In Zen training the teacher would ask absurd questions that would confound the student. If the student can’t answer it right away without hesitation, it means he still has not gotten it.

Pole training can be like this. First you just imitate, do your best. Then after a while you start to ask, hold on, is this how I am supposed to do it.

Your first urge is to ask but you best learn when you don’t ask and examine the movement again, rethink it, remember what it is you are supposed to do, and what it is for. Then you start to experiment to see if you can improve on it. Hint – that’s one of the purpose of high repetition training.

If you can’t, you go back to doing it the way you were told, not necessarily the way you understand it, not necessarily the way you thought you saw it done but the way you would do it within your present accumulated experience of doing the technique.

At first you think oh, this is hopeless I am never going to get it. But no, not true, you need to be persistent. Practice, reflect, practice again, then dissect based on not just what you do, what you feel. You think you know your movements but you don’t, at least not until you have practiced enough. Even then, its only the beginning of knowing yourself. You still don’t know the pole yet.

The more you practice, the more you reflect, the more you get corrected, the more you begin to know yourself. You can’t make progress by thinking you got it after a short period of practice. You have to be prepared to build it up, refine it, if necessary tear it down, and build it again, again and again. It is a never ending process. When you thought you know it, then you encounter something new, different, and realize that you don’t really know it.

We think ah, the movement is so complicated but really it should be simple, direct, efficient. If you can’t do it in a blink without having to think about it, then you have not practiced enough. When you learn and practice, you think. When you apply, you just do it.

Seeing a picture helps, seeing a video is even better but nothing beats practicing over and over. Practice until you have doubts, then practice until the doubts go away, and keep on practicing. The more you practice, the more doubts will emerge and each doubt cleared up will bring you to another level, closer to the answer.

Then when you reach the destination you might think is this it? Its that simple? Really?

Yes, really.

After the completion of Day 1 to 6 the 2nd week of practice focuses on practicing the same techniques except now we had in turning to move and counterstrike.

Day 1-2
Practice the sequence of Technique 5 and 6 as follows :-

Day 3-4
Now work on Technique 6 and 7 using the same footwork pattern as above.

Day 5-6
We complete the week’s training by combining Technique 5-7 and, you guess it, use the same footwork.

The above, particularly, the sequence for Day 5-6 is the one exercise we do all the time. Practice it until you can face any direction and fire off the appropriate sequence of strikes, counters and counterstrikes quickly and without hesitation.

So Paul has received his long pole this week.

Let’s start the practice.

Here’s a short and simple practice for 6 days :-

a) Day 1-2 – practice Technique 5 & 6 everyday for 300 reps
i) Stand in readiness, right side forward, pole gripped shoulder width, positioned level to ground
ii) Do Technique 5, then Technique 6
iii) Step forward and do 10 reps
iv) Turn around and do 10 reps
v) Repeat (iii) and (iv) for a total of 15 times

b) Day 3-4 – switch to Technique 6 & 7
i) Stand in readiness, right side forward, pole gripped shoulder width, positioned level to ground
ii) Do Technique 6, then Technique 7
iii) Step forward and do 10 reps
iv) Turn around and do 10 reps
v) Repeat (iii) and (iv) for a total of 15 times

c) Day 5-6 – practice Technique 5 to 7
i) Stand in readiness, right side forward, pole gripped shoulder width, positioned level to ground
ii) Do Technique 5, then Technique 6 and 7
iii) Step forward and do 10 reps
iv) Turn around and do 10 reps
v) Repeat (iii) and (iv) for a total of 15 times

By Day 6 you should have questions after you become more familiar with the movements. That’s when you can begin to go into basic biomechanics of moving the long pole.

We complement the training of emptyhand techniques with long pole training.

The first thing we learn in long pole training is how to manipulate the pole as a lever. Obviously you can’t learn about the lever without learning about the fulcrum as well.

There are different ways to manipulate a lever depending on where the fulcrum is. The lessons here is useful for the learning of 6-ElbowStrikes.

The second thing that the long pole teaches is the control of range. A long weapon has its advantages and disadvantages as well.

