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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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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Today martial artists acknowledge Bruce Lee as the force for popularizing the art of kicking ass rooted in China’s Shaolin Temple, source of Far East fighting arts. Yet the original force behind the Shaolin legacy is Bodhidharma. The blue eyed, bearded monk from India founded Shaolin kung fu. He was a monk, not a warrior. More importantly, Bodhidharma is the founder of Zen (Chan in Chinese) – a way of awakening based on sitting meditation.

Meditation improves our martial skills. The focused mind, emotionally calm,  and mentally clear liberates our fighting responses; they become natural, spontaneous and efficient. This is especially important during a fearful situation. True power is rooted in the mind not the body. The old masters teach meditation as a potent way to help control our body’s reactions. We learn to recover from panic. Breathe. We become more intuitive. If we think of the mind as a muscle, then meditation is push ups for the mind. After consistent practice, the mind gets stronger, flexible and concentrated. And we discover secrets of the body, subtleties in executing technique that we once thought we knew.

Beyond Bruce Lee and kicking ass, the true value of regularly sitting cross legged will enhance our daily lives by reducing stress and finding a discipline of stillness. There are further benefits for those who delve deeper into Bodhidharma’s teachings to become inner warriors who seek awakening.

The Evolving Martial Artist works to get the edge. You want it? Meditate.

Lawrence Tan

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We are honored to have Sifu Lloyd Fridenburg, senior instructor at Waterloo Kung Fu Academy, and writer, as our guest blogger answering the question: is kung fu a dying art?

As always Master Tan you spark some interesting thoughts and discussion.
This is a dilemma that all traditional martial arts schools must confront. I had the privilege of being taught by Sigung Bob Schneider who founded the Waterloo Kung Fu Academy. Our Canadian lineage began with Grandmaster David Chong and his cousin Tony who studied Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu in China but switched to Okinawan Karate when they moved to Canada because there were no Kung Fu schools in their city at that time. Thus there was a blend of Karate and Kung Fu when they began teaching Kung Fu in the 1970’s. Hence the formation of the CKKA (Canadian Karate Kung Fu Association) because some schools in our lineage evolved in the direction of Okinawan Karate and others towards Kung Fu, while others show are a blend of the two where out soft flowing Kung Forms are performed in a very rigid Karate-like manner.

Sigung Schneider not only followed the Kung Fu path but was determined to develop a school that was deeply rooted in the Chinese Kung Fu traditions of dedication, perseverance, loyalty, and respect. To attain a black sash students must be determined, dedicated, and knowledgeable. Over the 23 year history of the school we have averaged only one promotion to black sash per year. About a dozen black sash instructors are still very active in the school. We have 4 second degree, two third degree, and one fourth degree (me).

Thanks to our association with Grandmaster Pan Qing Fu (Chief Senior Coach of the Chinese National Wushu team during the 1980’s and self-defense instructor to some of the elite Chinese Special Forces) who moved to Canada and lived with Sigung for a couple of years, our school actually regressed into a very traditional format. Even though he excelled in the performing art of Wushu Master Pan retained his traditional skills and taught them selectively in China and in great detail to Sigung Schneider who brought many of the traditional skills and customs into our curriculum.

After Sigung’s untimely death in 2006 the school was bought by Sifu David Moylan who was a student of WKFA from the time he was 12 years old. He gave up a promising career as a Chartered Accountant and continues to run the school in a very traditional manner. Although much of the tradition has been retained we are now less rigid and more accommodating of older students and tolerant of input from students and parents. Hence a further evolution.

I have personally evolved a unique program that is designed specifically for adults over 45. It is more informal and I restrict it to the teaching of simple practical skills. Yet another evolution.

Is traditional Kung Fu dead? It think that, with the exception of some dedicated remote pockets, the answer is yes. Modern society, even in China, will not be bound by rigid tradition. We had some students that attended a Shaolin retreat in the Wudang Mountains of China. Although the level of martial arts skills was exceptional they were appalled when the “monks” would step out for a cigarette break or answer their cell phone while teaching. Hardly traditional.

There is however a balance that will accommodate a blend of old and new while still maintaining the essence of the art. You can become a business and a belt factory or you can put the art first and seek out that balance.

Sifu Lloyd
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With the advent of spring, especially after this harsh winter, we are eager to get outside to train. Like early Daoists practicing tai ji by a stream or Shaolin monks kicking boulders in the misty mountains, practicing in nature is a time honored tradition.

