Ok, previously we talked about downwards force, and explained left and right further down to the details. Here we continue talking about back-downwards and front-downwards movements.

The back-downwards one is one of the only two movements that attack backwards (the other one is hidden, and it’s not specifically designed for attacking). This is so obvious for someone who tries to hug/catch and lift us from behind. First, we need to raise our elbows, use the natural triangle of our forearms, to create a space hard for the opponent to do so, then send hands back, to do palm strikes or at least grab something (you know what I mean?), a human will generally try to avoid something around the groin area, so this is the best way to keep the space and a certain distance, with the distance, it won’t be easy for us to lift something heavy, then we can turn around, face the opponent and launch punches as usual.

Then the front-downwards one is practised together, usually don’t use together, it’s also obviously for defending against lower attacks, which are to the middle part of our body(the lowest part, which is the leg area, is not the duty of the arms), usually use with pivoting, however, pivoting is not introduced yet in the first form, so focus on the movement itself first. Middle part attacks, especially kicks, knees, can be seriously powerful, and arms may be too weak to handle them; therefore, downwards force plus pivoting can greatly deflect and impact the opponent’s kicks and knees, in addition, unbalance him/her, and make your opponent vulnerable, easy for you to hit.

All of the above is basically how to apply and utilize downward force in different situations.  Next, back to normal chest level.

A lan sao, barrier hand, is introduced, practised together, used separately, and the rest of the movements in section two are all the same from now on. What does barrier mean? A basic space, a room that we need, some privacy that others cannot easily intrude, like fences, the boundary of our yard, personal property, no trespassing, that’s the meaning of its static shape. It’s not a direct attacking action; therefore, when the barrier hand is applied, it must have two different intentions in two exactly opposite directions to attack and defend functions.

Fak sau, whipping hand, it’s its continuation, whipping to a side (both sides together in the form), this is a multiple functional attacking action, can be very powerful/deadly/lethal.

To be continued…