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Forms and Drills Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun
Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun
The "Six-and-a-Half Point Long Pole" Form of Wing Chun
Introduction | Strength Training | Section 1 | Drills and Applications | Concepts and Theories
Introduction
he first formal weapon of the Wing Chun system is called Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun (pronounced luck-dim-boon-gwun). Meaning "Six-and-a-Half Point long pole," the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun is a staff approximately 8-1/2 feet in length.
Poles vary in both length and weight; for example, my pole is approximately 9-feet and is quite heavier than most in order to train additional strength and stamina concepts. Others, however, are usually lighter and generally trained for precision targeting.
Some practitioners feel that weapons training isn't as useful as it once was, and I can understand that view. After all, how often do you find yourself with an 8-foot pole or two 1-1/2 lb. double knives?! But weapons training, besides additional strength or coordination enhancement, still has a viable purpose in today's society for real situations.
A precept of Wing Chun thought is that we will never know every situation we'll encounter. We haven't the slightest bit of control over every environment we'll find ourselves in, so if we can't control it, we don't know what will happen. We might be in a pool hall, a local pub, a five-star restaurant, or a party. Who knows? And who knows what situations can develop while we're there?
That being said, we must never automatically assume that something isn't viable just because of the day and age we live. Some things are probably more "traditional" in that realistically we won't find ourselves utilizing the same types of weapons as our ancestors; the concept, however, is the true goal of learning.
The long pole teaches long-range weapons use, while the double knives teach short to medium-range weapons concepts. If a practitioner has an understanding of short, medium, and long-range weapons concepts, he or she can effectively apply those concepts to any item useful as a weapon.
The history of how the long pole was introduced to Wing Chun is much clearer than that of the knives. Aboard the red junk (a boat of opera performers that would travel from harbor to harbor) were Wong Wah Bo (a master of Wing Chun), Leung Yee Tai (the poler of the red junk) and Master Chi Shin, a surviving monk from the burned down Shaolin monastery.
Showing a great interest in learning pole fighting techniques, Leung Yee Tai learned this skill from Chi Shin. Meeting and befriending Wong Wah Bo, Leung Yee Tai showed Wong Wah Bo the pole techniques while, in exchange, Wong Wah Bo taught Leung Yee Tai the art of Wing Chun.
Altering the pole movements to fit the Wing Chun theory, as well as adapting the stances to fit the length and weight of the pole, the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun was born and became the first of only two formal weapons in the system.
Strength Training
Prior to beginning the curriculum for the pole form and applications, a stable and strong foundation must first be created. Without it, you will always feel uncomfortable or unweildy handling this long, heavy weapon.
First we learn the three primary stances, followed with various strength training drills.
Stance Training
There are three primary stances when training the pole. These include the Frontal-stance, the Quadrilateral-level stance, and the Half-fence stance. Stance training might seem "boring" to some, but it's paramount to learning the pole. Not only does it allow you to deliver power through any length of the pole, but when you encounter your opponent's power, a bad stance will see you easily uprooted. It's just like empty-hand fighting: without a good stance, you'll be knocked over when you encounter force.
Stance Training |
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Kwun-ma (Pole-stance) The basic stance for both defense and offense, this stance assists us in "feeling" where the opponent's pole is upon contact. In general, this is the stance that is used for most drills and applications, as well as during the initial contact of Chi-kwun, or "Sticking-pole" training. |
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Sei-ping-ma (Quadrilateral-level stance) Creating a strong lower body, this stance is used for spearing and "driving" attacks. From here, we have our entire body to provide a great deal of power to the pole. |
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Gee-ng-diu-tie-ma (Half-fence stance) Used for traversing around an opponent's pole and initiating sweeps, this stance gives us another angle in which to deflect attacks (as well as attack from). This particular stance allows us to physically move out of the way of an oncoming attack and "borrow" the power of the opponent's pole. |
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Once the basic stances are learned, we introduce various strength training drills. The drills are performed in all of the stances pictured above vs. just one. This allows for multiple muscle groups to be worked and creates a stronger overall result vs. keeping just one stance.
Partner Pole Strength Training |
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With both practitioners in a right-handed pole position, the poles meet and push to the outside. This tension is held for 10 - 15 seconds, then relax. Repeat for 5 sets of 10 reps, then change to the next drill. |
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With both practitioners in a right-handed pole position, the poles meet on the opposite side as the first drill and then push to the inside. This tension is held for 10 - 15 seconds, then relax. Repeat for 5 sets of 10 reps, then change to the next drill. |
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As one pole is pulled upwards, your partner's pole is pressing downwards. Equal pressure is required here and this tension is held for 10 - 15 seconds before relaxing. Change positions and then repeat. After completion, this is one set. Perform 5 sets of 10 reps, relax, then repeat drill #1. |
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A very good solo exercise to build strength is below. Repeat this exercise continuously to create the strength necessary in the forearms, chest, shoulders and back.
