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Defeating Wing Chun Chain Punching

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:02:30 +0000

Defeating Wing Chun Chain Punching

How can you defeat a Wing Chun practitioner skilled in rapid fire-chain punches (see Fists on Fire) devastating at close range stand up combat? Check out this video of two cats fighting shared with us by our friend HankWithOneK on Twitter. Look beyond the humor and realize why this is called Wing Chun vs. Jujitsu. There’s a lesson here.

Just as the pouncing cat completely overwhelms the other, a powerful grappler who stays out of the Wing Chun stylists accustomed upright trapping range can suddenly crash through the Wing Chun fighter’s defenses, smother the punches by using his body mass to tackle or take down the puncher. On the ground the grappler reigns supreme.

The key here is not what style is superior. The “my-style-is-better –than-yours attitude” is superficial. But it is important to take your learning beyond intellectually realizing that there are advantages and disadvantages to all styles – including your own – be it Shaolin Kung Fu, Goju, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, MMA or TanDao. Knowing is not enough. Experience the difference.

A Wing Chun stylist who analyzes and experiments with grappling or jujitsu movements can innovate deceptive strategies to knockout the grappler before a takedown can be attempted. So, imagine if the first cat could maneuver into proper range and clawed the face of the other cat. The outcome would be reversed.

Evolving Martial Artists explore and practice with skilled stylists outside their existing style to discover the Way of Movement.

What techniques from other styles take advantage of your style’s greatest strengths? Share with us your thoughts on this. Thanks Hank.

Keep practicing and exploring,

Lawrence Tan

Cooperation or Competition?

admin — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:04:55 +0000

Martial artists train to prevail against an assailant. As such, practicing with a partner has a competitive spirit expressed when sparring and during two man drills, like arm toughening or punching mitts. Am I stronger, faster or tougher than my opponent? A healthy competitive attitude is natural and necessary for progress.

At the same time, cooperation is vital for high level training. Soft systems like Tai Ji and Aikido or the more aggressive Wing Chun also teach the importance of cooperation during practice. Why is this spirit of cooperation a hallmark of advance training?

Two man training drills that require a cooperative attitude, like pushing hands and chi sau focus on subtleties that make core techniques more effective, efficient and dangerous. Novice and young black belts are often unconsciously compelled to compete with their partners to prove they are faster or stronger. The exercise becomes a contest not an educational tool. In trying to prove they are more powerful, they miss the greater value of these exercises.

On the other hand, seasoned martial artists confident and emotionally secure in their abilities, focus on the real lesson: such as using a live partner to safely study redirecting of force, leverage and finding the path of least resistance into precise vulnerable targets. Although they are both doing the same drill, the young black belt focuses on power to hit the opponent’s head, while the old master focuses on striking the precise knockout point on the jaw.

Competitive training is important. After all, we strive to vanquish the foe. But to refine and go beyond strength, speed and technical skill, cooperation is necessary. When practiced in the spirit of experimentation and mutual cooperation, both attacker and defender feel safe to explore, analyze and discover deeper “secrets” that are invisible to those focusing on competing.

Evolving Martial Artists in learning to balance cooperation and competition may awaken to the harmony of opposites the ancients allude to.

With this in mind check out our latest TanDao Fight Lab, TanDao Blindfold Training.

Subscribe to our newsletter to penetrate a deeper later of the strategies and tactics behind these techniques.

Keep Practicing,
Lawrence Tan

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Big Wang Doesn’t Hit Back

admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:27:53 +0000

In Enter the Dragon, a karateka (Bob Wall) shatters a wooden board with his punch to intimidate Bruce Lee before a fight. Lee gives his famous retort, “Boards don’t hit back.” A somewhat similar comment was made regarding the animal and TDH strikes on our loyal training dummy, Big Wang, who endures punishment without complaint each week. “The dummy has no arms. A real opponent has arms and will be trying to hit you back.”

Makes sense. Using Big Wang alone will not teach you how to fight, no more than just kicking a heavy bag, striking a Wing Chun wooden man, or punching hand mitts. But no human training partner can be hit full force in the eyes, throat, neck or groin as can Big Wang. Consider: samurai committed seppuku or harakiri (belly splitting) not just for honor, but to avoid becoming live targets for captors eager to experiment on the efficacy of their techniques. Full impact punching, round, front and side kicking a dummy, penetrating into target vital pressure points and getting the “feel” of the human anatomy are advantages of practicing on Big Wang. Big Wang is a valuable training partner for developing speed, power and accuracy.

Evolving Martial Artists also realize that utilizing training equipment does not replace two man training and sparring. The fast, powerful and accurate expression of their fighting techniques against dummies, heavy bags, punching mitts, or bricks is never equivalent to hitting a living, moving, thinking opponent. Sure, Big Wang is tough and takes your most lethal blows, but remember: boards and Big Wang don’t hit back.

Lawrence Tan

Happy 70th Birthday Bruce Lee

admin — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:54:40 +0000

Spirit Boxing

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:57:29 +0000

With the ghosts, ghouls and vampires about to be unleashed on Halloween, the theme of spirits reminds me of a rare system of kung fu called Sun Gung (in Cantonese ) or Shen Gong (in Mandarin) meaning Spirit Boxing.

Imagine being able to straight punch or hook kick like Bruce Lee without ever learning a single punch or kick. In fact, Bruce Lee fights through you. No need to sweat. Just channel the master’s spirit by chanting esoteric mantras and putting your hands in mystical positions (mudras). According to Sun Gung practitioners, should a fight arise, a deceased master’s spirit enters the initiate’s body and takes over. Of course, this requires undergoing an esoteric initiation ritual among the faithful. Freaky? It’s like a marriage between voodoo and kung fu.

