‘Brown Bear Sinks Hips’-An
'Brown Bear Sinks Hips' or 'An'
‘Brown Bear Sinks Hips’ has many useful hints towards its application hidden in the name. Successful use of the pattern often relies on sinking into a solid stance. A bear is powerful and deliberate animal, which gives a clue to the quality of movement aimed for when performing the pattern. Below are just some of the ways ‘Brown Bear Sinks Hips’ can be used in application.
- To reverse a throw
- To neutralise a Hip Throw
- As a powerful double grip.
1. Reverse a throw
First off, a big thank you to my Sifu. I obviously lifted these Pics from Sifu’s site website www.shaolin.org . Thank you Sifu.
‘Black Bear Sinks Hips’ is an excellent pattern for countering throws when you know how, and relies upon excellent ‘Tai Chi’ principles. As someone steps into to throw you with the pattern ‘felling tree with roots’ or ‘fisherman casts net’ the back foot is quickly moved to the side frustrating the force of the throw. Then, as the throw is still be executed place the hands on the ‘thrower’s’ shoulders and sink down. The tides are then turned and the ‘thrower’ becomes the thrown! Remember though that it is only possible to throw using this type of downward force if the opponent is also using force to throw you. Once the ‘thrower’ stops applying force it becomes difficult to throw to use this technique.
Sifu moves in to fell Chun Nga with 'fisherman casts net'
Chun Nga adjusts his footwork and applies 'Brown Bear Sinks Hips'
2. Neutralize a hip throw
‘Brown Bear Sinks Hips’ is also excellent for countering a Hip Throw. But remember although the technique is an excellent counter for hip throws, it requires regular practice to apply effectively, especially against an expert Judoka who can apply the hip throw at lightening speed. However, against mediocre practitioners it’s quite easy to apply.
As the thrower makes gets his hips in place, in one smooth motion, step back into a solid horse stance simultaneously placing both hands on the shoulders, Pull on the throwers shoulders while sinking down into a solid horse stance. The Hip thrower will be pulled to the floor with as much speed as is desired.
As the hip throw is being applied, quickly plant a foot between the hip throwers legs. Good timing is essential.
Quickly move back to a horse stance while placing the hands on the hip throwers shoulder and sink into a solid stance for the fell.
3. Control and double grip a low attack
‘Sink Hips’ is also and effective counter to a low punch in the form of a double grip, that when executed with internal force can be surprisingly hard to escape from. As the punch is in motion, sink back, grip the hands and then pull the hands down.If the Tai Chi Chuan exponent has sufficient force this double grip alone can cause considerable pain, but mostly this pattern would be used to control the opponent before a throw or strike. It also must be noted that when applying this grip, one must guard against the head being exposed to a head butt.
A low punch is executed.
The low blow is countered with a double grip.
Detail of Grip
