Wen Hsiu Quan

Hi, blog readers. As suggested by Travelling Lakan in our Martial Arts Forums group on G+ I write this weekend's post about the reverse crescent kick as we find it in Taijiquan. I admit that I have not seen a spinning version of this kick in Tai Chi forms, but using the principles of Taiji technique I have constructed a spinning kick for us to use in this discussion. I was not able to get examples from the internet of this particular kick off the internet, so I made videos under the strict supervision of Master Patrys. She supervises all of my Saturday workouts and makes sure that I do not slack off when training. :D I have not seen this kick in Shotokan before. To give you an idea of what a reverse crescent kick is I can use Ryu from the Street Fighter game series as an example. Ryu has a special attack called the "Tatsu Maki Senpuu Kyaku". I have yet to ask my Japanese friends for an accurate translation, but we gamers got to know it as the "Hurrica...

Looking at martial arts competitions-particularly fights or sparring matches, it is very easy to get so captivated by the spectacular appearance of kicking techniques that one does not realise that a properly executed kick can land its victim in hospital or cripple him for life. With Taijiquan, however, I  have not found much in the line of being spectacular when it comes to kicking. In fact- the front kick, which I am going to discuss here- appears in most forms. Circular and crescent kicks are also found in some forms and upward kicks with the instep also occur, but the front kick is basically guaranteed to show up in most forms if not all. If you have practiced Taiji walking a lot you will feel that each leg carries the body's weight on its own for a long time. This in itself develops the strength needed to effectively execute this kick. Another thing you tend to become aware of is the shifting of weight from one leg to another. Rooted posture is of paramount importa...

It started with a brief conversation on Facebook with Sensei Jesse Enkamp. He seems like the guy who has the answers to those questions that you wanted to ask your Sensei, but never got the courage- or- who had the answers where your Sensei hadn't. In summary- Jesse's knowledge of karate seems to be surpassed only by his passion for it. So- my question to him was: "Why do I not see any katas with roundhouse kicks, reverse roundhouse kicks and back kicks, yet these kicks are all accepted as part of every style's kihon." His answer was: "Mikazuki Geri = Mawashi Geri. We have a kata that features a back kick. Reverse roundhouse kicks are useless for self defence. :D" Great answer, but as all answers do it had me having more questions. While the question of why somebody would invent a technique called "Dragon Whips its Tail" in kungfu if it was going to be regarded as useles...

I am particularly glad about this long weekend. I have finished taking all the photos needed for the chapter on basics in my book. The next set of photos- if they are going to get taken- will feature one of my friends who have helped out with the book on grappling.  After the books have been completed I shall post some more about the actual experience of learning Wenhsiuquan. Sure- we get a lot of info on a style's ideals and values- even its techniques, but what about the stuff you actually experience when you are at the dojo? Thank you, everybody who has been reading my blog up to now. I hope you enjoy what is to come. 

I like having my legs as available as weapons as much as my upper limbs are. In another post I will show some defences against weapons that rely on quick feet or light legs. This warm-up exercise is a great way to get the legs ready to deliver some powerful explosive kicks,  Start in a horse stance and step into a cross-stance. The leg with which you have stepped forward is now the supporting leg. Now from whichever side of your supporting leg the other leg's foot is resting, swing it over in a wide arc through an imaginary target at head height. The supporting leg is firm and the swinging leg is relaxed. The kicking foot should now come to rest at the other side of the supporting foot- to shoot of in another high, wide arc to the other side. Repeat about 10 times each side and switch legs. Real kicking would require you to tighten the kicking leg's muscles at the moment of impact. This exercise has none of that as it is meant to loosen the limbs before tr...

Hello, everyone. While I am training like mad at the moment- and loving it- I thought of those guys my age who do not kick so high anymore. While a lot of people (like the Thai boxer below) can take a split, tilt the hips a bit and then have a high roundhouse kick a lot of us cannot split that far. Is all lost then? Short answer- nope!  I know Shukokai people will not accept this and Shotokan people can act as if they knew this secret for a long time (because they did!), but here is my tip for that jodan mawashi   geri: See the sketch? You notice the front stance? Yes- that is not a Shotokan front stance, but it will do (you guys can't hog the spotlight here). Notice how far your back leg can stretch just because the front leg is bent? Now- bending the supporting leg and aiming your kicking hip as high as it goes (yes- we aim with the hips and NOT the knees!) let that kick shoot out.  Pretty cool, huh?  This means that as long as you...

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Depending on which style you practice or which technique you prefer- this kick could either be your weakest or your strongest kick. This video is especially a must-see for any karateka who wants to test himself in the MMA arena. Feel free to comment or to email me at boshoffm3@gmail.com.

I have combined the PT247 with ankle weights and wrist weights to give me a great workout. Following the example of Goku and Rock Lee, I can testify that this workout works wonders!

While I do recommend a good weight training program it is very obvious that martial arts provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. It is also an excellent way to release tension. A common denominator to most styles is kickboxing. The techniques of karate, taekwondo and kung fu can all be adapted into a sparring form that employs fists and feet. While I do recommend sparring with more advanced techniques at a later stage kick boxing is usually the safest way to start free sparring.

Form practice usually involve multi-directional attacks. It is a very bad idea to be surrounded in a real fight and the fighter has to keep all his opponents in front of him as much as possible. It is, however, necessary to practice attacks in all directions as well as defences against attacks from all directions. Keen senses and a good use of peripheral vision are skills that forms cannot develop. With a clear mind and keen senses multi-directional attacks make the fighter a one man fighting force capable of disposing of multiple opponents. 

I really enjoyed my punching bag- while it lasted. A good measure of technique and power is a solid target to hit. :) And the bag makes for a great workout too. :) 

The legs, usually very strong compared to the arms, make excellent long range weapons. Every martial art recoginses this fact and had developed kicking techniques that we recognise in all of them. Although many kicking techniques- and variations of those kicks exist I have only picked the most basic kicks for this discussion. The kicks seen in the video are also the kicks that each beginner should be practicing without fail. When these kicks are mastered, other kicks will come much easier. The video starts off with three basic front foot kicks. I regard these as the jabs of kicking although, being kicks, correct technique will make them much more dangerous. The following should be noted in the execution of these techniques: 1. Stance, Stance, Stance:   The very same stances (in this case horse and crane stance) apply throughout the execution of the technique, with the heels of the feet are firmly on the ground and tension is maintained i...