Post by myles on Jun 27, 2015 5:24:36 GMT
Each attack method has seven forms, but what do those forms mean, what is their purpose? They were not thrown together all willy-nilly that's for sure. Each form has a strategy, a favored body method, or technique. Without looking deeply into the way the strikes and footwork are strung together one will not have a very good understanding of what the forms are trying to teach us. Lucky for us the forms are short, by studying one or two forms consistently and thoroughly I feel comprehension is quite obtainable.
Following is a list of the forms, all eight, because some people are training different animals. If someone is training lion than the interlocking description, although not an actual form for lion, is of no less importance than the other descriptions. The reason being is that the description also applies to the general flavor or personality of the animal to a certain extent.
Note that I will not be using the animal names to refer to the forms. Such as "sweeping snake form." I have found that people are easily confused by "snake lion" or "lion snake form" which comes first? what animal are you training? what strike? "chopping lion dragon form" is that dragon system's interlocking chopping form? or the lion systems holding and lifting chopping form? I also feel that the other names give clues to the strategy. I have encountered people that refer to the forms as the animal names and have less of an understanding of the what and why of the forms.
For those that are unaware of the naming system when referring to the forms I will provide a key of sorts.
Lion system interlocking palm
Snake system moving with the force palm
Bear system turning the back palm
Dragon system holding and lifting palm
Phoenix system windmill palm
Rooster system lying step palm
Unicorn system reversing the body palm
Monkey system enfolding and contracting palm
-Interlocking forms
By definition all forms link singular strikes together, however, interlocking is takes this idea as it's main strategy, leaving no openings for the opponent to utilize. Overwhelming them by being continuously offensive. If there is an opening it's deliberate in order to bait the opponent for the following strike. It seems to me that sometimes these forms link strikes together that mesh well with each other, but other times go out of their way to link moves together that do not flow naturally together, possibly to increase the skill of interlocking. Horizontal and whirling forces are used frequently.
-Moving with the force (MWtF) forms
Regardless of the animal system or strike being trained, generally, it seems to me this form emphasizes flowing with the opponents strength. Moving out of the way of their attacks or directing them before counterattacking or allowing the opponent to run into your attack. The follow up here often comes from the leading hand that first made contact unlike other forms that the followup comes from the support hand more frequently, although in both situations either are options.
-Turning the back forms
'These forms mostly emphasizes using the body. Usually using force upward and then downward'-HJB. I think this is in reference to there being a lot of strike combinations in these forms that change height from attacking high to low. HJB also says in the same dvd that these forms favors low strikes, as I'm sure most who have trained these forms or the bear system in general will have noticed. When actually turning the back to the opponent the high/low seems to attack low, but when height changes are made from a more advantageous position (not turning the back to the opponent) the opponent seems more frequently to be baited low and then struck high.
-Holding and lifting forms (H+L)
'Emphasizes a concentration of use of force'-HJB
Seems to me that these forms attack from below with supporting hand quite often, lifting or rising up, moving the opponent up off their center/root. There also seems to be defined horizontal and vertical forces within the H+L forms I have studied.
-Windmill forms
Emphasizes the roundness of your technique. Whirling of the arms and waist. Meeting and redirecting. Often using both arms in the same direction, as well as reversing directions with the supporting arm, often with an advancing half step of sorts. Often a closing/inward strike becomes an opening strike. Each hand containing multiple forces and both hands working together. Dodging hands.
-Lying step forms
Dodging body. Long deep footwork. Feinting to one direction and dodging to the other with a drop in height.
-Reversing the body forms
Squeezing in and pressing. A round strength (circular transforming of the arm, the arm must roll), favors high strikes. -From my notes, probably from a dvd.
I find that the reversing forms are similar to turning the back forms, however, when looking at some of the dvd's is seems that reversing can be done without actually turning the back, changing from left to right (often opening strikes are followed up by an inward strike) or high to low would also be considered reversing direction, or the body's motion. I could be wrong here, or anywhere in this post for that matter, and I welcome corrections as well as others input as always.
-Enfolding or Squatting and contracting forms
'Any movements that are moving or sinking down could be said to be of enfolding or squatting and contracting. As long as you are using strength in a downward direction.'-HJB
Feet together and squatting down, hands contracting inward and crossing are often movements found within these forms. Also there are opening movements in a lot of these forms that I've studies that immediately upon contact aim high then drop low, so similarly to turning the back forms there are height changes emphasized. These seem to be more high then low, where as in my experience with turning the back it seems to go low then high more frequently.
