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Top 10+ Moves in Kung Fu for Self Defence
Top 10+ Most Important Moves
First things first. Here’s an overview of my most recommended kung fu techniques for self defence.
They include the main blocks in all directions, plus the slickest and most potent striking attacks (as a weaponless fighter), as well as the most powerful & accessible chokehold submissions, and the best sweeps, slams, throws & takedowns in the business.
These moves currently form the basis of this course. It’s only a handful of techniques so far, but if you master them all, you’ll be a very accomplished, quite well rounded martial artist already.
I fear not the man who has practised ten thousand kicks, once. But I fear the man who has practised one kick, ten thousand times.
Bruce Lee
The main Up & Down blocks
These are Wing Chun basics. They’re all also trained in Red Boat Wing Chun, and other systems of kung fu, as well as Karate and other martial arts.
1) Tai Wu Sau 提護手 (lifting guard hand) – this is an upwards cutting wedge block. It’s a bit clunky at full speed, but it’s your last line of defence. When nothing else can intercept quick enough, this move may get the job done. Master it well, so you can always fall back on it.
2) Pak Sau 拍手 to Gam Da 撳打 (slap block, into pin & hit) – this is a downwards slap block, followed by sliding in with the forearm to trap the punching hand, while counter-striking over the top. Pak Sau to Gam Da puts you in a dominant position for continued boxing, but requires good speed and spatial awareness to execute cleanly, and only works on straight and near-straight punches that you see coming soon enough.
3) Jam Sau 枕手 (sinking block) – useful for crushing the structure of frontal grabbing arms. Can also be used for deflecting straight low shots downwards using the forearm bone, without needing a clean catch in the hand as in Pak Sau, in case the hand is injured or holding something.
The main Left & Right blocks
These are Wing Chun basics. Also found in many other martial arts.
4) Jak Jeung 側掌 (high sidewards slap block) – slap their punch aside (high), and counter underneath.
5) Biu Da 鏢打 and Tan Da 攤打 (inside gate) – this family of blocks is wedging them open laterally from inside, while countering with the spare hand.
6) Gang Da 耕手 (inside gate) (low, downward-pointing wedge cutting inside, sweeping out) – important for dealing with low hooks to the kidneys or floating ribs.
7) Dai Bong Sau 低膀手 (low, downward-pointing, inwards sweeping wrist, from outside gate) – the ideal defence against straight and near-straight low shots, coming from low origin.
Forward posting
8) Jong Sau 樁手 – for enforcing the boundary to your personal space, without escalating the confrontation (especially before any fists are thrown).
Strikes to pressure points
These are JKD basics. They’re also all trained in Red Boat Wing Chun. With the exception of chain punches, they’re also commonly trained in many other systems of Kung Fu as well as Karate and many other martial arts.
10) Jik Tek 直踢 (Kin Geri) (straight kick to nuts).
The strongest and most available Submission
This move is commonly trained in Chin Na, as well as Judo, BJJ, and many other martial arts concerned with grappling or general self defence or combat.
12) RNC (Hadaka-Jime 裸絞め // Lo Gau 裸絞 // Luǒ Jiǎo 裸绞) – this is the most dominant position that’s commonly accessible and can be held sustainably with low risk. If I could only have one move as a martial artist, it would probably be this one. In Kung Fu we tend to do the RNC chokehold a bit differently to grappling-only styles – we tend to avoid going to the ground and we tend to avoid tying up our second hand behind their head – keeping it handy instead.
The safest and most critical Takedowns (Sweeps, Slams & Throws)
These are Shuai Jiao basics. Also found in some schools of Tai Chi and JKD, as well as Judo and Aikido, plus many other martial arts, especially grappling oriented arts.
13) Ippon Seoi Nage 一本背負投 (Chuāi 揣) (throw over shoulder) – this is the most critical throw as it’s also the best defence of a rear choke.
14) Osoto Gari 大外刈 (Qiè Zi 切子) (throat strike slam over back leg while flanking) – this is the safest slam technique, for the person executing it, as it enables you to maintain a good stance, posture and guard, with all vitals covered.
