategies behind the duels. After a climatic duel, Vlad – one of histories cruelest and most feared warriors (who forced parents to feed on their roasted children) defeats the Chinese general and author of The Art of War.

An ignoble defeat. History’s most brilliant military strategist, Sun Tzu, is skewered on a stake by Vlad the Impaler. But a warrior vs. a martial philosopher/general? Come on. Yeah, in a mano a mano duel, put your money on the barbarian with superior technology. However, pit them in warfare and the outcome would be different. Savage force over the power of the mind? Bullshit!

Do tigers rule the world? Look at history. Cro-Magnon man, weaker but more intelligent, overcame the strong but dumb Neanderthal. If this were real life war with armies and the mental – not just the physical – components were factored into the computer, I would put my money on the grand daddy of all military philosophers. After all, he wrote the book (no pun intended).

So, for fun, let’s change the duel to armies at war. The encounter has Vlad, the model for Dracula, sneaking up on an unsuspecting Sun Tzu. Not realistic. Sun would be forewarned by the use of spies and would have prevented Vlad from advancing so close. And if Vlad managed to do so, it would probably be into an ambush planned by the wily Sun. Sun Tzu’s Art of War, has so many martial gems of insight and wisdom, that if he followed his own advice, as history indicates, he would not likely have been defeated by Vlad. Sun’s most famous adage “Know your self and your opponent and you will survive a hundred encounters” would certainly have kept him from encountering Vlad face to face. In fact it is more than likely, he would have given the feared warrior a gift of fair maidens, trained to poison the unsuspecting conqueror.

Of course, this is all fun conjecture, just as the premise of the show is entertainment and not to be taken too seriously. For Evolving Martial Artists, intelligent strategy guides the skilled warrior to victory over terror and brute force.

Lawrence Tan

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In the Karate Kid, Mr. Han, an aging building superintendent, and as we soon learn, martial artist, saves the young underdog outsider from continued ass kicking by school bullies. Faithful to the classic remake, he reluctantly teaches the young boy, whose brash behavior covers childhood fears and anger, eager for revenge.

While the audience naturally identifies with Dre the young underdog, the old master – with a quiet, nuanced performance from a usually upbeat Jackie Chan – is haunting. Of course this remake is fun popcorn melodrama. It’s upbeat. Han transmits kung fu’s physical and mental powers. Dre eventually triumphs over his tormentors, attesting to the transformative aspect of kung fu. Especially highlighted is the exotic Wu Dang Monastery, with spectacular aerial shots of monks serenely practicing flowing martial forms in the mountain mist. David Carradine’s Kwai Chang Cain would be envious. It’s the hub of the inner mysteries of martial arts.

Still, there was something disturbing about the old martial artist. Sadly, it seems the sorrowful old master, though physically skilled, is disconnected from the deeper spiritual side of the art. Although he is never shown practicing, from Chan’s portrayal of the emotionally wounded character, it seems that he has not found solace in kung fu’s meditative side or internal qi training.

Though he reveals himself as a healer, he himself is not healed. The message of the film might have a deeper meaning if it also depicted how the path continues beyond youthful combat. Some mention of martial arts as a life long pursuit, and as a path to master life in all its pain and glory. Maybe the spiritual philosophy of the martial arts doesn’t make for exciting chop socky scripts. As Evolving Martial Artists mature, we are compelled to also seek the quiet, obscure aspects of the martial way and its power of inner peace. That is real kung fu.

Lawrence Tan

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