This is important instruction. I appreciate the statement "this is one of many applications." What can you do with a screwdriver besides drive screws? Punch holes, lever, jam, wedge, scrape, chip, chisel, shatter, award, gift, hide, steal...a screwdriver is only a screwdriver because we say it is. When we let go of the story we attach, other possibilities emerge. I view classical movements in this way. They are a vocabulary, not a story. The story is up to us.

I used to think traditional Chinese martial arts was useless until I started studying Choy li fut and Chen Tai Chi and saw just how much dirty bone breaking techniques were in those forms. It was a huge eye opener.

Even if forms had zero practical application (they have tons of applications), they're still good for strength building, conditioning, flexibility, learning control over your body, etc. Push ups don't have a practical application in a fight, but you're probably still doing them (with good reason).

The first two, One is a Leg Pick. You see it all the time in San Da. The second one is also Chinese Wrestling, the move is called, “Shou Bie.” This upper body usage is interesting though. The last one, Joint Manipulation - Peng-Lu-Ji. In whatever case, more than a specific application - for them to work the students must remember to first Unbalance. Can’t stand flat flooted. Whether it’s a standing lock or a takedown, stealing balance is the most important part when there’s resistance. In Judo they call it, “Kuzushi.” In Chinese Wrestling we call it, “Wheeling.” Constantly rotating the person off of their center of gravity. Very tiring to practice. VERY. But that’s what makes it effective. You’re constantly moving, constantly changing angle, constantly pressuring, constantly drilling/spinning.

I began the martial arts at age 14 in old school, chon ji, tae kwon do. Had two really good instructors in that style. I also spent several years in kyokushin karate when I was older. Two fantastic instructors again who taught me so much, especially about being just brutally tough. (We got beat on, a lot) but the scariest, most powerful human I’ve ever met in my life was my Kung fu instructor I had for about a year until he moved away. He was white, American, about 5’ 9” about 210lbs or so, and was brutally powerful, blazing fast, permanently flexible (could drop into the Chinese splits with no warmup at all) and was indestructible! He taught a high flying style called, shantung white crane, and he could absolutely use it. It was the only martial arts training he ever had or studied and he was positively the toughest, scariest, most powerful and indestructible human I’ve ever seen or met and there isn’t even a close second. He seemed “super human “ to all of us. (Probably became he was?) I could punch him as hard as I wanted in his body and it had no effect on him, and I was 6’ 180lbs in good shape, athletic, and practicing martial arts for years! It was no use whatsoever to punch his body because you would literally hurt your hand instead of his body, and I’m not exaggerating! Seriously! I never gave him a full force kick to the body but I can’t imagine it would have mattered much? There was another student in class who was about 6’ 4” and probably 250ish of big, strong, powerful, athletic, former football star, and he got thrown around like a rag doll by our instructor! I’ve seen him hit Alvin (our instructor) as hard as he could right in the bread basket and he barely even moved him. (Yes he was letting us all take turns punching him in the gut to show us how years of Kung fu had made his body incredibly hard and resilient) His only form of strength training was some old, isotonic, Kung fu exercises he had been doing for years and he was unbelievably strong and powerful. Just saw this and it reminded me of my old Kung fu instructor and his seemingly super human abilities.

Thanks for this. It needs to be said from time to time.

Love to see these kinds of videos. For anyone still skeptical, you should remember that when looking at traditional movements, it's good to put yourself in the shoes of an instructor/master that's trying to teach a basic movement or concept to someone who's not getting it. If someone doesn't understand a math problem, so simplify it, make assumptions, ignore certain parts, etc. For martial arts this includes: removing the opponent, only doing it on one side, etc. Most people assume that each movement in a form is an attack or a defense against a punch, which is totally wrong. This is why you see instructors at "McDojos" taking movements that are throws and trying to apply them as strikes. After training traditional Chinese and Korean arts, then training BJJ, boxing, and Muay Thai, I'm more surprised by the similarities than the differences.

Adam chan is greats kungfu teacher,because can use many aplications in kungfu,its greats,amazing,👍👍👍👍👍

Fabulous brake down you don't see that too often, they can only be the techniques of the original pioneers. Thanks.