We need to understand this in order to be able to use the long pole properly. The lesson in how to control range can help your application of emptyhand techniques.

In the application of the long pole we learn that the pole should not make two sounds. This is not just a Wing Chun long pole principle but a general long pole requirement.

To be able to comply to this principle you must master footwork, how to angle your body and know the appropriate technique to use.

This third lesson from practicing the long pole can be applied to the study of the emptyhand techniques of 6-LH and 3-WS.

Are there more lessons that we can learn from the long pole? Definitely, but these three lessons are the ones that can help improve our practice of emptyhand techniques hence I have singled them out for mention.

You can practice the long pole by working on each of the seven techniques individually.

You can also practice combinations by putting together two or more techniques.

Alternatively, you can get a workout by practicing a sequence. Master Leong did not teach a form for the long pole. His form if you can call it that, was simply the seven techniques practiced one after another.

I have borrowed a long pole form outline from NGK and repurpose it for the practice of the long pole. Originally, I only used the seven techniques in the form but after thinking it over I added in an eighth technique. I imported this eighth technique from the NGK pole forms but I changed the posture that is used, thereby changing the application from that found in the NGK pole forms.

I should make a post on learning objectives to keep track of the reasons for learning the sequences.

Solo Bridge Hand Sequence No. 1
I nicknamed this sequence as 6-LH as in Six Linking Hands. We first train the sequence with one arm. Later we add in the secondary arm movement. 6-LH can be trained as a solo exercise or as a partner drill.

These are the learning objectives :-

I) Basic Training
a) Basic open triangle step to right or left
b) Learning how to form basic hand shapes i.e. vertical fist, open palm, leopard fist, hook hand
c) How to defend a square space by moving along a cross path
d) Move smoothly from one movement to the next
e) Keep body relatively still while moving arm

II) Intermediate Training
a) Move the arm and align the body
b) Feel the arm movement when lowering, rising, moving from one side to the next
c) Be aware of the non-active hand
d) Understanding the applications
e) Imagination training

III) Advanced Training
a) Rhythm of the movements from 1 to 3, 4 to 6
b) Arm-body linking
c) Use of stance to coordinate with arm movements
d) Awareness of spaces and use of strategies
e) Springboard effect
f) Breaking the sequence training

More to be added …..

We can use the 6-Blocks and Solo Bridge Hand Sequences to create a short sequence to practice how to move from the side position to the centre position and vice versa.

We can create a longer version of this sequence and variations of this basic sequence depending on what we want to practice.

You can do this as a solo sequence but to really study it you need a practice partner. This exercise can be practiced with a compliant or best with a non-compliant partner. With a non-compliant part let him respond as he will and use however much resistance he wants to. That’s how I normally do it but for a beginner it might be easier to start with less resistance and increase the resistance as you make progress.

This is the basic sequence :-

Step 1 – left foot step back diagonally to left rear as 6-Blk-1 (left) pass to right side, then 6-Blk-6 (right) comes from below, moving left to right

Step 2 – 6-Blk-6 (right) changes to 6-Blk-6.5 (right) and right foot steps forward diagonally to right, 6-Blk-6.5 (right) applies slight pressure

Step 3 – left foot steps back to rear diagonal, 6-Blk-6.5 (right) changes to 6-Blk-3 (right) emphasizing clockwise movement of right hand to make a scooping motion, ending with right palm facing up. The right palm imagines passing the opponent’s right wrist to your left palm. Your left hand holds the position, then your right foot step forward as you do 3-WS-2 (right)

Step 4 – to be continued….

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.

I believe that originally many styles started with a collection of techniques.

Over time these techniques were compiled into training sequences which later were organized into forms.

Each form then becomes a textbook to teach a series of fundamental knowledge or specific topic relating to the combative way of the style.

I personally find forms easier to remember than a collection of techniques. However, if I don’t train a form for some time I may forget a movement here and there. In this way, it is an encouragement to keep training if you do not want to forget anything.

Over time I have learned different forms from different styles. I have also forgotten some forms through lack of interest in the form so I did not train it and just forgot about it. In Chinese we say this is giving the form back to the teacher.

In no particular order my favorite forms are …..

