Function before form
When practicing the hand or weapons forms we must have a practical knowledge of the various martial applications for each of the moves to prevent the forms becoming a slow motion dance routine.
Practice of the martial applications should include the following aspects:
Evading, diverting, disrupting and escaping skills
Correct intent, focus, timing and body structure.
Drop, rolling, sinking and uprooting steps to aid with the correct angles/direction, smooth weight transfer and use of total body force.
The martial applications also fall into into the following categories:
Die pu- unbalancing then striking techniques
Shuai jiao- grappling, throwing, sweeping/tripping
Qin na- seizing, holding, locking/grip strikes
Dim mak- attacking vital points with locks, strikes etc