Solo Pole Strength Training (1.27 MB | 35 seconds | WMV format)
Solo Pole Strength Training |
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Stand upright with the pole on your centerline and projected forward. |
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Raise the pole upward. Pause slightly... |
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... and drive the pole directly outward. Pull back in, drive down, and repeat this exercise over and over to build strength. |
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Strength training is so important that a practitioner can spend anywhere from 6 months to a year or more working various drills prior to learning the form or any drills. A lot of people want to just jump right in to learning the pole, but without sufficient strength training and learning how to handle this long, heavy weapon, the form will be unweildy and your power will never be released as it should.
The level of strength a practitioner gains from these drills is vital before proceeding to learning the long pole form itself. One element that the AWCA incorporates during this strength training phase is that the drills are first learned with a very heavy, custom-made pole. A practitioner will start with the normal pole for learning the correct movements, gaining the beginning level of strength and coordination, etc. After this is sufficient, however, the practitioner will then begin exclusive use of a heavier pole, which is a bit heavier than the previous pole.
There are a variety of drills that a practitioner must complete prior to learning the pole form. From non-pole strength training to pole strength training, from single drills to drills with another practitioner, it can take up to a year or more of nothing but strength training for a practitioner to gain enough prowess for competently learning the pole form.
Some believe that strength training before learning the pole form is backwards, that the form should be taught first so as to gain the necessary strength. But as mentioned previously, the opposite is true. It sounds like "overkill" to keep stating it, but it's very important to understand why this is so.
If you train the form without first acquiring the necessary arm and leg strength to manipulate such a long and heavy weapon, the form will take on many bad habits. Instead of striking directly parallel, the pole will dip. Instead of adhering to the Wing Chun Kuen Kuit (a collection of training proverbs passed down through the generations) which states "The pole does not make more than one sound," the pole will strike two, three, or more times against the opponent's pole. Therefore, having sufficient strength prior to learning the form greatly assists in ensuring that these bad habits do not appear.
Also, a practitioner must have a mastery of the Biu-Tze curriculum before even beginning the long pole strength training. Why? Because "penetration of force" must first be demonstrated since the pole's primary striking point is the tip.
Section 1
When a practitioner has proven enough control during the various drills, and when he/she has gained sufficient strength to handle this long-range weapon, the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun form is learned.
Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun: Section 1 |
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With the pole facing your power side, hold the pole as shown. Your back hand is with the palm down while the lead hand sees the palm upward. The feet are together and the body is at 90-degrees with the pole, but the head is turned in the same direction as the pole. |
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Raise the pole upward to chest level, keeping the pole level. Do not let it dip downward or upward. |
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Jum-kwun (Sinking-pole) Forcefully drive the pole downward. Ensure that it does not dip downward or upward. |
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Raise the pole upward to chest level, keeping the pole level. Do not let it dip downward or upward. |
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Jum-kwun Forcefully drive the pole downward. Ensure that it does not dip downward or upward. |
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Raise the pole upward to chest level, keeping the pole level. Do not let it dip downward or upward. |
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Jum-kwun Forcefully drive the pole downward. Ensure that it does not dip downward or upward. |
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While raising the pole, assume Gee-ng-diu-tie-ma. The centerline remains at 90-degrees in relation to the pole. The body does not turn towards the pole. |
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Biu-kwun (Spearing-pole/ Thrusting-pole) Drive the pole directly forward (in relation to its direction) until the arms are parallel. Along this path of travel, do not let the pole dip down or up. |
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Kwun-ma Simultaneously assume a Frontal-stance while driving the rear hand down. The tip of the pole is now on your centerline. |
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Jut-kwun (Jerk-pole) Keeping the body in the Frontal-stance, raise the back hand while driving the lead hand down to quickly "jerk" the tip of the pole to the floor. |
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Immediately "explode" the pole upwards so that the tip is on your centerline. |
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Raise the pole to the centerline while assuming Gee-ng-diu-tie-ma. The centerline remains at 90-degrees in relation to the pole. The body does not turn towards the pole. |
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Biu-kwun Drive the pole directly forward (in relation to its direction) until the arms are parallel. Along this path of travel, do not let the pole dip down or up. |
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Kwun-ma Simultaneously assume a Frontal-stance while driving the rear hand down. The tip of the pole is now on your centerline. |
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Jut-kwun Keeping the body in the Frontal-stance, raise the back hand while driving the lead hand down to quickly "jerk" the tip of the pole to the floor. |
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Immediately "explode" the pole upwards so that the tip is on your centerline. |
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Raise the pole to the centerline while assuming Gee-ng-diu-tie-ma. The centerline remains at 90-degrees in relation to the pole. The body does not turn towards the pole. |
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Biu-kwun Drive the pole directly forward (in relation to its direction) until the arms are parallel. Along this path of travel, do not let the pole dip down or up. |
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Kwun-ma Simultaneously assume a Frontal-stance while driving the rear hand down. The tip of the pole is now on your centerline. |
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Jut-kwun Keeping the body in the Frontal-stance, raise the back hand while driving the lead hand down to quickly "jerk" the tip of the pole to the floor. |
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Immediately "explode" the pole upwards so that the tip is on your centerline. |
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This completes Section 1 of the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun |
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Compared to other martial arts, the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun form is quite short in duration. However, not all Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun styles train the form in the same way. Some pole forms have only seven movements, while others can have up to 50 or more (at the AWCA, our pole form has 36 movements and is taught in four sections). All, however, have an involved training curriculum for making the most of this unique weapon.
