SERN JIT GWUN/ NUNCHAKU

It isn't difficult for an attacker, given the privilege of making the first move, to jam a defender's technique. Faced with a situation that can't be controlled in an orthodox way, the defender's weapon for that instant actually becomes a liability to him.

Though the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku can overcome any attack, unless you are versatile with it, you're better off without it. The practice routines to follow may develop your dexterity so that you can be flexible and spontaneous with the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku and able to respond to any situation.

After countless hours of study and hard work, you will be able to let your Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku take on some of your spirit and character. This is when you realise that the weapon is becoming a part of you, you'll discover that your skill is at the threshold of becoming real and viable.

WARNING!

It would be advisable to warm up thoroughly before practice; fewer mistakes will be made, which reduces frustration and increases confidence. Then you may build on the skills you already have. This is the natural and best way of learning.

The worst kind of practice is making too many errors, in which the weapon becomes your enemy as you employ gross techniques and habits due to incorrect technique and insecurity/ nervousness about the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku. This only occurs if you start out cold, ignoring Sifu's basics and overstepping your skills too far.

Practice until the movements can be done at full speed and focus. Then, use them to develop your own free-style routines, creating moves that makes sense, but which force you to practice what you cannot perform well.

Categories involved in my lessons emphasize skills which are common weaknesses among students at beginner level.

These are:

1. Controlling the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku after a fully focused strike; It is often said that the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku can pose more of a threat to the unskilled user than to any opponent he may face; only traditional training can develop skill to use it competently, Surely, this is true in a way that can only be described as morally beautiful. Essential to the acquisition of skill is your ability to control your weapon, just as self-control is essential to traditional martial arts.
2. Changing directions without recoiling of the body; The basic method of changing directions with the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku is by recoiling it off part of your body, and then pulling it into its new direction. There is another way of changing directions which is faster; however, it requires more skill. Although the free section will have a tendency to flip back toward your hand when you stop abruptly after a fully focused strike, if you keep a flexible wrist, you can whip the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku into a new direction quickly without having the free section go out of control. Your wrist softens the abruptness by compensating, bending back, half way at the most, like a whip, then once some speed is gained towards the new direction, whips forward again into its natural attitude before focus.
3. Twirling the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku; This aspect of Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku training is for developing an extra sharpness to your dexterity with the Sern Jit Gwun/ Nunchaku. In most twirling techniques, using a plain baton can be of aid in understanding the mechanical details involved in the movements. Though the Sern Jit Gwun/ nunchaku is actually easier to flip since it is flexible, the baton permits you to try the moves slowly while you're still learning.

The advanced student, in addition to his formal training, must begin to instruct himself in his own way. The practice exercises in my website facilitates the way of beginning that advanced level of learning.