Occasionally, on this blog we will be sharing some “little known DCJG facts”. I say this sarcastically, because whenever I share them in class around non-Jow Ga friends, they always seem amazed by simple things that all DC Jow Ga students know… and these little known DCJG facts exist in their systems, are so obvious and simple, and shouldn’t amaze anyone who teach the martial arts.
I would like to emphasize that nothing here is secret; they are in every style. You probably teach it in your system. Each time you teach a beginner some of these things, I’m positive you tell him this very thing–without the emphasis.
Without the Emphasis
“Without the emphasis” is where Dean Chin’s Jow Ga is different. There are many details in Kung Fu that are taught, but not emphasized. For example, in Southern styles when we shift from the Sei Ping Ma (Horse Stance) to the Jee Um Ma (Bow and Arrow/Front Stance), everyone tells students that the shift adds power, speed and reach to an attack. However, only in schools where the Sifu emphasizes that element of making the shift increase power, increase speed and increase reach–will those benefits find their way into the strategic advantage of a fighter’s arsenal. The teacher must emphasize this in both form and fighting also. Too many teachers teach the shift, tell of the many benefits and advantages and details, then on to the next move or the form… In Dean Chin’s Jow Ga, these minor details are dissected, studied, developed and emphasized in the student’s skill until they become habit. It must be more than a talking point. Each detail of a technique, each alternate application, each variation, each benefit, must all be identified, separated from the form and practiced and drilled as a separate skill.
I “emphasize” for emphasis: As a separate skill.
Today’s little known DC Jow Ga fact: The punching hand that retracts is pulling a grabbing arm into the opponent while punching with the opposite arm.
I don’t even know you, but I know that when you teach the Horse Stance Punch, you tell the student at some point that the non-punching hand “can pull the opponent in if he grabs your arm”. The question is, how much time do you spend practicing it? If you are like most martial artists, you will teach punching like this:
Lop Jin… Sei Ping Ma. Horse Stance Punch, ready? YAT. YEE. SAM. SEI….
And you do this, every time you teach punching ^^. Not us. We do this to practice punching. But in almost every session practicing punches, we do something with the opposite hand–Eagle Claw grab and punch. Tiger Claw rake and punch. Counter grab the opponent’s hand and punch. Yank the hand back (this article’s “secret”) and punch. Grab the opponent’s lapel and punch.
Get it? You pull the non-punching hand back with as much power as the punch going out. That’s it. I won’t tell you how to do this, just that it needs to be done if you want to practice the way we do.
If you want to know more, please find a DC Jow Ga teacher (look on our Blog Roll for a school near you) and study with him. Or you could order our Small Tiger DVD (shameless plug).
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Dean Chin's Jow Ga Kung Fu Federation 