Shaolin - Sabre

Shaolin Kung Fu

All Chinese fighting systems consist of the following:

These are all incorporated into Shaolin classes at YMAA London.

Two external Shaolin systems are practised: White Crane and Long Fist (Bai He and Changquan respectively). Shaolin White Crane specializes in hand techniques and middle to short range fighting, while Shaolin Long Fist specializes in kicking and long range fighting. Both are trained in YMAA external styles training, and the techniques of both styles are used in sparring practice. This gives students the ability to use both long and short range strategies and defend themselves competently.

Students practicing Shaolin Kung Fu develop:

Students will start of by learning fundamental stances, hand forms and kicks. The stances incorporate patterns of standing; enabling different fighting strategies. There are ten fundamental Long Fist and six White Crane stances that students must learn. These also help a student to develop their root, structure and strength. Hand forms are ways of holding the hand when it is used for striking and teach the student how to generate Jin (martial power), and how to direct martial power to the opponent. YMAA trains hand forms from both Long Fist and White Crane. YMAA training includes more than thirty different kicking methods from both Long Fist and White Crane for both attack and defence.

Students also learn a range of Fighting Forms (bridging hands). These are training sets constructed from two or three techniques allowing students to practice with each other and learn effective fighting techniques. Fighting forms help to build natural reactions for both offence and defence. YMAA uses many sets of fighting forms both barehand, and with various weapons.

Students then progress onto learning various Shaolin sequences, short-range defense strategies (barehand, knife and kicking). Chin na is incorporated into each level progressing in diffculty and teaching countering techniques as the student develops. The bridging hands techniques move into matching sets which incorporate footwork. The eventual aim is to lead students into free sparring (San Da) through a structured program. This ensures that they can defend themselves effectively using the techniques they have learned.