Meeting a Happy Bird

[Martin Do]

Hello everyone,

I was practicing with my sihing the other day in class on surprise counters. A particular surpirse counter we had difficulty with was against the kick Happy Bird Hops on Branch. This is the scenario:

Student A and Student B both stands in Lohan Ask The Way (left leg left hand in front).

Student A initiates an attack with some arrows steps then into a Black Tiger (right hand).

Student B is a competent kicker who can perform the Happy Bird kick strong and fast with his left front leg from his poise position of Lohan asked the way. Also, as student B knows he himself is likely to execute the Happy Bird kick he is also ready and able to kick to either side of the center line by a foot (12 inches) to cover any side movements from student A (but no more than 12 inches).

As student A move in with the intended Black Tiger with caution, but his momentum is carrying him forward nevertheless. Student B executes a strong fast Happy Bird kick to student A's body.

My question is what would be a good counter for student A against the Happy Bird kick as student A moves in, considering that student A does not know how student B may react.

Thank you every and kindest regards

Martin

[Antonius]

If you're in a true arrow step, then your momentum is strong, your arm is up, and your knees are scissoring and thus protecting you. If your opponent has good timing, s/he may be able to kick you in mid-air, but it won't hit any vital parts. More likely, s/he will be driven back by the momentum of your arrow step.

What more often happens is that students use the shuffle step rather than the arrow step. The shuffle step doesn't have the momentum or the scissoring of the arrow step. In this case, you have to abandon your attack as you feel the surprise kick coming towards you. This is what "shen-fa" or waist movement is for. In the beginning, it will be difficult, and you will get kicked a lot. But once you get the hang of it, you can turn the tables on your opponent by abandoning your attack, swallowing the kick, brushing it aside, and then continuing with your original attack.

At first, surprise kicks seem invincible. When I first teach this technique to students, they enjoy using it to great success against other students. But then they try the same technique against me, and I am able to counter the kicks. Then they learn how vulnerable they can be if their surprise counter is countered.

[Akemi]

Case in point: me . I had to ask Sigung for assistance in countering the surprise counter to the surprise counter.

About your question, I have been on both ends. I've been Student A and Student B.

It seems rather impossible in the beginning to see/feel a kick coming to you, and still be able to swallow, brush it aside, and continue with your attack. But it's real. It just takes practice. We are lucky that the training of technique and shen is part of shaolinquan and we don't have to worry about finding it somewhere else!

Have fun kicking (and swallowing.)

[Antonius]

Here's a good example of the arrow step. Chun Nga knows how to fly!

[Grimlock]

my experiences when shuffling in

Hey Martin,

I've definitely been in both positions before, too! While I am far from mastering the defense for a surprise Happy Bird, I find that as I work on my footwork and stances, and especially maintaining the 6 harmonies throughout my movement, it gets easier to do what my Sifu said and adjust to swallow and defend the kick, then continue the attack without breaking my flow.

I don't know if this is the case with you, but my tendency has been to try and rush forward into the attack faster, trying to beat my opponent with speed in these situations. For whatever reason, I felt like I was getting hit by the surprise counter because my attack was too slow. Of course, this blatantly ignores Safety First, and it often caused me to lose the 6 harmonies. I am increasingly happier to keep my attack at a comfortable speed and accept that I may -- actually have to adjust it or abandon it depending on the situation.

[Jonny Say]

Hey Martin

This web page may be of use: http://www.shaolin.org/video-clips-3...prise/sur.html

The key is practice practice practice. You can ask the kicker to slow down the surprise as you work on the counter, and pick up speed and force as you become more competent.

All the best

[Martin Do]

Thank you Sipak Anthony, Sije Akemi, Sihing Chris and Sisuuk Johnny for your exellent advises, links and photos. I look forward to reading them again a few more times later on today and more importantly putting them into practice.

Best wishes

Martin

[Daniel]

Hi all,

For me the key is always use good body movement in your first attack so it becomes more comfortable to you, then practice with a cooperative partner in a progressive way, when you are skillful you con handle a fast surprise kick with quite a good efficiency.

Greetings,

[Martin Do]

Thank you Sifu Daniel for your advise.

Best wishes

Martin

[Martin Do]

To my dear kung fu uncles, brothers and sisters,

After reading your advice on Monday I had an opportunity in class on Tuesday night to practice it with my Sihing. We were only able to spend about 20 minutes on it. I was quite rusty at the start as well as at the end of the 20 minutes. However, practicing it brought a whole new meaning and depth to my understanding and experience of shen-fa and the three arrivals.

Since Summer Camp last year I have been very concious of moving from the waist in my patterns and I have read about the three arrivals from Sigung as well as being taught about it in class. However, my skill level was not sufficient to deal with a strong fast surprise counter in the form of a kick.

However, I can see so so clearly now even after just 20 minutes of practice that with more practice and a little patience to improve my skill on this area I will be greeting Happy Birds with a wide grin very soon.

For anyone else who is having fun with this counter attack, Sigung recent released on his website some very generous material on the topic:

http://shaolin.org/video-clips-3/shaolin/special-09/special75.html

I am off now to download the material on another PC so I can view them over the weekend.

Thank you again everyone for your generosity and best wishes.

Kindest regards

Martin