Uploaded August 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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- "reversal" strategy:
reversal is the advanced type of countering and completes the counterattack strategy. it is following and turning opponent's own move and force against himself; this is the essence of soft kung fu. this is more about 'distancing':
tactic 21 - 'pre-attack distancing':
"escaping is the best tactic (走为上计)" – keep yourself at a safe distance out of opponent's attack range.
tactic 22 - 'mid-attack distancing':
"watch fire from other side of the river (隔岸观火)" – if opponent's move is effective at close/long range, escape away from/toward him.
tactic 23 - 'end-attack distancing':
"to catch, let off (欲擒故纵)" – instead of opposing, follow opponent's move. like a lasso, if you resist, it hurts, if you follow, it is neutralized.
tactic 24 - 'reversal':
"drive the tiger out of mountain (调虎离山)" – at the proper time and distance, redirect opponent's move, complete its force, and drive it to a direction which is in your favor and against him.
these involve long-range advancements and retreats follow like tides to keep chasing with the opponent. moves begin soft and end hard; this is the 'soft & hard' harmony of Shaolin kung fu. in this style, moves begin at long range, to avoid being hit, caught, or surrounded, end at close range to teach how to sweep opponents effortlessly, and then retreat for safely. this is how to turn opponent's otherwise successful attacks into dramatic failures.
after you learn this style, you see that the previous styles were acting at either ineffectively far or dangerously close ranges.
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- history:
Song dynasty (960-1279):
Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), the first emperor of the Song dynasty, had previously studied at Shaolin temple in his youth for a short period. after becoming the emperor, in 961 AD, he commissioned monk Fu Ju (福居), the chief of martial monks of Shaolin temple, to improve and standardize Shaolin kung fu styles. Fu Ju invited famous martial experts from various areas and Zhao Kuangyin also sent the famous army generals into the gathering. after a few years of work, they combined their knowledge with Shaolin kung fu and compiled the best styles they could. the first style they compiled was Zhao Kuangyin's main martial style, which was later named the 'grand emperor's long style (taizu chang quan)' in his honor. older Shaolin styles and these new styles were officially recorded into a book named 'Shaolin Kung Fu Manual (少林拳谱)' which was kept in the library of Shaolin temple and updated generation after generation.
__________________
- note: there are various other forms and styles named 'taizu quan' or 'chang quan' in Chinese kung fu, and they are historically and technically different from Shaolin chang quan. these are just different styles with similar names.
__________________
Shaolin Kung Fu tutorial:
- bodybuilding: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB9EB410ECABF43C8
- techniques: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6fQ8a5mXbyMpvEXB9C4j_NoVWmhf5zsz
- styles: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8F75C68BF1246C2B
- weapons: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE48D537F756421A2
__________________
- "reversal" strategy:
reversal is the advanced type of countering and completes the counterattack strategy. it is following and turning opponent's own move and force against himself; this is the essence of soft kung fu. this is more about 'distancing':
tactic 21 - 'pre-attack distancing':
"escaping is the best tactic (走为上计)" – keep yourself at a safe distance out of opponent's attack range.
tactic 22 - 'mid-attack distancing':
"watch fire from other side of the river (隔岸观火)" – if opponent's move is effective at close/long range, escape away from/toward him.
tactic 23 - 'end-attack distancing':
"to catch, let off (欲擒故纵)" – instead of opposing, follow opponent's move. like a lasso, if you resist, it hurts, if you follow, it is neutralized.
tactic 24 - 'reversal':
"drive the tiger out of mountain (调虎离山)" – at the proper time and distance, redirect opponent's move, complete its force, and drive it to a direction which is in your favor and against him.
these involve long-range advancements and retreats follow like tides to keep chasing with the opponent. moves begin soft and end hard; this is the 'soft & hard' harmony of Shaolin kung fu. in this style, moves begin at long range, to avoid being hit, caught, or surrounded, end at close range to teach how to sweep opponents effortlessly, and then retreat for safely. this is how to turn opponent's otherwise successful attacks into dramatic failures.
after you learn this style, you see that the previous styles were acting at either ineffectively far or dangerously close ranges.
__________________
- history:
Song dynasty (960-1279):
Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), the first emperor of the Song dynasty, had previously studied at Shaolin temple in his youth for a short period. after becoming the emperor, in 961 AD, he commissioned monk Fu Ju (福居), the chief of martial monks of Shaolin temple, to improve and standardize Shaolin kung fu styles. Fu Ju invited famous martial experts from various areas and Zhao Kuangyin also sent the famous army generals into the gathering. after a few years of work, they combined their knowledge with Shaolin kung fu and compiled the best styles they could. the first style they compiled was Zhao Kuangyin's main martial style, which was later named the 'grand emperor's long style (taizu chang quan)' in his honor. older Shaolin styles and these new styles were officially recorded into a book named 'Shaolin Kung Fu Manual (少林拳谱)' which was kept in the library of Shaolin temple and updated generation after generation.
__________________
- note: there are various other forms and styles named 'taizu quan' or 'chang quan' in Chinese kung fu, and they are historically and technically different from Shaolin chang quan. these are just different styles with similar names.
__________________
Shaolin Kung Fu tutorial:
- bodybuilding: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB9EB410ECABF43C8
- techniques: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6fQ8a5mXbyMpvEXB9C4j_NoVWmhf5zsz
- styles: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8F75C68BF1246C2B
- weapons: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE48D537F756421A2
