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, able to respond to any situation.
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 this level. They are:
- 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, and that only traditional training can develop skill to use it competently, Surely, this 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.
- 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 fee 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 toward the new direction, whips forward again into its natural attitude before focus.
- 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 dettails 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. These practice exercises provide a way of beginning that advanced level of learning.