Following is a list of the forms, all eight, because some people are training different animals. If someone is training lion than the interlocking description, although not an actual form for lion, is of no less importance than the other descriptions. The reason being is that the description also applies to the general flavor or personality of the animal to a certain extent.
Note that I will not be using the animal names to refer to the forms. Such as "sweeping snake form." I have found that people are easily confused by "snake lion" or "lion snake form" which comes first? what animal are you training? what strike? "chopping lion dragon form" is that dragon system's interlocking chopping form? or the lion systems holding and lifting chopping form? I also feel that the other names give clues to the strategy. I have encountered people that refer to the forms as the animal names and have less of an understanding of the what and why of the forms.
For those that are unaware of the naming system when referring to the forms I will provide a key of sorts.
Lion system interlocking palm
Snake system moving with the force palm
Bear system turning the back palm
Dragon system holding and lifting palm
Phoenix system windmill palm
Rooster system lying step palm
Unicorn system reversing the body palm
Monkey system enfolding and contracting palm
-Interlocking forms
By definition all forms link singular strikes together, however, interlocking is takes this idea as it's main strategy, leaving no openings for the opponent to utilize. Overwhelming them by being continuously offensive. If there is an opening it's deliberate in order to bait the opponent for the following strike. It seems to me that sometimes these forms link strikes together that mesh well with each other, but other times go out of their way to link moves together that do not flow naturally together, possibly to increase the skill of interlocking. Horizontal and whirling forces are used frequently.
-Moving with the force (MWtF) forms
Regardless of the animal system or strike being trained, generally, it seems to me this form emphasizes flowing with the opponents strength. Moving out of the way of their attacks or directing them before counterattacking or allowing the opponent to run into your attack. The follow up here often comes from the leading hand that first made contact unlike other forms that the followup comes from the support hand more frequently, although in both situations either are options.
-Turning the back forms
'These forms mostly emphasizes using the body. Usually using force upward and then downward'-HJB. I think this is in reference to there being a lot of strike combinations in these forms that change height from attacking high to low. HJB also says in the same dvd that these forms favors low strikes, as I'm sure most who have trained these forms or the bear system in general will have noticed. When actually turning the back to the opponent the high/low seems to attack low, but when height changes are made from a more advantageous position (not turning the back to the opponent) the opponent seems more frequently to be baited low and then struck high.
-Holding and lifting forms (H+L)
'Emphasizes a concentration of use of force'-HJB
Seems to me that these forms attack from below with supporting hand quite often, lifting or rising up, moving the opponent up off their center/root. There also seems to be defined horizontal and vertical forces within the H+L forms I have studied.
-Windmill forms
Emphasizes the roundness of your technique. Whirling of the arms and waist. Meeting and redirecting. Often using both arms in the same direction, as well as reversing directions with the supporting arm, often with an advancing half step of sorts. Often a closing/inward strike becomes an opening strike. Each hand containing multiple forces and both hands working together. Dodging hands.
-Lying step forms
Dodging body. Long deep footwork. Feinting to one direction and dodging to the other with a drop in height.
-Reversing the body forms
Squeezing in and pressing. A round strength (circular transforming of the arm, the arm must roll), favors high strikes. -From my notes, probably from a dvd.
I find that the reversing forms are similar to turning the back forms, however, when looking at some of the dvd's is seems that reversing can be done without actually turning the back, changing from left to right (often opening strikes are followed up by an inward strike) or high to low would also be considered reversing direction, or the body's motion. I could be wrong here, or anywhere in this post for that matter, and I welcome corrections as well as others input as always.
-Enfolding or Squatting and contracting forms
'Any movements that are moving or sinking down could be said to be of enfolding or squatting and contracting. As long as you are using strength in a downward direction.'-HJB
Feet together and squatting down, hands contracting inward and crossing are often movements found within these forms. Also there are opening movements in a lot of these forms that I've studies that immediately upon contact aim high then drop low, so similarly to turning the back forms there are height changes emphasized. These seem to be more high then low, where as in my experience with turning the back it seems to go low then high more frequently.