Exploring fighting--group training session

Last night was supposed to be the third installment of the eight-week Yin Style Bagua Foundations series we're doing in Maryville on Thursday nights, but between a family birthday, being held over at work, being out of the country, and a couple of other issues, the crew for that class wasn't able to assemble last night as usual. Only a couple of guys, both of whom have been training for a while, were able to make it, so we're postponing Week 3 of 8 to next week and will proceed from there.

Instead, last night, we decided to take a diversion into using the Lion System methods for practical fighting against a resisting opponent, a topic we haven't devoted too much attention to under the promise that training well renders this sort of dangerous practice essentially unnecessary. As a study-group meeting, that is how we approached the topic, investigating the matter carefully, and the "myth," if we can call it that, is at least plausible: use for fighting against a resisting opponent is certainly possible even without doing a training-by-sparring protocol.

We started off from a question, discussing the nature of chopping since one of the guys in attendance wants to make chopping (specifically Lion chopping, though we'll probably try to stretch that somewhat) a project for the next few weeks or month or so. Several of the animal systems in Yin Style Bagua feature chopping, so a brief overview of the similarities and differences were presented. The essential core that makes chopping be chopping was extracted, despite the fact that each animal with chopping strikes makes very different use with a very different intended result coming from a very different expression of the single idea we call "chopping."

Since the Lion System is generally the primary focus during our Thursday night classes, we put our attention on Lion chopping strikes. First we stood strengthening together, looking to find the particular positioning and strength to develop powerful, effective chopping strikes through systematic development. Then we reviewed the three foundational strikes, by drilling them briefly, in the chopping palm: upright, hacking, and arcing chopping. Because of my particular like for it and its great utility for fighting, we added the Lion's swinging chopping strike as well.

Scott Berry uses an upright chop to open Jim Lindsay, threatening another chop to off-balance him.

Then we got down to business, taking turns trying to "get" each other with attacks that are and aren't specifically bagua oriented. Our karate and some grappling backgrounds made for an interesting set of scenarios that we tested at medium speed. A few effective combinations emerged from this drill, and so we took them out and drilled them the way Yin Style drills: repetitively, for accuracy, for full-body coordination, and for full-body power. Afterward, we partnered back up and drilled them slowly in an arranged "applications"-type setting, trying to extract more exactitude and effectiveness from the raw material we started with.

Jim Lindsay uses a hacking chop to knock Scott Berry down while controlling the elbow.

This sort of thing is where Yin Bagua really shines. Everything is practiced according to the way it is used in fighting, and so every fighting application, even ones drawn from live use, can be extracted and put into a drillable scenario that is used specifically to refine the technique, to make it more effective, not vacantly more formalized, while still every bit as applicable in a real, stressed situation.

Specifically, we were able to take these effective techniques and identify the necessary components of coordinating hands, eyes, body, waist, and footwork to go from a decent result to a very good, very obvious, crisp, repeatable result, and then we are able to package that result into a practice that can be taken literally anywhere and practiced without fancy equipment, a lot of room, or even a training partner. As evidenced by another technique that I pulled out from my training from months ago, which I haven't tried on an opponent since, the result of this process in training can be incredible.

After this, we briefly explored the various attacking methods of the Lion System from the perspective of how they would make the opponent feel if done correctly. This, for me, was by far the most interesting part of the class. In general, the Lion feels aggressive, powerful, and overwhelming, but it seems that the various attacking methods each have their own personality in expressing that theme. I don't claim this is entirely correct, but this is what we found, remembering that the focus was on determining what the opponent should experience from a skilled practitioner using this fighting method against them:

1. Sweeping/slicing (xiao): The sensation could almost be best described as being in rough water, being slapped around by waves coming in from different directions.
2. Cutting/smashing (cha/za): In addition to the feeling of being precisely struck and even cut with the attacks, the general intent of the strike seems to be to pull the opponent in and crush them downward, kind of a grinding, gnashing feeling.
3. Chopping (pi): Being on the receiving end of the Lion's chopping palm is  to crumple down and away.
4. Hooking (gua): Being violently yanked around off one's roots, a bit like the old Vaudeville canes.
5. Shocking (zhen): Being in an earthquake.
6. Blocking (dang): Being held away, closed in upon, and crushed with a sharp, biting force. This includes being stretched out as well as being broken down or collapsed.
7. Seizing (qin): Taken control of and made powerless.
8. Grasping (na): Led into disaster and broken suddenly.

It was, as I said, very exciting to explore the art in this way, though it did prove a little riskier than our usual training methods. I think everyone in attendance would agree that the question of "would this work on the street?" has been answered clearly with "yes, very well."

Thanks again to everyone who made it! See you all next time!

(Photos courtesy of Yin Style Bagua.)