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How to manage the contact with the opponents

During a fight (as while attacking as while defending), from the way we choose to relate to the opponents we can:

Consume more or less energy
Reach our targets with greater or less difficulty
Risk more or less to suffer direct / collateral damage
Be more or less fast
Be more or less powerful
Be more or less predictable
Be more or less protected
…

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

With the same training, determination to fight, physical training (etc.), the method we choose to face the happenings of the combat scenario can make a big difference. From this, it is easy to understand how fundamental it is to adopt the correct way of dealing with our opponents.

While much of the other martial arts indicate a single method of interaction, 6 Dragons Kung Fu (given its predilection for modularity, read 6DKF: what does it teach?), chooses to have multiple approaches.

Combat states: solid, liquid and fluid contacts

In 6 Dragons Kung Fu’s free-hand combat system (weapons will be discussed later), there are several types of “interactions” with the opponents and they are divided into 3 “states”:

Solid – Those (mostly) involving strength and resistance (structure, muscular force, etc.)
Liquid – Those (mostly) involving balance and spatial intelligence (relaxation, dynamic balance, elasticity, etc.)
Fluid – Those that do not involve (primary) the contact as a way to act (deception, inconsistency, etc.)

To make things easier to understand, we could say that they are all variations of tension:

“Solid” means maximum tension
“Liquid” means medium tension (susceptible of variation)
“Fluid” means zero tension

In every single instant, the perfect practitioner should be strategically able to:

Suddenly change the body state (from solid to liquid, from fluid to solid, from fluid to liquid, etc.)
Adopt more than one state at a time (solid lower limbs and liquid upper limbs, fluid left and liquid right arm, etc.)
Alter the states as instinctively as voluntarily (in defensive automation terms, for tactical purposes, etc.)
Hide the true nature of the body state until the last moment (before an attack, a defense, a contact, etc.)
…

Use the body states to interact in a fluid, liquid or solid way

The combined and contextual use of these 3 types of connections with the combat scenario’s elements (environment, opponents, etc.) allows us:

To have a very wide range of tactical possibilities (to resist, counter, deceive, deviate, etc.)
To have the full capability to adapt ourselves to the weaknesses and strengths of our adversaries

A note by Master Kongling – I remember a funny situation that happened during a Mei Hua Quan lesson: I was performing a form and the instructor wanted to control if I had the right level of tension after a punch; to check my stance he had suddenly grabbed my fist and so, taken by surprise, I have instinctively changed my state from solid to fluid making him fall. A big error from my end, a small mistake from a teacher and a friend (which with his sense of humor has immediately been able to play down).

Practical applications of the body states

Let’s see some crucial practical applications of the 6 Dragons Kung Fu’s body states.

The solid interactions

A note by Master Kongling – Strong as the mountain, rigid as the rock, powerful as the earthquake…

The solid contacts include actions like:

Hit and tackle
Lock and subdue
Push and pull
…

The liquid interactions

A note by Master Kongling – Adaptable as the water, elastic as the weaves, powerful as the seaquake…

The liquid contacts include actions like:

Leaning on and semi-leaning on
Channel and bounce
Throw
…

The fluid interactions

A note by Master Kongling – Elusive as the air, fast as the wind, powerful as the black holes…

The fluid contacts include actions like:

Light touch
Attract and repel
Body deceiving
…

State change: how to gain a good state transformation capability

There are two forced steps to obtain control over this advanced skill (read also All the skills of 6 Dragons Kung Fu):

The first is to possess it instinctively – Through our fundamental technical training (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///)
The second is to possess it tactically – Through quick reasoning development, focused sparring and personal study

A note by Master Kongling – Regarding the tactical understanding, it must be said that this is one of the last capabilities that will bloom in an advanced practitioner and that without following the correct path: it is almost impossible to obtain such a level of mastering.

Final notes

A few conclusive thoughts:

It is not mandatory to focus on the execution of the state change in each moment of a fight (as for every other tactic / technique / strategy), it has to be implemented when its application is natural and consistent
This is not an approach good for beginner-level practitioners, to try to force its use when our body and mind are not ready, could easily damage a correct martial evolution
…

In the next article of this series, we will have a deeper look at these 3 types of interaction (read The 6DKF’s Solid Contacts).

In-depth video courses

Structures for combat: liquid, solid, fluid – A visual explanation of body states, states changes and interactions
Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu Exercises – A video course about the fundamental practices to build real martial skills

In-depth articles

The 10 principles of Tai Chi – A brief explanation of 10 core concepts of Tai Chi (Taiji)
4 Tips to effectively apply any fighting technique – The key point to effectively apply a fighting technique

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

What is your favorite approach with the opponents?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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