9 posts / 0 new
Last post
PASmith
PASmith's picture
Dan gun application breakdown

So my instructor has asked me to show/teach some of the stuff I've been looking into when training with Iain, Stuart Anslow and John Titchen. He's only been my instructor for a few years (and so not teally responsible for my current form as a martial artist) but he recognises I have experience different to his (he's a much more experienced competition fighter than me) and wants to give his students different angles and inputs, which is to his credit imho.

He puts on monthly high grade sessions (blue belt and above) and I've offered to teach the whole 1.5 hours on Dan gun applications. I was in the process of breaking it down anyway for myself and was toying with trying to film some videos, document my thoughts etc.

So far I have...

Moves 1-4 (knifehand guarding block/obverse punch) = from a fence position a flinch block cover against haymaker, into limb control with neck strike, indexing the head and punch to finish. So that covers flinching, using the whole movement (inc. Chambers and reaction hand/hikite) setting datums, indexing targets, limb control, realistic distance and attacks, husband and wife hands, tactile sensitivity, etc etc. Going from solo pattern, to 2 person drill, to adding dirt and resistance to padwork for impact.

Move 5 (low block) = 1 or more of 3 variations of takedowns to show blocks don't have to be blocks. 3 variations being Elbow and forearm on the neck, impact the back of the neck with the forearm and chin rip and/or entering with the front leg behind there's and forcing them back over with the blocking arm.

Moves 6-8 (obverse punch) = partly covered in looking at moves 1-4 but now also covering grip reversal/lock with hikite and also indexing target with free hand. Stressing the need to commit body weight and punch through the target mid movement.

Moves 9-12 (twin forearm block and obverse punch) = covering and hitting the neck as one movement off a haymaker (a more nuanced version of the first 4 moves), lapel or other grip/index with punch.

Moves 13-17 (rising block) = from a lapel grab hitting the forearm to bring the head forward and then striking up. Basic and brutal but totally different to the usual 'attack coming down from above' defence.

Moves 18-21 (knifehand strike and punch) = get them to use their belts as proxy weapons and enter into a backswing using the chamber as a block into their arms, control the limbs with hikite to control the weapon, strike horizontally into the head and pull and punch to finish.

I doubt I'll get through the whole pattern like that in the time but I think it'll prove interesting for everyone and is certainly a different angle to the way TKD techniques are usually shown being applied (the usual 3k karate type model).

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

This sounds very interesting!

PASmith wrote:
I've offered to teach the whole 1.5 hours on Dan gun applications. I was in the process of breaking it down anyway for myself and was toying with trying to film some videos, document my thoughts etc.

Will you be sharing those videos here or elsewhere?

All the best,

Iain

PASmith
PASmith's picture

If I do any vids I'll definitely share them here. The only fly in the ointment would be any push back from the association I'm part of. Already had a nudge about when and where i should wear my rather fetching Iain abernethy hoody. :)

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

PASmith wrote:
If I do any vids I'll definitely share them here.

That would be great! It does sound fascinating.  

PASmith wrote:
The only fly in the ointment would be any push back from the association I'm part of.

I’m sure all here appreciate the need to respect an association wishing to keep information “in house”; and to tread lightly around political considerations when seeking change.

PASmith wrote:
Already had a nudge about when and where i should wear my rather fetching Iain abernethy hoody. :)

Fantastic! For reasons I can’t quite put my finger on, that pleases me :-)

All the best,

Iain

PASmith
PASmith's picture

It's more about an association wishing to control where information is coming from or seen to be coming from (or not coming from in this case).

I know of one person that was asked to leave the association because he hosted Stuart Anslow for a seminar and even offered to leave me out of pictures of the event when I attended just in case it caused me grief!

I mean I have no time for that sort of thing (always trained where I like and always will) but I also have no time for hassle when all I'm doing is trying to understand this thing we call martial arts.

And it's not like big mainstream associations are at the forefront of offering the kind of bunkai and material people like you and Stuart are offering. If they did I'd be seeking them out too.

Ricardo S Garcia
Ricardo S Garcia's picture

Hey all, hope this video is useful for you guys. Just my take on Dun Gun Hyung. I'd love some feedback. More to come soon! 

Ricardo S Garcia
Ricardo S Garcia's picture

Hey! I'm back, i made a follow up video to explain my thought farther and demonstrate on a partner. My sister.. in the boot lol. she's a good sport. 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Ricardo,

Ricardo S Garcia wrote:
Just my take on Dun Gun Hyung. I'd love some feedback. More to come soon!

Apologies for taking a little while to get these videos embedded. It’s been a busy couple of weeks!

This is not a form a practise, but I thought the videos were excellent. Even not knowing the form, I was able to follow along with your instruction. The videos are well edited and well presented! Thanks so much for taking the time to make them (#). They are a solid addition to the collective knowledge pool. Would you have any objection if I shared these via social media?

All the best,

Iain

(#) – Thanks to your sister too!

Ricardo S Garcia
Ricardo S Garcia's picture

Hey Iain! 

I'd love to have you share them! I'm really trying to get them out there for people to use, as they have become very valuable in my practice as an addition to practicing the form. Feel free to share any of my content.   

With Respect,

Ricardo S. Garcia