FU-JOW PAI
The principal system taught at our conservatory is the Shaolin Tiger Claw Style
of Kung Fu, Fu-Jow Pai (Foo' Geow' Pie') in Cantonese.
Fu-Jow Pai is a balanced martial system emphasizing the power, tenacity and beauty
of a fighting tiger.
All methods of punching and kicking, clawing and grappling,
joint locking and pressure point striking are explored.
The ancient techniques
of the muscle change are employed to create a
strong foundation, enhanced flexibility, strength, energy, balance,
cardiovascular fitness and overall health. We create an understanding
for the student
that is strong and sound regardless of the student's experience. We
also train for full contact san shou.
TRAINING
OVERVIEW & FIGHTING
One of the objectives at The Kung Fu Conservatory is to test the practical side
of our art. This is accomplished through friendly matching of hands and forms,
among ourselves and with other schools in tournaments. Though we are training
to develop ourselves as individuals, we are proud that The Kung Fu Conservatory
has yielded championship ratings in tournaments in the categories of forms, point
fighting and full contact san shou.
Fighting and self-defense skills are enhanced through myriad conditioning,
reality training, partnering drills and equipment training of ancient
and modern design. A brief overview of these follows.
Full Contact San Shou.
Fighting to Take Down and grappling
with and without Protective Gear explores all aspects of actual fighting
until one fighter cannot continue
or it is agreed that the match is over by both parties or the referee
calls the bout to an end.
Linear Fighting with Protective Gear.
Protective gear is
important in this straight-line type of fighting because of the massive
power that can be generated to the opponent. This
training resembles actual engagement by consisting of only one rule:
to strike extremely hard to the front of the torso. The referee stops
the encounter when either of the two occurs: there is a clinch for more
than a few seconds or the attacks are made off line. The main objective
of the student is to strike repetitively, while keeping the distance
between combatants constant, until one of the opponents is overwhelmed.
Angular Fighting with Protective Gear.
Angular stepping
is introduced to the linear drill to compound the effectiveness of striking.
Point Fighting with Protective Gear teaches control while exercising
agility and balance in delivering techniques.
TIGER
CLAW PRINCIPLE AND TECHNIQUE
Tiger Claw Four-Method Blocking is a progressive look at intercepting
an attack.
1) Blocking then Striking
2) Blocking and Striking at the same time
3) Striking without blocking
4) Psychological domination without striking
Tiger Claw Three Bridges delineates the use of the short, medium and
long bridges to close the gap and reach an opponent with an effective
countermeasure.
Tiger Claw No Block Doctrine is the act of destroying whatever weapon
an opponent presents by breaking, crushing, dislocating, paralyzing,
or tearing it.
Tiger Claw Principle Training utilizes the following and borrowing of
an opponent's energy to create a devastating and unavoidable accident/collision,
which causes the opponent to be led from one attack directly into another.
Tiger Claw Partnering Drills are two-person exercises which utilize
traditional, elemental kung fu principles in a set pattern to develop
placement, balance, timing, hardening of the limbs, sensitivity and coordination
of technique.
Tiger Claw Continuous Matching Hands is improvisational two-person work
in which the student learns the utilization of proper technique in freeform
defensive and offensive modes.
Tiger Claw One-Punch Principle Training helps to clearly define the
practice of efficiently closing the gap to reach and dispose of an opponent
with the fastest, most destructive attack possible.
Tiger Claw Technique Training. Movements are isolated from the forms
and practiced from interception of an incoming attack to complete destruction
of threat by utilizing underlying principle and tactical weaponry to
dispose of the attacker.
All Styles Forms Technique Training. Movements are extracted from the
forms for individualized practice in the same manner as the Fu-Jow Pai
technique training.
KUNG FU PARTNERING
Mind Fist Principle Partnering Drills. American Mind Fist or I Chuan
Pai, a creation of Jong Mon Kris Valentine, principle student of Sifu
Lo Man Biu and master level practitioner of twelve other notable styles,
is based on the premise that correct application of technique is a byproduct
of the sum total of the individual and his/her training in actual combat.
That these skills are identified by their ability to work in the heat
of the moment, is evidence that they come about through the intuitive
mind and culminate in the human being as an instant weapon. Once the
skill is realized and identified, it is put to direct use in repetitive
format until the student absorbs the principle and adopts it to augment
his/her natural flow in a combative situation. Thus, the intuitive mind
and automatic reflexes are enhanced, augmenting the individual's ability
to spontaneously perform at peak levels.