1) NGK dotting hand forms – they are divided into training the solo hand and training both hands together. In total there are five forms.

They are very short forms but they are regarded as the core fighting forms of NGK and even today is kept secretive. I have taken some of the techniques from three of the forms and distributed them over two Solo Bridge Hand Sequences.

At a certain stage all I have to do is to explain which techniques to take from the two Solo Bridge Hand Sequences to make new sequences and voila! NGK dotting hands concealed in the open.

2) Dong family 108 form – this was the form that gave me my first real foray into the world of the internal so I am still fond of it.

There is only one very important principle to learn and master from this form. If you get it you will find your pushing hands skill improve overnight.

When I used to teach Tai Chi this was the first form I would teach. One caveat – the principle is simple and to master it all it requires is constant training. However, if you do not give it your all you can train for years and never get it.

There is a video of Grandmaster Tung Hulin performing the 108 form and you can see him demonstrate this principle throughout the form as he went through the techniques.

3) Dong family Kai He form – this form is little talked about even amongst Dong stylists but after I read that Grandmaster Tung Yingchieh used it to train his power I just had to learn it.

This form reminds me of the body structure of modern Wing Chun in that the body moves very little with the hands moving body. Despite the lack of big movements the techniques are precisely aligned to bring forth the “hard” power.

At one time I worked on it a lot and when I practiced push hands with students they would complain that my forearms felt like iron bars cutting into their arms.

4) Dominating Fist – this is the first informal form of NGK that I was taught. It basically takes solo techniques number 17 and 18 from the series of 18 solo techniques and organized them into a form.

Even though this is an informal form it teaches the NGK way of controlling the main gate. I used the NGK way of controlling the main gate a lot when I practiced push hands.

5) Gung Lik Kuen – this short training sequence from an old Wing Chun style has no name. However, when I asked my teacher what it is called he said to called it Gung Lik Kuen.

This form is not even a formal form of this Wing Chun style. The way it is organized reminds me of a version of the Yuen Kay San Wing Chun 12 Sik that I had seen that was taught like a form instead of twelve individual techniques.

The main takeaway from this form is how to be soft, like pulling silk while learning how to focus your power. The movements look soft and flowing but delivers a strong, forceful force when striking.

6) Bart Jam Dao – I had learned four versions of the knives form from Ip Man style Wing Chun. The very last version I picked up is my favorite.

The earlier versions I had learned were more like doing the emptyhand forms with a pair of knives in both hands.

However, this version is very dynamic with lowered, mobile footwork, using the entire body to evade, angulate, trap, enter and deliver the thrusts and slashes.

7) Kitten Pole – this is pole form number four from NGK. It is regarded as the most advanced pole form of the system, containing all the essential techniques.

Alas, like the dotting hands the Kitten Pole is also kept out of public view. In the old days not everyone got to learn the dotting hands and Kitten Pole. So if you happen to know them it will magically open doors when you meet fellow NGK practitioners.

8) The 22-Form – this condensed form which was put together by Grandmaster Wei Shuren from the old 108 form contains the key principles that one must learn to master this style.

If you make the breakthrough in mastering the principles a very different world of understanding will open up to you. The concept of internal will be different from any existing concept of internal you have every learned. This is why this is my most favorite form amongst the eight forms listed here.

I still have some favorite forms but that’s it for now.

I am going to use Solo Bridge Hand Sequence No. 1 to talk about the training of body structure.

There are different body structures that we can train using Solo Bridge Hand Sequence No. 1 which we nickname the 6-Linking Hands (6-LH).

The first and easiest body structure to train is what I would doubt the modern Wing Chun body structure. This calls for keeping the body still while moving the hands.

The second training for body structure is to explore the big open, big close characteristics of Pok Khek Kuen. To do this training we would need to use a bigger and lower stance in addition to weaving in and weaving out, waist turning, big arm movements to teach us how to use the entire body like fist.

The third body structure we work on is the NGK body structure. This trains the swallow, spit, float, sink characteristic in tandem with the use of two primary stances.

And finally, the last structure we work on is that of the 5 bows, bell body from the Tai Chi of Grandmaster Wei Shuren.