Cannon Fist Chronicles

Single Push Hands – Get It Right - 5 Videos for Push Hands Progress

SRS — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:50:24 +0000

Introduction https://vimeo.com/19728724

Get It Right http://vimeo.com/19731098

Speed & Pressure https://vimeo.com/19754634

Games https://vimeo.com/19790602

Attacking Methods https://vimeo.com/19818420

Finding Your Button

SRS — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:00:59 +0000

Maybe you've been asked to go soft, grow soft, and get soft. Be careful that your martial art—your Taijiquan, Baguazhang, or Xingyiquan—doesn't overemphasize Yin. Sure: it's important to relax (yin). It's also good to get going (yang). Don't forget Yang!

Move
Go Get It
Drive

What pushes you into Yang mode? Do you have a button?

Everybody has a button. The problem with you is that yours is flabby. Perhaps you have read a bit too much nontzense on the evils of anger, or are too mild-mannered by nature. Either way, you're scheduled on the 4:19 to Disaster if you don't toughen up and start that big old furnace that's sitting in your basement, waiting for a match.... ....you must do what successful warriors do and turn that annoyance into a white-hot coal of anger that can be doused only by the death of your enemies. This you can do in a five-step program of anger management—not in the sense that term is usually employed, of course. In your case, we're going to manage your anger upward, so that it may be used as a weapon in itself, and as fuel for other weapons that are relatively toothless without it. —Stanley Bing from Sun Tzu Was a Sissy

In Boiling Water - You're in for It

SRS — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:00:08 +0000

The little moralistic story about tossing frogs into boiling water... it's not true. The first part of the tale: that part where you throw a frog into boiling water and the frog jumps out... well... no jumping out. The frog gets boiled. Do you see where this is going? Let's explore What Not To Do...

Don't Go Head First

Jumping in head first is dangerous.

Don't jump head first into a boiling pot of water.
Don't plunge head first in to intense fighting.
Don't dive head first into anything.

Now, I know, you're thinking about how inspiring people Take The Plunge. They Go For It. They Dive Right In. But... this is CannonFist.com. So: in terms of learning a Combat Form that leads toward health and healing skills, go ahead and Take the Plunge and Go For It: you should even sign up as a CannonFist.com Initiate or Level Up. Just don't Dive In... you'll smash your head...

Here's why...

When we play the role of the frog, when we plunge in head first, we get hurt. In the frog's case: death hurts. In other cases, we simply lack the skills necessary to survive or thrive in an extreme environment. (If you feel like you're diving into this site, here's a head's up about my guarantee.) Diving in head first shocks the nervous system. We want to soothe and lull the nervous system. We want to let unreasonable and amazing skills creep, oh so slowly, into our repertoire. We want to get better on the inside. So we avoid shocking the nervous system with impossible feats. We'll trick it, little by little, steadfastly breathing with calm, cool intentions while the world warms around us.

Brushed by Lightning

SRS — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:00:07 +0000

When I read this, it struck me as true: RT @tomupton33: “A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning.”– James Dickey Years ago, I sat under a blue tarp in the middle of the High Uintas. It rained. Hard. Lightning rocked. Hard: it rained. Lightning cracked. It [...]

In Hot Water

SRS — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:39:41 +0000

You know the story… If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will of course frantically try to clamber out. But if you place it gently in a pot of tepid water and turn the heat on low, it will float there quite placidly. As the water gradually heats up, the [...]

This Pao Chui Lineage

SRS — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:03:52 +0000

This specific form derives from the teachings of Master Erle Montaigue and his World Taiji Boxing Association. The teachings refer to this form as Pauchui, Cannon Fist, or Large San Sau, depending upon its usage. At CannonFist.com backtracks to another, more common description of the form: Pao Chui. As a matter of course, Cannon Fist [...]