Sun Gung traces to the esoteric traditions of Chinese Daoist and Buddhist folk religion. I’ve met a handful of Chinese martial artists who swear by the claims. Decades ago, I witnessed so-called supernatural abilities at the famous Dragon Mountain Temple in Taipei. These were typical stone smashing and taking powerful blows to the body yet performed by purportedly non-martial artists possessed by spirits. Who knows, maybe some of the old ladies secretly practiced behind the temple walls?

Over the decades, I’ve had the opportunity to witness spectacular displays of martial power, like a master magically knocking down his attacker without touching. Much is bullshit. Pure superstition. Like voodoo and other ancient native practices world wide, scientific investigation discovers many hoaxes – magic tricks presented as truth – naively accepted by gullible followers. Often, there is pseudo scientific reasoning and shoddy logic to validate feats of power.

Then again, some is real. At times, there is valid science behind some claims. Sometimes science is clueless. And I am also aware of the closed minded prejudice of some scientific minds.

So how do we know whether that ghost fist hurts or not? Can’t say for sure. But we can develop a secret weapon: critical thinking. These are mental skills for reasoning, analysis and questioning to intelligently explore beliefs and improve decision-making.

Evolving Martial Artists, armed with critical thinking, are open, skeptical and reverential to life’s invisible forces.

Watch out for those goblins. Happy Halloween from Lawrence, Toni, Matt & T!

Lawrence Tan
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Fight Lab – Comparative Combat

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:06:34 +0000

One of the intentions of TanDao Fight Lab is comparative combat. A characteristic of Evolving Martial Artists is the ability to intelligently compare techniques from different styles. Our purpose is not to diss one technique over another, but to develop critical thinking to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a technique or system. In doing so, we seek the Way of Movement – the natural laws and patterns Daoist or modern scientist seek – rooted behind all systems even as diverse as krav maga, jujitsu, and tai ji. JKD pioneered the importance of conceptualizing martial arts. At TanDao, we strive to carry this torch forward.

TanDao’s intercepting claw was inspired by combining JKD’s straight lead punch (the intercepting fist) and the Shaolin tiger claw. By substituting a tiger claw as the weapon, we expand the variations and efficiency that go beyond JKD’s intercepting fist. As we’ve demonstrated in Fight Lab #5, the intercepting claw is a simultaneous strike to the chin and eye jab – not just a punch.

Which technique is superior? Wrong question. The “my dog is bigger than your dog” mindset is a hindrance to discovering the Way of Movement because this attitude severs the open mindedness to explore beyond the superficial conclusions, this weapon is more powerful or direct. Perhaps more insightful questions are: in what situation, strategy, tactic or way of maneuvering would each technique be more appropriate? What are the hidden weaknesses of each technique? What is the original reasoning behind the technique?

Evolving Martial Artists, realizing that there is no ultimate style or technique, learn how to scientifically compare styles and systems to discover universal principles of movement. If you want to go deeper, check out our vbook, TanDao for Evolving Martial Artists and ebook that introduce these ideas.

What do you think about comparative combat and ideas in our TanDao Fight Lab?
Let us know.

Lawrence Tan

Tiger Claw download — now available in DVD!
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TanDao For Evolving Martial Artists is the first martial art vbook ever! Watch a book.

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Bruce Lee’s JKD and TanDao’s Tiger Claw

admin — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:44:23 +0000

In our TanDao System we combine JKD and Shaolin animal styles to create practical techniques for extreme self-defense. This week’s video introduces the TanDao intercepting claw. It is inspired by Bruce Lee’s straight lead punch and the Shaolin tiger claw. The intercepting claw exemplifies TanDao’s approach to bridging traditional art and modern fight science. The best of both worlds.

One of the core techniques in Bruce Lee’s JKD is the straight lead punch. It is fast and powerful by using the dominant hand in the lead position. The weapon is structurally closer to the target than boxing and karate styles that generally favor positioning the power hand in the rear. As such, the JKD intercepting fist, or the lead straight punch is ideal for intercepting the opponent’s attacks.

Traditional kung fu teaches that animal hand techniques, tiger claws, snake fangs and crane beaks are more sophisticated than punching. Like a fist, animal techniques can hit the target, but animal techniques are more versatile than the fist since animal techniques can concentrate force into targeted vital pressure points.

In TanDao, we have combined the lead straight punch with the Shaolin tiger claw that is found in styles like hung gar or choy lay fut. It is true, modern martial artists focus on punching and seldom employ animal techniques. In the spirit of Fight Lab, experiment with it. Discover the power of the TanDao intercepting claw for yourself. It works!

To learn more about TanDao and our TanDao Tiger Combat series, check out our ebooks, video downloads and dvds.

A special thanks to those of you who have generously donated to the TanDao tip jar.

Lawrence Tan

Tiger Claw download — now available in DVD!
Check out our TanDao Fight Labs and our ebooks and videos
TanDao For Evolving Martial Artists is the first martial art vbook ever! Watch a book.

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TanDao vBook

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:22:16 +0000

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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Fight Lab #3 Double Tiger

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:17:39 +0000

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
Check out our premium downloads – TanDao TIGER COMBAT ebook and video.
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Universal Form – Tiger Claw

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:04:51 +0000

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
Check out our premium downloads – TanDao TIGER COMBAT ebook and video.
Watch a martial art video