T'ian Shan Pai

Feint and Strike

During a challenge, the T'ien Shan P'ai student always remembers "One, Two, Three." "One" signifies a feint by the student. "Two" counts out an assessment of his opponent's skill, strength and intelligence based on his response to the feint, and at "Three" the student uses this assessment to deliver a well-timed, well executed blow.

In running through the "One, Two, Three" count, the Tien Shan Pai student actualizes the interplay of Yin and Yang, soft and hard, internal and external, moving from the Yin of the feint to the Yang of the strike.

Angular Striking

T'ien Shan P'ai teaches its students to strike from an angle rather than to attack directly from a frontal position. An attack from the side insures greater leverage and enables the fighter to move easily into other positions of advantage while simultaneously inconveniencing his adversary.

Circular Movement

In conjunction with striking an opponent from an angle, T'ien Shan P'ai stresses movement in a circular pattern. Circular movement not only facilitates angular striking but it generates more power than a straightforward charge. A pattern of circumvention commands a wider area than approaching the opponent directly on a straight line.

Paired Boxing

Being always practical, T'ien Shan P'ai emphasizes duet exercises to give the student the feel of working with another person.

Nevertheless, prior to a duet performance (two-person set), each student must practice an entire form as a solo exercise until he has mastered each action and he possesses an understanding of the purpose of each movement. He must achieve the necessary fluidity, dexterity and speed required and each move must flow smoothly and instinctively into the next, as in the concert performance of an accomplished pianist.

Then, after he becomes proficient in the solo exercises, the student is shown how to adapt his solo actions to the duet forms. The two-person set or duet exercises are based on the action-reaction principle. The student reacting waits for his opponent's action, then "sticks" and flows with him.

Paired boxing emphasizes timing and accurate evaluation of distance in reference to a moving, responsive adversary.