The Long Arms of Mo
To all, This thread is devoted to the so-called, “Long Arm Techniques”. In the late 70’s, these long arm moves were part of the KFC pitch. I started learning some of them in order to “pass” my KFC initiation. Now I have always liked the look of the long arms. Freddy showed us his Pak Sing Choy Lay Fut long arms. The result is that I liked the look of long arms even more. I regard the difference between the long arms and the short arms as about 6 inches. Yet that 6 inches can be a world away when it comes crunch time. To start the ball rolling, I have spent my training day recording the Double Swing Attack. I recorded it, by itself, with both follow ups and I included front and side views. Facing slow motion Double swing Attack Anthology (on one side only): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trSK48s2rtU Facing Double Swing Attack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MWiCh0mJ4E Side Double Swing Attack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJodLxB3k2Y Facing Double Swing Attack / 1st follow up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2LpRUKb1iQ Side Double Swing Attack / 1st follow up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKRK9K4E6Cs Facing Double Swing Attack /2nd follow up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApOJzs3FHT8 Side Double Swing Attack / 2nd follow up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP-eeEdbLnI Facing Double Swing Attack Drill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCFRTpgqJi4 Side Double Swing Attack Drill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_c274W9MwU Regards, MrE2Me2 (I may not be making better vids, But I am definitely making More vids.) :-D

I think we called that "Helmet Crusher" You're method seems much less committed, which I like :D

Hello Cam, Thank you for your comment about commitment. We too, called it the “Helmet Crusher”. There was some spiel that went with it at my KFC initiation. Something about using it against an armed and helmeted warrior. Sounded nice and exciting at the time. Later, when I was more mature, I wondered how realistic it was. Now, it is just a cool move from my youth. I like it and I have modified it from the way I learned it. That is probably why it looks “less committed”. Quite frankly, I prefer it that way. Regards, MrE2Me2

Actually Mystery Man, I see all kinds of elbow/shoulder combinations that can come out of those motions. For in-fighting they would be great, just shorten the motions up a bit!

Cam Actually Mystery Man, I see all kinds of elbow/shoulder combinations that can come out of those motions. For in-fighting they would be great, just shorten the motions up a bit! There are definiteley a lot of elbow/ shoulder techniques that could spin off of these techniques. Long arm techniques, are designed to keep your opponent at a distance. In close they are no longer "Long Arm Techniques". No offense meant cam, just making a point about the difference in Long and Short range tactics is all. :D MrE2Me2 I was also taught that technique as the "Helmet Crusher". The first strike designed to destroy the opponents leading arm, the second to strike in the skull. Or with your double the first 2 strikes could be used to destroy both his limbs then the second wave of attacks designed to strike the head area( head/ collarbone is one possibility) sifu shawn

Mr E2Me2, I was hoping to tape the vertical rising strikes with fast stepping but I dont have enough room in basement, so I hope I can film it at my studio here this week, along with my kempo forms so I can post them. The vertical rising strikes are also a Moo kempo long arm technique that I learned from Sifu Ed Bruneau, and also had a bit of a lesson on them with Master Trevor Higgs as well. I have video somewhere of him performing the vertical rising block and strike on me. Controlled of course, that man has so much power if he had of connected with me it would have send my head into orbit. Sifu Shawn

No offense taken Sifu Shawn. Elbow/shoulder strikes would be an excellent follow-up after the distance has been closed.

It's the offset timing of the attacks that make them good. The first attack you can assume will be blocked but the second attack is coming in behind it in the blind spot. It has weaknesses as well. in order to deliver it as an attack with proper momentum as trained, you have to draw your arms away from the torso which gives too many openings to the opponant. But decent if your arms happened to be there anyhow for whatever reason, multiple attackers and you are changing directions, pivot the body and the arms are by the hip etc. Long Arm style Kung Fu can be explained in TKF terms as hidden distance. Any technique which utilizes hidden distance gains reach. 6 inches is a general number used but in actuality it is the distance from your centerline to the outside of your shoulder when done properly.

North , IN regards to hidden distance you stated: in actuality it is the distance from your centerline to the outside of your shoulder when done properly. I like that way of looking at the hidden distance theory. I have usually only looked at it from the "impact point" perspective, wether its a side fist using the distance in the shoulder, or a side kick using the hips to gain the extra distance. But I never really thought about it from a "centre line to outside of shoulder joint" perspective. Thanks for giving me something to think about. So simple of a concept and yet I have never looked at it from that point of view. sifu shawn

Cam, Elbow/shoulder strikes would be an excellent follow-up after the distance has been closed. Totally agree with you. Shoulder "poppers" can be everything from annoying to downright devastating, and elbow strikes speak for themselves. sifu shawn

To all, This is the first Mo Kempo Long Arm Technique that I ever learned. (Well, it’s a combo really.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69FX9XxgzU8 And this is the second one (I learned it as part of my KFC initiation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU0l-7blO_k Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, I have previously posted about having trained briefly with another Kung fu guy. That would be Sifu Fred Whiting who taught as a bit of his style. That was called Pak Sing Choy Lay Fut. Here are there strikes from that time. His knifehand thrust. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9RVDdosmpM His Double Swinging Attack (I believe it was called Gwa Sow): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-w3NM1rOBk His Other Double Swinging Attack (I believe it was called Pow Choy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMDF6dY7RUo Regards, MrE2Me2

Long Arm
Ya know, sometimes it's almost like I was taught a different style. :lol: The more I see, the more differences I find. The moves are similar but the concepts of movement behind them appear different, at least it seems that way. What I was taught about long arm monvements wasn't so much a difference in reach ie: "6 inches" although thats true. But more so the power generated from longer swinging, circular, and extended motions. Take the helmet crusher for example. The version shown is very controlled, and not near as committed, but also to my eye, is lacking the huge power gererated by doing it more comitted, using the feet then hips(or center) then shoulders to really throw it in there. I was taught that the longer arm motions you almost had to lose control when first learning to gain control later. That your fist was more like the ball at the end of a chain as it swung around. And that the arms were almost loose. But I can see why Mr E might do it different since he has a back injury. That could get uncomfortable quick! And the butterfly punch I was shown differs as well, I was shown to keep the arms much higher and visualize the arm coming from the rear of the body to do as straight of a line to the target as possible. I am not "dissing" anyone's way of doing it , I just notice from the vids posted how different the versions taught of the Moh are from mine. I guess it could stem from who you were taught by , their interpretation of what's being taught and if they had any other training to influence it. Wish I could post some vids to show what I'm talking about but since I still train, I like to stay anon for now. But my compliments to those of you who do share. It's very interesting to compare the ways techniques have been shown through out the years, and the different takes or applications of the same movement. Pai Mei

Hello Pai Mei, A couple of things here: You are right; I do train differently because of my injuries. But I also train differently because I learned the same move from 5 different guys. These two influences have changed me and I modified the way I practice my art, as well. When I train, I remain true to those principles I learned: Provided that those principles do not aggravate my injuries. You are not the first to remark that different eras of Mo reflect almost a different style. Not is Mo the only martial art to show this change. There are several different martial artists who have commented on the same thing. Sometimes they practice JMA, sometimes it is CMA and sometimes it is an eclectic art. I do not think that it is a bad thing to change (but that is just my opinion here). I’m sure that there are others who hold a different point of view. That is cool too. As I posted elsewhere, for the first time, we are talking politely on this board. Regards, MrE2Me2 p.s., About remaining anonymous: you could always wear a mask like these guys :-D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eYdyi8qGcI

I would feel a little too much like Zorro wearing something like that :lol: , but maybe I'll figure something out. Pai Mei