How to Do the Pon Technique in Tai Chi

Well that's about it for Aikido, at least the useful stuff anyway. Now I'd like to segue into a useful combination of block, counter, light attack, and finishing attack I've found to be both simple and useful. It's from Tai Chi Chuan, the whole series is called Pon, Lu, Ji, Ang. I'll be posting one of these moves each day for the next four days. I hope they're helpful, or at the very least entertaining.

Tai Chi that we know today is actually a short form for the phrase Tai Chi Chuan. It is a very old form of Chinese martial art whose founder is unknown. Because of its age multiple schools of Tai Chi have inherited separate styles of the same martial art. It is what is called an internal martial art in that its movements are fluid and circular, seeming to flow rather than move. This is opposite to external martial arts which use direct and abrupt movements. Most people know Tai Chi as the slow movements people perform in parks and yards. These are actually the training forms of Tai Chi Chaun; the fighting style meant to be used in actual combat is much faster, though it is comprised of the training form moves. It is so prevalent because many people believe that practicing the training forms is effective in promoting good health and longevity. It's also effective as a form of mental focus or meditation. There are four main techniques or styles of attack and defense: Pon, Liu, Ji, and Ang. A Tai Chi martial artist can pass from one style to the next depending on the situation he/she finds him/herself in. This guide will teach you how to use the Pon style.

Using The Pon Technique
Step 1:
Begin by taking a half step forward with your left foot just as an opponent throws a direct punch or kick aimed to the face or chest. Put your weight on your forward foot. Your hands should be at your sides to start with.

Step 2:
Draw your right hand straight up to shoulder height as you step. At the same time begin to pull your left hand up and forward. Your left hand should be horizontal at all times, making a flat bar with your lower arm. Remember in Tai Chi movements of the hands and arms appear to begin with the wrist, as if it were pulling the rest of the arm along. This creates a flowing look that is the hallmark of Tai Chi.

Step 3:
Bring your left arm up horizontally to block, at the same time pull your right hand down so that your palms brush each other before taking their finishing positions. From the attacker’s point of view it will appear as if your arms create a framework. You will have correctly completed the technique up to this point if you appear to have made this framework.

Step 4:
Your left arm should deflect an opponent’s strike upward, while your right fist sits about a half foot behind the other arm. This gives you the immediate opportunity to block a follow-up attack, or to counter. Because all your body’s weight is on your forward foot you also have the opportunity to strike your opponent in the knee or shin with a short kick from your rear foot.

Tips & Warnings
To make sure you have the movements right, perform these techniques slowly and increase their pace when you're comfortable with them. Practicing in front of a mirror can help you perfect your form. The literal translation of Pon is frame. This is a defensive technique reliant on countering an opponent's strike. It takes its name from the manner in which the user's hands move apart, creating the appearance of a framework or picture frame. All the instructions are for a right hand dominant individual, for a left hand dominant individual simply reverse the placement of the hands and feet.

How to Do the Upper Cut in Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a term which incorporates the myriad martial arts of China. They developed over many hundreds of years as a means of self defense and military combat. According to legend the basis for Kung Fu was instituted by the godlike Yellow Emperor Chin Shi Huangdi who was known as a powerful general and wrote several treatises on the subject. When we think of Kung Fu we imagine very florid and elaborate moves requiring a great deal of gymnastics and contortions. But these are typically showy techniques made and used primarily for exhibition purposes. Kung Fu is based on combat techniques that work, regardless of whether or not they are pretty to watch. Many of the Kung Fu basics are short and direct. In this guide you will be taught how to throw a basic yet brutal uppercut taught in Kung Fu.

Things You’ll Need:
Practice Room

Sparring Partner or Practice Dummy

Kung Fu Uppercut
Step 1:
Face your opponent squarely. An uppercut must be thrown from a very short distance so you will have to be standing no more than two feet from your opponent. For this reason its best to use an uppercut as a preemptive strike or a finishing attack.

Step 2:
Bend deeply at the knees and reach down with the arm you intend to punch with.

Step 3:
Focus on a point about and inch behind and six inches above the tip of your opponent's chin. When you punch you must make sure to follow through, this visualization will help you to do that and ensure your attack does not glance off the edge of your opponent's chin.

Step 4:
Drive down hard with the muscles in your legs and straighten your knees as if you were about to jump. Bring your arm up in an underhanded swing and twist into the blow with your body. What you are doing is channeling all the force you can muster from your body into a single knock-out punch. The strength of your lower legs, upper legs, waist, abdomen, chest, and arm is all coming together to drive one strike up into the bottom of your opponent's jaw.

Step 5:
Your fist should impact with your leading knuckles well into the flesh under the jaw. This will cushion your hand from the bony parts on the end of the chin and prevent you from hurting your hand. At the point of impact your hand and lower arm should be aligned and completely vertical.

Step 6:
Don't stop driving after the initial contact, keep pushing. If the punch doesn't put your opponent down your driving will knock him/her off balance and leave them open for another attack.

Tips & Warnings
Many basic Kung Fu moves resemble that of self-defense techniques currently taught throughout many countries, perhaps its because Kung Fu was first designed on the same principles; neutralizing a threat quickly and with little effort. It's particularly hard to perform this move if your much taller than your opponent. The trick is to dip your shoulder lower than the level of your opponent's neck. It means you have to crouch much deeper than normal but you also generate an incredible amount of force much greater than a shorter person could.
Do not drive a full force uppercut into the chin of a sparring partner or opponent unless you intend to do them real harm. This punch can break the jaw, cause your opponent to bite off their tongue, and cause neck and spinal damage if enough force is used. An uppercut that's poorly aimed can drive into the opponent's throat, crush the trachea and kill your opponent. Using a practice dummy will allow you to throw uppercuts normally and will prevent you from developing the habit of pulling your punches.

