Robyn's Travels

Choy Lay Fut Lessons: Ten Elements, Butterfly Strike, and Fighting Stance

This week, I learned and practiced the ten elements (or ten strikes) of Choy Lay Fut. My instructor and some of the advanced students came up with a way to better memorize the ten elements, by categorizing them as: 2 linear, 3 rolling, 2 uppercut, 3 swinging.

Broken down:

• 2 linear: chuen na (shooting arm bridge, to seize), chop (panther fist)
• 3 rolling: kum (circular over the head as slapping deflection), gwa (block and elbow/roll into downward backfist), ding (elbow strike)
• 2 uppercut: pow (both arms circle over and back), jong (shield armpit and punch from below hip)
• 3 swinging: sau chue (inward sweeping punch), kup chue (elbow bent and hand to ear before executing straight-arm downward strike), biu jong (outward shooting forearm strike)

In addition, I also learned the butterfly strike where I move from horse stance to cover stance, as my arms move in a circular fashion.  As I complete the strike, I do a side front kick and land back into a horse stance before repeating on the other side.

I also got to do light contact sparring, in which I learned to better my fighting stance.  I basically need to stand sideways in a relaxed position, then bend my knees, then lean to the back an inch or two. Simple as that, even though I often overthink it.  

This 4-day practice week was wonderful!