Penetrating defences

Thus sages contrive nothing,
and so spoil nothing.
They cling to nothing,
and so lose nothing.

(Lao Tzu)

Drills

There are 8 principle 'penetrating defences' methods in our syllabus:

1. Inside

2. Filing

3. Sealing elbow/squeeze

4. 2-step

5. Stepping to outside/cloud hands

6. Step-behind variations (4)

7. Tongue-in-cheek

8. Shen

These drills train the body to get in close when attacked.
Unlike yielding or yielding/chin na, they are not about withdrawing. They are about advancing.

Growing

Having made space, you must incapacitate your attacker. Yielding is only half of the requirement.
Unless you neutralise the attacker, they will continue to assault you.

Advancing can incorporate a number of jing, but the most important one is 'growing'.
Growing is concerned with crowding the attacker, making them feel restricted and awkward, vulnerable and compromised.

It is important not to oppose the incoming path of force. Move around it.


What is the point?

These drills do not always make sense to a beginner.

However, to the experienced exponent - faced with an armed attacker - they make total sense.


Neutral state

Do not hurry, do not lose your composure. Glide around the incoming force and assert yourself.

A calm, smooth action is a good demonstration of skill.

Classes • Contact Details • FAQ's • Feedback • Health • Meditation • Neigong • Philosophy • Qigong • Self Defence • Tai Chi • Video Clips • A-Z

Bearing • Chuan • Combat • Defending Yourself • Kung Fu • Soft Martial Art • Yielding

Animal Nature • Applications • Background • Being Hit • Chin Na • Controlling • Dim-mak • Drills • Effectiveness • Evolve • Experiment • Flowing Chin Na • Key Points • Kicking • Large Rhythm Small Rhythm • Nature Violence • Open Hand Striking • Orthodoxy • Penetrating Defences • Primal • The Way Of • Weapon

Page created 5 August 1999