How to do Claw Pushups

A common athlete's exercise regimen may contain many of the same exercises you do or have done in the past. Sit ups, push ups, curls, running, etc. It’s all done for the purpose of getting into better physical condition; to improve the length and overall quality of life. Many exercises performed by ardent martial artists can have a slightly more destructive purpose. In several styles of Kung Fu the hands are held open, the fingers hooked like claws or talons to grasp and rend at the opponent's vulnerable spots. One particular form of Kung Fu, colloquially referred to as the Tiger's Claw, is very well known because of its effectiveness and adaptability. Aspects of this were incorporated in Bruce Lee's book on Jeet Kun Do. In order to increase the effectiveness of this technique a method of exercise was created, called the 'Tiger Claw Push-up". It was once said by Grandmaster Wong that if a man could do one hundred tiger push ups in a day, he could kill with a single blow. Needless to say he could do them easily, though they are incredibly difficult to even a seasoned athlete or martial artist because they put the body's weight on the smaller muscles of the wrist, hand, and fingers, rather than just the arms and chest. Here are instructions on how to correctly perform a Tiger Claw Push-up.

Things You’ll Need:
A Flat Open Space (Preferably on Dirt or Grass)

Performing A Tiger Claw Push Up
Step 1:
From a standing position fall forward with your hands braced in front of your chest.

Step 2:
After landing on the ground, raise your body up on the toes of your feet and the palms of your hands.

Step 3:
Splay your fingers out as wide as you can.

Step 4:
Dig down hard with the pads of your fingers. This is very difficult and there is no trick to making it easier. It just takes raw strength. Don't be discouraged if you can't do it on your first try. If you are unable to do this than put your knees against the ground and raise up your feet. With a closer point of contact to the ground it should make the first push-ups a little easier until you're strong enough to do them normally.

Step 5:
With your hands off the ground and being held up by your fingers, arc your fingers as if you were making claws so that the very tips dig into the ground. With you body being held up by your very fingertips you are in the right position to begin a push-up.

Step 6:
Force your body up and then lower it back down in the fashion of a normal push-up. The key in this exercise is not so much to perform as many push-ups as you can, but to strengthen the small muscles and joints in your fingers so as to increase their grasping or ripping strength. Because of this the placement of your fingers and form of your hands is more important than the push-up itself, so it need not initially be a complete and smooth push-up. With perseverance your strength and stamina will grow and you will find these push-ups easier. When that happens then you can address the issue.

Tips & Warnings
Many even more difficult claw push ups do exist, though they should not be attempted by someone without the aid and directions of a martial arts teacher or instructor. The potential for damaging your hands is great. When starting out doing claw push ups you might want to consider bandaging or bracing your fingers to help them accept the strain of your body weight.
If you have difficulty doing regular push ups, don't attempt the claw push up. There exists the real possibility for serious and lasting damage to your hands and fingers. If the strain in your fingers passes beyond the pain threshold, stop immediately. Untrained fingers can end up dislocated or broken.

How to Block In and Out in Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a martial art form that gave way to many other variations since its inception. It's versatility grew with its popularity. As the number of people versed in kung fu grew, styles and variations of just about any kind that can be named appeared. Regardless, they are all still based upon the original kung fu. At first it relied on the powerful application of force at precise points. It was not just lashing out that harmed one's opponents, but grappling and blocking as well. Contained in this article is a guide on how to perform the two basic styles of blocking an opponent's incoming attack. These blocks lack finesse as they are called "hard" blocks. The idea is to strike against an incoming attack with such force as to harm to the opponent.

The Inside Block
Step 1:
Stand with knees bent and fists up and to the sides.

Step 2:
When your attacker punches. For this guide let us say he throws a punch with his right arm. Step forward with your right foot.

Step 3:
Swing at the waist with your entire upper body.

Step 4:
With fist pointing upward, bring your right arm sharply to the midline of your body. The opponent's strike should rebound off of the inside of your forearm. If done correctly, your block should knock your opponent's arm far to the side and leave the right side of his body open to attack. If your opponent strikes with a punch from the left arm, reverse these directions.

Outside Block
Step 1:
Let us assume the same scenario as the first; an opponent throws a punch with his right arm. Your arms should be slightly to the side and just below chest height.

Step 2:
Bring your right fist down to your left hip as if grasping the hilt of a weapon at your belt.

Step 3:
Twist to your right with your waist.

Step 4:
Bring your forearm up, forward, and out as if drawing that weapon on your belt from its sheath. Your opponent's punch should be blocked by the outside of your forearm. The block also gives you the added benefit of trapping your opponent's strike against his own body, with his right arm up and folded across his entire body. If in a real fight that is unavoidable, this would be the time to strike out with your left fist to the ribs of his right side.

Tips & Warnings
Practice this before attempting to use in, in a mock fight or otherwise. Remember these are "hard" blocks, the more force you can put into the block, the better.
Unless you've practiced these techniques do not try them in a violent situation. The impact of your opponent's fist places a great deal of stress on the bones of the forearm and they can be broken if not properly hardened by months, if not years, of practice and martial arts training. Don't attempt this should your opponent be using a weapon such as a club or baseball bat, you'll just end up with a shattered arm. In that sort of situation there's no shame in running.