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!
In our last Post we discussed the Joints and Muscles as the targets for our defensive and offensive attacks. Notice the expression I used, ‘defensive and offensive attacks’. In a fighting situation we are always attacking. That does not mean that we are necessarily the first one to move. What it means is that if there is a need for us to make contact with an opponent, our intention should be to affect some kind of reaction that will terminate the aggressive situation. Remember the Nine Levels of Self-Defense.
The 7 Circles Nine (9) Stage Theory of Self-Defense
When confronted with an attack you must choose to:
Avoid
Evade
Redirect
Lock & Hold
Create Pain
Inflict Injuries
Maim
Render Unconscious
Terminate a life
So, if the situation cannot be resolved by Levels 1-3 actions then we must move on to Levels 4-9. These are not really sequential steps. The aggressor, the nature of their attack, and the number of opponents will determine your level of engagement. Levels 2 & 3 could frustrate an opponent and possibly make them decide not to waste their time. A Level 4 engagement could indicate to an opponent that they are outmatched and to recognize their best course of action is to back off and leave you alone. But if this doesn’t work, Levels 5-9 actions may be necessary. Of course, if the aggressor has come at you with a weapon (knife, gun, bludgeoning object of some sort) and a clear intent to seriously injure or kill you, then Levels 5-9 engagement may be the only course of action.
In addition to Attacking the Joints and Muscles, you should include in your training techniques for Sealing the Breath & Blood, and Attacking the Eyes and Vital Pressure Points. These kinds of techniques increase your ability to terminate the aggression but also increase the risk of doing serious injury to the opponent. All ethical, moral, and legal considerations should be taken into account. And, students who have not demonstrated the proper character development for higher-level training should not be given instruction in these powerful and dangerous techniques.
Sealing The Breath & Blood
After launching effective attacks to Level 1 and Level 2 targets your opponent should be vulnerable enough for you to effectively seal the breath or vein. Absolute control of your power is vital. A successful attack will result in:
An inability to breathe
Unconsciousness
Death
Level 3:
To further decrease your opponents power or to render them temporarily unconscious, attack to seal the breath or vein.
Windpipe (1) [the degree of power can traumatize or break the windpipe resulting in unconsciousness or death]
Solar plexus (1) [a cluster of nerves controlling the twelve main systems of the body is located in the solar plexus]
Shoulder blades (2) [attack the muscles located between the spine and the shoulder blades]
Floating ribs (2) [attack the lower ribs on both sides of the chest]
Sides of waist (2) [attack the muscles located between the hips and the floating ribs on both sides of the body]
Jugular vain (2) [the degree of power will determine the outcome from momentary unconsciousness to death]
Carotid artery (2) [the degree of power will determine the outcome from momentary unconsciousness to death]
Vagus Nerve Cluster (1) [each of the tenth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the heart, lungs, upper digestive tract, and other organs of the chest and abdomen.
Total of Targets to Seal The Breath & Blood (13)
Attacking The Eyes & Vital Pressure Points
Level 4:
In order to cause blindness, organ damage or failure, local or general paralysis, or
death, attack the eyes and vital pressure points.
This is an advanced level and will be taught only after the student has mastered levels 1-3. Level 1,2, & 3 attacks involve some 71 targets. In attacking these 71 targets one must remember to consider:
The Nine Levels of Engagement:
Avoid
Evade
Redirect
Lock and hold
Pain
Injure
Maim
Render unconscious
Death
[See: Theory of Defense, Lesson Plan 1, 11th Chamber]. If the situation cannot be resolved at Engagement Levels 1-3 then launch a defensive attack to Level 1 Targets and progress as necessary.
These strategies must be practiced in Shaolin Boxing as well as in Shadow Boxing. Great care must be taken to develop explosive power and control of your techniques through Shadow Boxing. Remember that:
Fighting Dancing is Wu Su and is used to develop form, fluidity, stamina, and a relaxed comfort with your body movement.
Shadow Boxing is Wu Kung and is used to develop speed, power, and perfect fighting techniques.
Shaolin Boxing is practiced with a qualified partner and is used to further develop your speed, power, and fighting technique in an un-choreographed combat situation.
All three training methods should be diligently practiced before attempting to apply these principles in full contact Shaolin Boxing. Every student will find great benefit in practicing slowly, with and without a fighting partner. Slow training not only allows for the perfection of technique and form, but also allows the student to develop a disciplined and powerful coordination of the movement of the mind, body, the breath, and the qi.
Every Pai member must practice these techniques diligently, both for applying the techniques and defending against them. Each student must also be diligent in their qigong practice to help them in developing the internal power, muscle coordination, and joint strength to attack and defend effectively. Training methods for the fingers, hands, wrists, and arms should be practiced as instructed. Consistent training, perfect practice, and proper application of this lesson will help you to develop a superior defensive strategy. You will be able to successfully end a physical conflict efficiently and effectively.
Click on the Contact Us link above or below to comment or ask questions about this Post or other related topics.
It is not simply practice that makes perfect. It is perfect practice and consistent practice that makes perfect.
