Father of Close Combat : HK01 Hong Kong News Portal 03-2020

[Special Thanks to HK01 Hong Kong News for the honorable mention of IRFS in the March 2020 edition] An excellent article on the Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife and “Father of Close Combat”- ‘William Fairbairn used to practice a variety of martial arts, and finally merged

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Dragon Anatomy – Big Saber

The Qing era heavy knife (Big Saber) as a whole symbolizes a dragon, which is divided into a dragon head, a dragon body, and a dragon tail. Several variants exist, ranging from patrol, strength development, to ceremonial applications. The oversized strength training versions of wrestlers

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Modern Self Defense – Principals Of The Circle

[Xu Xiaodong’s coach Mei Huizhi, demonstrates principals of the circle] In any era, self-defense requires standards and context relevant to its environment. Feudal Baguazhang strategies nowadays are often adapted for combat sports, fitness, or holistic routes in training, to cater to the modern man.  For

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Yin Style Bagua Dragon System – Imperial Power

The YSB Dragon System is underappreciated in today’s kungfu culture, partly because Snake symbolism is often attached to Yin Fu’s personal fighting style. The popularity of the Luohan Penetrating Palms styling in most Yin Style branches is the primary reason for the ‘snake’ characteristics- snakes

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Orthodox Penetrating Palms – Tiger Spear

The Luohan style of Penetrating Palm sets are suitable for the short Tiger Spear… and though adaptable, are not originally designed for sticking the opponent with the tips of the fingers (according to Shaolin treatise, the penetrating/willow leaf palm is meant to grasp). The short

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The Lion System – Baoding Wrestling Connection

[David Chee-Kai Lin/ Combat Shuai Chiao in the pics]  In modern Baguazhang culture- Cheng Ting Hua is often credited for wrestling and Yin Fu is revered for his penetrating palms.  While this may be a half-truth, Imperial Guards (Yin Fu) are skilled in military wrestling

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