At some point, all of us in the martial arts have to come to terms with the fact that there will always be more to learn. Unfortunately, too many are unable to accept that neither they nor their system will ever have all the answers. Their insecurities won’t allow them to admit such a thing, and as such they fail to recognize one of the most important lessons of all, that education is an ongoing process. It isn’t a destination that one can arrive at. It is, instead, a never ending journey. Read More
Be a Student of the Principles
Within the martial arts it can be quite common to get so caught up in learning the system and focusing on what to do that we fail to understand why we’re even doing it. This is why it’s so important that we strive to always remain a student of the principles. It is, after all, the principles which all martial arts systems are built from, and it is only through a thorough understanding of the principles that we will be able to truly bring the art to life. Read More
The Most Effective Martial Art: Is There One?
What is the most effective martial art? This particular question has created a great deal of controversy within the martial arts community, and is such a common topic for debate because there are so many different martial arts systems which exist today. With such a vast number of martial arts systems being practiced, many students want to feel as though their system is the most effective martial art of all. Now, certainly not every system is created equal. Some just aren’t as well thought out or designed as others, but is there such a thing as the most effective martial art? Read More
Shaolin White Crane Shaking Power
The method of the crane is one of beauty and grace. Although not very strong, it is incredibly powerful, and in studying its movements we may learn many lessons of both strategy and power. In the hybrid art that we teach, elements of both the Shaolin Ancestral Crane and Feeding Crane systems are incorporated in our training method. Because it lacks the strength that other animals such as the tiger possess, the crane does not typically initiate attack. It is for this reason that the Ancestral Crane system may also be referred to as “Sleeping Crane.” That is to say, the crane is often motionless waiting for the opponent to strike, so that it may strategically and gracefully avoid attack while creating an opportunity for counter attack. Due to its small size, when it does counter attack, it manifests power through the use of fast and subtle shaking/trembling actions which are initiated from the waste in addition to whipping motions of the spine.
In the following two videos you’ll be introduced to White Crane shaking power. In the first video, you’ll learn a basic pattern to help with developing short range shaking power. The second video will continue to delve into this pattern and explore some of the applications as it pertains to Kenpo Karate.
Short Range Shaking Power
Short Range Shaking Power: Applications in Kenpo