Entry methods

It is inadvisable to punch unless you are sticking to your opponent,
except when your move is a feint.

(Lau Kim Hong)


Initial contact

When the attacker launches their assault, you need to make contact with them.
Ideally, this needs to be relaxed, comfortable and effective.
Your aim is to compromise the opponent without alerting their nervous system.

If you are aggressive or forceful, you will bang into the attacker and this will lead to a fight.
You will probably resort to tension and physical force.
This is not tai chi.

Remain composed, make space and do not rush.

Entry methods

The entry methods ultimately all stem from the form.

For learning purposes we break them down into 3 approaches:

  1. Penetrating defences

  2. Silk arms

  3. Form applications

They are listed in order of difficulty.

Later, you will learn other options, and they too come from the form.
For now, penetrating defences, silk arms and form applications are the only considerations that matter.


Penetrating defences

There are 8 penetrating defences methods. The first 6 are relevant here:

  1. Inside

  2. Filing

  3. Sealing elbow/squeeze

  4. 2-step

  5. Stepping to outside/cloud hands

  6. Step-behind variations (4)

These can be employed against a variety of high strikes and grapples, enabling you to close the distance and initiate a grapple.
They can also be used to counter a knife attack.


Silk arms

The 10 silk arms drills offer different types of entry:

  1. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 address a high punch

  2. 7 and 9 address a low punch

  3. 2 and 10 address a high grab

  4. 4 addresses a low grab

These counters are more varied than penetrating defences and the drills already suggest potential follow-up movements.
Later in the syllabus, silk arms are dismantled and the subsequent movements can be used as additional entry methods too.


Form applications

Form applications are not as straightforward as they seem.
Even when you get some sense of how to apply the form, it is important to recognise that there are many layers of subtlety.

Applying the postures as an entry method is not easy.
You need to be very familiar with the form and capable of using the postures without thinking.


Ease

Thinking is not good when someone is attacking you.
This is why the three approaches are trained independently - as partner drills - rather than in freeform.

In freeform, you must simply move. Whatever comes out, comes out.

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Page created 5 August 1999