"less is best" Being simple and direct.

When dealing with close quarters combat, especially when it could mean your life or worse...What technique works best?

With every style of martial arts, there is a solution to these problems. Each bares it's own trade mark or style of action. Some rely on ground fighting, grappling, submitting, punch, kick, throw....etc. However, from these styles its success stories all share common ground. Simplicity.

Things that will help you survive in dangerous circumstances.

1. Stay calm. Don't burn energy needlessly, you may need it.

2. Stay focused. As long as you are focused you remain in control of you actions. Decisions are much more informed.

3. Evaluate. Give yourself options, go with the quickest and most practical approach to the treat. Fight or flight rule applies here.

This is a pre - fight situation. Now consider that "fight" is your option and it was a lethal force you faced. Assume you are not much longer than your arms length away from them. Let's now freeze at the point you see a threat show his weapon, blade, gun, etc... You have no more than half a second to respond? What do you do?

Well that's easy to answer, hard to always do but, firstly, we must move our feet. Only revealing our hand/foot real intentions when in range. Be deceptive, but at the same time, efficient. Minimise movements and it takes less time to pull off! So in half a second there are many right things to do. You cant be hit, stabbed or shot if you move out of its path. At the same time focus on removing the threat appropriately. Simultaneous attack and defense techniques are difficult to learn but yield firepower when in a battle. You halve all your problems quickly. Shaolin Chaugia is a great example of this.

So the movement should either intecept, deflect, sweep, trip, or accelerate the opponents attack/body. No wasted movements are possible in a situation like this. When we step, we engage our foe and immediately begin to attack and remove the threat. Chaugia teaches you that a simple step will put some one on their butt! You need to learn to be direct and hard to beat!

Detailed simple no-nonsence techniques will be posted over an ongoing basis. Any comments are welcome. If you have been in a bad situation or think your daily travels put you at risk, then post your comments or questions and I will help in some way.

Chausifu
email: jowsifu@gmail.com
Web: www.chaugia.info

Chaugia and its future in Australia

Today I have started to make formal plans to contact all Chaugia (jowga, jow gar, chowga, chowgar, chau ga, Zhou Jia) schools here in Australia to try and establish a national organisation to better promote the art.

This will not be an easy task, however I am certain that most schools will have a valuable contribution they can make. We are lucky here in Australia, as there are some very good schools here that teach Chaugia. They seem to have excellent standards and have already contributed to its already growing poularity.

It is my intention to collaborate with other schools in organising both state and national events to show case Chaugia and its practicioners. As in the early days of its conception, Chaugia represented a close realtionshp between the Tong members (school). Indeed a wider example of this would be a national body, represented by all schools who are affliliated.

I personally have met or know many of the teachers here in Australia, and feel a sense of kinship, as I do with international members. We would appreciate any help or constructive suggestions that could be offered to help achieve this goal.

At the moment, the Sydney Yun Yee Tong (I am a member) has loose ties with QLD, VIC and WA Yun Yee Tong branches. Although very informal, our ties are reasonably strong, and our members often exchange training ideas and reciprocal visits.

I will keep this blog updated with any new outcomes as they come to hand.

We welcome your input.

Chausifu.