Thanks for that Adam. I had lost faith in Traditinal forms, but you really helped me to understand their utility. It makes a huge difference when you understand the practical application of forms. This is something my training always lacked.

Please do a part 2 and more of this that was extremely helpful man keep up the good work

I appreciate your honesty and integrity in your explanation of your teachings. Thank you 👊

This was excellent. Topic well-addressed. Thank you, Sifu!

Part of the problem is so much has been lost, plus lots of martial arts schools only teach a very superficial understanding & that coupled with a lack of sparring is a recipe for disaster...good teachers are like gold dust.

Nice video. I'll be tackling this issue at some point on my channel too. Really good stuff 👍🏻

Nice. The trend of underrating or dissing forms very often comes from those whom have not studied any. Perhaps they have memorized one, but they do not take the time to analyze them. Thanks for the video.

Great stuff as always ,people should not be negative when speaking of the arts instead appreciate what you like and be silent about what you don't!

I enjoyed this video. I have respect for the classic forms as well as modern variations.

Hi yes absolutely 💯correct on forms. In sequence format technique than method. Looks can be misunderstood.

Thank you,vyour videos and explanations are exiting.

THANK YOU for this informative video! :D

Love your attitude Sifu Chan!

Good explanation... salute 🙏

Many thanks for sharing your applications. Me, as Karate practicioner, I found some similar moves which we have in our Katas. Very interesting approaches and applications indeed.

Thank you. High level of skill and understanding.

Very nice video my friend!

As always, Adam's pragmatic application of wing chun is exceptional and I greatly appreciate his approach.

Thank you Sifu Chan, really enjoy your practical application using "traditional" techniques.

Forms when taught and practiced properly are the gift that keeps on giving. But, unless you have been taught properly, it becomes a big problem. As the years go by I find more and use from techniques in forms - sometimes you wonder 'was this use intentional' even. From learning WSL WC I've been able to incorporate an understanding of forms, structure, balance application into Shaolin: Tam Tui, Xing Yi, and the classic Wushu postures and movements. From a distance to the untrained eye, forms are strange and may seem pointless, yet even when watching many MMA fights I notice they use many form techniques: I doubt they even realize it lol. When I'm training in the park with forms, often will get strange looks fom the gym bod douchbags who've been forced to train outside as well due to covid gym closure. When I start actually hitting the metal posts on the pull up bars they seem to give a look of understanding....That's the thing, one must be trained properly to understand it...Not to say I know everything, but before making judgements on what is or is not a waste of time, can people please at least bother to find out and keep an open mind.

Very good interpretation! Karate (had) the same problem about the misconception of "non functional movements" from katas...well, thanks pioneers like Abernethy, Mc Carthy, Enkamp, Wedewardt, Hanson, etc. things changed.

Exzellent lecture

Thanks for the video, professor. Could you share what other kung fu systems you've studied?

It is easier to remember a story than a bunch of random words. Techniques are random words. Forms are just an easy way to remember the techniques. You need to take each technique in a form apart. Under stand the most important part of martial arts is condition response. What stimulus are you looking for and what is your response. Were you trained to respond to the right stimulus. If you are a grappler and go to the ground and didn't realize the person you took down is a knife fight you are in trouble. All of a sudden you the grappler is having an issue breathing. You have a collapsed lung from a knife wound. I have had 3 friends whom have been stabbed in a street fight. They never saw the knife. One was stabbed 32 times with a small pocket knife. All 3 of them didnt know that they had been stabbed until couldn't breathe and then saw the blood.

Well said. Thanks.

Do you Sifu! Love this video! Gotta co-sign everything mentioned. Today’s MM, under estimate or under appreciate classic/traditional techniques. It’s the “literal thing” that causes misunderstanding. Side note 📝 you using other techniques from other systems when applying WC tells me you a sophisticated fighter. Just my humble opinion.🙏🏾✌🏾

Awesome thank you

I can see how Adam (unlike a LOT of artist) has learned how to shorten his movements while also learning how to explode from his "grounded" chi to maximize his apps (JKD). Yeah boyee!

This was great.

