Robyn's Travels

Reflections from Today’s Choy Lay Fut Workshops

This Sunday, I was able to attend two Choy Lut Fut workshops with Sifu Daniel Tomizaki. The morning workshop involved Choy Lay Fut Applications. In this class, we utilized some of the ten elements (strikes) by applying it with self-defense techniques.  For instance, I learned Kum Jong, which is a palm strike to the neck. The applications class was wonderful because you saw how the strikes could be used in both a defensive and offensive motion against an opponent.

The afternoon workshop involved sparring.  So the techniques we used earlier for application was now being tested in “free-form” fighting. Only in the last couple of weeks have I worked with sparring, but this was my first intensive experience.  I had partner sparring where we would take turns repetitively attacking our partner so we get used to blocking and counter-attacking. It is extremely hard trying to determine how to block and strike the opponent’s open range with the most effective strike instantly.  This will take a LOT of practice.

What surprised me is when we then worked in groups of three people, where one person would attack with three strikes, and then the other person would immediately attack in the same format.  I was not used to having two people surround me and attack as I try to defend myself.  As a result, I had a psychological flashback to the bank robbery I experienced over a year ago.  A few minutes later, I emotionally broke down and tried holding back tears. My partner noticed I was not doing well and suggested I take a break.  I took some time, and explained to my Shi-fu what had happened.  We talked about it and I composed myself, eager to return to sparring.  I was still a little shaken, but able to finish the rest of class.  

After the workshop was over, I talked to instructor Steffani Tomizaki, who reassured me that such traumatic experiences will have an effect in triggering emotional responses while training. She said to not fight it, but instead recognize when it happens and to inform my sparring partner and shi-fu when it happens, so that I take the time to overcome it and work thru it.  That conversation really meant a lot to me, and I felt much better. 

Overall, I gained so much from these workshops.  I am so lucky that I was able to attend these two classes, and I will use the skills learned today to improve my Choy Lay Fut training.  These workshops further reinforced that I chose the right path… I truly love Choy Lay Fut!

Choy Lay Fut: Ng Lun Choy and more sparring…

Beginning last week, I started to learn my orange belt form under Choy Lay Fut.  It is called Ng Lun Choy, or 5 Wheel Fist.  I learned the beginning of it, which made me realize that the transition of my blocks, like when doing a gwa choy, is not smooth enough.  I had to take time on the wooden dummy this evening to practice the speed and efficiency of the block.  

In other news, I got to practice sparring again tonight.  I am starting to utilize some of the ten elements of Choy Lay Fut against my partner.  I am incorporating sau choys and uppercuts, but Shi-fu demonstrated the effectiveness of chuen na or a quick jab to the face after blocking my opponent’s strike.  Again, it’s going to take a LOT of practice to have these offensive and defensive strikes become second nature when sparring.

As I dig deep into the movements and stance work of Choy Lay Fut, I am recognizing my flaws (with Shi-fu’s help) and slowly trying to determine what I need to do execute the correct moves.  I’ve seen improvement over the last month, and that is very encouraging.

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!

Yay for Kung Fu sparring!

After a challenging day of work, I almost went straight home to recuperate.  Thankfully, I forced myself to make it to my 4th night of Kung Fu in a row.  And although I was tortured in the first 30 minutes with excruciatingly sore stretching exercises, I was rewarded with the first opportunity to do light sparring in class!

The idea is to go very slowly in your sparring, to get an understanding of how to move, how to block, and how to strike.  Sometimes one gets a little excited and goes a little too fast, which could cause some unexpected bruising so soon in the game.  My friend Liesbeth and I were having a lot of fun trying to incorporate Choy Lay Fut arm strikes into the sparring, while trying to protect ourselves from low blows and kicks.  I realize that I am better being defensive than offensive.  This will take A LOT of time and practice, but I can’t wait to really dig into sparring in 2012!