repetition of isolated movements for power

[windwalker099]

Yang style Tai Chi inheritor Fu Shengyuan instructs his son in practicing

Interesting video highlighting requirements of yang style practice.

 

[Flying Crane]

I don’t know how to develop it without isolated repetition. I think that needs to be part of the process.

 

[isshinryuronin]

Karate commonly has kihon, basic techniques that are drilled in almost every class, individually or in two move combos such as block-punch combos and various kicks. This repetitive drilling provides increased ability in speed, power, body movement and mechanics allowing them to be applied effectively upon an opponent.

Roughly half the movements in kata are comprised of these basic techniques. The other half however are seldom if ever drilled, being practiced only while performing the kata. These are mostly (but not exclusively) associated with grappling/joint techniques. They are seen as more esoteric and are confined to kata and not seen as kihon.

Maybe during the modern evolution of karate, their meaning was lost or deemed too dangerous for the public, so over time were not stressed during class drilling. Not much is known about how karate was taught in old Okinawa. In any event, IMO there is no good reason not to isolate them for drilling outside of kata. And not only drilled but be practiced for application with partners (as they originally were) just as kihon is. While many of these moves are counters to various grabs, some are counters to striking attacks and so can even be used in sparring.

I am a proponent of re-integrating the concepts of kihon, kata, and kumite rather than seeing them as three distinct unrelated things to be kept in their separate boxes.

 

[Same Trick]

Is the YouTube video same as the other linked video( rooster stand on one leg) ?
What about the “power” reference in the headline? I see instructions on body mechanic to move through the posture, and a simple knee to groin application of the posture without any “power” applied(doesn’t need much anyway to make the jewels feel uncomfortable)

 

[Fungus]

What about the “power” reference in the headline?

Something that i find helpful is to train isolated combinations as "single movements" repetadly. This really helped with power as well. I mostly do this on the heavy bag though. The benefit I found, that really improves energy generatation, is that instead of considering a combo as several technqiues in sequence, that reset to the same state, you can use the momentum of hte reset to load the next technique, but it requires that you train repeteadly the combination itself with timing. Timing isnt' only about the opponent, but the timiing of when to retract and launch next technique so that the reused.

I have tried to think about this with power striking combos, as well as consequititve kicks. once I get the rythm or if, it greatly improves both speed of the whole combo + power.

There is huge difference between training single power hooks, and then just make two in succession vs training the double hook (say like Tyson did it). Before the first hook lands, you prepar both on mind and body already loading and firing othe next hook, you get significantly more power.

For me as having thought about this, I see it relating to TIMING variious internal rebounds in your body, when retracting and reloading. And your exact rythm is individual and depends on limb mass and muscle force. Same with footwork, before the foot lands, you prepare and reload the next move, to use the rebound momentum to speed up the next week.

Its a bodyrythm, that gets lost if you do techniques one by one, and pause them, the we often do in kihon (to mark the end of the technqiue).

 

[windwalker099]

Is the YouTube video same as the other linked video( rooster stand on one leg) ?
What about the “power” reference in the headline? I see instructions on body mechanic to move through the posture, and a simple knee to groin application of the posture without any “power” applied(doesn’t need much anyway to make the jewels feel uncomfortable)

The YouTube video shows the teacher demonstrating single movements with 发劲 (fājìn)… while the other clip — which works in China — shows him teaching his son, focusing more on structure and internal coordination.

Personally, I don’t fully agree with the approach in the first clip. The emphasis seems too much on the “fa”, expressed through rotation and visible body mechanics — rather than the internal process that supports it. A boxer’s shadowboxing might develop more practical timing and readiness.

It might be more helpful to look at what is being trained — things like 意 (yì, intent), 气 (qì, energy), and 神 (shén, spirit) — developed through proper alignment (身法), timing, and awareness.

The second video shows more of that… things like 开合 (kāi hé, opening and closing), balance, and internal connection — which are easy to overlook if one’s only watching for impact.

 

[Same Trick]

The YouTube video shows the teacher demonstrating single movements with 发劲 (fājìn)… while the other clip — which works in China — shows him teaching his son, focusing more on structure and internal coordination.

Personally, I don’t fully agree with the approach in the first clip. The emphasis seems too much on the “fa”, expressed through rotation and visible body mechanics — rather than the internal process that supports it. A boxer’s shadowboxing might develop more practical timing and readiness.

It might be more helpful to look at what is being trained — things like 意 (yì, intent), 气 (qì, energy), and 神 (shén, spirit) — developed through proper alignment (身法), timing, and awareness.

The second video shows more of that… things like 开合 (kāi hé, opening and closing), balance, and internal connection — which are easy to overlook if one’s only watching for impact.

Ah, yes I suspected the YouTube vid was different from the other that I can open.
but ive seen some vid of the Fu’s doing fajing stuff in the air and I think it looks awkward. I totally agree about your take on taiji and its internal rather than obvious mechanical approach. So it feels weird and somewhat hurt to the eyes seeing these respected taiji personas trying show taiji as something it’s not(and doing a bad job doing it)
My Yang taiji teacher was a student of Fu Zhongwen, and we never do any falli stuff in thin air, my teachers Taiji applications are more inspired from his tongbeiquan and Shuaijiao expertise, which still is somewhat another thing.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

My Yang taiji teacher was a student of Fu Zhongwen, and we never do any falli stuff in thin air, my teachers Taiji applications are more inspired from his tongbeiquan and Shuaijiao expertise, which still is somewhat another thing.

Some people think Taiji is a wrestling art because the push hand training. Some people think Taiji is a striking art and include Fajin into it.

If you train

- wrestling art drill, you don't need Fajin. For example, wrestling "arm guiding" doesn't need Fajin.
- striking art drill, you need Fajin. For example, Taiji "advance hammer" needs Fajin.