Sung Lung Miu sparring classes consist of seven basic phases all of which begin with shortened Kung-fu exercises.
Our sparring science is taught using proven Chinese and Japanese methods of self-defense, including Iron Training (Iron Palm and Iron Shirt).
When ‘self defense’ is mentioned in Kung fu many people think it means to be reactionary. This is not so. What is meant is to observe the opponent and see ones intention and when the opponent presents the intention to attack you must intercept and diffuse the situation before the attack is executed or at the moment of attack.”You move, I move first.”
1) External Kung-fu
External Kung-fu training for developing cardiovascular, core strengthening, stretching, tendon and ligament conditioning and Qi awareness.
2) Chi-sao
Chi-Sao is learning to break the pace of coordinated timing, utilizing hooking and trapping of the opponent. Chi Sao is practiced in two ways, broken down for clarity during class when being taught.
3) Kumite
a) Ju Kumite : Soft sparring in a semi-fast but fluid manner. Here we learn to use the techniques that were taught while working with an opponent.
b) Pattern Kumite : Kumite is taught here in patterns where the attacker and defender exchange a set number of techniques.
c) Point fighting Kumite : Here we learn strength in sparring and what the student is capable of. This practice also teaches what ‘enough is enough’ is all about.
4) Kobu-Jutsu
Kobu-jutsu (weapons training): Primary weapons taught in Sung Lung Miu are bow staff, sai, tanfa, double stick, nun chaku, and katana.
5) Iron shirt and Iron Palm Qigong
a) Iron Shirt Qigong: Here we learn the art of building the fascia, tendons, ligaments and bone structure to pack Qi for self defense. This type of training also promotes longevity and Qi channeling.
b) Iron Palm Qigong: Here we build on previous hand development for self defense. We start to understand the meaning of ‘bone breathing’ and Wei-dan Qigong (macrocosmic orbit).
c) Maki wara : Maki wara literally means ‘coiled straw.’ The straw is wrapped around a post, a piece of wood, or on a striking post against the wall. This training teaches ‘ikken hissatsu ‘ or ‘one blow-one kill.’ Here the student learns to combine all the techniques into a deadly execution.
d) Muk Yan Jong : Muk Yan Jong training teaches students to utilize all the types of blocks, hook blocks, punches, sweeps, and kicks, along with maki wara practice and apply them to a wooden dummy allowing the full explosion of the technique to be executed without injury to a person.
Both the maki wara striking and the Jong training teach ‘Kime ‘ or full focus as well as conditions the body to execute the ‘ikken hissatsu ‘ concept of ‘one blow-one kill.’ When defending against an assailant in the street this is vital for survival.
6) Philosophy
Sparring class is also used for the teaching of Buddhist and Taoist philosophy and to learn Sung Lung Miu philosophical precepts and moral conducts that shape a person’s character, such as, ‘Love is my law.’
Philosophy is necessary to temper and anneal a student’s mind. This helps the mind to blossom so the student becomes an asset of society avoiding the perils of the need to ‘test’ one’s skill.
*Concepts of Christianity are taught by Sifu James Allen Walker.
7) Za zen
Sung Lung Miu teaches Za-zen or a grounding meditation and Buddhist koan contemplation in a set of creeds and virtues all of which calm the mind.
We learn the importance of cooling down the body and mind further balancing out the Yang practice of Kung-fu.
