morgothan’s kung fu repository

So last night I was in the mood to do some drills, rather then form. So I took the beginner class and had them work on a few nice kicking drills, and one take down drill. For the kicks we did both inside and outside crescent kicks. 20 each leg, nothing to killer. But then after we did them kicking the pads, I had the defender drop the pads, and go from a a high tiger to a low tiger, go under the kick, and pop up for the attack. Getting them used to doing something after a block. The basic principal is simple, As soon as you see the leg start swinging around you duck away, then sway into and under the kick. Bring the leg that is further extended up to the center of the opponent who just kicked, and unleash hell on them. The most important thing though, is to keep your hands up guarding your head. A few times I caught some of the beginner students getting lazy, and not blocking their heads. Luckily no one got kicked really hard in the head though. After a few variations of what to do after you go under the kick, I had them all do a take down drill from single whip.

This move shows up in all but one open handed form we teach. The basic principal is that you circle your arm overhead and hook behind as you sink to a low tiger, then turn to a bow and arrow in the other direction, and circle the non hooked hand to the ear and palm strike. Now the take down is exactly that. You block the punch or whatever, then half step to get in positions, and circle your arm over the person, under their arm, over doesn’t matter. Push them down over your front leg. If you are in good, this should be enough to take them down. Otherwise, take your other hand under the opponents foot. Turn to a bow and arrow, and lift that foot up like you where doing a circle block. With them already off balance from the push down, the lift of the leg will take them clean to the floor. In not such a nice manor either, they will be dumped right on the back of their head if they are not careful.