Bro great job

No disrespect meant, but it's spelled weird, not wierd. But it really doesn't matter as long as we know what it means. You make excellent videos. If I was younger I would spend time out west to learn from you. I am spending my martial arts time learning taiji chuan because I think it will most benefit my lack of physical strength from being older(70). My younger brother lives in kitsilano.

This is real kungfu,its greats,and very useful,you are the greatest and the best,👍👍👍👍👍

Sifu Adam you the GOAT!!!!,💯💯💯💯🤘

Awesome!

I've been training in Bajiquan for 3 years and I noticed techniques 1, 2 and 5 are very similar to the ones I've been taught in my form and many applications of it, it's amazing how one move can have many creative applications for it and not just one. BTW are all these moves from Chen Tai Chi or any other kung fu style?

Hi Adam, I have watched some of your videos. I value the way you are explaining your point of view, in many ways it reflects my way of thinking. Something I am missing in your videos is you also showing up with skilled partners. The ones so far appear clumsy. E.g. by touching their face at the cheeck, letting you attack their centerline right away. They beginners, you the dominating expert. That may give a wrong impression of reality and rather hides the strength of Wing Chun.

Forms are useless to people who don't know them or understand what's inside them. Side bar, I also see applications for some of those techniques from a clinch position. Excellent explanation! Ooss!

The forms are brilliant dynamic stretching, agility, stamina, they let you know if you have the mobility to get into a shape.

One of my favorite subjects. The thing both sides of the argument misunderstand it. lol

Hi Adam, I'm a student from spain, can you make a dissection of all the second form chum kiu and the applications?

Thank you sifu.

Saying forms are useless is like saying learning chess openings are useless because if someone moves one piece a different way it won't work. The point is to understand the concepts but remain adaptable. Even learning boxing jab, straight, cross, hook, uppercut is a short form.

I practice baqua , circle of life , I like wing Chun and jkd as well , triangles as well as circles , I love learning diffrent power generations and diffrent styles and how they apply to self defense ,

IMO Northern Longfist is the most under-rated Chinese martial art. The applications are often misunderstood, and the training methods definitely need some updating but the material is great.

I completely agree with learning from Adam BECAUSE he uses other shaolin as well as fighting as a whole because that's what all of any of this is and us for. Wing chun is a type of shaolin anyway needs to be used with other types of non striking as well like shaolin would it was just practiced outside the temple. The inclusion of root kung fu only makes it work and would have been assumed at the time to be needed and used as well you'd assume the use of other kung fu. Rounding that out I like how Adam includes real situations in sport and defense as a whole all good. That's why he's good.

Yes it is true you may need to de-mystify / -flower / -embroider if you don't have the speed, power, accuracy, agility, timing, and/or cunning to make techniques in kungfu forms work. And other times, you will have what it takes, especially if you practice it (the techniques) under varying circumstances.

I mean you are the GOAT💯💯💯💯🤙

Great stuff, Adam, but I wonder how many watching these techniques really grasp what is being offered here. For me, it's like bunkai in karate - done slowly, a lot of those techniques probably seem antique to many but when you see them done at speed by someone who clearly knows the application it's very different. It's a reminder that the Okinawans (and the Chinese they learnt from) had no qualms about literally maiming an opponent but very few parents would ever enrol their kids in martial arts if the reality of that was in their faces when they walked through the door.

Master Chan since we're on the topic of weird, why does quai Chang kaine of the Kung Fu movie series, David carradine not wear shoes? From my understanding Shaolin monks were shoes. Almost as far as I know every Chinese martial art teachers using shoes.Here he is walking around in the American desert with cactus from hell rattlesnakes scorpions and other dangers living close to the ground. I don't get it. I thought only Japanese martial art practitioners work without shoes. Please if you have an answer for this curious anomaly in Hollywood pictures, I would be anxious to hear your thoughts on this sir.

Hey nice video, but do not oversee that stances are mostly done behind the opponents leg and the tiger step is mostly done either diagonal for to trip the opponents leg or a pull of the leg.

The forms are also our teachers. ❤

What’s your thoughts on Hop Gar and Lama pai ??

What is the true purpose of mabu as a training exercise and how exactly do you practice it properly?

That second one. In the game Sifu. If you attack someone behind you with the duck strike. He does that. I just wish he could do the other things but that's good.