It is common to all martial arts: gi clad karateka punching into crashing waves, krav maga practitioners fighting on sandy beaches or capoeira experts flipping and whirling on grass. In addition to the fresh air and being in the outdoors, it is the opportunity to use the natural surroundings as a training partner. In this week’s video, I use a fallen tree branch at the seashore as a natural Wing Chun wooden dummy to hone my tiger claw and animal techniques. (Sign up to our newsletter for secret tips hidden in our videos)

Spring is here. Let’s go out to train in nature’s dojo.  Whether the backyard, park or garden, practicing your kata, sparring and meditating in nature is invigorating. It is a way to reconnect with the roots. Energize. Feel the qi! How do you use nature as a creative means of training?

Lawrence Tan

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TanDao Kung Fu

At TanDao, we say martial arts is more than fighting. When the warrior’s way of action blends with the monk’s way of stillness, the disciplining of mind, body and spirit for combat is elevated into a path of self-development.  This is the legacy of the Shaolin Temple.

Yet we recognize martial arts originated for survival and expresses the human animals primal violence.  As such, we watch reruns of the series, Fight Quest.  Martial artists, Doug Anderson and Jimmy Smith, journey the world studying lethal methods like Israeli krav maga, Brazilian jiujitsu, Filipino kali, etc. Comparative martial arts.

Similar to Anthony Bourdain’s global trekking to experience culinary delights, but where Bourdain’s misadventures may lead to food poisoning, our dynamic duo face knockouts, bodily injury or even death.  In each episode they go mano y mano with top fighters of each style.

No phony wrestling. No film fight choreography. This stuff is real. Doug and Jim are BAMoFos.  It’s exciting. And brutal. Non martial artists or those who romanticize David Carradine’s Shaolin monk, may question the lofty ideals of the martial way.

As vicious and realistic as these techniques are, we find it interesting that some truly deadly movements are not depicted.  Where are they?  They are hidden behind the fancy Shaolin animal forms which modern martial artist’s dismiss as unrealistic.  The secrets are still here.

Lawrence Tan

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TanDao Kung Fu

The Year of the Tiger celebration lasts two weeks. A week ago, we marked the New Year by launching our martial art ebook and video – TanDao Tiger Combat Series. Toni, our resident Taoist & Chinese cosmologist, cautions this year of the metal tiger will provide ongoing challenges. But with the courage and tenacity of the tiger we can overcome adversity. An experience we had last November is appropriate and we would like to share it with you.

We went to the seashore to film our tiger videos as we were planning to introduce our Shaolin/JKD tiger style for the lunar new year. But a Nor’Easter storm put a halt to that. It was awesome to see the tumultuous ocean, but our mission was aborted by bad weather. We were bummed. The last evening, however, we managed to film a wellness exercise to a stupendous sunset and in the following dawn we also filmed tiger kung fu form sequences. We were on a roll. (Click on links to see the videos!)

Our schedule was actually completed. We were elated. While walking back along the seashore looking through rocks and shells for our zen garden in the city, a tiny object in the sand simultaneously caught both Toni’s and my own attention. It was a tiger figure. An omen? Although our rational minds may regard this as superstitious, a holistic view sees it as synchronicity, a meaningful coincidence as psychologist Jung would say.

As for our tiny, smiling tiger talisman, we choose to view it as a positive omen. After all, this figure was utterly miniscule in the vast space of the seashore. Yet we both found it. Go figure… What do you think?

In the week since its release, we’ve received enthusiastic responses to our TanDao Tiger Combat downloads from martial artists of different styles. We take it as a good sign. May the tiger bring us all a good year!

Lawrence Tan

Lawrence wrote, directed, choreographed and was featured in this 1982 video, Tiger and Crane Shaolin Kung Fu. We were surprised to find a few of these on You Tube. The Hung Gar tiger and crane forms are demonstrated by Master Chiu Chi Lin, a descendant of the style’s originator, who is recognized today for his role in the film Kung Fu Hustle. In this video, Lawrence seems to find trouble wherever he goes…from ascending a staircase  (above) to strolling through the park — employing kung fu techniques for effective self defense.

Tiger and Crane Shaolin Kung Fu was made in the early days of video production. Today, we continue the tradition of exploring practical application of martial art techniques to protect and defend.  Check out our latest videos ~ including tiger and crane combat: http://www.tandao.com/videos/

1982 was a good year ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!