Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) Thailand

3 Basic Felling Techniques of Wahnam Taijiquan

Wahnam Taijiquan application of Carry Tiger Back to Mountain, performed by Barry (thrower) and Ade (Throwee)

Taijiquan has great felling techniques. When executing a Taijiquan felling technique it is very important not use brute strength or force against force against you opponent, Why? Contests of force and using brute strength are to be avoided in Taijiquan training and combat. In sparring or real combat, it is possible that you may come up against someone stronger than you and whilst in the act of trying to throw your opponent using brute strength you could in fact be thrown yourself when their power proves to be superior to yours. It is also possible that while caught in a power struggle of trying to throw your opponent you expose yourself to other attacks like hand strikes and kicks. This is why you would rarely if ever see a Taijiquan Master try to throw an opponent straight away without first unbalancing, striking or distracting his opponent. Using those methods is a good way to avoid a force on force battle.

Fell No.1 Carry Tiger Back to Mountain

Carry Tiger Back to Mountain.

‘Carry tiger back to mountain’ is a great throwing technique. Below it is shown intercepting a mid level attack. Notice the locking of the attacking arm under the arm pit. The action of pulling, turning and pushing on the shoulder twists the upper body, this coupled with the sinking into a solid stance fells him over the leg. As he falls I can follow him and make sure he falls safely.

Intercepting an attack.

Securing arm and moving in for a throw using 'Carry Tiger Back to Mountain'

Off balancing and using the waist for the throw.

Turning the upper body for the throw.

Safely down to the ground, taking care not to hurt your taining partner is important if you want a happy training session.

There are two more Taijiquan throws on the way.

Fell No.2 Fisherman Casts Net

'Fisherman casts net' from Wahnam Taijiquan

This is a beautiful technique similar in concept but with a different flavour from ‘Carry Tiger Back to Mountain’. With this movement there is more than one application, but the one shown is a fundamental use of the pattern as a felling technique. Below you will notice that the technique is used to counter a mid level attack. Notice the lock of the attacking arm under the arm pit and the use of the other  arm like a bar across the chest. With a turn of the waist, the trip is executed over the leg.

Mid level attack.

Stepping forward and securing a hold of the attacking arm.

Attacking arm is locked under arm pit to aid control and prevent attack.

Using the waist movement of 'Fisherman Casts Net' to fell.

Ensuring a safe fall for my training partner.

An application of ‘double lotus kick’ is to follow.

Fell No.3 Double Lotus Kick

Taijiquan pattern of 'Double Lotus Kick'

Double lotus kick is a beautiful movement shared by most of the Taijiquan styles. Below is an application of the movement used as a leg sweep/felling technique. It should be noted that as this is a picture series, obviously the movements look staccato in nature, in application the movement should be smooth and fluid. As the mid attack comes in there is a move to the side and sweep the leg.

mid level attack

Side step to use the 'Lotus Kick'

Apply the the 'Lotus Kick'

Ensuring a safe fall for my training partner.

3 Basic Chin Na Techniques of Wahnam Taijiquan

'Old Eagle Catches Snake' from Wahnam Taijiquan is very useful for Chi Na.

Chin Na includes the gripping, breaking,  and dislocating of limbs, bones and joints, it also the tearing of muscles, tendons and skin. It sounds quite brutal, but as my Sifu has often said “Chi Na is a compassionate art” that can enable you to quickly disable and subdue an assailant with out the need for excessive violence. Many people are un aware of the Chin Na techniques in Taijiquan, though there are actually plentiful amounts of Chi Na in traditional Taijiquan. Here is a good place to mention that the Chi Na techniques of Taijiquan should be applied using the philosophical tactics of Taijiquan, which take time to train. If you try to use the techniques with brute force and muscle power it will be very difficult to use Taijiquan Chi Na effectively, indeed pure muscle power is to be avoided in Taijiquan. Some of the Taijiquan tactics include ‘not meeting force with force’ and ‘flowing with your opponent’ this is useful to bare in mind when trying to apply Taijiquan Chin Na. For example when you have a hold of your training partners arm and are trying to execute a Chi Na it is important not to become physically tense and mentally locked into the application. This type situation can quickly enter into a contest of strength and expose you to other attacks as you become too focused on a contest of strength. It is better to flow with your opponent or to change technique if this situation arises.