Ahhh now i see the patterns in forms and how it can be applied

You must always remember the forms were originally meant to hide the intent of the movement also keep in mind where does fighting happen in terms of movement space time that's why you got to shrink it down biomechanics is the key movement is the way it's not about Style 4 system we all have two hands to feet are elbows and knees been the same way ...think

Well let's be honest, most youtube commenters who talk about those moves being useless don't practice ANY martial art whatsoever. Too much TV and too much youtube...

In talking to those that say stuff like that. It is often they don't actually know that much or nothing about it, except they heard others say that. But even those that study some form of Kung Fu may not either. Even though I defended doing forms, because I liked them, it still took me a long time to really see how they helped me. Ten years ago, I couldn't explain how they helped me with fighting applications, I would just have said, I like doing them, I don't care if you don't understand.

One of the techniques is called monkey tickling the grapes before yanking his chain gang.

Why do you need to explain what Gung fu sets and their applications are. Let them think it's useless or a dance. I don't need validation from them!

I've found the last movement in Tai Chi

Not a fan of techniques that require someone to punch once and hold their hand out without reacting. Also, the block into a hand snatch, I’ve never seen that work in a real life situation. I do love forms though

You are only limited by the limits of your imagination. Forms, they work. 👍🏼

Thanks Adam. This is great stuff. A lot of people think of Kung Fu as being "flowery" and non-functional based on what you see in the old classical kung-fu movies and applied to real life combat. But of course, the kung-fu movements also needs to be functional as you said and adapted to real situations. After all, they were used in actual combat 100s years ago! So why the disconnect between the time kung-fu was used for actual combat, and the current perceived non-functionality of kung-fu movements? Qi La La gives a great explanation on this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l76blbip3Zu6qGw.html also this one kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jdhhp9KUy9iqXZc.html "....It wasn't about the moves; it was what worked for my body....".

Many Kung Fu techniques are also executed in Wrestling and Boxing, it's just that the forms hide there meaning secretly. Perhaps the Chinese in the old times didn't want to be figured out. So Kung Fu is very secretive. I might add, that there are higher levels unseen to the public because of secrecy.

Very very nice and I'm happy to see you giving a voice to old kung fu.The birth of all martial art.No plural hence all.

Jack of all trades. Best way to be

🙏

The assumed problem w/ traditional form is not understanding why & how they're used ...🤙

That's why I love kong fu

🐯 🙏

Wing chun is fantastic

If you study kung fu. You will find that it all came from the same place. People are so closed minded.

First!

Even so still useless... Because the opponent is not seen really fights

wierd techniques🙃

It is all Kung Fu...and some props to ancient Greece and Rome

Wing chun needs upgrades anyways. Yes even the wing chun lineages that self proclaim they have the full system/secret system/unmodified system.

Well Adam, all same nothing, right? Wing chun is what you do and what you do is wing chun. It just happens to be your wing chun.

Nothing 'works' if u dont understand what it is yur studying- never comment if u know nothing of what u 👀!

Moves are only useless to people who don’t understand them.

For me its a red flag when the atacker has to move real slow and stand still while the other Guy do all these crazy movés really fast.😒😒 Just like un real life

I think the biggest problem people have with traditional martial arts is multi-pronged: 1.The lack of sparring. 2.The lack of competition. Obviously I haven't watched all the material on this channel, but I did look up "Adam Chan Sparring." The videos I saw( "Sparring vs. Reality" and "contact training", which were the first two to come up) were almost purely explanatory in nature, and showed only compliant partners. Videos like these also have the habit of having the person on which the technique will be performed throw a punch, leave there arm out there, and stop moving. With respect sir, if you want people to take traditional kung fu seriously, give us a video of you sparring a professional fighter, and making these techniques work. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, and have a happy Easter.

I'm from Assam , I'm Chu tian people,belong to zia dynasty from China, our tribe came 4000 years ago in Assam

You are a fool if you doubt the Chinese and the centuries of thought and examination that they put into the biomechanics of these arts. Just the grace of the movements and strength in the legs you would be better off having, than not, in a real self defense situation. I would rather move and strike like a cat or tiger, than a bull.

I think its a religion and one day fighting monks have to die protecting non fighting monks