This website is dedicated to the Students of Seifu A.S. Umar Sharif, MA. It is also dedicated to the promotion and propagation of the Traditional Afro-Asian Martial and Healing Arts. Our goal is to inform, educate, inspire, encourage, and motivate others to improve their lives by applying The Wisdom of the Ancients.
As your teacher and host, Seifu Sharif [aka: Xia` Xue' Gong] [aka: Tobi Alakoso] is dedicated to helping each of you to remember and nurture the Spirit of Wu-Te and the powers dormant within you.
Namaste’ Students and Fellow Martial Arts Enthusiasts!
Our Perspective On Wu Kung
We practice the 7 Circles System of Southern-Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Wu Shu for health and performance purposes. Self-defense abilities develop as a natural consequence of the movements and techniques in the System. When we practice the 7 Circles System of Southern-Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Wu Kung our intention behind the movements shifts so that Self-defense becomes the priority. In the 7 Circles System most of the movements practiced for Wu Shu are also practical and effective for Wu Kung. However some of the requirements of training for Wu Kung are more demanding than those for Wu Shu. But one of the primary differences is that in Wu Shu training you are in complete control of your movements. When training for Wu Kung the goal is to be able to face one or more opponents whose own choices will also influence your movements and intentions. In other words, in Wu Kung you must control yourself and your opponents. You must not only act (as in Wu Shu), you must also react.
Wu Kung means fighting or self-defense. Now that we have covered Chambers 2-7 of the 7 Circles System you need to understand how to put those pieces together into a coherent and effective fighting style that fits you like a glove. Mastery of the System is a long journey with continuous challenges along the way but you will also experience many successes to keep you motivated and progressing everyday in every way. I have been training for over 50 years and hope to enjoy doing so well into my old age. Being a true devotee of the Traditional Martial and Healing Arts is a lifestyle change that requires humility, kindness, patience, and diligence.
Picture yourself facing one opponent! Assume that no weapons are involved except your opponent’s body. Now lets assess Four Aspects of the Situation.
The Threat
The threat in this situation comes from the opponent’s body. He (or she) can strike at you with the five extensions of the body, their legs, arms, or head. The legs can bend to make their knees into effective striking surfaces but not without first moving the legs. The arms can bend to make their elbows into effective striking surfaces but not without first moving the arms. That means that at the most basic level there are five (5) anatomical weapons that you need to be concerned about. With a more sophisticated opponent there are nine (9) body parts that your opponent can use to hurt or injure you.
The Eyes
Many students make the mistake of looking into the opponent’s eyes. This can be a costly mistake for many reasons. The eyes are not one of the five or nine anatomical weapons that threaten you (unless you make the mistake of looking into the eyes of a kung fu and qigong master or well trained practitioner). You have probably heard the expression the eyes are the window to the soul. There is another expression you should be aware of. The eyes can project Qi! Just like the cobra a skilled qigong practitioner can distract and even hypnotize you with their deep penetrating stare whether they are looking into your eyes or not. The piercing emptiness in their eyes can make you lose focus on what is important. A moment of hesitation is all they would need. Depending on the relative height between you and your opponent, looking into their eyes can move their feet (legs) out of your line of vision. Depending on the relative range between you and your opponent, looking into their eyes can move their feet (legs) out of your line of vision. Your eyes should be focused around the midpoint of your opponent’s body so that movement in any of the anatomical weapons can easily be detected.
An Anatomical Comparison
Once you know that you are facing an opponent it is important to make a quick anatomical comparison. Is the opponent taller than you? How much of their height advantage is from the waist down (in the legs)? An opponent may be taller than you but have shorter legs and a longer torso. You could have a legs advantage even though they are taller. What is the reach advantage or disadvantage when comparing the relative length of your and the opponent’s arms? The quick anatomical assessment will give you your first hint of the parameters of the opponent’s movements.
Establishing and Controlling Range
As you strive to master what you have learned in Chambers 2 thru 7 you will become better able to establish and control the range between you and your opponent(s). Stances, Stepping, Turning and Shifting are the essentials for controlling the range between you and your opponent. Ideally, in one step or shift you want to be far enough away to avoid any damaging effects of the opponent’s attack; and in one step or shift you want to be in close enough to effectively counterattack. This ideal is not always possible but it is an important doorway into Chin Na, the Art of Seizing and Holding.
These Four Aspects of the Single Opponent Situation remain essential even when facing multiple opponents. Of course, Establishing and Controlling Range becomes much more challenging when facing multiple opponents. Good topic for a later Posting.
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It is not simply practice that makes perfect. It is perfect practice and consistent practice that makes perfect.