Chin Na No.1 Throw water up to rice field

'Throw water up to rice field'

This technique is found in the Wahnam Taijiquan set called ‘flowing water floating clouds’ and his quite a nifty technique when you are stuck in a fix. Quick and flowing movements help to apply this technique. Below for fun, Mark and I start standing with him grabbing me and threatening to punch me. I quickly step back into a false leg stance to extend mark’s arm, then I pull his wrist down and lock his elbow joint. If done with good timing and force it is possible to break the elbow joint, so it is best to exercise caution when practicing this technique.

The arm that grabs the shirt is extended.

Making use of 'throw water' by moving to the side and gripping extended arm.

Applying 'throw water' as a Chi Na, from here it is advisable to move to another technique, for example 'old eagle catches snake'

Carry Moon at chest will follow.

Chin Na No.2 Carry Moon at Chest

'Carry Moon at Chest' a pattern from Wahnam Taijiquan.

Like ‘Throw water up to rice field’ this technique is also found in the Wahnam Taijiquan set called ‘flowing water floating clouds’.It takes skill trained over a decent period of time to be able to apply the technique effectively, as it requires good timing and footwork to execute. Also you will notice that the stance or arms (depending which way you look at it) are the opposite way around to the stance of the picture showing only the form of ‘Carry the moon at Chest’. Why is this? It’s because at the time of doing the application that happened to be the convenient way to apply the technique effectively. In Wahnam we always aim to have ‘picture perfect’ form in application and combat but if we need to change hand patterns to be effective we certainly do it without a moments thought, this is a good example to show that Wahnam Taijiquan is ‘alive’ and is able to adapt and change to the situation at hand.

Mid lelvel attack arrives.

Intercepting the attack by gripping and barring the arm.

Applying 'Carry the Moon at the Chest'

'Carrying the Moon at the Chest' Notice the change of stance from the standard mode.

‘Old Eagle Catches Snake’ is to follow

Chin Na No.3 Old Eagle Catches a Snake

'Old Eagle Catches Snake' from Wahnam Taijiquan.

‘Old Eagle Catches Snake’ is a hall mark of Wahnam Taijiquan and is a very effective. Indeed I can remember the first time my Sifu applied this technique on me. It was the first time I had trained with Sifu and he asked me to punch him, I did so and was quickly ‘kissing the ground’ with my face. I could not move or resist the Chi Na at all and was duly impressed. Even though I was much bigger than Sifu he controlled me like I was small boy!

Below you can see it is used to avoid a punch and then applied on the elbow joint.

Mid level attack arrives.

Intercepting and Gripping the arm.

Turning the elbow joint over.

Applying 'Old Eagle catches Snake'

Series complete, conclusion to follow!

Hit, Kick ,Grip, Throw conclusion

Wahnam Tai Chi Chuan felling technique 'Fisherman Casts Net'

If you remember I started this series by asking the question.

Have you ever see a Taijiquan practitioner dodge a kick, swiftly jump forward, strike the would be kicker, capture him in a joint lock all before felling him forcefully to the ground!!!??

Again, if you have witnessed the above you are lucky, but I am sure that many people who know Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) as the ‘gentle dance’ in the park would have trouble conceptualizing how Taijiquan could be used in the above description. My aim was to show just some of the basic applications of Wahnam Taijiquan that could be used in such a situation, though of course it would take regular training with a qualified instructor and daily practice to able to use such applications effectively. It is also my aim to make more pictures of Wahnam Taijiquan application available for viewing pleasure.