For section 1, there are actually only 3 movements: Jut-kwun, Jum-kwun, and Biu-kwun. The remainder of actions involve resuming stances and changing angles so as to improve the use and range of the weapon (including barring and stepping). The remaining 33 movements are in sections 2 through 4, also with multiple angles and stepping.
As mentioned previously, the weapons are also learned a bit differently than the empty-hand forms. With empty-hand training, we will learn a few movements of one section of a form, and then dive into the myriad of applications, concepts and drills that deal with those movements. This is repeated for an entire section of the form until the full curriculum is achieved.
Where weapons are concerned, though, we start with strength training in order to handle the weapon itself. This is followed by learning the complete form, then the drills and applications, and then applying these applications to the relevant "sticking" training. For the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun, this would be Chi-kwun, or Sticking-pole (also commonly referred to as "Pole-clinging").
Drills and Applications
Even though this is an extremely long weapon, it can be quite formidable to deal with. There is a great deal of length for an opponent to overcome, as well as maneuvering around the power that is being delivered in the tip of the pole. Likewise, however, this length is also what the practitioner must learn to utilize to his/her advantage.
Biu-kwun |
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Both practitioners in the Frontal-stance. Sometimes the poles will touch, sometimes not. Many practitioners advocate that they always should, whereas others (including the AWCA) feel this is not necessary. Why? Because once contact is made, there should be movement, a response, an action.
If we train ourselves to touch poles but "not" have action, we are teaching ourselves to give the opponent an initial advantage, which is contrary to the Wing Chun concept. |
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As the opponent drives in with Biu-kwun to the defender's chest, the defender drives the pole to the side with Lan-kwun and a side step. The pole is angled such so that the opponent's pole cannot come over and under without significant movement or altering the pole's position. |
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In one motion, the pole is circled out and down to the outside of the attacker's pole, driving in with Biu-kwun to his groin. This would be followed up with repeated Biu-kwun strikes. |
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Concepts and Theories
Why Such a Long Pole?
The long pole's introduction to the system stems from Leung Yee Tai and Wong Wah Bo. Being a poler on a red junk, Leung Yee Tai preferred pole fightint since he used one all the time, anyway. In his normal duties, he also had a weapon readily available, so meeting and training with Wong Wah Bo (a master of Wing Chun), they adapted the Wing Chun concept to fit this long, heavy weapon.
Over the years, some practitioners have attempted to shorten it a bit in order to make it more useful for today's society, but in the end, they found that they lost a great deal of what this training affords them. By understanding the use of long weapons, you will also gain a sense of medium-range weapons. And having long and medium-range weapons training, the last range is short-range, which is learned with the Bart-Cham-Dao.
Does The Pole Ever Twirl Like In Other Martial Arts?
No. The Wing Chun concept of pole fighting differs greatly from other martial arts in that the pole is never twirled; instead, we are always initiating simultaneous attacks and defenses. Twirling a weapon does nothing for attacking and defending.
The moment that the tip of the pole is taken away from the opponent, you open a hole in your own defense. If he/she is faster, they will attack you before you get your pole back to a position of defense. Why purposelly create a hole for your opponent to attack you through?
How Does Pole Fighting Relate To Today's Society?
While it is true that you will rarely - if ever - see anyone walking down the street with a 9-foot staff, that certainly does not mean that weapons training is no longer a useful endeavor. On the contrary, those that feel it is useless are missing out on a great deal of elevated fighting.
We have all heard that weapons are an extension of ourselves, and that is just as true today as it was when our ancestors depended on weapons for their survival. Through the process of learning to use a weapon - and particularly one such as Wing Chun's long pole - it "reconnects" us to our predecessors. Too much of today's world wants to throw away the "old ways" in favor of newer, modern things.
But in the process, they disconnect themselves from our roots and heritage.
Not only is "heritage" important, but the mere fact of training with a weapon even gives you a better sense of your empty-hand fighting. It is not "needed" to be an accomplished fighter, but it does lend itself to delivering a variety of attributes that otherwise would not be attained.
So yes, while we might not fight in the street with a weapon such as this, its training adds to our skill sets, and later generations will never forget where they came from.
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Updated: 03.20.2010 10:14AM MST