Pao Chui Solo Form - The Complete List of Postures

SRS — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:10:45 +0000

Begin Yang Side

Two Steps to Cannon Punch
Remove Step then Cannon Punch
Cross Advance to Elbow Strike
Slap Step, Elbow Strike
Stand for Back Fist
Slap Step, Attack Tiger Left
Twist to Back Hand
Remove Step, Cannon Punch
Two Steps to Bend Backwards
Remove Slap Step, Cross Punch
Slap Step to Squeeze Attack
Change Step and Kick
Cross Step, Bend Backwards
Support Left, Hammer Punch
Snake Creeps Down, Squeeze Attack (stomp)
Pull Back, Strike Elbow
Two Palms Strike Out (stomp)
Left Palm Strike
Change Step, Double Palms Strike (stomp)
Drop to Evade, Double Palms Strike (stomp)
Bend Backwards (leg sweep), Forearm Strike
Attack Tiger Right
Step Left, Squeeze (stomp)
Change Step, Shoulder Strike (stomp)
Remove Step, Elbow Strike (stomp)
Retreat to Pull Down
Retreat to Pull Down, Left Shoulder Strike
Right Toe Kick
Spin Around, Left Crescent Kick
Right Shoulder Strike (stomp)
Advance, Seize Bird's Tail Left
Advance, Seize Bird's Tail Right
Block Rear, Cannon Punch
Advance Strike and Kick
Lotus Kick
Artful Hand Snakes to Groin
Triple Punch (stomp)
Change Step, Repulse Monkey
Step Back, Repulse Monkey
Step Back, Repulse Monkey
Needle at Sea Bottom
Press Elbow, Twist Turn
Single Whip
Inspect Horse's Mouth
Pull Down, Spin Around

Conclude Yang Side, and...

Begin Yin Side

Step Left and Lift Hands, Cannon Punch
Winding Block, Back Fist
Change (reverse) Step, Hit Tiger Right
Sit Back, Attack the Elbow (stomp)
Advance Step Right, Elbow Slap
Pull Right Arm, Back Hand
Double Palms Strike (stomp)
Remove Step, Cannon Punch
Partition of Wold Horse's Mane Left
Turn Body, Retreat, and Pull
Neutralize Right, Double Palms Strike (stomp)
Block Kick, Cannon Punch
Fair Lady Works Shuttles
Stork Spreads Wings, Left Kick
Retreat, Strike Arm
Slap Hand, Double Wind in Ears
Retreat to Cave, Cannon Punch
Open Up, Break Arm
Open Up, Slap
Open Up, Right Elbow (stomp)
Change Step, Strike Arm
Pull Back Left
Return Squeeze (stomp)
Change Step, Shoulder
Golden Rooster Stands
Double Separation, Advance, Kick
Repeat, Hammer Arm
Double Separation, Block Kick with Right Arm
Change Step, Double Separation, and Block Kick
Change Step (step behind), Shoulder Strike
Attack Arm on Right
Attack Arm on Left
Attack Body from the Side
Step Left, Heel Kick
Hinge Block, Slant Flying Left
Change Step, Slant Flying Right
Coiling Block, Back Fist
Advance Fan Attack Left
Advance Fan Attack Right
Step Up to Seven Stars
Fan Through Back
Bend Bow, Shoot Tiger
Low Block, Cannon Punch (stomp)
Return to Mountain, Riding Tiger
Spin Around

Conclude Yin Side and begin Yang side.

Hello World - Develop Great Skills

SRS — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:56:55 +0000

This site is dedicated to the Yang Cannon Fist Form and to exercises and training drills to get it right. The Cannon Fist Form is a 90 movement sequence of Tai Chi postures. It's an ideal sequence. It's long enough as a solo form to allow access to a meditative state of mind. It's varied enough to contain both simple and complex self-defense techniques. It's smart enough to divide in two: and become a duel. That's right: Duel. Divide it in two, right down the middle, with 45-movements for each half, and each half matches the other for a duel. This is an amazing form. I think it's genius.

Beyond Obvious Genius

[caption id="attachment_1737" align="alignright" width="130"] Genius[/caption] Out of 90 movements, the fact that one cuts the solo form in half and each half can fight the other: that's genius. No full-length forms do this. At least, I don't know any others with this great power. (If you do, leave a comment and let me know what other martial arts form possess such refined craftiness.) The Cannon Fist Form teaches some simple and some complex fighting postures, and, because it's a Tai-chi Form, it teaches relaxation and subtle power development too. But it goes deeper. It's even richer... The better each partner gets at their respective halves, the more impact and the closer the fighting becomes. One's fighting gets closer and closer...

wrist depth - normal striking depth
elbow depth - vicious striking depth
shoulder - intimate striking depth

In addition, each partner slaps, hammers, and smashes peculiar points on the other person's arms. Such points make each attacker a better fighter, and, at the same time, those points allow a defender to become bolder and tougher. Plus, in time, the points feel good when struck. One may learn to heal.

It's Taijiquan: the Supreme Ultimate Fist Form at a high level. Combat and healing are interwoven. But...

In order to get going in this form it's important that a practitioner already owns and continues to pursue a high degree of relaxation competence and martial proficiency.