#avatar fighting forms

The ‘Sui Lum Ma” is an excellent little form combining all of the basic Shaolin stances. This form is most suitable for Earth and Firebending training. The movements are

1. Open to Horse stance. 2. Twisting Horse left side. 3. Twisting Horse right side. 4. Horse stance. 5. Cat stance to Crane stance to Bow & Arrow stance. (Right foot moving). 6. Horse stance. 7. Cat stance to Crane stance to Bow & Arrow stance. (Left foot moving). 8. Horse stance and close.

The video comes from the Iron Pagoda Athletic Club and was used as the final part of their thirty day Fu Dog fitness challenge.

Since Kuvira's fight scene in 'LOK: After All These Years', I have seen a few discussions as to what Kuvira's fighting style is based on? It has been said that it is Wing Chun Kuen (WCK) however I disagree with this. Although superficially similar to WCK there are many differences. One of the aforementioned discussions made reference to Kuvira's high stances, however her stances are mostly higher versions of classical stances and not those seen in WCK. Many of Kuvira's arm movements are also uncharacteristic of WCK, not adhering to WCK's strict use of the centreline and the principle of economy of motion. Personally I think Kuvira's style is a mixture of traditional Earthbending (Hung Gar), Toph's style (Chuka Southern Mantis Fist), with a influences from the Pro-bending approach.

Thank you Sifu Kisu for allowing me to use your Baguazhang pictures.

For a while I've been thinking about writing a blog covering the basics of Baguazhang as taught to me by a former work colleague. What struck me most about Baguazhang was that unlike most martial arts I have tried where the first things you learn are how to form a fist and punch, Baguazhang training begins with footwork (walking). In Baguazhang  maneuverability and mobility are seen as the key to success in combat. My friend used to tell me that a skilled practitioner of Baguazhang can defeat their opponent with footwork alone. While surfing the net I found these articles on Baguazhang that do a much better job than I could do.

Circle walking

In a previous blog I described the concept of the centerline and I thought I would post a picture to clarify what I mean.

I also include a quote from an article discussing the fighting stance of Baguazhang

'However, when training specifically for fighting, one must learn to "Close the Door" by modifying the body posture and stance to shut off an opponent's access to one's centerline, both above and below the waist.  "Closing the Door" protects the body's "Center Gate" (Chung Men), and covers all possible paths through which an opponent can attack.'

(Editor's note: look familiar? Iroh and Zuko are seen doing a similar movement in "Bitter Work")

When we look at tui shou or push hands and its connection to Avatar the Last Airbender it is important that we first look to the root of push hands and then uncover the many concepts that lie within. Push hands is a type of sparring for internal arts such as Taiji Chuan and Bagua Zhang, so we can already see that there is a connection to water and air bending tribes. However we can safely lean a little more towards water bending as Taiji concepts like yin and yang, empty and full and circular movement correlate directly into push hands technique. In push hands the goal is to connect with the opponent, find their balance, read their energy and unsettle it with the lightest of effort. Success in push hands goes beyond quick shoving and wrestling and actually relies on body connection to use leverage and redirect an oncoming attack. A push hands adept will remain relaxed and unmoved, yet will disturb their opponent’s balance with ease, almost as if controlling the other person through touch and correct usage of energy. Not only are they mentally two steps ahead but physically as well, setting their opponent up by pressing or pulling in one direction and when the opponent resists, it results in overcorrection, to which the adept responds by reversing their direction of attack thus moving the opponent off balance and even sometimes to the ground.

Since push hands is based on Taiji principles, it cannot be considered a separate type of bending. Push hands is a facet of Taiji, thus it is a facet of water bending. Infact, we can go as far to say that it is a sub-style or an extension of water bending… that’s right, you guessed it, blood bending. When one pushes hands with a true master it is like trying to move a cloud and a mountain simultaneously. If one charges in forcefully they will find nothing to connect to, like trying to grapple with the wind. Or if a connection is allowed one will find a master as immovable as a boulder, able to withstand and rebuff even the hardest of pushes with no noticeable effort. Yet when the master pushes it’s like one solid wave crashing upon you, even when you redirect and think you have the upper hand, it is merely a set up and you are duped into pushing yourself over. When the master connects, you have already lost. Your qi or energy (not as in spiritual, but more like kinetic) is read, the master latches on and disrupts you instantly. Blood bending will stop your blood and make you a living puppet, the only difference is push hands won’t stop your blood…