Here’s eight more of my favorite forms :-

1) Shaolin long pole – I never learned the name of this form. It is the first long pole form I learned and a good introduction to the pole as it has techniques that are suitable for fighting against multiple opponents.

Though I like the typical long pole techniques that use mainly the tip to dispatch the opponent, I find that once I consider the question of multiple opponents this Shaolin long pole is more adaptable for this purpose because it uses the butt of the stick as well.

This pole form introduced me to the technique I call braced spearing. The later pole forms that I learned typically use long range spearing techniques. However, this Shaolin pole form uses a mid range spearing technique which I never really appreciate until a later time.

This was when I saw a YouTube video where the topic was the sturdiness of traditional armor worn by Chinese soldiers in the battlefield. A few masters of the Chinese spear were invited to test whether the armor put on a dummy could withstand the spearing technique of a sharp spear tip. Interestingly, none of the masters used the spearing technique they demonstrated.

Instead, they used the same technique that I call braced spearing. I guess its because though the typical spearing technique allows for a longer range and strong power, it lacks stability, a factor that is important when spearing a a solider wearing an armor.

Interestingly, I have only ever seen this braced spearing technique in two other forms. The first form that I have seen this is the NGK Kitten Pole and the second form is a Tongbei spear form.

2) Aiki Jo – this is the first Aikido weapon I learned from my Wing Chun senior. It has 31 techniques that are adapted from the Japanese short pole, spear, halberd and katana. It is quite a versatile weapon that uses different grips and techniques for short, mid and long range in different directions. I especially like the part about how to prevent an opponent from grabbing and controlling the jo.

3) Wing Chun Kicking Dummy – the typical wooden dummy has eight sections. However, this friend’s version has a ninth section which is like a standalone form that is all about kicking. It is like a kicking galore festival in one short section.

4) iKali Abakada – this short training sequence focuses on the 12 basic strikes of the stick. It is a versatile sequence in that I have gone through it using a short knife and a machete.

5) Disengaging Hand – this is a Wing Chun with the main theme of not allowing the opponent to control your bridge. At first glance it is easy to mistaken this form for a form from an internal style because of its soft, flowing movement without overt power generation. But make no mistake, the power generation is there but using intent to focus the power into the unique fist that is used.

6) Central Obstruction Pole – this is the third NGK pole form that I learned. It has a very unusual flavor in that the movements are concentrated on defending a narrow space while using techniques that cut across the body as well as striking and spearing while standing on one leg.

7) Yang Family 8 Spears – this is not really a form but eight individual spear techniques that are found within the Flying Dragon Tiger pole form. I find that these eight techniques are good for practicing basic spear techniques.

8) Shaolin Kicking Form – I don’t know the name of this form. It is a form from the Shaolin style of Reverend Sek Ko Sum. In this one form you can find many kicks, in fact, more kicks than can be found in all the Taekwondo forms from white belt to black belt. I know this because I actually signed up for a TKD class after learning this form to see if I could improve on my kicking through the practice of an art that specializes in kicking. Unfortunately, I have forgotten this form, save for the first few movements.