Traditional Martial Arts Training

To A New Student:

You have now embarked upon an exciting but difficult journey into the world of Gung-Fu. The art you are learning has been handed down for one thousand years by generations of Chinese monks and is about to be passed on to you.

The secret of success has not changed over the centuries and idle talk cannot give you the results of hard work. Only sweat and perseverance will reveal to you the secrets of Chinese Gung-Fu. But whatever results you do achieve cannot be taken away from you, and you are responsible for your own level of achievement.

Our instructors can teach you, but they cannot hand you results. Results are obtained through your own efforts.  It is most important at this stage of your training to be realistic about your ability.

Proficiency is obtained only through concentrated effort over time. As you progress in your training your level of achievement will rise, and the more you learn the more you realize how little you know.

Keep it to yourself and train hard. Then the results you obtain will give you the utmost satisfaction with yourself and with the art that has become yours. I wish you the best of luck in your training

Master Laramie

  Master Laramie

Pak Hok Pai Training
by Si-Fu Tom Haber

Pak Hok Pai is a very powerful style which demands much dedication, time and effort to master.  The focus of the power comes directly from the waist, with fully extended punches that strike right through the opponent.  There is no holding back in a fight, you are either committed to it or you don't fight.  Such is the case with training as well.  There is no middle ground.  The student must accept that this is hard work, but the benefits tremendous.

The basics are very important, they lay the foundation for all your training and success.  Some schools view basics as something to master so you can "get on to real training".  This is a grave error in training.  A Pak Hok Pai student never moves beyond training in the basic punches and kicks.  Although our style has many advanced forms, movements and techniques, it is the basics that are key to mastery.  Perhaps a contradictory statement to some but the logic is simple.   Most advanced techniques are superfluous and difficult to properly execute in a combative situation.  Put plainly, the simpler and more direct the technique the more practical and effective it is.  My advice to the new student is train hard and never relent.  Building mastery and your internal power (Ging) only comes from hard practice and dedicated effort.  Never think you can move beyond the basics, for they are the key to your Art.

BEGINNERS PROGRAM

the basics

1. Breath
   Arms extended, in front of the body, breath in through the nose push air down into stomach retract arms pulling them into the sides and than thrust the arms straight ahead and exhale.
    

2. 3 Section block  (click here for video)
   toe in stance lower upper middle
   
    

3. Neck roll  (click here for video)
   left and right circles of the head while standing.
    

4. Shoulder Rolls (click here for video)
    

5. Thousand hand 
   right side and the left side. Toe in stance. Extend the arm to opponent’s eye height while the other arm remains at your horizontal midsection move the extended arm across the face while raising the horizontal arm. The extended arm becomes the punching arm and the horizontal arm end the block by the ear.
   
    

6. Arm swing (click here for video)
   palms facing upwards rotate arms 360 while standing still with feet together swing the arms as fast as they can.
    

7. Snake hand  (click here for video)
   toe in, right hand moves to snake position, left hand moves to center extends and grabs, then right hand retracts, left hand knife strikes, right hand punches.
   
    

8. Waist Twist
   toe in, legs stiff don’t move the hips, twist the waist trying to move each joint in the backbone.
    

9. Butterfly Palm
   toe in, left hand pointed forward, right hand pointed to the back on the left hand side of the body, extend both hands in circular motion, remain hand contact to the right hand side.
    

10. Toe Touch  (click here for video)
    feet together, legs stiff, exhale all air while bending at the waist while trying to touch the floor, inhale while rising and arching your back.
     

11. Star step
    toe in, left snake hand, face left, step back to front stance with right leg, extend your right arm while grabbing, step back to front stance with left leg while punching. Repeat while going left until complete circle, then go the other direction.
     

12. Front Leg Stretch (click here for video)
     

13. Side leg raise  (click here for video)
    standing with feet together, legs stiff, raise your right leg while maintaining your heel higher than your toes straight from the side of your body. Repeat with other leg.
     

14. Crane's beak snake hand
    toe in, raise right arm in half circle motion to eye height with crane’s beak, return half circle motion to the right hip with snake hand, finger thrust to the throat.
     

15. Down leg stretch (click here for video)
    open legs about 3 feet, maintain left leg straight, squat on right leg, reach down with left arm to right foot. Repeat to other side.
     

16. Wipe and Punch (click here for video)
    toe in, wipe across center line with left hand while punching with the right. Repeat both sides.
    
     

17. Side stance, side fist, double palm push
    side stance, retract leg while punching to the side, step back to original position while double striking with palms. Repeat to other side.
     

18. High Block, Middle block, Low block
    While in horse-stance, high block, proceed to middle block, then low block. Repeat with both sides.
     

19. Low hand high
    while in horse stance, bring your left arm to your right shoulder, strike down to opponent’s groin, return hand to right shoulder, side punch to head. Repeat other side.
     

20. Down block, nail punch, hammer fist
    all with the same arm/hand while stepping through three front stances, circle block break over the knee, side stance while wiping back, front stance hammer fist with right arm. Repeat other side.
    
     

21. Straight punch  (click here for video)
    from front stance
    
     

22. High punch (click here for video)
    from front stance.
    
     

23. High leg stretch (click here for video)
    from front stance
     

24. shin kick  (click here for video)
    with down block
     

25. Triangle Step
    Snake hand, lean back into crane stance, push, straight punch
     

26. Fisherman opens net
    front stance, hammer fist
     

27. Down punch (click here for video)
    from front stance.
    
     

28. Inside/ out leg stretch  (click here for video)
    from front stance.
     

29. Reverse Shin Kick  (click here for video)
    from front stance with butterfly palm hands and down block
     

30. Reversing Hook Punches
    Hook, tiger claw, cross step, hook, hook.
     

31. Combination Punches
    Side stance, steel step, finger thrust, high, middle, low punch.
     

32. Nail punch  (click here for video)
    from front stance
    
     

33. Tiger Claw  (click here for video)
    from front stance
    
     

34. Outside in kick  (click here for video)
    with back kick
     

35. Heart kick (click here for video)
    with fisherman opens the net
    
     

36. Hook Punch (click here for video)
    from front stance
    
     

37. Open / close  (click here for video)
     

38. Foot sweep (click here for video)
    with two crane's beak hook blocks and punch
     

39. Side kick  (click here for video)
    
     

40. Side punch  (click here for video)
    with toe in stance
     

41. Double side punch  (click here for video)
    with toe in stance
     

42. Combination
    Cross step, hook, open, fisherman open the net, hard kick, straight punch
     

43. Double Nail (click here for video)
    from toe in stance
     

44. Single Wing  (click here for video)
    from toe in stance
     

45. Double Wing (click here for video)
     

46. Roundhouse stretch  (click here for video)
    with leg stiff
     

47. Roundhouse kick  (click here for video)
    Crane's beak block left hand, round kick right leg
    
     

48. Double jumping hard kick
     

49. Seven star punch
     

50. Combination
    Crane, front, side, inside, outside
     

51. Snake hand
    with shin kick both sides
     

52. Combination
    Leg block, straight punch, fisherman, hard kick, crane's beak, straight punch
     

53. Combination
    Cross step, circle block, side kick

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