“A house built on sand cannot stand.” This is an old saying that is very applicable to your study and practice of the Martial Arts. The skill and proficiency you attain as a Martial Artist will be directly related to your understanding and mastery of your “basics”, which is the foundation from which all Martial Arts is built upon.
The basic foundation for a student of United Studios of Self Defense can be easily understood and broken down into the following elements: stances, kicks, hand strikes, blocks, footwork, gauging and timing. Your mastery and refinement of these “basic” elements will determine how well you will perform during rank testing, tournament competition, or a real life self defense situation, since ALL techniques and forms are simply a rhythmic and effective sequence of these basic elements.
Your display of mastery of each Pinan, Kata, Shaolin Defensive Maneuver and Kempo Technique will completely depend on your skill and understanding of the basics. It is like a carpenter who can?t use all of the tools in his trade with understanding and accuracy: Is his finished product likely to rival that of a proficient journeyman?
This Is where your instructor comes in. All instructors of United Studios of Self Defense teach the identical techniques handed down for generations from the Shaolin Monks. Your instructor will show you the correct way to perform each of the basic elements; you then must practice them correctly until they are mastered. Remember it?s not just practice the makes perfect- it is perfect practice that makes perfect.
Understand that it is impossible to learn the Martial Arts from a book alone. Your instructor will be your guide and mentor. They have been specially trained in the most modernized methods of passing this valuable and effective training to you. This manual is meant to serve as an enhancement and reinforcement to what you have already been taught.
The “basic” training and techniques will probably be difficult at first, as you many feel awkward and/ or not in the best physical condition to execute them properly. This is true with most every new student, so you are on right path. Proper practice is requires concentration and discipline, attributes that will serve you well in every aspect of your daily life. Your determination to succeed will be recognized and rewarded as you progress in rank and skill. Your self-confidence will also increase as you see the many benefits of this training. Training in the Martial Arts is a journey, not a prescribed destination. Work hard now and you will soon acknowledge and appreciate the multitude of benefits your commitments and disciplines have produced.
STANCES
- Bow & Arrow Stance
- Cat Stance
- Crane Stance
- Flamingo Stance
- Front Position
- Half-Moon Stance
- Horse Stance
HAND STRIKES
- Basic Fist
- Front Two-Knuckle Punch
- Back Two-Knuckle Punch
- Backfist
- Backhand
- Bear Paw
- Chicken Wrist
- Corkscrew Punch
- Crane’s Beak
- Cross Body
- Eagle’s Talon
- Elbow
- Fatal Finger
- Forearm Strike
- Hammer
- Immortal Man
- Jab
- Leopard’s Paw
- Palm Heel
- Phoenix Fist
- Poison Thumb
- Ridge Hand Shuto
- Rising Sun Punch
- Shuto
- Spear Hand
- Tiger’s Claw
- Tiger’s Mouth
- Trigger Finger
- Two-Finger Poke
- Tiger Rake
- Uppercut
- Upward Palm
BLOCKS
- Outward
- Inward
- Upward
- Downward
- Combination Blocks
- Other Blocks
- Eight Point Blocking System
- Eight Point Blocking System with Counterstrikes
- Ten Point Blocking System
KICKS
- Axe
- Back
- Crescent
- Front
- Hook
- Knee
- Roundhouse
- Side
- Smash
- Stepping Stool
- Wheel
