Sparring and Defense

Much of Kung Fu study involves learning how to move the body
in the most efficient ways possible. Before attack and defense
methods can be effectively applied against an opponent, a
certain amount of basic movement technique must first be
learned. This strong foundation is vital and is highly stressed in
the early part of a student’s education. Because it is easy to
develop bad habits that are later difficult to correct, it is only
after a student has established a good foundation in technique,
and developed a certain amount of control, that free-sparring
is practiced. Students will practice the martial applications of
individual (and combined) movements as they learn forms,
then later practice specific attack and defense sequences in
pairs. Once a certain level of proficiency has been attained,
free-sparring will be practiced, with and without protective
padding.

If one's aim is to improve physical capability, there are few
disciplines as well-balanced or as well-rounded as Kung Fu. Its
self-defense skills are taught through a training method that
allows for a clear understanding of their usage and helps
develop relaxed, instinctive reactions. Technique is introduced
through the practice of forms, which also improve a student's
strength, endurance, balance, agility, timing and focus. It is
the repeated practice of forms, which gradually become more
complex and demanding, that teaches a student not only which
techniques to use, but how to use them. Proper application of
techniques depends on correct control and subtle of force,
which is developed through form practice.

Some martial arts stress a “hard” approach, meaning that their
power is primarily externally (muscle) based and an opponent’s
force is often met directly with equal force. Kung Fu
techniques, however, seek a balance between hard and soft,
reflected in this common saying : "Four ounces to repel a
thousand pounds." Movements tend to be more fluid, strikes
often more whip-like in power, and an opponent’s force is
often deflected or redirected. When strength is pitted directly
against strength, the greater strength always wins. Kung Fu
technique is based on principals that avoid the use of crude
strength, relying instead on fine control over hard (gang) and
soft (rou) as well as empty (hsu) and full (shi).