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Shaolin Basic Skills

Block A

1.	• Daily Warmups • Seven fundamental stances    a. Horse    b. Bow    c. Back    d. Cat    e. Crane    f. Box    g. Dragon
2.	• Circle blocks inward and outward • Low, middle, high horizontal and vertical punches (10 point punching system) • 10-Point blocking system
3.	• Dan Tian breathing • Peaceful Dragon lineage • Basic definitions

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Block B

4.	• Strikes: Horizontal backfist, vertical backfist • Hand weapons: Tiger's mouth, panther fist, chicken beak • Kicks: Roundhouse, outside wheel, inside wheel • Shaolin breathing method in natural stance, horse stance, crane stance and lying leg
5.	• Define three categories of breathing • Stepping drills: Ting zee bu, bamboo, san ti • Stretches on bar, partner stretches • Weapon drills: Staff fundamentals whenever Blocks C & D do weapon forms • Basic Chin Na for: Finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder • Basic self-defense strikes to key targets: eyes, throat, groin, knee
6.	• Strikes: Inward chop, outward chop, rolling backfist • Basic hand weapons: Palm, willow leaf, spear • Basic kicks: Front, side, back • Stance training:    Three planes    Shao ma bu    Lean Forward and Search for the Sea    Rhino Looks Up at the Moon    Angel Looks in the Mirror    Li Kwai Pointing to the Winner    Swallow Skims the Water    Lying Leg • Weapon drills: Staff fundamentals whenever Blocks C & D do weapon forms • Cleansing breath technique

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Block C

7.	• Kicks: Spot kick, spinning back kick, spinning wheel (inside, outside) • Stepping: Front cross, back cross, shuffle • Breakfalls: Front, side, back, front rollout
8.	• Sweeps: Front, back, combination • Hand weapons: Bear paw, mind fist, mantis fist • Strikes: Uppercut, hook punch, crescent punch, hammer fist, smothering backfist, wheel punch • Kicks: Hook, axe, rising heel, stomp • Cyclic breathing 5, 7, 9 seconds
9.	• Fundamental ground grappling techniques: Top mount, side mount, rear mount • Escapes from above positions • Closed guard, half guard • Passing the above guards • Arm bar, choke, knee bar, ankle lock

Block D

10.	• Ch'an meditation: Single pointed focus, contemplation • Kicks: Ma ti (horse kick), chicken kick, flying side kick, flying knee, scissors • Throws & Takedowns: Waist, neck, front leg hook, back leg hook • Take-down defenses: Sprawl, back stance
11.	• Pressure Point Targets: One finger, two finger, thumb press • Strikes: Crossing, shoulder, hip, head butt • Chin na: Neck, shoulder, knee, ankle, spine
12.	• Basic First Aid, CPR, Traditional Chinese herbal remedies • Shaolin philosophy: Wu-de, cultivation of compassion and wisdom

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