Bajiquan Combat

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In the previous post, we saw an impressive demo of a Bajiquan form. Bajiquan itself is reputed to be the martial art of choice of imperial and presidential bodyguards in China and Taiwan in the first half of the twentieth century. How might a fight involving bajiquan look like? In this clip Bajiquan Master Liu Lian Jun trades blows with a student in a simulated fight. The video is blurry but the action is fast and furious.

Related Post: Four Hundred Pound Bajiquan
Picture: Blackdragon

Four Hundred Pound Bajiquan

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Bajiquan (Eight Polarity Boxing) is noted for his 'explosive' power. Watch as Master Liu Shang Peng expresses this explosive whole-body power in a crisp performance of Bajiquan's first form, the Small Baji. Interestingly, a study by Stanford University researchers has found that a Bajiquan master can muster some 400 lbs (180 kg) of force in his strikes. Imagine a very fat person jumping high up and landing on one knee on an opponent's chest / flank / head.

Related Post: Bajiquan: The Bodyguard Martial Art

Secrets of Kung Fu Feats Revealed

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Wing Chun Sifu Leung Ting reveals how 'super human' Kung Fu feats are carried out. Neither illusions nor tricks, these feats are nevertheless not as 'super human' or extreme as one may perceive at first glance. The feats demonstrated in this clip are:

• Smashing bricks over head
• Jumping high onto abdomen
• Stroking red hot iron chain
• Drawing a sharp knife over body
• Withstanding chop from a sharp sword.

The techniques to perform these feats are said to have originated from Vagabond Kung Fu and require skill and practice for them to be performed safely and correctly. So don't try this at home - there are more to these techniques than what is shown in this video.

Spotted via: Kung Fu Magazine
Picture: break.com

Javanese Fighting Arts

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Continuing with our Silat theme, we have a clip of five Silat styles from Jakarta, the capital city of Java and Indonesia. The exotic names of the five styles are:

• Mustika Kwitang: Legacy of Kwee Tiang
• Syahbandar: The Portmaster's Art
• Tiga Berantai: Three Chains
• Pusaka Jakarta: Jakarta Heritage
• Permata Sakti: Magic Gem

Silat offers a different perspective of Asian martial arts which, in Western media, is dominated by Chinese styles. These two martial traditions look somewhat similar but are very different in practice. [Footnote: Kwee Tiang is a name of a Kung Fu master who learnt Silat and founded Mustika Kwitang.]

Related Post: Cerulit: The Sickle Shaped Machete of Java
Picture: Khalfiah Gayong

Cerulit: The Sickle Shaped Machete of Java

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The sickle is an ancient agricultural tool that is used throughout the world for harvesting crops. As with many agricultural tools, it can be weaponized, such as in the Japanese Kama. Much less well known is the Javanese Celurit as shown in this short clip. Its radically inward curved blade is in the antithesis of outward curved weapons such as the Persian Shamshir. While the Shamshir is meant for slicing, the Celurit is designed, in part, for raking.

Secrets of Wing Chun Sticky Hands Part 2

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In Part 2, Sifu Oliver Grams shows more Chi Sau or Sticky Hand techniques including one-beat attacks, elbow control, redirection, angling, Chum Kiu pivoting and centre line attacks. Another informative, ground breaking clip on previously secret or lesser known techniques of Wing Chun.

Related Post: Secrets of Wing Chun Sticking Hands Part 1

Secrets of Wing Chun Sticky Hands Part 1

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Thanks to Youtube, many previously closely guarded martial arts secrets are now made available to the public. In this first of a two part post, Wing Chun Sifu Oliver Grams demonstrates lesser known techniques of Chi Sao or Sticky Hands and their applications to close quarter fighting. An absolute gem, the material presented here has not been seen thus far in public domain by Daily Kung Fu. [The video starts slow but gets better from the minute mark onwards.]

Related Post: Sticky Hands of Wing Chun

Can This Child Fight?

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A young student of Grandmaster Wang Xi An rolls out a superb demonstration of Chen Taiji's opening set.

Can this boy fight with what he demonstrates? Yes, if he has been taught key combat principles. As you can see in the video, the young lad can already express focused power. He just need to strike at the right places to be a handful for even semi-trained adults.

 It can be easy and yet very hard to teach a child, kudos to Grandmaster Wang for having taught a young boy to this level of fluency, it must have required a tremendous amount of attention and patience.

[Spotted via Michael Koh / Taiji Secret Movements]

I Liq Chuan: A Soft Hakka Martial Art

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When one thinks of Hakka Kung Fu, one normally associates them with seemingly 'hard', ferocious styles like Southern Praying Mantis and Pak Mei. And when one thinks of the 'softer' practices of push hands, one thinks of Tai Chi Chuan.

But there is a 'soft' Hakka art which practices push hands like exercises.. I Liq Chuan (Mind and Strength Fist) founded by Grandmaster Chin Lik Keong of Malaysia is an amalgamation of Hakka and Northern arts.

In this clip Grandmaster Chin explains the finer points of what is termed as spinning and sticky hands in I Liq Chuan to Daria Sergeeva, an I Liq Chuan instructor from Russia. Note Grandmaster Chin's gentle instruction (in Hakka) and the importance of fine details in being able to uproot an opponent.

Trees vs Machine Guns

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Can a machine gun cut down a tree? The Mythbusters crew checks out three different machine guns in the order of increasing firepower:

• The Thompson submachine gun
• The M249 light machine gun
• The M134 heavy machine gun

Enjoy our two-video post on automatic gunnery.