Application of 'Swinging Fist'

I hope you enjoyed this ‘Hit, Kick, Grip, Throw series.

Robin

Summary of the two beautiful and useful Taijiquan patterns-

I hope you’ve found the applications of these two Taijiquan patterns enjoyable. The original inspiration for putting this little series together was that there are quite literally hundreds of pictures showcasing Taijiquan, and many times it is these patterns that are used, but as mentioned before, rarely do we see any martial explanations for thses patterns.

Green Dragon

I beilieve one of the reasons for Masters in the past not recording the applications of these techniques was that they would not have wanted to share what would have been at the time ’top secrets’ with the general public. In the past if the applications were made public, rival Masters could easily ’steal’ the them. However, the fact that most of us generally live in law abiding countires where deadly Kung Fu battles are not common place means there is not so much of a need to keep Taijquan applications secret anymore. Indeed it is better for the promotion of genuine traditional Taijiquan that the combat applications be shared so that the combative aspect of the art may be kept alive for generations to come.

Part the Wild Horses Mane.

This is not to over emphasize an interest in the martial side of Taijiquan. But it should be noted that Taijiquan is a marital art and that  if you wish to derive the full benefits of health and spiritual cultivation from the art of Taijiquan you must have an understanding (and hopefully some skill) in the Combat aspects of the art too. To do otherwise would be to miss out on an amazing opportunity to develop excellent skills for life derived from the combat aspect of the training. Skills like ‘Spacing and timing’, ‘mental clarity under pressure’ and training of the ‘Spirit’ to be brave and courageous are all very useful in daily life.

Indeed the difference in benefits of atainment between a practitioner who has done only Taiji Form practice for a year, compared to a practitioner who has trained genuine Taijiquan as a Martial art for a year is really incomparable.

The benefits garnered from the two approaches will not be the same. The ‘ Taiji Form’ practitioner may be able to perform a nice ‘dancelike’ performance of Taiji, but the benefits from repeating the performance every day normally peak at improved flexibility, balance, and grace of movement, whereas a Taijiquan practitioner in the same training time will have developed some internal force and energy flow, will have clearer thinking, better flexibility, increased strength and energy levels and at least a basic knowledge of how to defend themselves using Taijiquan patterns. It should be noted that  all these benefits mentioned will also apply very nicely to everyday life.

Beautiful Taijiquan patterns also have excellent uses for Combat.

Robin

Green Dragon shoots Pearl

'Green Dragon Shoots Pearl' also known by less poetic name of 'Brush Knee Twist Step'

‘Green Dragon Shoots Pearl’, which in most other Tai Chi Chuan schools is known as ‘Brush Knee Twist Step’ is an incredibly beautiful and versatile pattern which can be used for a multitude of occasions. It’s also excellent for developing energy flow. Here are just some of the uses for Green Dragon shoots Pearl.

1) Defend and strike
2) Counter a Kick
3) Grip and Control

1. Defend and Strike

One excellent use is to counter a punch. Using ‘Body movement’ shift back and avoid the attack whilst simultaneously deflecting the punch. Then strike with the palm at the face or solar plexus. Note, it requires sufficient internal force to apply the palm strike effectively. Needless to say just practicing Taijiquan form will not give the required force to apply this technique well.

Mid level punch

Cover before striking.

2. Counter the Powerful Kick

How would Tai Chi Chuan defend against a powerful round house kick? Well Green Dragon is a good option. Here, timing and spacing are very important; the application requires ‘closing the distance’ to intercept the kick, which is a skill in itself that requires sufficient time in training. As the kick is executed, step in immediately and intercept the kick at the kicker’s thigh, then cover the opponent’s arms and strike with the right palm to the chest sending the kicker backwards. If the action of stepping in to intercept the kick is too slow, there is a likely hood of still being kicked on the way in, that’s why good footwork is vital to successful application.

Intercepting the kick requires good a footwork.