Angular Stepping Partnering Drills are designed to familiarize the student
with angles that cut off the opponent. The study of angles facilitates
proper stepping that aids in destroying the opponent's root and fracturing
the opponent's tactical/protective stance or movement. The understanding
of angles aids in positioning well against an incoming attack while maximizing
potential for defensive and offensive maneuvers.
Tai Chi Chuan Pushing Hands Partnering, Traditional and Improvisational
is a method of collaborative examination utilizing tai chi chuan principle
and technique to develop rooting, rolling back without sacrificing territory,
sensitivity from the forearm to the hand, measuring movement by feel
and answering incoming attacks with movements of the waist. Lightness
or softness is the desired result. This subtlety enables the practitioner
to redirect an incoming attack in a relatively undetected manner by reading
it with feel, accommodating a counter technique/measure which can be
used to its fullest extent against the opponent. Fixed, active and moving
steps are employed in push hands training. Improvisation concludes the
set.
Tai Chi Chuan Sticking Hands Partnering. Traditional and Improvisational
is similar to pushing hands. This is also a call-and-answer drill designed
to develop proper reactions to outside forces and to protect against
intrusions employing proper angles of leverage, redirection or obstruction
for defense and counterattack.
Tai Chi Chuan Da Lu. Traditional and Improvisational is a drill which
utilizes tai chi chuan principles while stepping to appropriate angles
for attack and defense.
MORE PARTNERING
Generic Sticking Hands Including Centerline Style of Movement teaches
the student to respond instantly, applying hand positioning found in
forms and partnering drills. Power is found in the proper execution of
angular positioning of the hand, wrist and forearm. Reflexes are developed
as the student learns to feel his/her way through the friendly competition
and warding off attacks as they happen, in order to create an opening
and instantly counter the attack. Techniques of trapping, grasping, seizing,
obstructing, adhering and absorbing are easily developed because of the
continual contact or what is referred to as sticking to the opponent.
Circular Walking Partnering Drills. The eight directions of the compass
are used as reference points which the student passes over and around
while engaged with an opponent. This exercise uses the circular walking
in order to create and fill openings and apply points of leverage in
motion.
CONDITIONING METHODS
-Buddhist Meditation, passive and martially active
-Taoist Meditation, passive and martially active
-Eight Silken Brocade Chi Kung Form
-Fu-Jow Pai Basics
-Fu-Jow Pai 18 Hands of the Tiger Claw Training - Sup Bok Fu-Jow Kung
-Fu-Jow Pai Muscle Change - I Chin Ching
-Fu-Jow Pai Forearm and Shin Resistance Training
-Fu-Jow Pai Iron Hands Training
-Fu-Jow Pai Stick Training for the Claw
-Fu-Jow Pai Catching Bag Training for the Claw
-Fu-Jow Pai Weighted Pole Training for the Wrist, Forearm and Hand
-Fu-Jow Pai 108 Knot in Small Rope Training for the Claw
-Fu-Jow Pai Thick Rope Training for the Stance and Claw
-Fu-Jow Pai Traditional Knuckle Push-ups
-Fu-Jow Pai Traditional Nine-Count Fingertip Push-ups
-Fu-Jow Pai dynamic tension
-Concrete Dowel for Hand and Forearm Strength
-Sledge Hammer Training for Hand and Forearm Strength
-Wooden Dummy Training
-Heavy Bag Training
-Focus Mitt Training
-Jump Rope Training
-Extreme Abdominal/Waist Training
-Isometrics
-Isotonics
COURSE OFFERINGS
-Fu-Jow Pai, tiger claw style of kung fu - origins in Hunan, removed
to Canton
-Hung Gar, southern, five animal-five elements style of kung fu
-Mi Jong Law Horn, northern, Buddhist hand style of kung fu
-Mi Chung I, northern, lost track style of kung fu
-Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan
SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
-Leung Ying style of Tai Chi Chuan, USA
-I Chuan Pai, mind fist style of kung fu, USA
-Seven Star Praying Mantis, northern
-Seung Family Mantis and Bok Mei, southern
-Choy Lay Fut, southern
CHINESE WEAPONRY
-Broadsword
-Sword vs. empty hand
-Double broadsword / Straight sword
-Six-foot, double-headed staff
-Seven-foot, single-headed staff
-Staff vs. staff
-Staff vs. broadsword
-Spear
-Nine-link whip chain
-Kwan do
-Dagger
OKINAWAN WEAPONRY
-Nunchaku
