Kung-fu in MMA....This is how I got here.

[Goju - Joe]

First of all I use the term lightning because it sounds cooler that hit fast, break down techniques. Second, Lightning doesn't represent infightin range.

Sheeesh get with the curriculum. I like using the cool names I learned from my traditional background like 'Proud emperor holds up sun' or 'Generous monk' or 'young monk in river', except I made the names shorter.

Need to be carefull with those names in case you mix techniques and end up teaching people 'Proud emperor holds young monk'

;)

[Virus]

When I think back to my first time, it was behind my house in an old box. The smell of mildew still infects all I touch.

[SifuJason]

Pretty cool. This is off topic, but what is your view or impression of Won Hop Kuen Do and Al Dacascos? My son has an interest in Northern Shao Lin (he's 6) while I think it is a little Wu Shu'y, and i wondered if this system would be a bridge to something practical. If it was my choice, I'd have hmi do judo/BJJ.

Hey New2bjj,

I am a practitioner of WHKD and student of Al Dacascos, and I can say for certain that WHKD is completely practical. It was designed for street fighting, and is centered on the principles of "practical, effective, and realistic." It has a mixture of styles in it (being a branch of the Kajukenbo system), and uses kung fu as a way of flowing and blending all these styles. You can find out more info on the style at http://www.goldsmithkungfu.com. Who are you planning on training with in WHKD?

[Mr. Mantis]

My son has an interest in Northern Shao Lin (he's 6) while I think it is a little Wu Shu'y, and i wondered if this system would be a bridge to something practical. If it was my choice, I'd have hmi do judo/BJJ.

I've trained in Northern Shaolin. The thing I don't like about it is the emphasis on kicks, specifically, flying kicks. Some good stuff in there though. But as we all should do, take what's good for us and leave the rest behind and build from there. Of course teachers should learn everything to pass that on to students who can make decisions for themselves.

[Omega Supreme]

So one of the group of techniques that I've incorporated in my MMA training that I learned extensively in Kung-fu is what we called leopard paws. Basically it was an advanced way of slapping. Quite humorously we throw it under the "anti-grapple" techniques. Along with these techniques is the ability to change levels and evade.

I laugh when I watch freestyle wrestling and they slap a guys head away and I'm like "look, leopard techniques" Another way of seeing techniques is thinking of a sumo match where you are simply evading and slapping the head away as a person attempts to shoot at you. Won't stop a great shot but if the person isn't at a high level I've found great success with the technique.

[Cullion]

So you teach a form of kung fu anti-grapple based on bitchslapping ? That's awesome.

[SixStringFist]

Great thread Omega, loved the story. I haven't been training Kung Fu that long but you're story definitely inspired me..

[Ke?poFist]

Blah, I'd rather not go into a whole book on this guys so I'll break it down simple. then vs now:

My original system was composed of 5 different styles of training:
Leopard: Speed and quickness, cutting strikes (elbows and such), and evasive maneuvers ground attacks (nothing like BJJ just a lot of sweeping pouncing and then get off)...
Eagle: Evasive maneuvering straight in attacks with joint locks (mostly small joint and shoulder) This gave me a good idea of how the body really moves when it came to understanding joint submissions.
Tiger: Strong powerful attacks (Thought they were better suited for stalky guys). Head butts, palm strikes, clawing powerful low kicks (thrusting and rounding), and off balancing throws.
Crane: Quick subtle movements, jumped around like TKD guys IMO. Love to do pressure point attacks and tricky wide moving strikes. Better suited for thinly built guys.
Dragon: Adaptive ever changing technique must jack of all trades master of none.

So as you can see it was more of a body movement training than actually trying to emulate the respective animal although the forms spoke other wise. After basic training, as it were, it would take you about 1-2 years to become proficient in the respective group of techniques.

My system has taken away the animals per se. I still train the traditional sets but I've expanded the basic training to explore more modern interpetation:

Earth, Water, Wind, Iron, Lightning (Fire)

Iron: Muay Thai, Karate, TKD (real TKD), all the hard straight forward techniques

Lighting: Leopard style attacks, Kenpo strike flow, western boxing (yeah you heard me) and wing chun (yeah, you heard me there too)

Earth: SAMBO, Judo, BJJ, Wrestling; in other wordls unbalancing techniques with very little striking

Water: Aiki, crane, eagle claw techniques to establish flow

Wind :Chi kung (relax), pressure point tactics (no I don't do the touch you paralyze stuff), distraction attacks.

And they are taught in that order. I teach my students to fight first. If they fail at some of the more theoretical based maneuvers then they're in for a rude awakening.

Don't look into this any further then it needs to be looked at. I just used words that I thought people from the outside could understand. My kung-fu students spar with the MMA guys, stand up with the kickboxers, and roll with the SAMBO guys. I train them in weapons and still practice philosphy.

There you go I hope that helps.

awesome breakdown utilizing the elemental metaphors. Oh and I thought it was 5 Ancestor Fist ;)

[Ke?poFist]

So you teach a form of kung fu anti-grapple based on bitchslapping ? That's awesome.

I love how out of a site populated by Sports MA, Traditional MA hating, caustic bastards, the guy who does Tai Chi is ripping on Omega. Keep on brotha! lol

[Omega Supreme]

awesome breakdown utilizing the elemental metaphors. Oh and I thought it was 5 Ancestor Fist ;)

Yes, it can be broken interpeted as 5 Ancestors. After finding out some schools of 5 ancestors though it's not the same thing. I believe there was a ke?po group that did 5 ancestors. 5 ancestors are supposed be deferring to the idea of the 5 main families Hung, Cho, Hop, Lau, and Lop (Did I get all those right)